MSI Optix G27C Preview
- Overall
Preview of MSI Optix G27C
Asus, one of the top brands in gaming monitors, was originally a component manufacturer before expanding into laptops, computers, mobile gadgets, and peripherals. They have one of the widest selections of products in different categories, and so far, none of the other similar brands have followed their every step in deciding to make every product that they have in their portfolio. The company’s main competitors in the gaming display arena (Acer, BenQ, and Dell) usually only make one product or the other, such as laptops, AIOs or peripherals, but these companies do not offer every item found on the Asus list. But there is one brand that rivals the quality of Asus and is steadily catching up to the size of the company’s catalogs with components such as motherboards, graphics cards, or even laptops and AIOs. The company we are describing is MSI, one of the best-loved and highly rated computer brands across the globe. This company isn’t a newcomer by any means, and experts highly regard some of their offerings as a better option that what Asus is selling. Recently, MSI announced the Optix G27C, a display product meant to be their latest contender in the high-stakes monitor market. This new gadget has an 1800r curved VA panel from Samsung with a maximum 144Hz refresh rate for buttery smooth gaming greatness. The MSI Optix G27C was not made to compete with a particular ROG Swift display from Asus, but it is worth noting that one of the latter’s biggest rivals in components is coming to face them in the peripheral category with this preliminary release.
MSI Optix G27C Specifications
- Screen Size: 27 Inches
- Resolution: 1080p FHD
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Panel Technology: Vertical Alignment (VA)
- Refresh Rate: 144Hz
- Response Time: 4ms
- Contrast Ratio:300:1
- Brightness: 300 cd/m²
- Connectivity: DisplayPort 1.2 x 1, HDMI 1.4 x 1, DVI x 1
- Stand: Height – No
- Stand: Tilt – Yes (-5°/+15°)
- Stand: Swivel – No
- Dimensions:
Design and Features of Optix G27C
MSI has so far, only released a limited list of specifications for this product, but instead they have a lot of pictures and a featurette on their website stating that this monitor will bundle with their latest pre-built gaming desktops. As for the sleek looks of this product, the cabinet has a matte black finish with thin enough borders surrounding the screen, plus red accents all over the casing of the display. The stand has a red neck and a boomerang-shaped base with a dark aluminum finish and only offers tilting for ergonomics. The stand has angular features all over its every part, which is in stark contrast with the 1800r curved screen. The limited adjustments are lacking when compared to other gaming monitors, and it seems that there is no support for aftermarket VESA mounting. Judging from these preliminary facts and the images, the Optix G27C would put to shame a some of the best gaming monitors with bland designs we have seen to date regarding looks. This offering would not look out of place beside the Acer XB271HU or the AOC Agon AG271QX, but with a slight advantage with regards to the 1800r curve form factor. Most manufacturers state that 1800r is the best curvature for gaming monitors since this type offers the best between viewing angles and immersive effects when using a display in a near-field posture.
So far, MSI has only stated that the Optix G27C will have DisplayPort 1.2, HDMI 1.4 and DVI for signal input options. The lack of built-in speakers, USB 3.0 receptacles, and other options are disappointing by today’s standards, but the targeted introductory price of more or less $300 makes those exclusions forgivable. These ports that made the cut are in a down firing position, but there is no cable tidy hole to hold the wires in place. Instead, MSI includes a strap for that purpose, which is cheap in our opinion. These are, however, minor misgivings, considering the projected price and the specifications involved in this product.
Display and Features
The all new MSI Optix G27C features an 1800r curved VA panel with 1080p FHD resolution, 144Hz refresh rates, Quantum Dot tech, and 4ms response time. MSI proudly states that the panel is from Samsung, the maker of the CFG70 curved monitor we reviewed earlier. From the specifications alone, we can safely say that these two models share the same panel, although MSI might have used a different scalar, which would result in slightly different performance numbers and results. It is disappointing that the company went with 1080p instead of a more appropriate 1440p resolution since the latter fits this size better. What’s interesting about this offering is its Quantum Dot tech, which promises better color saturation, accuracy, and overall brightness, which are all benefits derived from the technology. Simply put, quantum dots are nano-sized particles that emit colored light according to their size, eliminating the need for WLED backlighting, which is one of the causes of bland or washed out colors. This tech is also capable of HDR image outputs, although it is unclear if other companies such as LG chose to apply Quantum Dots into their upcoming 32UD99.
MSI also advertises that this product has 110% sRGB coverage, and 87% for NTSC RGB, resulting in accurate and vibrant colors. At the time of this writing, we have not tested how these claims pan out in practice, so we cannot comment yet on how valid MSI’s claims are regarding color performance. Also, the VA panel promises improvement in the contrast department, since the tech promises an improved contrast ratio when compared to IPS and TN. Viewing angles should also present an advantage over the latter since VA Tech has proven that it does bridge the viewing angle gap between the two other choices. MSI is claiming a 3000:1 ratio, and if this is accurate, then this product will have a significant difference regarding shade transitions and blacks and whites when compared to other gaming monitors. GTG response times are at an adequate 4ms, but MSI clearly states that the typical number is around 8ms. Don’t be alarmed by that seemingly bad result, since most competitor models such as the Acer XG270HU has similar times while still providing excellent gaming experience. For most gaming applications, there would be no apparent differences unless you are on a professional level or if you are extra sensitive to these things.
The MSI Optix G27C has a 144Hz rate, which is typical of other gamer-centric displays. But what’s surprising is the lack of VRR support, namely Freesync for this product. For a gadget tagged with gaming pedigree and features, by today’s standards, at least AMD’s Freesync should be included. However, this monitor is quite easy to max out with a wide selection of graphics cards since 1080P is quite easy to run. For most titles, you won’t need Freesync to stabilize the image during gaming. However, for AAA titles such as Battlefield 1, dips and dives in FPS are almost guaranteed due to the texture-heavy nature of the game. Finally, MSI also advertises that this monitor is flicker-free and has low blue light features, making it safe to game for hours on end on this display. As of the moment, it is unclear as to how MSI implements built-in features such as blue light filters since there is no precise information regarding the OSD and its capabilities. Once we get our hands on a demo model, we will update this preview with particular facts and performance results.
Conclusion
There is still a limited amount of info regarding MSI’s first contender for gaming monitors, but judging from the specs we currently know, the MSI Optix G27C is shaping up to be an excellent addition to the already numerous choices we have in the market. Some of the exclusions such as Freesync have a significant impact on how good this product is since there are a lot of other offerings that possesses what this model lacks at a relatively similar price point. MSI dropped the ball in that regard since the gaming niche is a cutthroat competition to gain the attention and consideration of the meticulous enthusiasts scouring for the cream of the crop. We can forgive MSI for these misgivings since this is the first try, but as a highly regarded gaming brand, they could have done better. The dazzling features such as Quantum Dot tech and screen curvature may not suffice against better competitors, so we hope they improve in this regard. But we are glad that MSI is now joining this category to catch up to brands such as Asus and Acer, and we hope that they induce more competition between them and their rivals. Healthy competitiveness in tech products will always benefit the consumers since it largely affects pricing and quality. At this time, the MSI Optix G27C is aiming for a $300 price point, which is quite affordable when compared to the similar, but Freesync enabled Samsung CFG70, which goes for at least a hundred dollars more.
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