Gaming monitors have been pushing refresh rates higher and higher, but there’s still a sweet spot where resolution, speed and screen size all come together without demanding an absurd amount from your graphics card. Alienware’s 32-inch 240Hz Gaming Monitor, AW3226DM, looks to sit right in that space, combining a large 31.5-inch curved display with a 2560×1440 resolution and a 240Hz refresh rate.
As with most of the monitors we’ve recently reviewed from Alienware, this one keeps things relatively restrained, with a black finish and thin bezels around the top and sides, helping the large panel remain the focus. At just over 707mm wide, it demands a reasonable amount of desk space, but that comes with the territory when stepping up to a 31.5-inch display.
The 1500R curve helps the VA panel wrap around your field of view without feeling overly aggressive, while the 16:9 aspect ratio keeps things familiar for gaming, movies and everyday use. At 2560×1440, there’s considerably more detail than 1080p without jumping to the performance demands of 4K, which makes plenty of sense for a monitor built around a high 240Hz refresh rate.
That speed is backed by a 1ms GTG response time in Extreme Mode, with 2ms Super Fast and 4ms Fast options. AMD FreeSync Premium and VESA AdaptiveSync help reduce tearing and stuttering when frame rates fluctuate, giving the display the specifications you’d expect from something aimed squarely at fast-paced gaming.
The VA panel also offers benefits beyond raw speed. Native 3000:1 contrast ratio showcases deeper blacks and stronger contrast than many typical IPS gaming displays, while DCI-P3 is at 95% coverage and support for 1.07 billion colours give the screen enough colour range for those starting to explore content creation.
Brightness sits at 400 nits, peaking at 450 nits, with VESA DisplayHDR 400 and Dolby Vision HDR support included for compatible games and content. Low Blue Light and Flicker-Free technologies should also help during longer sessions, while the anti-glare surface helps reduce unwanted reflections.
Picture-by-Picture and Picture-in-Picture modes add extra flexibility when working with multiple way to manage and customise the display from within Windows
Connectivity is generous, with two HDMI connections running at 2560×1440 at full 240Hz, while supporting HDR, VRR, FRL and DSC. DisplayPort 1.4 is also included, giving PC users another straightforward way to take full advantage of the monitor’s resolution and refresh rate.
A small USB hub is also built in, with a USB 5Gbps Type-B upstream connection feeding a USB 5Gbps Type-A downstream port and a USB-C 5Gbps downstream connection. The USB-C port also provides up to 15W of charging, which isn’t enough to replace a laptop charger, but it’s handy for smaller devices and accessories. Dell also includes DisplayPort, HDMI FRL and USB Type-A to Type-B cables in the box, so the important connections are covered from the start.
The included stand keeps adjustment fairly simple, offering 110mm of height adjustment and tilt between -5 and 21 degrees. There’s no pivot adjustment, but that’s hardly surprising for a large curved display. If you’d rather reclaim desk space with a monitor arm, standard 100 x 100mm VESA mounting is supported.
The Alienware 32 240Hz Gaming Monitor AW3226DM combines specifications that should appeal to gamers who want more screen space without sacrificing speed. The 1440p resolution perfectly blends with the 240Hz refresh rate, while the VA panel’s strong contrast, broad colour coverage and HDR support give it versatility beyond competitive gaming.
Throw in plenty of connectivity, adaptive sync, a useful USB hub and a three-year Advanced Exchange Service with Premium Panel Exchange, and there’s a lot here for anyone looking for a fast, large-format gaming monitor without making the jump to 4K.
