Impressions, Pricing, and Final Thoughts
Gaming Impressions (Ryan's Note):
Since we first started seeing 4K monitors at the PC Perspective offices, in sizes ranging from 28-inches to 32-inches, many readers have commented and critiqued that even at 32-in screen was too small to really showcase that 4K resolution. For desktop usage, the difference is easily visible: the pixels are bigger on the Seiki SM40UNP than we have seen in any other 4K monitor (not counting TVs) so the desktop didn't need to be scaled. For gaming though, that problem doesn't necessarily rear its head, though from time to time a game doesn't plan for 4K and the user interface gets wonky. With this display the result instead is a larger picture in front of you that still maintains an impressive amount of clarity thanks to the 8.29M pixels per frame.
With DisplayPort 1.2 capability and support for 4K resolutions at 60 Hz, gaming on the Seiki SM40UNP is incredibly compelling. Yes, you are still going to need a lot of hardware to push the latest PC titles at 3840×2160 and high image quality settings (as our GTX 980 Ti review showed you this week) so plan on upgrading your hardware if you haven't recently. That being said, the resulting gaming experience is awesome. I spent some time with GRID 2 and Grand Theft Auto V as well as looking at how BF4 and Metro: Last Light scaled and came away impressed by how the field of view changes the game. In many ways a 40-in screen, sitting on your desk like a monitor (as opposed to further away like a TV) will give you the same highs and lows as an Eyefinity or Surround setup. You don't have to worry about the complications of multiple monitors but will likely find your self looking UP more than you ever have before – the top of the monitor is going to be 2 feet from the top of your desk.
One idea we had for the SM40UNP that didn't pan out was to connect four inputs from the same system to the monitor through four different inputs. I was hoping to configure the bottom two quadrants to act as a 3840×1080 two-panel Eyefinity / Surround resolution for gaming purposes with the top two quadrants acting as 1080p monitors that would be used normally for productivity but to act as secondary monitors while gaming. Unfortunately that idea didn't work out as the Seiki panel and GPU drivers weren't willing to function that way. Tried with both a GTX 980 Ti and an R9 290X, NVIDIA and AMD drivers were only letting me configure a 7680×2160 two-panel setup which clearly was both too small for my eyes to handle and also too tough on our hardware to utilize. Maybe we can work with Seiki to perfect the firmware to help support this with the next revision.
Overall though I think that many PC enthusiasts, especially those eyeing 4K but thought 28- and even 32-in displays were just a tad too small, will really enjoy using the Seiki SM40UNP for gaming purposes. While getting variable refresh rate technology like G-Sync and FreeSync in the panel would be an awesome addition, 4K / 60 Hz gaming still provides a nearly unrivaled experience. Make sure you are prepared for the odd looks as your friends and family walk by with this monster sitting on your desk.
Conclusion:
PROS:
- Massive 40" display negates the need for dual displays and/or DPI scaling at 4K.
- Impressive blacks and color reproduction (once calibrated).
- Flexible input options and PiP/PbP capability.
- Matte bezel is not distracting (as it should be).
- No external power brick required.
- Sturdy base.
CONS:
- No HDMI 2.0 support.
- Out-of-box default color temperature (11,000K) and green/red push.
- Display anti-glare may not be sufficient for showing darker content in brightly lit rooms.
- 'Pro' branding implies a calibrated display. A provided calibration profile would be helpful at a minimum.
- Weight of the 40" model (25.4 lbs) precludes height adjustable stand. Smaller models *do* offer height adjustment on their stands. Stand for the 40" model weighs 7.7 lbs.
- PWM backlight dimming.
Pricing and Availability
- $1000 (Amazon)
This is a great deal when you consider the following competition:
- ASUS PQ321Q: (Amazon)
- – Smaller (31.5") diagonal.
- = Equivalent panel technology.
- – No DP1.2 support, fewer inputs.
- – 4K 60Hz requires DisplayPort MST connection of two 'panes'.
- – Cost ($1400).
- Samsung U32D970Q: (Amazon)
- – Smaller (31.5") diagonal.
- + IPS panel.
- + Wider color gamut (99% Adobe RGB).
- + Factory calibrated.
- – Fewer inputs.
- – Cost ($1300).
- LG 31MU97-B: (Amazon)
- – Smaller (31") diagonal.
- + IPS panel.
- + Wider color gamut (99% Adobe RGB).
- – Fewer inputs.
- – Cost ($1085).
- BenQ BL3201PH: (Amazon)
- – Smaller (31") diagonal.
- + IPS panel.
- = 100% sRGB color space.
- – Fewer inputs.
- = Cost ($1000).
- TN panels
- — Size (< 30").
- — TN panel.
- ++ Cost (~$400 range).
The above competing professional displays may offer wider color gamuts that would be useful for photo / print editing, but the Seiki Pro consistently wins out on its sheer 40" display size and flexible inputs. The panel is also a good compromise between IPS and TN, offering the color reproduction capabilities of the former, but with less 'IPS glow' and faster response times, making this panel an excellent choice for gaming on a huge display. TN panels can be had for far cheaper than the competing solutions listed above, but TN panel glass off-axis color shift precludes usage in a large desktop class displays because the colors would shift as you looked towards the far corners of such a large TN display.
The SM40UNP ships with a one year replacement warranty.
Final Thoughts
This new Seiki Pro display reminds me of back when Dell released their 3007WFP-HC. It was a great large simplistic display with a (then) high resolution at a $1k price point. Eight years later we have another great larg(er) piece of glass with an even higher resolution. Moving to this 40" display up from 30" feels like my 24" to 30" transition years ago. Initially you just sit there in awe of the sheer size of the glass in front of you. Sitting at a typical distance, and with proper calibration, this display's sheer size and resolution almost tricks you into thinking you are looking at the photographed scene in-person – as if the display were just a window. Another bonus is that 40" appears to be an appropriate size for 4K content to be comfortably viewed without any scaling. Overall I've come away very impressed with the Seiki Pro 40" 4K display.
This is a great piece of glass, but out of box calibration could have been better given that it is a 'Pro' branded panel.
I am on Mac Pro running the
I am on Mac Pro running the latest OS. I am a film editor and need true 10 bit 422 color. Specs seem to suggest it is a max of 1.07 billion 10 bit. I have seen reviews saying it is less. What is it actually for me? I am not grading but do color correct and need very good color. I like the contrast this seems to offer for blacks.
Also, I write a lot and you say scaling it not as necessary with 40 inches in 4k (really ultra HD) with little of no scaling. That’s cool.
If I need to be able to scale my text is this also possible. Your thoughts for some one who also does a lot writing too?
I DON’T PLAY ANY KIND OF
I DON’T PLAY ANY KIND OF GAMES. SO I AM WONDERING IT THIS WOULD BE GOOD TO BE USED FOR PHOTO EDITING WITH ADOBE LIGHTROOM AND PHOTOSHOP.
Another year has passed and I
Another year has passed and I haven’t heard anything about this display being upgraded(HDMI 2.0 & DP 1.3)
Anyone hear any news?
Nope….but you can get a
Nope….but you can get a sister brand Westinghouse version of the same monitor for $600 now that has one HDMI 2.0 port and one DP 1.2. Rather than only DP 1.2 for 4k 60hz. Main downgrade for better price seems to be deletion of the PiP and PbP picture in/by picture modes…can only view one input at a time full screen. Seems to be a fair compromise for the price diff.
https://www.amazon.com/Westinghouse-40-4k-UHD-Monitor/dp/B015P70TZ8/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8
Did this monitor achieve 100%
Did this monitor achieve 100% sRGB Gamut
Thank you for this thorough
Thank you for this thorough review. I just purchased the SM32UNP 32″ version of this monitor, as it was $200 cheaper and my desk simply can’t handle a 40″.
I just wanted to say that the OSD color settings and ICC profile look great for the 32″ panel as well- for anyone that’s wondering. It now looks much nicer than my 29″ ultrawide IPS that it replaced.
Also wanted to add that my
Also wanted to add that my 32″ can be overclocked to 1920×1080@75Hz, for those wondering. There’s really not much information out there for the 32″ model.
It would be amazing if you
It would be amazing if you could spend 10 minutes and overclock the panels. This data is very valuable. For example the Seiki pro 4k can be overclocked to a whooping 78hz @4k over display port. It can also survive cinematic resolution at a much higher value than any existing panel (another test I wish you did). If you could pretty please give it a minute or two and get this information it would provide a lot of value. If you need help figuring out how to do any of this just send me an email and with a phone call we can get it done (nvidia video card). Thanks a billion for trying non popular brands, they are the only ones pushing the envelope.
just got this monitor used.
just got this monitor used. used your color profile and settings. The only changes I made was left it on 9300k as 6500k made the greys look pink on my monitor.
I have a datacolor Spyder 5 pro that ran calibration from about 10 times on this monitor. All with different settings (could not get it to look quite right). First thing I did was try your settings at 6500k but since the greys looked pink i never came back to it. Last night i randomly loaded up your color profile with the monitor on 9300k. BAM. Looks perfect now! After me trying to calibrate it time after time and unsatisfied, I loaded yours and its perfect! Not sure how accurate the color is as the white balance is different, but from my perspective its as good as I can get it! I have an LG 4k monitor and with these settings I have to recalibrate that now! Wow!
by the way i achieved 100%
by the way i achieved 100% srgb in Datacolor Spyder 5’s calibration (but not using theirs using yours), Also tried to calibrate using DisplayCAL which did not work at all over here due to the white balance looking funny. Ran it 2-3 times it takes over an hour so I gave up trying to do that. Too much work. Your calibration is perfect!
Are higher refresh rates
Are higher refresh rates possible(2560×1440@60hz) via either the hdmi 1.4 or duallink dvi-d ports?? Thanks!!
Well I’ll answer my previous
Well I’ll answer my previous question with a “YES”. Just use an app which allows for Custom Resolutions. I’m on a Mac so I’m using SwitchResX. Works great!!
This monitor can do 4k 78hz
This monitor can do 4k 78hz and I have owned this monitor since launch. It can also do Cinematic at 3840 x 1646 78hz. I have not been able to make it go past 78hz unfortunately. If you know how let me know.
To obtain 4k 78hz you have to create a custom resolution.