LG 45GX950A-B 45-inch Ultragear 5K2K WUHD (5120 x 2160) OLED Curved Gaming Monitor, Dual-Mode, 165Hz, 0.03ms, NVIDIA G-Sync, AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, HDR True Black 400, USB Type-C 90W, DP2.1, Black

I just upgraded my primary monitor to this "LG 45GX950A-B" (sometimes called "GX9" for short). Previously I was using an LG C2 OLED TV, so I will be comparing against that.[Text Rendering / Subpixel structure]The GX9 has a subpixel structure of "RGWB" (red-green-white-blue) which is better for sharp text rendering than most other OLED displays to date (including my C2 TV). This is because much text in major operating systems uses subpixel antialiasing which is normally tuned for an "RGB" subpixel structure. When the physical display panel differs from that, it causes color fringing around text edges. "RGWB" is a very similar layout, just having an extra white subpixel thrown in for additional brightness.[Refresh Rate / Dual Mode]Higher refresh rates are always nice, but increases are subject to diminishing returns. At the native resolution of 5120x2160, the maximum refresh rate is 165hz. This is barely distinguishable from 120hz in my opinion, and I am fairly sensitive to refresh rate differences.To access the 330hz refresh rate capabilities, you must enable one of the "dual mode" options in the monitor's menu, which allow the panel to be driven at 2560x1080 or 1920x1080 at 330hz using the full panel or smaller sections of the panel. I'll just say it. Most of the dual mode options look like garbage because only one or two of them use 1:2 integer scaling. For reasons unknown, none of the options allow you to display a 2560x1080 @ 330hz image at native scale (1:1 ratio, e.g. 22.5" diagonal). Most of the 330hz options are scaled up somewhere between a 1:1 and 1:2 ratio, which makes them look extra-bad. This was a missed opportunity. This is probably something they could change in a firmware update, but I wouldn't hold my breath for it.[The Curve]Curved displays are intended to keep the view distance consistent from one end of the display to the other. I love that aspect. Flat displays by comparison look silly and distorted once you get used to a curved display. The only issue for me is it makes a multi-monitor setup a little tricky because the edges of a large curved display stick in over your desk, so it is difficult to line up with the next monitor.[Matte Finish]The GX9 has a matte finish and it looks slightly worse to me than glossy finish my C2 TV had, but with such a curved display it is important to not be too glossy as you don't want strong reflections on a curved display. This is a good compromise.[VESA Mounting]I use an Ergotron HX mount with Standard Pivot for this monitor and it is natively compatible without an adapter like I needed for the C2 TV.[General Comments]I'm driving it with HDMI 2.1 from an RTX 4090 and had no issues. 165hz refresh rate works reliably, every time, as long as I don't bump the HDMI connectors.The GX9 has 125 PPI (pixels per inch), whereas a traditional desktop monitor is around 100 PPI. As such, desktop scaling of 125% is appropriate, but those with good eyes can use it just fine at 100% scale.There's a little quirk with playing Youtube videos in fullscreen mode. Most videos are not as wide as the panel, and Youtube's player fills in the edges with a gray gradient roughly matching the brightness of the content. Trouble is, the brightness of that gradient is constantly getting tweaked by the video player, and due to the high contrast ratio of this display, even the smallest brightness change in an 8-bit gray color is usually noticeable. The borders beside fullscreen youtube videos therefore tend to have visible banding and brightness changes much of the time.

First ImpressionsAfter waiting for the perfect monitor for over 5 years, the LG 45GX950A has exceeded all expectations. It’s not just a monitor—it’s a full-on experience. This 45” OLED monitor is in a class of its own and is a huge upgrade that was well worth the wait. It's large and immersive enough to double as a TV.Performance & Display QualityPlaying games on an OLED panel at 165Hz with this resolution is unprecedented. Text is razor-sharp and extremely legible at 125 PPI. The tiny pixels make individual RGB subpixels invisible even under a magnifying glass. The default brightness is set at 100%, which can be harsh on the eyes, but reducing it to 50% creates a comfortable and rich viewing experience.Design & BuildThe matte finish is an excellent choice, minimizing reflections during daytime use or nighttime movie viewing. Unlike glossy screens with aggressive curves that can reflect the room or even distort the monitor’s own image, the matte surface eliminates internal glare and reflection, which can be problematic on an 800R curve. The monitor also features a stylish, hexagonal customizable LED backlight, and the black rear cover helps minimize ambient light scatter, unlike white back panels.Features & FunctionalityA key improvement over my old LG monitor is the convenience factor. The 45GX950A auto-switches to the active input source—a welcome change from having to switch manually. Also, DisplayPort now carries audio to the internal speakers, which are surprisingly loud and adequate for everyday use.Gaming ExperienceThe 21:9 ultrawide aspect ratio is perfect for cinematic content and immersive gameplay. With a 0.03 ms response time and support for up to 165Hz (330Hz with overclocking), this monitor is lightning-fast. The wider field of view is especially ideal for racing sims, flight sims, and open-world titles. If you've never gamed on an OLED display, the difference in black depth and contrast will feel almost surreal.Power EfficiencyDespite its size and capabilities, the monitor uses only 35 watts for non-gaming activity and 40 watts during gaming when HDR brightness is at 50%. That’s incredibly efficient and allows it to run cool even during extended use.Pros:1. You will feel very giddy at first – in a good way. The curve feels dramatic but quickly becomes natural and immersive.2. Blazing speed: 165Hz/330Hz refresh and 0.03 ms response time.3. Convenience: Auto input switching and DisplayPort audio.4. Cinematic ultrawide 21:9 ratio with a vertical 2160 resolution.5. Immersive and ideal for games and movies with deeper blacks.6. Low power usage and high efficiency.7. Matte finish eliminates distracting reflections.8. Customizable backlight with functional design choices like the black rear panel.Cons:1. A faint white vertical bar appeared at first, but OLED Image Cleaning resolved it quickly.2. On the pricey side, though the feature set justifies the cost.3. Your GPU or CPU may need upgrading to handle the full 5K2K resolution.4. For uncompressed DisplayPort 2.0/2.1 support, you’ll need an RTX 5000 or RX 7000 series card.Final ThoughtsIf you're looking for a monitor that blends stunning visuals, fast refresh rates, immersive curvature, and premium build quality—this is it. I didn’t get to see this in person before buying, but after using it for a day, I can confidently say I will be more than 100% satisfied with it for years to come. Highly recommended.

Absolutely incredible image. That's why we buy LG though. I did sit it right next to the exact same monitor in the 4K version and you can tell anybody that says you can't tell the difference between 4K and 5K just doesn't have enough money... If you want basically the best gaming motor on the planet by this the curves a little bit different than the 4K version so that's infuriating. But overall high quality monitor. I do believe you will need a 50 series graphics card with a 2.1 DisplayPort cable to run this though