The MSI G2412 was conceived to compete with ultra-affordable gaming monitors like the Koorui 24E4, which took a good chunk of the budget market. It’s not handicapped by a lower price since it still has a fast 170Hz refresh rate which satisfies the bare essentials for gaming displays. Let’s take a closer look if a sub-$150 from a big-name brand is a better pick than the newcomers at around the same price.
MSI G2412 Specifications
- Screen Size: 24 Inches
- Resolution:1920 x 1080 FHD
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Panel Technology: In-Plane Switching (IPS)
- Refresh Rate: 165Hz
- Response Time: 1ms
- Contrast Ratio: 1100:1 (Static)
- Brightness: 250 cd/m²
- Speakers: None
- Stand: Height – No
- Stand: Tilt – Yes
- Stand: Swivel – No
- Stand: Pivot – No
- VESA Compatibility: Yes (75 x 75)
- Connectivity: DisplayPort 1.2 x 1, HDMI 1.4 x 2, 3.5mm Jack x 1
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 21.27” x 16.21” x 9.03”
- Weight: 7.28 lbs
Design and Features
The MSI G2412 has a straightforward design compared to the older monitors, but you can still easily discern that it’s for gaming. It has a matte black finish all over, so it won’t look too gaudy or aggressive. It has a three-sided bezel-free design, but it still has inner borders like most modern options.
The G2412 is a great choice for many users, particularly those with limited spaces, due to its modest dimensions. It only needs 21.27 inches of depth, so it should fit in nicely with a small desk like those that were meant for dorms. It also weighs less than 7.30 pounds, so it’s portable enough for those gaming events or LAN parties with your buddies.
Its build quality is decent, so the monitor doesn’t feel entirely cheap like some low-priced offerings. The plastics used feel a bit thinner, but they are still durable and free from cosmetic defects. The stand has some wobble in it, but it only happens when you nudge the screen accidentally.
We like that the MSI G2412 still has a 5-way joystick, even if it’s one of the cheapest offerings in MSI’s monitor lineup. It’s located at the back, so you can’t see it, but it’s accessible from the right side of the screen. Some budget brands like Gigabyte have implemented software for OSD tweaks, but it’s not a necessity, especially at lower price points.
However, that functionality is brought down by the stand, which is limited to tilt adjustments. It is understandable since ergonomic stands will usually affect the price by around fifty bucks or so. You can still use VESA mounts, but that will offset the savings you can get by going with this model.
Its connectivity is also simplified like most budget options, so you don’t get a lot of extras with it. The layout includes DisplayPort 1.2 and a 3.5mm jack, but its HDMI ports got expanded to 2 instead of one on the older MSI G241. That’s not a whole lot, but at least the HDMI connectors support 120Hz on modern consoles.
It doesn’t have speakers, but that’s always acceptable since headsets are always better for gaming anyway. Built-ins simply do not have the power or range for gaming audio, so you will be better off with even a cheaper model. It’s also a fact that those with speakers have higher pricing, even if the manufacturer only included a basic set.
Display and Performance
The MSI G2412 sports a 24-inch IPS panel with a 1920 x 1080 resolution, a 170Hz refresh rate, and a 1ms response time. Its backlight is limited to 250 cd/m2 while its contrast is listed at 1100:1, unlike the typical IPS monitors. This is its main advantage over the aforementioned Koorui 24E2 since that monitor uses a slower VA panel.
1080p monitors are still selling like hotcakes because they are affordable and very easy to use. You won’t need scaling for productivity while buying a high-end system is completely necessary even if you simply want to reach the 170Hz limit. Couple that with the low price, and it would make it very easy to build a capable E-Sports setup.
The MSI G2412 covered 93% sRGB and 73% DCI-P3, so it’s not the most vibrant gaming monitor out there. It’s also inaccurate out of the box since the deltaE average is quite high at 3.08. This makes it unusable for tasks like content creation, but it is still perfectly fine for gaming.
Calibrating it did reduce the dE average, but the colorimeter only dropped it to 1.89. That’s a fine result for a budget model, but it’s certainly not enough to make it a dual-purpose monitor. We recommend going with a prosumer monitor instead if accuracy is a priority.
The MSI G2412’s backlight put out 397 cd/m2, so it is brighter than what the spec sheet claims. Its contrast ratio reached a healthy 1255:1 at 0% brightness, enabling it to produce better black luminance than its predecessors. Note that the monitor’s brightness is closer to the 120 cd/m2 reference point if the backlight is set to 0.
Panel uniformity for the test sample had some minor issues, but we didn’t see it as a deal breaker. There is some visible variance in the backlight’s spread, but that’s mostly visible in dark scenes. Note that this can vary with every unit made due to tolerance, so there are both worse and better monitors out there.
The MSI G2412 isn’t the fastest gaming monitor out there, but it has an effective solution to get rid of persistence. Setting its overdrive to its Fastest level takes care of its minor issues, making it suitable for fast-paced games. Only a 240Hz model is better at this point, so it’s a substantial bonus for budget-conscious E-Sports gamers.
The MSI G2412 is compatible with FreeSync and G-Sync, so you don’t have to worry about tearing and stuttering. Dual compatibility is essential so you can be free in choosing your GPU brand. Its input lag sits at 4ms at 170Hz, making it a great and affordable pick for competitive gaming.
Thoughts on the MSI G2412
The MSI G2412 is an excellent choice if you want a capable gaming monitor for E-Sports. It doesn’t have a lot of features, but its focus is clearly its responsiveness and essential performance for competitive gaming. MSI did skimp on some characteristics, but it is still reasonably durable and well-built.
There are some aspects here that some may consider to be deal breakers. That’s part and parcel of going with an extra affordable option since the manufacturers often omit features to lower costs. However, we still think it’s a good buy that can help anyone build a capable E-Sports setup without spending an arm and a leg.
Pros:
- Very Low Price
- Fast and Responsive
- Excellent Contrast and Average
Cons:
- Poor Color Accuracy
- Limited Features
About the Author: 
Paolo has been a gaming veteran since the golden days of Doom and Warcraft and has been building gaming systems for family, friends, and colleagues since junior high. High-performance monitors are one of his fixations; he believes that every citizen’s right to enjoy one. He has gone through several pieces of hardware in pursuit of every bit of performance gain, much to the dismay of his wallet. He now works with Monitornerds to scrutinize the latest gear to create reviews that accentuate the seldom explained aspects of a PC monitor.
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