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

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.

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