Buying guide on Dell S3220DGF

Susan Fernandez May 05 2022

The Dell S3220DGF is a great monitor for gaming. It has a high refresh rate and low input lag, making it perfect for competitive gamers. The design is also eye-catching, with slim bezels and a sleek stand. However, the image quality isn't quite as good as some of the more expensive gaming monitors on the market. If you're looking for a budget-friendly option that won't break the bank, the Dell S3220DGF is a great choice.

Design peculiarities

Dell S3220DGF monitor is based on a panel from AU Optronics with a diagonal of 31.5 inches. In other words - we have before us a classic gaming monitor with all the necessary "stuffing" for comfortable play.

The Dell S3220DGF is a sleek and all-business monitor that would go well in any environment. In today's market, we tend to prefer more basic designs, which is why the matte black and gunmetal are understated. When viewing the screen while it's switched on, you will still see inner borders because the three sides of the display area are bezel-free. It means that manufacturers managed to reduce the width of the side frames by 10.5 mm, while the top and bottom remained unchanged (23.8 mm).

The monitor is equipped with a stand that allows you to adjust the height, tilt and swivel the screen. You can also rotate the display panel around its axis by 90 degrees to use it in portrait mode, which can be handy for certain applications or for working with large spreadsheets. The VESA mount pattern is 100x100mm, so you can easily replace the stand with a third-party solution if necessary.

The Dell S3220DGF has an excellent build quality and no faults were found on the test sample. Every seam was perfectly matched with its corresponding opposite, and the plastics employed do not give the impression of being brittle or flimsy.

The monitor is sturdy when standing on a desk, and there are no loud buzzing or cracking noises while it's in use. The Dell S3220DGF offers several features that make it an excellent candidate for any number of uses. The well-equipped I/O layout, for example, includes everything you'll need.

Image and display

With 32 inches of screen real estate, the Dell S3220DGF is one of the largest gaming monitors currently available. It's a VA panel with a maximum resolution of 2560x1440 and a refresh rate of 165 Hz.

The monitor uses an 8-bit+FRC color depth and supports HDR10. The maximum brightness is 350 cd/m2 while the static contrast ratio is 2500:1. As for the response time, it's 4 ms (GtG). Out of the box, the image quality was good but not outstanding. The colors were slightly oversaturated but this could be easily fixed by calibrating the display. After calibration, we were able to achieve an excellent level of accuracy with an average deltaE of 1.8.

The Dell S3220DGF's maximum brightness is 350 cd/m2, which is more than enough for most rooms. The blacks are deep and inky, and the whites are suitably bright. There's no visible backlight bleed, even when viewed in a dark room.

Viewing angles are wide thanks to the VA panel, and there's no color shifting or loss of contrast when viewed from an angle. The Dell S3220DGF has a resolution of 2560x1440, which is the sweet spot for gaming monitors. It's not so high that you need a powerful graphics card to run games at max settings, but it's high enough to enjoy the increased level of detail that comes with a higher resolution.

The color gamut is excellent, and the Dell S3220DGF can display 99% of the sRGB color space. This monitor is also HDR-compatible, but only at a basic level. It doesn't have local dimming or a wide color gamut, so it can't take advantage of HDR content to its fullest extent. However, it does support FreeSync 2, which means it can be used with an Xbox One X or a PS4 Pro for console gaming.

Performance level

Any PC user will tell you that one of the most important things to consider when buying a new monitor is the panel type. This is because different panel types have different strengths and weaknesses. TN panels, for example, are known for their fast response times but poor color reproduction. On the other hand, IPS panels have excellent color reproduction but slow response times. VA panels fall somewhere in the middle, offering a good blend of both.

The Dell S3220DGF is a VA panel with a maximum refresh rate of 165 Hz and a 4 ms response time (GtG). This makes it a great choice for gamers who want a fast and responsive gaming experience without sacrificing image quality.

We tested the Dell S3220DGF's performance using a range of games and benchmarks. In general, we found that the monitor performed very well. The fast response time and high refresh rate resulted in smooth and responsive gameplay, even in fast-paced games. There was no noticeable input lag, and the image quality was excellent.

The S3220DGF also supports HDR, however, it falls short of VESA's DisplayHDR 400 requirements. When the mode is on, you won't see brilliant lighting or precise object features because the monitor can only approximate the HDR effect. There are some aesthetic enhancements to compatible games when compared with previous versions, although bear in mind that this model only has an edge-lit backlight and no dimming zones.

Does Dell S3222DGF support G-Sync?

The Dell S3220DGF does not support G-Sync. Though FreeSync 2 is supported and it allows variable refresh rates between 48 Hz and 165 Hz. This will come in handy when gaming on a console like Xbox One X or PS4 Pro, which both support FreeSync 2.

Without G-Sync technology you might experience screen tearing and stutter in fast-paced games. However, these issues can be alleviated by enabling the 'Ultra Low Motion Blur' (ULMB) setting in the OSD menu. This setting will introduce a bit of ghosting to the image but it will make fast-moving objects appear sharper.

Is Dell S3220DGF good for office use?

The Dell S3220DGF is a good choice for office use thanks to its large screen size and high resolution. The monitor has a resolution of 2560x1440, which is plenty of space for multitasking or working with multiple windows open side-by-side. The large screen also makes it easy to read text and images from a distance.

The Dell S3220DGF also has good color accuracy out of the box. This is important for office use, as accurate colors are essential for tasks such as a photo or video editing. The monitor also supports HDR, although it's not a true HDR panel. This means that it can't take advantage of HDR content to its fullest extent.

What about gaming?

The Dell S3220DGF is a FreeSync 2 Gaming Monitor that's a wonderful match for the Radeon 5700XT. However, you may use even more powerful Nvidia GPUs, such as the RTX 2080Ti, because it also works with G-Sync compatibility. At 165Hz, input lag is around 5ms, so you won't notice any delays while playing your favorite game. One thing you might notice, however, is the price tag.

Different FPS tests were done with different graphics cards to see how this monitor performs. For instance, the test with CS: GO averaged at 234.8 FPS with a GTX 1080, which is pretty good. Assasin`s Creed Origins had an average of 98.4FPS with a GTX 1060, which is also good, but not amazing. The Witcher 3 averaged at 77.6FPS with a GTX 1060, which is decent but could be better.

All in all, the Dell S3220DGF is a great FreeSync 2 monitor that works with both AMD and Nvidia GPUs. It has a fast refresh rate and low input lag, making it ideal for gaming. Overall, the gaming performance is good, but not amazing. However, the price tag might be a bit too high for some people.

Summary info about Dell S3220DGF

The technical specifications of this monitor are as follows:

  • Screen Size: 32 Inches
  • Resolution: 2560 x 1440 QHD
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Panel Technology: Vertical Alignment (VA)
  • Refresh Rate: 165Hz
  • Response Time: 4ms
  • Contrast Ratio:3000:1
  • Brightness:400cd/m²

With such characteristics, we can tell that Dell S3220DGF is a good monitor for gaming purposes because it has a high Refresh Rate of 165 Hz and low input lag which would be great for playing fast-paced games and also for gamers who are into competitive gaming. Another great plus point for this monitor is its design, which looks very sleek and elegant with slim bezels surrounding the screen.

However, one drawback of this monitor is that its image quality isn't as good as some of the more expensive options available on the market. So, if you're looking for a budget-friendly option that won't break the bank, the Dell S3220DGF is a great choice. Still, if you're willing to spend more money on a better quality gaming monitor, there are other options available that you can consider.

What are the alternative monitors?

If Dell S3220DGF isn't the right monitor for you, there are plenty of other options available on the market. For instance, the Acer Predator X27 is a great alternative if you're looking for a high-end gaming monitor with great image quality. It has a resolution of 2560 x 1440 and supports HDR, which means you'll be able to take advantage of HDR content to its fullest extent.

Samsung is another option for you to consider with their CF791, which is a 1440p curved monitor that's great for gaming and general use. It has a fast refresh rate of 144Hz and supports FreeSync, which is perfect for gamers who want to avoid screen tearing. Moreover, the image quality on this monitor is excellent, making it a great choice for those who want the best of both worlds.

LG's Ultrawindow is another great alternative, which is a 4k monitor with HDR support. It has a resolution of 3840 x 2160 and a refresh rate of 60Hz, which is perfect for gaming and general use. However, one drawback of this monitor is that it doesn't have as much screen real estate as some of the other options on this list.

Acer's Nitro VG271UP is another excellent alternative that allows its users to enjoy a resolution of 2560x1440p at a 144Hz refresh rate. Acer would be a great option for you if you're looking for a monitor that's budget-friendly and still offers great features for gaming. The image quality on this monitor is also quite good, making it a great choice for those who are looking for a good all-around option.

Conclusion

Overall, Dell S3220DGF is a great monitor for gaming purposes. However, if you're looking for something with better image quality or more screen real estate, there are other options available that might be better suited for your needs. Dell S3220DGF would be a great choice for those who are looking for a budget-friendly option that still offers good features for gaming.