MSI offers a screen that makes no concessions on its raw performance. An instructor for the most experienced players who want to improve their level in competition. A screen that goes up to 360 Hz, is it really useful? Let’s see.
In the most nervous competitive games, first there is the skills of the player behind the screen and then there is the quality of the material. In the highest realms of “diamonds” “masters” “crystal” and other levels given in competitive modes, every millisecond can make the difference.
It is for these players that MSI has designed a screen that makes no concessions on performance. The MSI Oculux NXG253R notably incorporates a Full HD panel capable of going up to 360 Hz. Is such a frequency really useful? This is what we will see.
Technical sheet
| Model | MSI Oculux NXG253R |
|---|---|
| Technology |
LCD |
| Curved screen |
Non |
| screen size |
24.5 inches |
| Form factor |
16:9 |
| Definition |
1920 x 1080 pixels |
| Display frequency |
360 Hz |
| Technologie Adaptive-Sync |
Nvidia GSync |
| Response time (gray to gray) |
1 ms |
| Maximum brightness |
400 cd/m² |
| Ports HDMI |
2 |
| DisplayPort connector |
1 |
| Speakers |
Non |
| USB |
Oui |
| Weight |
6.47 kilograms |
| Dimensions |
435 x 776 x 222 cm |
| Prix | 517 € |
| Product sheet |
This monitor was lent to us as part of the test.
Design
MSI is therefore targeting players with this screen, and wants to demonstrate its performance. This results in a design that is not going to make premium materials as is the case on high-end screens aimed more at content creators. Here, we have an all-plastic case that squeaks a little when you use it without your hands.
The screen, however, has the merit of offering a matte treatment and rather thin borders at the front. The general design of the device and its finishes are not out of the ordinary when you are used to gaming screens. On the back of the screen, it will be necessary to do with a very large Nvidia and MSI branding to highlight before screen qualities.
We feel that the product has also been designed to be installed in public events such as esports competitions. In this kind of scenario, it is very important to highlight the brand of the screen used by the athletes. As you will see below, it is also a very thick screen for its size. Undoubtedly, the price to pay for cooling electronics capable of going up to 360 Hz.
Overall, we will therefore not retain this screen for its aesthetics or design. At the price where it is sold and in 2022, we might expect better, but we can understand that the budget has gone into its components.
connectors
MSI still offers some great options with its gaming screen. In particular, we have the right to a USB hub with three ports USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A.
Source: Anthony Wonner – Frandroid
Source: Anthony Wonner – Frandroid
The video connection is made with a DisplayPort 1.4 port and two HDMI 2.0b ports. We would have liked the brand to include a second DisplayPort 1.4 port to switch between two gaming PCs.
Support
The screen stand supplied with the MSI Oculux NXG253R is very complete. You can adjust the tilt angle (from 5 to 20 degrees), the height of the display (0 – 13 cm) and rotate the screen horizontally or vertically.
We also have VESA 100 x 100 compatibility which allows the monitor to be mounted on a separately purchased arm.
Image quality
With a gaming screen, you don’t necessarily want color accuracy. Here MSI still chooses an IPS LCD panel, which allows us to hope for great things.
According to our colorimetric probe and the Calman Ultimate software, we find a panel capable of covering 98.8% of the sRGB space for 66.8 of the DCI-P3. The calibration is just fine with an average deltaE of 2.93 in sRGB and 4.8 once morest the DCI-P3. The average color temperature of 7235, the maximum brightness of 240 cd/m2 and the contrast at 1116:1 complete the picture.
So you won’t be doing any serious image editing work on such a monitor, and it won’t blow your mind in the latest visually explosive AAA games. On the other hand, it remains quite correct for basic use: web browsing, video playback and of course, competitive online games.
Latency
This is on latency that we expect such a screen at the turn. We have brought out our Nvidia LDAT system to test the screen under gaming conditions. We had used it to test Nvidia Reflex, a technology very much put forward for this screen since it is also a question of targeting competitive games above all.
With the Nvidia LDAT tool, we note a screen latency of only 2.2 ms. We are talking here regarding the time taken by the screen to react to the sending of an image by the graphics card. Our 1000 Hz camera can quickly detect changes in brightness as soon as the screen has reacted to the signal sent by the graphics card, allowing this latency to be measured.
If we talk regarding total system latency, by integrating the PC into the equation, which becomes much less significant for the screen, the latency increases to 21.7 ms on average over a game of Fortnite. It should be understood that this figure includes both the latency of the screen, that of the mouse, of the PC and its graphics card, but also of the game engine. This gives an overview of a real situation, but it is less important to consider when evaluating the screen alone.
Regarding the pixel response time, we measure an average of 9 ms for gray to gray. It therefore takes 9 ms on average for a gray pixel on the screen to become gray once more.
Whether it is the response time of the pixels or the screen latency, we obtain two very low and therefore exemplary results. We can’t blame the MSI screen for our defeats in Valorant or Overwatch.
So 360Hz? It shows ?
The first question that comes to mind when you discover a 360 Hz screen: can it be seen? It is difficult to answer this question very honestly. If you place a 144Hz monitor right next to it, you’ll clearly see the difference. Even on the simple Windows desktop, we immediately notice the feeling of fluidity on the MSI screen.
In both cases, once facing the screen alone, you quickly get used to this fluidity and forget the rest. So yes, a frequency of 360 Hz it shows, and it feels if you are a high level player on a competitive title. But your life is not going to change if you have ever experienced 120 or 144 Hz.
Interface
The OSD software interface of the MSI Oculux NXG253R is manipulated using a small red stick on the back of the screen. It’s very effective at quickly accessing an option, and the click is quite pleasant. It is still not an element that we will use every day.
The software interface is rather clear and emphasizes, unsurprisingly, the video game. We thus have the possibility of activating Nvidia G-Sync and its dedicated chip directly in the options, but also of choosing different modes of settings according to the type of game: RPG, FPS, RTS, etc.
Source: Anthony Wonner – Frandroid
Source: Anthony Wonner – Frandroid
It cuts to the chase, you may not be able to fine-tune the color calibration like on other screens, but it’s very effective. The options are clear and rather intuitively arranged.
Consumption
In standby, our MSI screen requires 24W at the socket, then 45W when turned on on the Windows screen. This level of consumption remains the same in the middle of a competitive game.
On its site, MSI indicates a maximum consumption of 90W for the external power supply supplied with the screen. In particular, it must make it possible to manage the peripherals connected to the USB hub.
An external power supply has advantages and disadvantages. This is better for the eventual repair of the monitor, since if it is a power supply problem, it is easy to change. On the other hand, this adds a block to your desk that you have to manage to put away, and you will not be able to modulate the length of the cable between the screen and this block, only between the block and the socket.
Price and availability
The MSI monitor is available from 499.99 euros on Amazon.fr.
It may seem quite expensive, but it’s the price to pay for a panel capable of going up to 360 Hz and integrating several Nvidia technologies. We think of the Reflex Analyzer and the G-Sync chip which are included in the invoice.
