MSI Optix MPG321UR-QD 144Hz 4K Gaming Monitor Review

A Closer Look

I already knew this monitor was going to be impressive, the specifications on the box alone are jaw-dropping and sure to excite any gamer. However, it looks like MSI has made the effort to match the specifications with similarly high-end build quality. The 16:9 panel looks great, with a nice matte finish and some exceptionally slim bezels.

At 32″, it’s a good panel size for work, gaming and movies at your desk. Of course, if you did want to go for a multi-display setup, those thin bezels will make it feel more uniform. It’s quite far forward on my desk, I know, but I didn’t want the stand to scratch the wall-mounted displays behind it.

Even the lower bezel is pretty minimal, keeping your eyes firmly focused on the panel its self. It’s one of the less intrusive bezels I’ve seen.

There’s a nice MSI logo in the middle, as well as a small camera that you could use for Windows Hello. The logo is finished in black so that it’s not too distracting and it looks pretty decent overall.

You’ll find a really nice design around the back too, with some funky angles and built-in RGB lighting, and a brushed metal effect, ensuring the monitor looks great for those with an open desk design.

There’s a nice MSI logo here too.

The RGB lights are here, which you can turn off or customise if you desire. They’re not enough to ambiently light your desktop though, just assent colours when looking from the rear.

The stand is pretty compact for a monitor of this size, but it feels nice and robust and surprisingly heavy. It uses a standard VESA mount too, so if you wanted to use your own stand, you can do so fairly easily. There’s a good range of movement allowing you to move the monitor up and down easily enough. You can tilt it, and there’s 30-degree rotation left and right also.

The monitor is well connected, offering up a pair of USB ports on the side (downstream), and mic input for the noise cancelling feature that’s built-in. There are more USB ports on the underside, a mixture of up and downstream, allowing you to use the KVM 3.0 feature with multiple systems. There’s a good range of video options, with DisplayPort 1.4a, a pair of HDMI 2.1, and a USB-C. That’s great for the KVM, as PC can use the DP1.4a, you could have an Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 on the HDMI 2.1 and perhaps a notebook connected via USB-C.

There are some mounts on the bottom of the monitor too, allowing you to use the included mouse bungees. It’s a nice little touch, and something MSI is putting on quite a few of their latest monitors.

It simply clips into place on the left or right side of the panel.