Performance - Part II
Brightness and contrast
Contrast is typical of an IPS/TN panel, we've never seen one exceed 1000:1. The results are solid and most importantly they are consistent with varying brightness levels. One thing we did pick up on is that between 0 and 50 per cent brightness the nits only change by 23 yet between 50 and 100 per cent they change by 114 nits. LG needs to fix this discrepancy since brightness steppings should be as close to equal as possible.
Interestingly, the monitor delivers more brightness than the specification claims, 320 nits compared to 300. However, the monitor's brightness couldn't reach as low as 120 nits, the calibrated brightness we normally test at, so instead we had to test at 160 nits.
Brightness uniformity was not as strong as colour uniformity. The top and top left sections of the panel were about 10 per cent darker than the centre and lower right. In reality this isn't all that noticeable.
Power Consumption
LG's 34UC97 is among the most power-hungry monitors we've ever tested, topping out at around 61.5 watts. This falls by approximately 20W once calibrating down to a more reasonable brightness. The number seems about right for the size and resolution of the panel, we find the inclusion of a 140W power brick slightly strange, at first, since LG could have used a 95W version with plenty of breathing room. Presumably, the extra capacity is to support daisy chaining of Thunderbolt and USB devices where these devices are bus-powered.
