The MSI MPG341CQR was announced back in January during CES 2019. It was revealed that the curved monitor would be released during the fall of this year, so it’s about time the Taiwanese based company released it to the market.
Curved displays have enhanced peripheral vision for that immersive experience when paired with the right sound system or headphones. However, finding a wide curved display for playing the GPU hungry titles like CS:GO, and DOTA 2 is all about compromise. Striking a balance between resolution, panel size, and refresh rate isn’t possible.
Most of the wide curved gaming monitors won’t go beyond 100Hz – you understand the essence of a high refresh rate in competitive gaming. But MSI is changing the game with the new MSI Optix MPG341CQR; a 34-inch curved gaming monitor with 3,440 x 1,440 resolution and 21:9 aspect ratio. The highlight is the monitor’s support for 144Hz refresh rate and also boasts AMD FreeSync 2. The fast 1ms response time is also impressive.
Well, it isn’t the first 34-inch UWQHD monitor. The Samsung CF791 and Asus ProArt PA34V are good examples, but they are not suited for high refresh rate gaming as they have a 100Hz refresh rate. Furthermore, the ProArt, as the name suggests, is specially designed for CAD and web design. As for the MSI Optix MPG341CQR, it is built with gamers in mind. Still, models like LG 34GK950F are compelling with 144Hz refresh rate, but the glow of IPS isn’t the best for long gaming sessions.
Gamers have different profile settings, and in case the monitor is used by different players, toggling the settings can be hectic. MSI introduced AI in this monitor that scans your face and adjusts to your profile once you sit in front of the monitor.
The connectivity options are vast. MSI included two HDMI 2.0 ports and DisplayPort 1.4. Also, the Optix MPG341CQR offers USB Type C video connectivity. USB 2.0 is outdated, so instead, the monitor has a USB 3.2 Gen 1 hub which supports upstream and downstream. While many find it a shortcoming for the MPG341CQR not to have speakers, it isn’t. You should pair up this monitor with equally good headphones.
Regarding the design, the MPG341CQR is sleek and stylish, with ‘Mystic Light’ RGB LEDs. The monitor can be tilted 5° forward and 15° backwards. It will also swivel 30° left and right.
So far, it’s not clear when the MSI MPG341CQR will be available in the market, but it’s very soon. But at least the price is confirmed already. This 34-inch curved 144Hz monitor will set you back around $800.
