The Dell 43 Ultra HD 4K Multi-Client Monitor P4317Q ($1,349.99) is more than just a huge, well-appointed 43-inch Ultra-High-Definition (UHD) desktop monitor. Armed with a vast array of video inputs and an In-Plane Switching (IPS) panel, the P4317Q ($719.99 at Dell Technologies) can simultaneously display content from four different clients in full HD (1080p), or from a single source at a resolution of 3,840 by 2,160. It's expensive, but delivers very sharp UHD imagery and accurate colors, and can do the work of four monitors. It's our latest Editors' Choice for big-screen business monitors.
Design and Features
The 43-inch IPS panel has a peak brightness of 350 cd/m2, a 16:9 aspect ratio, a 1,000:1 native contrast ratio, and a non-reflective, antiglare coating. While it doesn't offer the slick bezel-free design used on the Dell's own UltraSharp UP2715K ( at Amazon) and U3415W ($799.99 at Dell) models, it is still a nice-looking monitor. The big screen is housed in an enormous 31-pound silver-colored cabinet and is framed by half-inch black bezels. Measuring 38.3 inches wide and 25.9 inches high, this monitor requires a lot of desktop real estate, but if you're replacing four monitors, it may actually save you some space. The cabinet is supported by a matching stand that offers tilt adjustability, but lacks height, swivel, and pivot adjustments. It has four VESA mounting holes for use with an optional wall mount or articulating arm assembly.
The numerous I/O ports are located at the rear of the cabinet, facing downward. They include two HDMI/MHL inputs, a Mini DisplayPort input, a full-size DisplayPort input, a VGA input, and five USB 3.0 ports (one upstream and four downstream). One of the downstream USB ports is also a charging port. Other ports include a headphone jack, an audio input, and an RS-232 serial port that can be used to control the monitor remotely. A pair of 8-watt speakers provides loud, crisp audio with decent bass response.
There are four function buttons and a power switch on the right side of the lower bezel that are used to access the monitor's settings menus. The P4317Q offers a decent array of settings, but it lacks the advanced color control settings that you get with other high-priced, big-screen monitors such as the NEC MultiSync EA305WMi ($810.55 at Amazon) or the Dell U3415W. You get Brightness, Contrast, Aspect Ratio, and Sharpness settings, a choice of two color formats (RGB and YPbPr), and five Preset Modes (Standard, Paper, Warm, Cool, and Custom).
Similar Products
NEC MultiSync EA305WMi
Dell UltraSharp UP2715K
HP Envy 34c Media Display
Dell UltraSharp U3415W
BenQ XR3501
BenQ BL3201PH
Lenovo ThinkVision Tiny-In-One 23
ViewSonic VP2780-4K
Philips 19DP6QJNS
Philips E-Line 247E6BDAD/27
Asus PA328Q
NEC MultiSync EA275UHD
NEC MultiSync P212
Acer R240HY
Dell 43 Ultra HD 4K Multi-Client Monitor P4317Q
The Picture-in-Picture/Picture-by-Picture (PiP/PbP) settings are where you go to determine how you want the P4317Q to display images from up to four input sources. You can use the four PbP presets that offer side-by-side and split-screen options, or you can create your own custom-sized windows using the Dell Display Manager utility that comes with the monitor. If you use the four-screen default setting, you can view content from four sources in full HD (1080p) in windows that are equivalent to 21-inch monitors. The Display Manager software also allows you to adjust monitor settings using a keyboard and mouse.
The monitor comes with one HDMI cable, one Mini DisplayPort–to–DisplayPort cable, one full-size DisplayPort cable, and one upstream USB cable. Dell covers the monitor with a three-year warranty on parts, labor, and the backlight.
Performance
The P4317Q delivered very accurate colors out of the box. As shown on the chromaticity chart below, red, green, and blue colors (represented by the colored dots) are closely aligned with their ideal CIE coordinates (represented by the boxes). Colors appeared rich and uniform in my test images and while viewing Marvel's Ant-Man on Blu-ray.
Grayscale performance was also good. The P4317Q had no trouble displaying every shade of gray on the DisplayMate 64-Step Gray-Scale test and provided intricate shadow and highlight detail. My UHD (4K) test images also appeared crisp, with excellent detail and good contrast. Viewing angles were wide, with no noticeable color shifting or fading when viewed from an extreme top, side, or bottom angle.
I connected the P4317Q to two desktops and two laptops using all four digital inputs and selected the default four-way PbP setting. Each window maintained a perfect aspect ratio and delivered a sharp 1080p image. The panel's 8ms pixel response produced noticeable ghosting in my Crysis 3 (PC) and Grand Theft Auto V (Sony Playstation 4 ($799.95 at Amazon) ) gaming tests, and its input lag (the time needed for the monitor to react to a controller command) of 27.5 milliseconds, as measured using a Leo Bodnar Video Signal Lag Tester, is on the long side, but this is a business monitor and likely won't be pressed into heavy gaming duty.
The P4317Q isn't exactly a power miser, but it's not a power hog either, consuming 68 watts of power in our tests while set to the Standard preset (it doesn't offer an ECO mode). The 34-inch HP Envy 34c Media Display ( at Amazon) used 61 watts (in sRGB mode), and the BenQ XR3501 ( at Amazon) used 50 watts.
Conclusion
The Dell 43 Ultra HD 4K Multi-Client Monitor P4317Q doesn't come cheap, but if your work requires a quad-screen configuration, it's not much more than you'd pay for four individual 21-inch monitors. It provides excellent UHD performance in single-screen mode, and sharp 1080p performance when running in PbP mode, and you can create custom windows sizes to suit your specific viewing needs. It also delivers accurate colors and solid grayscale performance, and offers a robust feature set. All of this earns the P4317Q our Editors' Choice for big-screen business monitors. That said, if your business absolutely requires multiple big-screen monitors, the 30-inch NEC MultiSync EA305WMi ($810.55 at Amazon) , another top pick, is worth a look. It's a stellar performer and is loaded with ports, including a DisplayPort output for connecting multiple monitors. It also offers NEC's ControlSync technology, which allows you to control up to six monitors, and is packed with features, including a fully adjustable stand, a USB hub, and a generous selection of image settings.
The Dell P4317Q is a massive 43-inch Ultra-High-Definition (UHD) monitor that can display images from up to four different sources. It's loaded with video inputs and other goodies, including a USB hub, and a powerful set of speakers.
Like What You're Reading?
Sign up for Lab Report to get the latest reviews and top product advice delivered right to your inbox.
This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time.
Thanks for signing up!
Your subscription has been confirmed. Keep an eye on your inbox!
Sign up for other newsletters
