MSI G321CU review

The MSI G321CU could possibly be the show many budget-minded avid gamers have been ready for, delivering a excessive refresh price 32-inch 4K expertise on a budget. Whereas it actually accomplishes this on the floor, issues are slightly extra difficult underneath the floor.

I’ve been testing the MSI G321CU for the previous month, primarily as a show for video games and movies. Along with common use, I’ve assessed its capabilities extra formally with an Nvidia LDAT and different instruments.

MSI G321CU specs

MSI G321CU design

The G321CU is kind of plain in its design, sporting a matte black plastic building for its V-shaped stand and the vast majority of its chassis. There’s a small quantity of shiny plastic, wanting behind the show, however this reflective splash doesn’t tip issues away an excessive amount of from an in any other case muted look.

Held collectively by three screws, one within the base of the stand and two into the rear chassis, the G321CU feels strong and displays no noticeable wobble on a secure floor. Getting it into the fitting place in your gaming desk, nonetheless, is made considerably troublesome by its lack of top adjustment.

Ports are positioned horizontally, making plugging cables into the G321CU a lot simpler. Annoyingly, although, the monitor doesn’t include any type of cable administration.

Lastly, MSI has opted to incorporate a matte anti-glare coating on the G321CU’s curved 1500R panel. That is typical of most gaming displays, curved or in any other case, making them simpler to make use of in brighter environments on the expense of perceived colour saturation. That mentioned, it needs to be famous that some competing shiny choices can be found for the next worth.

MSI G321CU options

As a part of the MSI’s budget-leaning ‘G’ sequence, the G321CU is considerably bare-bones in the case of options. This cost-cutting train does imply that you just’re not caught paying for ineffective add-ons like RGB lighting, however there’s at the least one nicety that some will sorely miss.

With regards to video inputs, the G321CU arrives with a welcome array of DisplayPort 1.4a, HDMI 2.1, and USB Kind-C (with DP alt.) ports. Every of them has sufficient bandwidth to assist the native decision and refresh price of the panel, offered you’re connecting to a appropriate graphics card or system. Though, consoles will high out at 4K/120Hz. Sadly, the G321CU forgoes USB passthrough assist, so that you’ll must plug your peripherals, reminiscent of your gaming mouse, keyboard, or headset, straight into your PC.

Turning to the G321CU’s OSD, there’s the same old assortment of options that you must by no means hassle with, reminiscent of a built-in crosshair. Ignoring them, nonetheless, you’ll discover three ‘Response Time’ (Overdrive) modes and several other show presets, which I’ll cowl in additional element later on this assessment. The one characteristic of be aware then, within the meantime, is the toggle that defines whether or not the HDMI 2.1 ports run at their full bandwidth or not.

As a FreeSync Premium show, the G321CU comes geared up with low framerate compensation (LFC). This tech makes it potential for adaptive sync to stay energetic even outdoors the monitor’s native vary of 48-144Hz by duplicating frames. Put merely, you needn’t fear about stuttering or display tearing, even when taking part in video games at 30fps.

MSI advertises the G321CU as “HDR Prepared” however this merely isn’t the case. Whereas the panel is able to displaying a variety of colours, its edge-lit dimming resolution merely isn’t adequate for a real HDR expertise. To be clear, this drawback isn’t distinctive to this monitor, removed from it, but it surely doesn’t make it any much less unimaginable to advocate for HDR gaming.

MSI G321CU efficiency

The out-of-the-box efficiency of the G321CU is one thing of a blended bag, with positives like vibrant colours and first rate distinction in the end marred by sluggish response instances and noticeable smearing.

Utilizing an Nvidia LDAT, I measured a median response time vary of 4.7-11.0ms at 144Hz, leaping to six.6-12.0ms at 60Hz, utilizing the three response time modes, ‘Regular’, ‘Quick’, and ‘Quickest’.  Whereas these response instances are fantastic for cinematic experiences, they’re not perfect for aggressive gaming. Even my efficiency in Fortnite Pageant was noticeably worse whereas taking part in on the G321CU.

Of the three overdrive modes, I’d go for ‘Regular’. Whereas it does produce the slowest response instances, it produces the least quantity of ghosting. In case you completely want one thing quicker, then ‘Quick’ is the best way to go as ‘Quickest’ merely produces an excessive amount of noticeable inverse ghosting.

All this mentioned, regardless of which mode you employ, you’ll probably encounter various levels of smearing on fast-paced objects regardless. Viewing the BlurBlusters TestUFO sample, the G321CU handles decrease refresh charges simply fantastic however begins to supply trails as pixel refresh velocity will increase.

What the G321CU lacks in response time, it makes up for with its colours and distinction. For a funds 4K VA panel, I’m genuinely shocked at how punchy it appeared in video games and whereas watching movies. Colours are a bit too wild in its default settings, however the sRGB mode within the OSD helps to clamp issues down for better colour accuracy.

Enjoying the likes of the Useless House Remake and Starfield spotlight the G321CU’s good distinction. Whereas its black and grey uniformity aren’t excellent, as is true of all VA panels, it actually made transitioning between mild and darkish scenes all of the extra immersive.

MSI G321CU worth

At its MSRP of $500, the G321CU stands as one of many most cost-effective examples of a 32-inch 4K gaming monitor with a excessive refresh price that you just’ll discover in the marketplace.

This price is undoubtedly due partially to its display measurement, with the 27-inch MSI MAG274UPF undercutting the G321CU by $50. Trying completely at 32-inch displays, nonetheless, the one actual competitors that the G321CU faces is the Acer Nitro XZ320QK P3. Each are $500, however the XZ320QK P3 does supply a barely larger refresh price of 165Hz.

Given that prime refresh price 4K displays have a tendency to start out at $600, you might be saving a piece of change should you can put up with the G321CU’s shortcomings. That mentioned, nice QHD choices can be found for markedly much less.

Do you have to purchase the MSI G321CU?

In case you completely should have a excessive refresh price 32-inch 4K panel, then the MSI G321CU is an honest possibility in case your funds can’t push previous the $500 mark. Nevertheless, I’d sooner advocate spending this sort of money on a extra premium 27-inch QHD show.

Its weaker response instances and smearing points hold it from serving you properly in each single-player and aggressive video games, with the G321CU solely actually suiting the previous. That mentioned, its huge colour gamut and distinction shine brightest in these sorts of experiences, and it’s a very good possibility for these with each a PC and consoles, because of its HDMI 2.1 ports.

All informed the MSI G321CU will get a extremely caveated suggestion.

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MSI G321CU alternate options

If the MSI G321CU isn’t the proper monitor for you, try a few of our alternate suggestions:

Corsair Xeneon ​32UHD144-A

In case you push your funds slightly additional, the Xeneon 32UHD144-A comes extremely beneficial. Whereas it could actually’t fairly compete with the G321CU by way of distinction, attributable to its IPS panel, it produces much more vivid but in addition correct colours. It additionally opts for a flat panel, relatively than curved, if that’s a precedence for you.

Most significantly, although, is that there’s no points with smearing and it could actually fortunately be utilized in aggressive video games owing to its decrease response instances. It additionally has USB ports and correct cable administration too.

Try our Xeneon 32UHD144 review for extra particulars, as the 2 displays are similar save for his or her stands.