MSI Optix MPG321QRF-QD 32″ Gaming Monitor Review

A Closer Look

MSI really knows how to make a great-looking monitor. Actually, they pretty much nailed their brand aesthetic for monitors years ago, and they haven’t really changed it much ever since. Sure, from the front, it looks like pretty much any other monitor, as the slimmer bezels let the screen do all the talking.

There’s a lot going on around the back though, with a multi-texture design and some unique angles that really make it look futuristic and cool. There’s some built-in RGB lighting up on the top here too. Admittedly, this fancy back panel is absolutely useless to me, as I have my desk shoved up against a wall or I actually wall mount my monitors anyway. However, if you have a more open-desk design facing out into the room, you’ll appreciate their designs a lot more.

The stand is nice and robust, with a sturdy weighted base, that doesn’t protrude too much beyond the panel depth. However, it feels remarkably stable so the display shouldn’t wobble about when your rage quitting. There’s a good range of adjustment too, allowing for 100mm on the height, 30 degrees on the swivel, and -5 to +20 degrees on the tilt mechanism. All pretty standard fare actually, but certainly all welcome too.

The panel has impressive viewing angles (178° / 178°) thanks to the IPS technology, not that it’s a bonus for most, as you’ll likely be sitting dead-on in front of it. However, if you have multi-monitor setups, or people will be spectating from your sides, it’s all good stuff.

The monitor has great connectivity, offering up 2 x HDMI 2.0b ports, which support WQHD @ 144hz. However, if you want the full-fat experience, you can use the Display Port 1.4a port, which can do WQHD @ 175Hz, as can the USB Type-C DisplayPort input.

There are 3 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A and 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type B ports too, allowing you to use the built-in KVM switch to control multiple systems thanks to the upstream/downstream port layout.