MSI Optix MAG274QRF-QD 27" Gaming Monitor

Overall a really good monitor. Bright and vivid with not a single dead or stuck pixel. Easy to setup and attach the stand and comes with both a displayport and HDMI cable. The stand itself is sturdy, got enough adjustability to line up with my other monitor and resists vibration pretty well. Connecting the included USB connection had windows 11 automatically grab the Gaming OSD app, only downside to it appears to be the RBG on the back of the monitor needs the app to be running in order to control it, at least between standby sessions. Power light is on the lower right edge and while it's sill visible it's hidden enough that it doesn't shine in your eyes and isn't obtrusive at all. Standard joystick setup for settings access but little need to use it once you get ... MoreOverall a really good monitor. Bright and vivid with not a single dead or stuck pixel. Easy to setup and attach the stand and comes with both a displayport and HDMI cable. The stand itself is sturdy, got enough adjustability to line up with my other monitor and resists vibration pretty well. Connecting the included USB connection had windows 11 automatically grab the Gaming OSD app, only downside to it appears to be the RBG on the back of the monitor needs the app to be running in order to control it, at least between standby sessions. Power light is on the lower right edge and while it's sill visible it's hidden enough that it doesn't shine in your eyes and isn't obtrusive at all. Standard joystick setup for settings access but little need to use it once you get things setup right and the Gaming OSD app lets you access things without touching the monitor itself. Compared to previous monitors I've used it's a step up and runs really well.

Bad gaming monitor 0 for 2.

I purchased this monitor in Aug of 2021. By Sept 2021 I had dead pixels and exchanged at BestBuy it thinking it was a one-off. My second monitor did not have any pixel issues but after I purchased a high-end gaming desktop and started running the monitor at it's expected refresh rate I experienced major ghosting. I tried changing every conceivable setting on the monitor lowering FPS in games and changing the monitor response rate to any of the 3 options: normal, fast and fastest. I decreased all of the settings in Fortnite, minus viewing distance, to the lowest settings and nothing changed it. I researched this extensively and the only suggestions (aside from what I already tried) were possible interference from other hardware like routers etc near the monitor (not ... MoreI purchased this monitor in Aug of 2021. By Sept 2021 I had dead pixels and exchanged at BestBuy it thinking it was a one-off. My second monitor did not have any pixel issues but after I purchased a high-end gaming desktop and started running the monitor at it's expected refresh rate I experienced major ghosting. I tried changing every conceivable setting on the monitor lowering FPS in games and changing the monitor response rate to any of the 3 options: normal, fast and fastest. I decreased all of the settings in Fortnite, minus viewing distance, to the lowest settings and nothing changed it. I researched this extensively and the only suggestions (aside from what I already tried) were possible interference from other hardware like routers etc near the monitor (not my case). Recently I returned the second monitor as a warranty issue after talking to an MSI representative who believes it is a hardware issue. So I think I will just sell the replacement and buy a different monitor. MSI seems easy to deal with but this particular product isn't as advertised from my experience. If you are playing high movement games like Fortnite and require high refresh/response rates, I would suggest just staying away from higher resolution monitors. 1080p and higher refresh rates and response rates are likely the way to go.

Great Colours worth getting QD version

The MAG274QRF-QD (not the less expensive MAG274QRF version without QD [Quantum Dot]) has just amazing colours. I would recommend spending the extra for the QD version. I have seen may major review sites put it at the top, or near the top of their best 1440 gaming monitors. I would recommend this if your system can handle the 1140 and make use of the 165hz refresh rate. I really found games looked better on the monitor, the colours were more vibrant. Only complaint I have is that there can be issues with dead pixels. I got the basic MAG274QRF version and it had one dead pixel. I took it back and upgraded to the QD version and it was perfect. I note MSI does not have a zero dead pixel policy their website says "MSI Monitor do not have 0 pixel defect warranty DOT ... MoreThe MAG274QRF-QD (not the less expensive MAG274QRF version without QD [Quantum Dot]) has just amazing colours. I would recommend spending the extra for the QD version. I have seen may major review sites put it at the top, or near the top of their best 1440 gaming monitors. I would recommend this if your system can handle the 1140 and make use of the 165hz refresh rate. I really found games looked better on the monitor, the colours were more vibrant. Only complaint I have is that there can be issues with dead pixels. I got the basic MAG274QRF version and it had one dead pixel. I took it back and upgraded to the QD version and it was perfect. I note MSI does not have a zero dead pixel policy their website says "MSI Monitor do not have 0 pixel defect warranty DOT Policy : Bright Dot > 3 Dots, Bright dot gap < L >=15mm" (https://www.msi.com/page/warranty [under monitors]). MSI you should do better, when you pay this much for a monitor you should not have to deal with dead pixels. So my recommendation is make sure you buy the monitor from a place that has a zero dead pixel policy so you can exchange if you are unlucky and get one with a dead pixel.

Great Gaming Monitor

I went from a 1080 144 hz monitor to this 1440 165 hz monitor. Going from 1080 to 1440 is an amazing improvement on everything. Texts are crisp and games look great. I have had no issues with the monitor in terms of performance. I finally noticed a little IPS glow in the top left corner, but it was no noticeable unless I really looked for it. Also, I tuned the monitor because that is what I do with every monitor. Not sure it actually needed it, but saturated colors do not bother me regardless. The only issue I really have with the monitor is really with the setup of my office. I have a window behind me that causes glare unless I have it shut. Really enjoying the jump to 1440. It was worth the price.

Great monitor at this price range!

This monitor features a mixture of great picture quality and responsiveness. The colors are great, but, depending on what you like, they can look oversaturated out of the box. However, the latest OSD firmware update has an sRGB clamp that really helps. Its responsiveness is second to none and it's very smooth at 165Hz refresh rate. The only complaint I have is that it can be annoying plugging in the cables in the back, because the ports are a bit receded. This makes it hard to plug in the cables when the monitor is all set up with its included stand. I had to do raise and tilt it and I still had some trouble with it, but it's workable. If you want to take full advantage of this monitor, make sure to use display port or USB-C and not HDMI. The HDMI port on this ... MoreThis monitor features a mixture of great picture quality and responsiveness. The colors are great, but, depending on what you like, they can look oversaturated out of the box. However, the latest OSD firmware update has an sRGB clamp that really helps. Its responsiveness is second to none and it's very smooth at 165Hz refresh rate. The only complaint I have is that it can be annoying plugging in the cables in the back, because the ports are a bit receded. This makes it hard to plug in the cables when the monitor is all set up with its included stand. I had to do raise and tilt it and I still had some trouble with it, but it's workable. If you want to take full advantage of this monitor, make sure to use display port or USB-C and not HDMI. The HDMI port on this monitor only supports up to 144Hz, so it cannot take advantage of the 165Hz refresh rate this monitor offers. Overall, this monitor is impressive at this price range and can even compete with higher-priced monitors in terms of performance. If you're looking for an affordable monitor that can give you a mix of high resolution with a high refresh rate, then this definitely fits the bill.

Great monitor but minor msi flaw

Color in the monitor is amazing. I didn’t even need to Calibrate. The only thing I did was updated the firmware on other users recommendations. Gameplay on halo and war zone is smooth, g-sync is active and working. I was fortunate not to get any dead pixels and the black light bleed seems minimal to my eyes. The only issue I have with the monitor is the auto scan feature on the input settings. Even tho I disable it on the monitor or the software control software from MSI the auto scan feature keeps turning on. Auto scan allows the monitor to keep rolling though the sources till it finds the correct one. When this feature is enabled the monitor will not fully go into sleep mode. Instead of a straight back screen the back light panned stays on so the monitor really ... MoreColor in the monitor is amazing. I didn’t even need to Calibrate. The only thing I did was updated the firmware on other users recommendations. Gameplay on halo and war zone is smooth, g-sync is active and working. I was fortunate not to get any dead pixels and the black light bleed seems minimal to my eyes. The only issue I have with the monitor is the auto scan feature on the input settings. Even tho I disable it on the monitor or the software control software from MSI the auto scan feature keeps turning on. Auto scan allows the monitor to keep rolling though the sources till it finds the correct one. When this feature is enabled the monitor will not fully go into sleep mode. Instead of a straight back screen the back light panned stays on so the monitor really never sleeps. You might say, why would this upset anyone? I just hate seeing my other monitor off and this one staying on. It’s an issue and if the monitor didn’t look so good I would prob return it. But love playing on it. So I just took one star off. I did contact msi and they said, that’s what it’s ment to do and closed the ticket. MSI doesn’t seem to have a good support staff but love the monitor anyway.

I had tried a Gigabyte curved monitor first, and the curved screen didn't work well for all tasks...

I had tried a Gigabyte curved monitor first, and the curved screen didn't work well for all tasks (in my opinion). Curved is great for gaming and movies, but not the other stuff. I like the MSI because the price is fair, the picture quality is superb, text is sharp, brightness is more than I would ever need (I keep it turned down to maybe 50% brightness as my office is quite dark anyway). It also has a good number of video inputs: 2 HDMI and a DisplayPort. This is actually exactly what I need, so fantastic. It would be a bonus if it included another DisplayPort, but I'm happy with what it has now. The USB hub built into the monitor is another cool feature. You connect a USB cable (included) between your computer and the monitor, then can use 2 USB ports on the ... MoreI had tried a Gigabyte curved monitor first, and the curved screen didn't work well for all tasks (in my opinion). Curved is great for gaming and movies, but not the other stuff. I like the MSI because the price is fair, the picture quality is superb, text is sharp, brightness is more than I would ever need (I keep it turned down to maybe 50% brightness as my office is quite dark anyway). It also has a good number of video inputs: 2 HDMI and a DisplayPort. This is actually exactly what I need, so fantastic. It would be a bonus if it included another DisplayPort, but I'm happy with what it has now. The USB hub built into the monitor is another cool feature. You connect a USB cable (included) between your computer and the monitor, then can use 2 USB ports on the monitor. Works great for hooking something up real quick. Also lets you use the MSI app center to configure the monitor's video settings using the software, instead of having to fiddle with the little joystick on the back of the monitor. I really like this feature.. it's also bound to a hotkey on the bottom left of the monitor, so you can just push that button and it loads the app in about 1-2 seconds. Then you can easily switch presets.. from gaming to editing or whatever else.. change brightness, etc. A great feature. Gigabyte's monitor also had this option, but it did not work as well, was slow and felt very clunky. MSI's software is a lot better, more mature and just works better. The monitor also has great adjustability. Height, tilt, swivel. Some monitors only have tilt/swivel, but I really wanted height adjustment, so that was a key factor in my decision to purchase this monitor. The stand is also quite a reasonable footprint for a monitor of this size. Also has VESA mounts if you'd like to connect to a monitor mount. All in all, a great monitor! Very pleased with my purchase. When I get a new desk, I will consider getting a second monitor.

Justin's review of MSI Optix MAG274QRF-QD 27 IPS WQHD Monitor

Pros: This is a fantastic monitor, I am really impressed with it. Buttery smooth frames for gaming, with good colour uniformity, very little backlight bleed and colours that are really punchy. The stand is sturdy and has a good range of adjustment. It has nice aesthetics, the rear RGB is inobtrusive and easy to disable.I would recommend that you download the GamingOSD software from MSI which requires an A-B USB cable to use. This will enable you to change settings via an application, so you don't have to use the rear joystick to make any adjustments. The GamingOSD software also allows you to install firmware updates to the monitor. Cons: The default factory colour settings are a little off, so you will need to do some tweaking to get it to look good.Note : If you ... MorePros: This is a fantastic monitor, I am really impressed with it. Buttery smooth frames for gaming, with good colour uniformity, very little backlight bleed and colours that are really punchy. The stand is sturdy and has a good range of adjustment. It has nice aesthetics, the rear RGB is inobtrusive and easy to disable.I would recommend that you download the GamingOSD software from MSI which requires an A-B USB cable to use. This will enable you to change settings via an application, so you don't have to use the rear joystick to make any adjustments. The GamingOSD software also allows you to install firmware updates to the monitor. Cons: The default factory colour settings are a little off, so you will need to do some tweaking to get it to look good.Note : If you are using this in a mixed output multi-monitor setup and have problems with the Windows lock screen standby mode not working correctly, disable Input Source Auto Scan on the monitor (This is not an MSI monitor specific issue).

Terrible vignetting

I had to return mine due to dead pixels but I don't think I would have kept this monitor either way. The colors are pretty nice and the fresh rate makes everything oh so butter smooth (the response time is great as well, not the best but definitely within the margins of what I would consider acceptable), but the biggest issue is that it seems that the panel that's used for these units all have really horrible vignetting (dramatic shift in color around the edges of the monitor) on top of really inconsistent color uniformity. If this monitor was cheaper I'd probably have accepted it and would have gotten used to it but for the price I'm paying I genuinely expected better. I have a budget IPS from 2016 that I was trying to replace with this that has excellent color ... MoreI had to return mine due to dead pixels but I don't think I would have kept this monitor either way. The colors are pretty nice and the fresh rate makes everything oh so butter smooth (the response time is great as well, not the best but definitely within the margins of what I would consider acceptable), but the biggest issue is that it seems that the panel that's used for these units all have really horrible vignetting (dramatic shift in color around the edges of the monitor) on top of really inconsistent color uniformity. If this monitor was cheaper I'd probably have accepted it and would have gotten used to it but for the price I'm paying I genuinely expected better. I have a budget IPS from 2016 that I was trying to replace with this that has excellent color uniformity with very negligible backlight bleed. Unfortunately this appears to be the status quo for quality control on gaming monitors these days, and I suspect that if I were used to this type of thing I may as well have kept the monitor anyway. I'm just going to wait for high refresh rate miniled monitors to hit the market.

Very nice and Clear vibrant monitor! And very fast ips as advertised!

Bought this to replace a 1080p 27 inch IPS monitor. And honestly its pretty good. Images are more crisp, the ips panel is fast as advertised (stick to fast mode at 165hz). And with the Quantom dot technology, the colours are very vibrant. The monitor can also even adapt and can upscale your 1440p native resolution game into 4K. And everything looks even much more crisper and vibrant colour wise. The stand is also nice as you can tilt, spin and move it up and down. Which is a + versus fixed stands. It has G-Sync and can confirm it works. It has HDR as well. And when the game does have HDR, the game just looks so much better. Overall I am happy with the product. Highly recommended!