Conclusion

...though there's a premium attached to the 144Hz refresh rate, the end result is sumptuously smooth action with either a GeForce or Radeon graphics card.

Going purely by the numbers alone, it would be easy to suggest that MSI's Optix MPG341CQR struggles to justify its lofty £870 price tag.

Out-the-box colour accuracy isn't great, average peak brightness makes for a lacklustre HDR experience, and the RGB lights and awkwardly-positioned webcam add little to the overall package.

Yet we've reviewed enough products to know that there are instances when the benchmark results don't always tell the full story. When gaming post-calibration, the MPG341CQR is surely a feast for the eyes, with punchy visuals, a subtle curve and an UWQHD resolution that brings certain games to life.

Using a modern VA panel, MSI has managed to keep ghosting mostly at bay, and though there's a premium attached to the 144Hz refresh rate, the end result is sumptuously smooth action with either a GeForce or Radeon graphics card. We'd like to see MSI's high-end displays offer factory calibration over niche features such as Night Vision and Anti Motion Blur, and that extra attention to detail would help elevate the panel from good to great.

Bottom line: if you can get past the price tag, MSI's Optix MPG341CQR delivers on its promise of silky gaming at a lush 21:9 aspect ratio.

The Good		The Bad
Curved UWQHD at up to 144Hz Makes games look and feel tremendous Works with both FreeSync and G-Sync Gaming OSD software comes in handy USB-C DisplayPort is a welcome addition		Costs almost £900 Colour accuracy could be better HDR support is basic

MSI Optix MPG341CQR

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The MSI Optix MPG341CQR gaming monitor is available to purchase from Scan Computers.

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At HEXUS, we invite the companies whose products we test to comment on our articles. If any company representatives for the products reviewed choose to respond, we'll publish their commentary here verbatim.

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With more and more games letting you use resolution scaling, pairing something like this with 80% scaling on a 2080Ti could easily net you 100fps, without having to compromise on settings too much; obviously AA is right out (don't understand why people use it at 4K anyway, have a 43“ 4K tv, and can't tell the difference with it on or off. Have to imagine it's even less noticeable on a smaller screen), and tone down the Ultra settings, which rarely offer anything anyway, especially at higher resolutions.

Hitting anything above 90 would be a dream, as I personally believe 90hz is the sweet spot; anything below is noticeable, but anything above less so. Paired with VFR, that is gaming joy right there.

I'm genuinely tempted to get this, and keep the TV for HDR content, which is a given anyway, because who wants to watch a movie on a 34” monitor.

Just FYI a 1800R curve are the smallest one we use on our train set ( G - scale trains in the garden ) you need much larger for the big / long trains to pull thru that turn.
Okay we have much tighter curve tracks too, but can only use those on little side tracks with little trains running, though my 2-6-6-2 Baldwin will drive on the small curves too due to its wheel arrangement.

Gentle Viking;4142966
Just FYI a 1800R curve are the smallest one we use on our train set ( G - scale trains in the garden ) you need much larger for the big / long trains to pull thru that turn.
Okay we have much tighter curve tracks too, but can only use those on little side tracks with little trains running, though my 2-6-6-2 Baldwin will drive on the small curves too due to its wheel arrangement.

I genuinely have no reply to that.

Gentle Viking;1338941
Just FYI a 1800R curve are the smallest one we use on our train set ( G - scale trains in the garden ) you need much larger for the big / long trains to pull thru that turn.
Okay we have much tighter curve tracks too, but can only use those on little side tracks with little trains running, though my 2-6-6-2 Baldwin will drive on the small curves too due to its wheel arrangement.

It's a forum Jim - But not the one he thinks it is….

Wow…MSi just love shoving out this VA panel gargbage, don't they.