Modern DIY builds have plenty of opportunity to add a splash of colour, but if you prefer to keep things monochromatic, there’s never been a better time to go all-white.
A number of vendors are choosing to release pale counterparts, and doing so can be a tricky process; achieving a perfect white during manufacturing is easier said than done. MSI is one of the big names leading the charge and is completing its themed line-up with the release of the G274QRFW gaming monitor.
The 27in panel sports an alabaster finish complete with slim bezels, versatile stand and a matching rear lined with a strip of RGB lighting that contrasts rather nicely with the overall design. Having gotten accustomed to typically grey or black displays, seeing something different is a breathe of fresh air.
As for the panel itself, MSI is employing a 27in IPS screen touting a 2560×1440 QHD resolution and 170Hz refresh rate. E-Sports gamers are the target market, and though the panel isn’t pushing the boat out in terms of pixel count or frequency, QHD170 is a fine combination if the price is right.
Rounding out the specs is a 1ms grey-to-grey response time, 300-nit brightness, and a basic 1,000:1 contrast ratio. Nothing extraordinary, and HDR clearly isn’t a priority, yet MSI promises good DCI-P3 colour coverage of 90 per cent, and the G274QRFW crucially supports both AMD FreeSync and G-Sync Compatibility in the 48 to 170Hz range.
Decent versatility in the compact-looking stand allows for 130mm of height adjustment, -5 / +20° tilt, 45° swivel and the ability to flip into portrait mode. In addition to a connector for the external power supply and a customary headphone jack, display inputs include dual HDMI 2.0 ports and a single DisplayPort 1.4. You’ll want to use the latter for maximum 170Hz performance, as HDMI’s available bandwidth only allows for QHD at 144Hz, which in fairness is ample for current-generation games consoles.
On-screen navigation is managed by a bright-red joystick around back, and MSI includes its usual plethora of gamer-friendly features, including a ‘Night Vision’ mode that brightens shadows to help identify lurking foes, albeit at the expense of overall image quality.
There’s sadly no indication of pricing just yet, so we’ll have to wait and see whether or note a white makeover attracts a premium.
