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The original was posted on /r/ultrawidemasterrace by /u/PSUHammer on 2023-08-18 16:59:18+00:00.

Still some confusing and contradicting thoughts on this monitor’s console mode setting. As of the latest firmware (M3B104), I have heard you DON’T need console mode and source tone mapping as the EOTF of HDR1000 has been resolved. This is for Win 11 and Nvidia card.

BUT some people have claimed you still need console mode enabled (and not source tone mapping) and RTINGS even mentions to keep them both still:

"The Dell AW3423DWF has okay HDR brightness. These results are in the ‘HDR Peak 1000’ Smart HDR mode with Console Mode and Source Tone Map both enabled. While some small highlights are around 1,000 cd/m², the overall real scene peak brightness is worse than the Dell Alienware AW3423DW.

These results are with firmware M3B104, released in June 2023. It makes the image a bit brighter, but the main difference is that the EOTF tracks closer to the target PQ curve, meaning it displays images at their intended brightness. Before the update, the EOTF was brighter than the target. The firmware update also fixes the bug that caused colors to look washed out with Source Tone Map and Console Mode both disabled on previous firmware, as it performs nearly the same with those settings off with firmware M3B104. However, the EOTF is slightly different with both settings disabled, as there’s a slower roll-off at the peak brightness, meaning it’s tone mapping before the source does, causing highlights to be too dim."

Dell Alienware AW3423DWF Review - RTINGS.com

Thoughts? What does console mode even do if not using source tone mapping option?