The MSI MAGQRF QD E2 is an improved budget gaming monitor that offers rich colors and fast response times. It’s the descendant of the MAG 274QRF-QD, which was fantastic for its time despite the inflated pricing. Let’s take a closer look to see if the new model actually offers noticeable improvement despite the massive price cut.
MSI MAG 274QRF-QD E2 Specifications
- Screen Size: 27 Inches
- Resolution: 2560 x 1440 QHD
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Panel Technology: In-Plane Switching (IPS)
- Refresh Rate: 180Hz
- Response Time: 1ms
- Contrast Ratio: 1000:1
- Brightness: 400 cd/m²
- Built-in Speakers: None
- Stand: Height – Yes
- Stand: Tilt – Yes
- Stand: Swivel – Yes
- Stand: Pivot– Yes
- VESA Compatibility: Yes (100 x 100)
- Connectivity: DisplayPort 1.4 x 1, HDMI 2.0 x 2, USB-C PD65W x 1, USB 2.0 x 3, 3.5mm Jack x 1
- Dimensions With Stand (WxHxD): 24.15″ x 15.83″ x 7.74″
- Weight: 13.34 lbs
Design and Features
The MSI MAG 274QRF-QD E2’s design didn’t change much, but its sort of a more modern and mature look compared to the predecessor. The monitor has an all-black finish, but it does have an RGB lighting strip at the back for some afterglow. The display has a bezel-free design, but it still has inner borders like most monitors.
It’s not obnoxiously big by today’s standards, so placement on smaller to standard desks shouldn’t be an issue. MSI reduced the size of the base on this model, so the whole thing only needs 7.74 inches of depth from your desk. The whole thing only weighs 13.34 pounds, so it should be fairly easy to move around as needed.
It’s a very affordable monitor, but the brand didn’t cheap out on its overall build quality. The plastic panels used are thick and sturdy, and there were no signs of weakness or cosmetic defects on any of its parts. The included stand is firm and stable, so the screen won’t sag or wobble while you’re in the middle of a focused session.
The MSI MAG 274QRF-QD E2 has an OSD joystick for easy access to its settings and features. Its located at the back near the right hand corner, so its very easy to reach even if you can’t see it. Other budget models have to make do with pesky buttons which are time consuming and at times, confusing.
The included stand offers tilt, swivel, pivot, and height adjustments for your comfort and convenience. Its easy to get a comfortable viewing angle, so you won’t need to change a physical thing to use it. You can use VESA mounts indeed, but its not necessary for most users.
The MSI MAG 274QRF-QD E2’s connectivity layout includes DisplayPort 1.4, two HDMI 2.0 ports, and a 65-watt USB-C port with DP Alt mode. You also get two usable USB 2.0 ports for peripherals and a 3.5mm jack for headphones. Comparable options like the Samsung G50D only have a slot each for DP and HDMI, so this is a big plus for MSI’s representative in the budget segment.
It also doesn’t have speakers, but that’s understandable since omissions like this help with lowering the price. It also deserves a gaming headset since that will help with immersion and focus in its primary purpose.
Display and Performance
The MSI MAG 274QRF-QD E2 sports a 27-inch IPS panel with a 2560 x 1440 resolution, a 180Hz refresh rate, and a 1ms response time. The backlight has a 400 cd/m2 output while the contrast is listed at 1000:1. This model is HDR 400 certified, but we all know how limited that is when it comes to producing appreciable HDR effects.
1440p is a perfect upgrade for the masses since it’s a step up from the typical 1080p screens and is not too expensive. It’s balanced, so most won’t have trouble with legibility and visibility despite the increase in sharpness. You also won’t need a flagship GPU to run it, so it’s a cost-effective partner for a value-oriented gaming PC.
The MSI MAG 274QRF-QD E2 covered 100% sRGB and 98% DCI-P3 for stunning color in games and movies. Its default accuracy had a deltaE average of 1.31, making it suitable for content creation and some editing work out of the box. Most users won’t need to calibrate it since it’s already balanced out of the box.
Calibrating the monitor reduced the dE average to 0.87, putting it next to many high-end IPS prosumer variants in the market. The downside is that you will need a colorimeter to achieve and maintain the same results. We think the extra purchase is only vital if you will use the monitor for work, but it’s not practical otherwise.
The MSI MAG 274QRF-QD E2’s backlight reached 499 cd/m2 at 100%, giving it a good fighting chance against bright glare. Its contrast peaked at 1371:1 at 40% brightness, enabling it to produce the same level of black luminance as the other IPS Black variants. It is still not capable of true HDR, but it is a step above other HDR 400 models out there.
Panel uniformity for the test sample was excellent since it didn’t have any major backlight leaks or bleeding. There were some variances and clouding in distinct instances, but its not the worst we’ve seen. Note that this can vary with every monitor made due to tolerances, so there are worse units out there.
The MSI MAG 274QRF-QD E2’s response time isn’t great, but it’s solvable with the overdrive. Setting the latter to its Fast level helped push it to a more amicable performance without adding a noticeable overshoot. It’s not the best in this regard, but it still is usable for E-Sports in our eyes.
The MSI MAG 274QRF-QD E2 is compatible with FreeSync and G-Sync for stutter-free gaming. Its handy to have dual compatibility so you can keep VRR and the monitor even if you switch to the other GPU brand. Its input lag sits at 4ms at 180Hz, so its and responsive enough for competitive play.
Thoughts on the MSI MAG 274QRF-QD E2
The MSI MAG 274QRF-QD E2 is a fantastic budget monitor that punches above its price point. It’s capable of accurate color and excellent contrast, potentially giving you a better experience than its closest competitors. It’s well designed even if the price is lowered, especially since it includes valuable add-ons like USB-C.
Its not perfect, but its limitations like the slightly slower pixel response time are not a deal-breaker in our eyes. Most budget models often have a lot of omissions, but its manageable this time around. The MSI MAG 274QRF-QD E2 is one of the best 1440p monitors you can get for the money, and finding something better will cost a whole lot more.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Good Colors and Contrast for IPS
- Fast and Responsive
Cons:
- Slower Pixel Response Time
- 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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