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

How Much Does it Cost?

Unfortunately, I cannot find stock of this anywhere. Normally, I’d be more concerned about this, but these days, stock issues are so commonplace, it’s not really that surprising. I do know that the MSRP sits at around $900, and I’d imagine the price in the UK just swaps the $ for a £. This is a high-end monitor, and that’s going to be reflected in the price. You can check for new stock on their Amazon store here.

Overview

This is a very cool monitor to use, there’s no doubt about that. However, I’m a little confused about who it is really for. I think at the best part of a thousand pounds, it’s a bit too expensive for the majority of at-home gamers. While the price isn’t likely to be an issue for the professional gaming market, eSports fans will likely look at a 2560 x 1440 panel, which will cost less, and likely come with an even higher refresh rate for equal or less money. Personally, however, this is the kind of monitor I would actually buy for myself, as it’s ticking all the right boxes for the sort of features I enjoy. To me then, this isn’t an eSports monitor, but just a feature-packed monitor for the PC enthusiast.

Colourful!

The colour reproduction is excellent. I watch a lot of movies at my desk recently (quite literally hundreds this year alone, seriously!) so I can really benefit from the colours on this monitor. It has a wide gamut, it supports HDR600, and really it’s hitting colours that would make it suitable for some serious video/photo editing too. So given I actually do use my monitor for movies, gaming and my editing work here at eTeknix, this is a big plus for me. The colours even out pace my 4K HDR LG TV, so it’s really making me want to upgrade that now too… hmmm.

Lighting

The screen is edge-lit, which may put some off, but honestly, it seems to perform exceptionally well. The only time it’s more evident is very dark scenes in HDR content when watching in a darkened room. You will see some greyness to the black. However, for the bulk of the content, especially gaming, the increased peak brightness and contrast look awesome. You could invest in a full array backlight panel with similar specifications, but you’ll be spending literally double the amount, as they’re around £2000 a pop… yikes.

4K 144Hz

At 4K and 32″ the screen is great for multitasking and media consumption. I’ve been using 4K 60Hz monitors for many years now, and I certainly see no reason to go to a lower resolution panel any time soon. However, I do like smooth gaming, and having a 144Hz panel is a huge step up. I’ve been enjoying a good chunk of Forza Horizon 4 on this and it is freaking awesome. The same goes for Elder Scrolls Online, which can push high resolutions and refresh rates much easier now thanks to the inclusion of DLSS. Throw in the G-Sync to fill in the gaps, and you can really reap the benefits of this monitor. From FPS gaming to just enjoying some Minecraft, the double whammy of high resolution and high refresh rate is an absolute treat.

Should I Buy One?

Well, if you really are into eSports, this monitor is both overkill and underperforming in equal measures. 4K really isn’t needed to be competitive, and you could save a bundle by opting for a 2K panel with a higher refresh rate. That being said, if you have to have 4K (I know I do), the combination of a higher refresh rate and higher resolution is certainly welcome. Plus, I think 144Hz is plenty for me, and it’s a massive step up from 60Hz.

This monitor is expensive, but it’s a big panel, it has truly awesome colour reproduction and a bunch of cool features that add to the overall experience. So while this isn’t really the eSports monitor it claims to be, it’s a great product for the PC enthusiast looking for a versatile monitor that can deliver great performance for editing, gaming and movies.