MSI MPG ARTYMIS 323CQR Gaming Monitor Review

MSI has long been one of the best in the world for gaming hardware. From their award-winning graphics cards, right through to things like their stunning PC cases. However, in recent years, they've had some of the best gaming monitors in the world too, with flagship models that can go head to head with the best of the best from the likes of AOC, Philips, ASUS, ACER, etc. Just take a look at the Optix MEG381CQR I reviewed recently, it's a bit expensive, but it's a hell of a thing. However, what if you want something is more focused on your typical high-end PC and console gamer? Then the MSI MPG ARTYMIS 323CQR is the right place to start. It packs a huge range of features that are all designed to get the best performance out of your device and from you and best of all, you'll get it all for around £400! MSI MPG ARTYMIS 323CQR It's extremely well equipped, and actually, I bet within this review, I fail to mention everything it has or can do; the list is too long! Let's start with the panel, which features a lovely 1000R curve over a 16:9 32" play area giving it a very natural look while you're working or gaming. It features 2560 x 1440 resolution and a 165 Hz refresh rate with a 1ms response time, so it's really sitting in a sweet spot for gamers. Another welcome feature is the console mode, which will output at FHD/WQHD@120Hz, and can use 2K Resolution PS5 Optimization. However, it'll actually accept a 4K signal from the device, netting a better scaled image quality overall. Features 1000R Perfect Curved Screen - Perfectly fits the curvature of the human eye so that you can see the entire screen without any fatigue.WQHD High Resolution - Game titles will even look better, displaying more details due to the WQHD resolution.Gaming Intelligence – A new dawn of AI gaming, including Smart Brightness, Smart Crosshair, Night Vision AI, and Sound Tune.Rapid Boost (165 + 1ms) – Experience smooth gaming with a blazing fast refresh rate and response time.HDR400 + 10 bits – It has passed the VESA HDR Display 400 Certification, meaning it can provide a display with the most realistic colors.Gaming OSD App – Create the ultimate viewing settings for your game.HDMI CEC Profile Sync– Set up profiles for multiple sets of devices and can automatically detect your settings.KVM – Control multiple devices via one set of keyboard, mouse, and MSI gaming monitor.Console Mode– Best solution for console users:FHD/WQHD@120Hz, 2K Resolution PS5™ Optimization. What MSI Had to Say "The world’s first 1000R AI Curved GamingTM Monitor - MSI ARTYMIS Series. Formerly known as Ἄρτεμις and derived from Greek mythology. It is at the same time known as Luna (New Moon) and Goddess of Hunting. When hunting, she wore a silver bow and rode a silver cart pulled by a female deer with golden antlers. The image shows both kindness and majesty, just like the moon's surplus and deficiency.1000R, The most suitable curvature for the human eyes. It can Perfectly fits the curvature of the human eye so that you can see the entire screen without any fatigue. The curved surface design can also enhance the sense of coverage and immersion so that you will not be disturbed by the outside environment during the game, which greatly enhances the gaming experience. In addition to 1000R, we also added many innovative and exclusive AI features to the product." - MSI Launch Trailer A Closer Look The MSI MPG ARTYMIS 323CQR is built for high-performance gaming, and while it's far from the most expensive in the MSI range, it's still a premium product, so I think the design has to reflect that. Thankfully, it does! This is a very sexy looking monitor and would compliment any high-end setup really well. It has a set of extra slim bezels on the sides and top, making it well suited to a multi-monitor configuration. There's a thicker bezel at the bottom, but really, even that looks pretty stylish too. It has a nice shape and finish to it. Branding is kept minimal too, with just a small MSI logo in the bottom left corner. The stand is heavy-duty, with a weighted base that uses nice wide arms to don't jut out too far from the panel, so they take up surprisingly little space. Because the monitor is curved, more of the weight sits further back resulting in a very sturdy design despite the monitor's overall size. The back part of the stand is pretty chunky, but it does look great, and it feels exceptionally well made. The stand allows you to easily adjust the height, you can slide it up and down with one hand and it stays where you leave it; you can adjust the height by 10CM! There's a -5° ~ 20° level of tilt too, which is more than enough. Plus you get -30° ~ 30° of swivel, with the monitor turning on the stand, so no need to drag the heavy monitor stand over your desk to turn it. The monitor features some small clips on the underside, allowing you to mount the mouse bungees that are included in the box. There are two included, much like we saw on the 323CQR recently. The panel has a 1000R curve. I don't like strong curves on my monitors, I find it a little too distracting. However, a 1000R curve on a 16:9 32" monitor just seems like it's hitting that sweet spot. It feels very natural, and really just helps pull those edges into your peripheral vision. Around the back, I think the monitor looks even better! There's a mixture of (fake) carbon fibre, glossy mirror sections, matte sections and even a brushed metal effect on one part. overall, it's a nice design and will really stand out if you have a more open-desk layout. There's even RGB built into it, with lights in the glossy section, as well as on the MSI logo. Controls are easy enough, with a small control stick/button for easy menu navigation. However, there's a dedicated profile button and power button here too, giving you a little more control than most monitors that use one of these little stick controllers. Down the side of the monitor, you'll find this little button that pops out... but what could it be? Ta-da, it is a headphone stand! How neat is that! As for connectivity, you get 1 x DisplayPort (Supports WQHD@165Hz as specified in DisplayPort 1.2a), and 2 x HDMI (Supports WQHD@165Hz as specified in HDMI2.0b). There's also a USB Type-C which operates as DisplayPort. However, keep in mind that FreeSync Premium will only operate up to 144Hz on the HDMI ports. The OSD can be controlled from the monitor its self, or from the desktop software (see below). You can easily customise everything and it's all nicely laid out. Directly on the monitor, you can see your resolution, refresh rate, and quickly change your profiles. All the basic settings are here, allowing for quick and easy adjustments. You can even turn the RGB lights on and off too, which is handy for movie time. The KVM switch can be configured here too if you're rocking multiple systems on one monitor. Feel like a sneaky cheat? The in-game crosshair overlay is a nice touch. See The Monitor in Action How Much Does it Cost? The MSI MPG Artymis 323CQR Quad HD 31.5" Curved LCD Gaming Monitor - Black is available right now from Currys in the UK for just £399.00. Obviously, that's a lot of money, but honestly, I think it's exceptionally good value for money too. It's a very impressive monitor, and for that amount of money, you're getting a level of features that are going to be hard to beat. Overview MSI is one of the best in the business, and I think that's reflected with their new MSI MPG Artymis 323CQR Quad HD 31.5" Curved LCD Gaming Monitor. It's one of the best gaming monitors I've ever used and while I'd argue that I've tested some that are better equipped, they also cost 5x as much. However, this monitor is not exactly lacking in features and for me, it's ticked all the right boxes. You get a high resolution, high refresh rate, great colours, fast response times, solid connectivity FreeSync premium and a massive 1000R curved panel, and that's just the tip of the features list. Build Quality MSI has a strong reputation for well-made monitors, and the Artymis 323CQR is no exception. From the moment you take it out of the box, you can tell it's a quality product. It looks great from all angles, with some nice attention to detail in the design, some RGB lighting, and some interesting surface finishes. The stand is robust and easy to use and takes up little space for a monitor of this size. Plus, additional features like the headphone stand and mouse bungee features just give it a little something extra. Performance It really did exactly what was promised, and blew us away when it comes to gaming. Sure, there are higher resolutions than 2K, and there are higher refresh rates than 165 Hz, and panels bigger than 32". However, it really is sitting in a sweet spot that makes games look and play great. For competitive shooters like Halo, Fortnite, or CS:GO (to name but a few), high-speed racing games like Forza Horizon 5, or action-heavy single-player experiences like Horizon, the resolution and refresh rate are spot on. Plus, with GPU prices where they are right now, it's easier to get the most out of this panel than it would be their more expensive 4K models. The colour reproduction, lag-free and ghost-free panel performance, and fast response times just make it a joy to use. It doesn't matter if you're sitting and scrolling reddit or playing Elder Scrolls Online (that sums up my whole day right there), it's just a joy to use. Added Value This is where this monitor really dominates. With its powerful software suite offering Night Vision, Smart Brightness, a built-in KVM, the smart resolution scaling of the Console Mode, smart on-screen crosshairs, and a suite of calibration options too. It doesn't matter what you play or how you play, there's a mode to squeeze a little extra performance out of what you're doing. There's also their Gaming OSD App 2.0 software, allowing you more ways to tune the monitor. Should I Buy One? When it comes to raw gaming performance, the MSI MPG Artymis 323CQR gaming monitor is awesome. It comes equipped with a huge range of features to ensure you get the best performance from whatever game you play. While it's a great monitor to use for your daily work, when it comes to gaming, it's in a league of its own. If you're looking for a premium gaming experience, a large panel, a suite of connectivity features, and at a reasonable price, this is the perfect gaming monitor for you.