As high refresh rates increasingly become a standard feature in monitors aimed at the gaming market, manufacturers have started to turn their eyes towards what's next in the ever-ongoing race to stay ahead of their competition. So, with 144Hz displays seemingly conqured, that attention has turned to ever higher refresh rates. Following this trend, MSI this week introduced its Optix MAG322CR LCD, one of the industry’s first displays with a 180 Hz maximum refresh rate.

The MSI Optix MAG322CR uses a slightly curved 31.5-inch 8-bit+FRC VA panel with a 1920x1080 resolution. All told, the monitor offers a maximum brightness of 300 nits, a 3000:1 contrast ratio, a 1 ms MPRT response time, and a maximum refresh rate of 180 with VESA Adaptive-Sync support. As well, the monitor is also AMD Freesync certified. Meanwhile MSI is using a wider-gamut backlighting system, so the monitor can display 96% of the DCI-P3 and 125% of the sRGB color gamuts.

The MAG322CR is also marked as ‘HDR Ready’; though with 300 nits peak brightness it doesn't even meet the VESA's lowest DisplayHDR tier. So it's hard to imagine the monitor delivering a quality HDR experience.

As far as connectivity is concerned, the Optix MAG322CR is equipped with one DisplayPort 1.2a, two HDMI 2.0b connectors, and a USB Type-C port (with DP Alt Mode support). Also, the monitor has a dual-port USB 2.0 hub, and an earphone out.

Being aimed at serious gamers who demand not only performance, but also style, the Optix MAG322CR comes equipped with Mystic Light addressable RGB LEDs on the back that support a variety of modes.

The MSI Optix MAG322CR Monitor
  Optix MAG322CR
Panel 31.5" VA 8-bit+FRC
Native Resolution 1920 × 1080
(16:9)
Refresh Rate 180 Hz OC
Dynamic Refresh Rate Technology VESA Adaptive-Sync
(AMD Freesync Certified)
Range ?
Response Time 1 ms MPRT
Brightness 300 cd/m²
Contrast 3000:1
Color Gamut 96% DCI-P3
125% sRGB
Viewing Angles 178°/178° horizontal/vertical
Curvature 1500R
Inputs 1 × DisplayPort 1.2a
2 × HDMI 2.0b
USB Hub 2 × USB 2.0
Audio earphone out
Stand Height 130 mm
Tilt +20° ~ -5°
Swivel -
Power Consumption Idle ?
Typical ?
Maximum ?
MSRP ?

MSI’s Optix MAG322CR is currently listed at the company’s website, so it is reasonable to expect it to hit the market shortly. Amazon.com currently lists the monitor as available for pre-order for $329.99, with the monitor slated to ship within one or two months.

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Source: MSI (via Hermitage Akihabara)

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  • p1esk - Thursday, February 6, 2020 - link

    Dell has been shipping 32” 8k monitor since 2018. MSI announced a 1080p model in 2020. Geez...
  • Korguz - Thursday, February 6, 2020 - link

    and your point is what ?? not every one wants or needs 4k or 8k.. and better yet . how much does that 8k monitor cost ??
  • lilkwarrior - Thursday, February 6, 2020 - link

    The point is that the pixel ratio is horrible for the size of this panel.
  • Small Bison - Thursday, February 6, 2020 - link

    "one of the industry’s first displays with a 180 Hz maximum refresh rate."

    Does that mean much when there are multiple 240 Hz monitors available?
  • flyingpants265 - Thursday, February 6, 2020 - link

    Where are the 31.5" flat monitors? You know not everyone wants a curved?
    I used a 40" and 55" as my desktop monitor for ages, tiny monitors are a joke by comparison.
  • Valantar - Thursday, February 6, 2020 - link

    Looks like a nice enough budget "almost a small TV" gaming monitor. Refresh rate is nice, as is the gamut, but the brightness is disappointing. Still, I can see this being a hit among students/kids/people wanting a lege secondary monitor for gaming. Definitely on my list for the latter.
  • PeachNCream - Thursday, February 6, 2020 - link

    Only a headphone jack and no integrated speakers means people would have to BYO when it comes to audio to get sound out of the thing if they plan to use HDMI inputs for certain non-PC applications.
  • Lithium - Thursday, February 6, 2020 - link

    but 3 of them in nvidia surround for driving simulator games
    driving chair from distance
    mama mia on budget
  • Kastriot - Thursday, February 6, 2020 - link

    Expensive piece of crap.

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