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We've recently released Test Bench 2.0 for Monitors! Read our new VRR Flicker R&D Article and Pursuit Photo R&D Article to learn more.

MSI G274QPF-QD Monitor Review

Tested using Methodology v2.0
Review updated Apr 23, 2024 at 03:59 pm
Latest change: Writing modified Oct 04, 2024 at 03:23 pm
MSI G274QPF-QD Picture
6.9
PC Gaming
6.1
Console Gaming
7.7
Office
6.8
Editing
7.1
Brightness
7.4
Response Time
4.9
HDR Picture
5.8
SDR Picture
8.1
Color Accuracy

The MSI G274QPF-QD is a 27-inch, 1440p budget gaming monitor. It's one of many monitors in the budget gaming category, including the Dell G2724D. As part of MSI's extensive G series entry-level gaming monitors, the G274QPF-QD stands out as the only model with a quantum dot layer to improve HDR color performance. The MSI has FreeSync VRR support, G-SYNC compatibility, and a high 170Hz refresh rate. Unlike most monitors in this class, it has a USB-C connection with DisplayPort Alt Mode support, which also provides 15W power delivery. It also has some additional gaming features, like night vision, which optimizes background brightness, and screen assistance, which overlays crosshairs to assist with aiming.

Our Verdict

6.9 PC Gaming

The MSI G274QPF-QD is alright for PC gaming. It has a 170Hz refresh rate for a smooth feel, supports FreeSync VRR, and is G-SYNC compatible to reduce screen tearing. It has low input lag and a decent response time that remains consistent across its refresh rate range, but there's still motion blur. However, it has low contrast, so deep blacks appear gray in a dark room, and it has limited picture quality as colors aren't vivid, especially in HDR.

Pros
  • Consistent motion handling across VRR range.
  • Low input lag.
  • FreeSync VRR and G-SYNC compatibility.
Cons
  • Low contrast.
  • Still some motion blur with fast-moving objects.
  • Bad black uniformity.
6.1 Console Gaming

The MSI G274QPF-QD isn't bad for console gaming. It has low input lag for a responsive feel, and it has decent motion handling at 120Hz and 60Hz, but it doesn't eliminate all blur. The biggest downside is that it can't take full advantage of the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S as it lacks HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, and it has some compatibility issues with the Xbox, too. It also has limited picture quality, so it can't deliver life-like and vivid images because it has a low contrast ratio and lacks a local dimming feature.

Pros
  • Consistent motion handling across VRR range.
  • Low input lag.
Cons
  • Low contrast.
  • Still some motion blur with fast-moving objects.
  • Not fully compatible with PS5 and the Xbox Series X|S.
7.7 Office

The MSI G274QPF-QD is good for office work. It gets bright enough to overcome glare and handles reflections well, so it's easy to see in a brighter environment, but its minimum brightness is a bit high if you want to use it in a dark room. Its 27-inch screen is also large enough to open two windows side by side, and it has fantastic ergonomics, so you can set it to your preferred position for a long work session. However, screen elements are sometimes discolored due to an issue with pixel inversion, which could be distracting.

Pros
  • Fantastic ergonomics.
  • Bright enough to fight glare.
  • Very good reflection handling.
Cons
  • Screen elements are sometimes discolored.
  • High minimum brightness.
6.8 Editing

The MSI G274QPF-QD is okay for media creation. Its 27-inch screen is large enough to open two windows side by side, and it has fantastic ergonomics, so you can set it to your preferred position for a long editing session. It also has good accuracy before calibration, but colors are oversaturated, and you need to calibrate it for the best accuracy. Unfortunately, screen elements are sometimes discolored due to an issue with pixel inversion, which could be distracting or interfere with editing.

Pros
  • Fantastic ergonomics.
  • Bright enough to fight glare.
  • Good accuracy before calibration.
Cons
  • Low contrast.
  • Screen elements are sometimes discolored.
  • High minimum brightness.
  • Oversaturated colors in sRGB mode.
7.1 Brightness

The MSI G274QPF-QD has decent brightness. It gets bright enough to fight glare in a well-lit room, but it fails to make highlights stand out in HDR.

Pros
  • Bright enough to fight glare.
Cons
  • Highlights don't pop in HDR.
7.4 Response Time

The MSI G274QPF-QD has a decent response time. Its motion handling is extremely consistent across its refresh rate range, which is ideal for gaming, but there's still noticeable blur with fast-moving objects.

Pros
  • Consistent motion handling across VRR range.
Cons
  • Still some motion blur with fast-moving objects.
4.9 HDR Picture

The MSI G274QPF-QD is bad for HDR. It has a low contrast ratio that makes blacks look gray, and it lacks a local dimming feature to further improve it. While it displays a wide range of colors, they don't look vivid.

Pros
Cons
  • Low contrast.
  • Lack of local dimming.
5.8 SDR Picture

The MSI G274QPF-QD has disappointing SDR picture quality. It has a low native contrast ratio, and blacks look gray. It also has bad black uniformity, as there's backlight bleed in dark scenes.

Pros
Cons
  • Low contrast.
  • Bad black uniformity.
8.1 Color Accuracy

The MSI G274QPF-QD has great color accuracy. It has a dedicated sRGB mode, but it oversaturates colors, and you need to calibrate it for the best accuracy.

Pros
  • Good accuracy before calibration.
Cons
  • Oversaturated colors in sRGB mode.
  • 6.9 PC Gaming
  • 6.1 Console Gaming
  • 7.7 Office
  • 6.8 Editing

Performance Usages

  • 7.1 Brightness
  • 7.4 Response Time
  • 4.9 HDR Picture
  • 5.8 SDR Picture
  • 8.1 Color Accuracy
  1. Updated Oct 04, 2024: Added that the ASUS ROG Strix XG27ACS is an alternative with better motion handling.
  2. Updated Sep 26, 2024: Added that the Samsung Odyssey G5/G50D S27DG50 has better SDR Brightness.
  3. Updated Apr 23, 2024: Updated text throughout the review according to Test Bench 2.0, mainly in the Verdict and Motion sections.
  4. Updated Apr 19, 2024: We've converted this review to Test Bench 2.0. This includes new tests for VRR Motion Performance, Refresh Rate Compliance, Cumulative Absolute Deviation (CAD), and VRR Flicker. You can read the full changelog here.
  5. Updated Apr 05, 2024: Review published.
  6. Updated Mar 27, 2024: Early access published.
  7. Updated Mar 20, 2024: Our testers have started testing this product.
  8. Updated Mar 06, 2024: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  9. Updated Feb 28, 2024: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

We tested the 27-inch MSI G274QPF-QD, which is the only size available for this monitor. This model is also available without a quantum dot layer, although it's a different product, so it doesn't perform the same way, and our results aren't valid for it.

ModelSizeResolutionPanel TypeRefresh RateQuantum Dot LayerFirmware Version Tested
G274QPF-QD27"1440pIPS170HzYesNo Listed Firmware
G274QPF 27" 1440pIPS170HzNoNot Tested

You can see the label for this monitor here.

Compared To Other Monitors

The MSI G274QPF-QD is a budget gaming monitor with decent overall performance. It has low input lag for a responsive feel, and it also has a 170Hz refresh rate and VRR support to reduce screen tearing. However, it has low contrast and bad black uniformity, so deep blacks look gray and cloudy in a dark room. While it has consistent motion handling across its VRR range, there's still blur. If you're looking for a monitor with better motion handling, check out the Dell G2724D instead.

For more options, check out our recommendations for the best budget and cheap monitors, the best 1440p gaming monitors, and the best 27-inch gaming monitors.

Dell G2724D

The MSI G274QPF-QD and the Dell G2724D are both 27-inch gaming monitors. However, the Dell is the better monitor for most people. The Dell has far better black uniformity, so there's less cloudiness on the screen in a dark room. The Dell also gets brighter in HDR and SDR, so it's better at overcoming glare, and it also has a faster response time, so fast-moving objects look crisper. However, the MSI has a better HDR color gamut, so HDR colors look more realistic, and this monitor is the better choice if realistic HDR colors are important to you.

Gigabyte M27Q (rev. 1.0)

The MSI G274QPF-QD and the Gigabyte M27Q (rev. 1.0) are 27-inch gaming monitors. Both have similar overall performance, though the Gigabyte is better in brighter environments, as it gets considerably brighter in SDR. The Gigabyte also has better motion handling, so fast-moving objects look more crisp, making it a better choice for fast-moving games. However, the MSI has a wider HDR color gamut, so it displays more realistic colors with HDR videos and games.

LG 27GP850-B/27GP83B-B

The MSI G274QPF-QD and the LG 27GP850-B/27GP83B-B are 27-inch gaming monitors, though the LG is the better monitor in most cases. The LG gets brighter, so it's better at overcoming glare, and it has a faster response time, so fast-moving objects look crisper. The LG also has a wider viewing angle, so the screen looks brighter to someone sitting next to you during co-op gaming.

MSI Optix MAG274QRF-QD

The MSI Optix MAG274QRF-QD and the MSI G274QPF-QD are very similar 27-inch gaming monitors. However, the MAG274QRF-QD is the better monitor for most people, as it has better black uniformity, so deep blacks appear less cloudy in a dark room, and it also has more vibrant HDR colors. Additionally, the MAG274QRF-QD has a faster response time, so fast-moving images look sharper.

Gigabyte M27Q (rev. 2.0)

The Gigabyte M27Q (rev. 2.0) and the MSI G274QPF-QD are 27-inch gaming monitors. Both have very similar performance. The Gigabyte is the better choice for local co-op gaming, as it has a wider viewing angle. However, if you're gaming at a 60Hz refresh rate, the MSI is the better choice, as it has far better motion handling at 60Hz, so fast-moving objects look substantially crisper.

ASUS ROG Strix XG27ACS

The MSI G274QPF-QD and the ASUS ROG Strix XG27ACS are both budget-friendly 1440p gaming monitors. They perform similarly, but the ASUS has an advantage when it comes to gaming thanks to its superior motion handling and better compatibility with consoles. Although the MSI displays a wider range of colors in HDR, the ASUS has better accuracy before calibration in SDR, making it the better choice for editing.

Gigabyte M27Q P

The Gigabyte M27Q P and the MSI G274QPF-QD are 27-inch gaming monitors. Both monitors have similar performance with a few small differences. The Gigabyte gets slightly brighter, so it's better suited to bright rooms and looks better when viewed from the sides. However, the MSI displays a wider range of HDR colors, which is important if you want to see realistic colors with HDR videos and games.

Samsung Odyssey G5/G50D S27DG50

The MSI G274QPF-QD and the Samsung Odyssey G5/G50D S27DG50 are 1440p 27-inch gaming monitors. The MSI is the better choice if you care about colors, as it displays a far wider range of colors in HDR. However, if you plan to use the monitor in a bright room, the Samsung is a better option, as it gets notably brighter.

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Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
Design
Style
Curved
No
Curve Radius
Not Curved

The MSI G274QPF-QD has a black plastic body with a simple aesthetic from the front, though it has a much more gamer-oriented look when viewed from behind the monitor. The stand only takes up a little room below the front of the monitor, and you can place a keyboard or mouse very close to it.

8.0
Design
Build Quality

The monitor has great build quality. The monitor body is made of plastic, but it feels solid. The stand is also solid, and the monitor is well-constructed overall.

9.3
Design
Ergonomics
Min Height To Top Of Panel
15.6" (39.6 cm)
Height Adjustment
5.3" (13.5 cm)
Tilt Range
-20° to 5°
Rotate Portrait/Landscape
Yes, Both Ways
Swivel Range
-30° to 30°
Wall Mount
VESA 100x100

The monitor has fantastic ergonomics, and it's easy to adjust it to your preferred position for a long gaming session or share your screen with another person. The stand features a loop for cable management.

Design
Stand
Base Width
9.5" (24.1 cm)
Base Depth
7.9" (20.0 cm)
Thickness (With Display)
6.8" (17.2 cm)
Weight (With Display)
13.2 lbs (6.0 kg)

The square-based stand is smaller than the tripod stand on some other MSI monitors and takes up almost no space in front of the monitor. It supports the monitor well, and there isn't much wobble.

Design
Display
Size
27"
Housing Width
24.1" (61.3 cm)
Housing Height
14.3" (36.2 cm)
Thickness (Without Stand)
2.8" (7.0 cm)
Weight (Without Stand)
8.7 lbs (3.9 kg)
Borders Size (Bezels)
0.2" (0.6 cm)
Design
Controls

A joystick is on the back right side of the monitor, and it controls the power and on-screen menu.

Design
In The Box
Power Supply
External Brick

  • DisplayPort cable
  • Power supply and cable
  • VESA screw extenders
  • User manuals

Picture Quality
5.8
Picture Quality
Contrast
Native Contrast
911 : 1
Contrast With Local Dimming
N/A

The monitor has a disappointing contrast. As a result, deep blacks appear gray in darker rooms, and the monitor has no local dimming feature to improve the contrast further.

0
Picture Quality
Local Dimming
Local Dimming
No
Backlight
Edge

This monitor doesn't have a local dimming feature. We still film these videos on the monitor so you can compare the backlight performance with a monitor that has local dimming.

7.8
Picture Quality
SDR Brightness
Real Scene
310 cd/m²
Peak 2% Window
356 cd/m²
Peak 10% Window
357 cd/m²
Peak 25% Window
358 cd/m²
Peak 50% Window
358 cd/m²
Peak 100% Window
358 cd/m²
Sustained 2% Window
356 cd/m²
Sustained 10% Window
357 cd/m²
Sustained 25% Window
358 cd/m²
Sustained 50% Window
358 cd/m²
Sustained 100% Window
358 cd/m²
Automatic Brightness Limiting (ABL)
0.000
Minimum Brightness
79 cd/m²

The SDR brightness is very good. It gets bright enough to overcome glare and maintains its brightness consistently across different content. The monitor has a very high minimum brightness, which isn't ideal if you're playing in a dark room and prefer a lower brightness level or are sensitive to bright lights. These results are from after calibration in the 'User' Pro Mode with the Brightness at its max. If you're looking for a monitor that gets brighter, check out the Samsung Odyssey G5/G50D S27DG50.

6.7
Picture Quality
HDR Brightness
VESA DisplayHDR Certification
DisplayHDR 400 - 1.0/1.1
Real Scene
365 cd/m²
Peak 2% Window
431 cd/m²
Peak 10% Window
431 cd/m²
Peak 25% Window
431 cd/m²
Peak 50% Window
432 cd/m²
Peak 100% Window
432 cd/m²
Sustained 2% Window
430 cd/m²
Sustained 10% Window
430 cd/m²
Sustained 25% Window
431 cd/m²
Sustained 50% Window
431 cd/m²
Sustained 100% Window
431 cd/m²
Automatic Brightness Limiting (ABL)
0.000

The HDR brightness is reasonable. It gets brighter than in SDR, but not enough for highlights to pop. While it tracks the EOTF fairly well, it has a very early roll-off as the monitor approaches peak brightness, so highlights don't get the brightest they could. These results are from the 'User' Pro Mode. Many monitor settings are locked when the monitor receives an HDR signal, including brightness.

6.8
Picture Quality
Horizontal Viewing Angle
Color Washout From Left
26°
Color Washout From Right
27°
Color Shift From Left
45°
Color Shift From Right
51°
Brightness Loss From Left
28°
Brightness Loss From Right
30°
Black Level Raise From Left
70°
Black Level Raise From Right
70°
Gamma Shift From Left
30°
Gamma Shift From Right
31°

The monitor has a fair horizontal viewing angle that isn't as good as many IPS displays. While you can share your screen with someone next to you, the image appears darker and washes out at wider angles.

6.9
Picture Quality
Vertical Viewing Angle
Color Washout From Below
25°
Color Washout From Above
29°
Color Shift From Below
43°
Color Shift From Above
51°
Brightness Loss From Below
27°
Brightness Loss From Above
31°
Black Level Raise From Below
70°
Black Level Raise From Above
70°
Gamma Shift From Below
31°
Gamma Shift From Above
35°

The vertical viewing angle is okay. The image appears slightly washed out if you stand up and look down at the monitor.

7.8
Picture Quality
Gray Uniformity
50% Std. Dev.
3.958%
50% DSE
0.145%

The gray uniformity is good. While the edges of the screen are darker than the rest, there's minimal dirty screen effect in the center, which is great.

3.8
Picture Quality
Black Uniformity
Native Std. Dev.
3.499%
Std. Dev. w/ L.D.
N/A

The black uniformity is bad. Backlight bleed is very visible along the monitor's edges, and the screen is very cloudy. There's no local dimming feature to improve this performance further.

7.6
Picture Quality
Color Accuracy (Pre-Calibration)
Picture Mode
sRGB
sRGB Gamut Area xy
107.9%
White Balance dE (Avg.)
3.21
Color Temperature (Avg.)
6,690 K
Gamma (Avg.)
2.12
Color dE (Avg.)
3.08
Contrast Setting
N/A
RGB Settings
Default
Gamma Setting
No Gamma Setting
Brightness Setting
70
Measured Brightness
274 cd/m²
Brightness Locked
No

The MSI G274QPF-QD has good accuracy before calibration in the sRGB mode. The colors and white balance are fairly accurate, and the color temperature is close to the 6500K target. However, it slightly oversaturates colors. Additionally, gamma doesn't follow the target curve well, and most scenes are too bright.

Unfortunately, using the 'sRGB' Pro Mode setting locks other settings, including Contrast and Color Temperature. So, if you want to use those settings, you need to change Pro Mode to something else, which results in worse color and gamma accuracy than before calibration, as you can see here.

9.6
Picture Quality
Color Accuracy (Post-Calibration)
Picture Mode
User
sRGB Gamut Area xy
98.9%
White Balance dE (Avg.)
0.86
Color Temperature (Avg.)
6,518 K
Gamma (Avg.)
2.18
Color dE (Avg.)
0.57
Contrast Setting
56
RGB Settings
50-49-42
Gamma Setting
No Gamma Setting
Brightness Setting
3
Measured Brightness
101 cd/m²
ICC Profile
Download

The accuracy after calibration is remarkable, and you won't notice any problems. Additionally, you can use any of the settings that are locked out in the sRGB mode.

9.6
Picture Quality
SDR Color Gamut
sRGB Coverage xy
98.9%
sRGB Picture Mode
User
Adobe RGB Coverage xy
94.1%
Adobe RGB Picture Mode
User

The monitor has an incredible SDR color gamut. It has fantastic coverage of the sRGB color space and superb coverage of the Adobe RGB color space used in professional publishing. However, greens, blues, and magentas are oversaturated in Adobe RGB, which isn't ideal for professional publishing.

9.3
Picture Quality
HDR Color Gamut
Wide Color Gamut
Yes
DCI-P3 Coverage xy
97.7%
DCI-P3 Picture Mode
User
Rec. 2020 Coverage xy
77.8%
Rec. 2020 Picture Mode
User

The HDR color gamut is fantastic. It has outstanding coverage of the DCI-P3 color space used in most HDR content. It also has great coverage of the wider Rec. 2020 color space, though colors are less accurate than with DCI-P3.

7.5
Picture Quality
HDR Color Volume
1,000 cd/m² DCI-P3 Coverage ICtCp
53.3%
DCI-P3 Picture Mode
User
10,000 cd/m² Rec. 2020 Coverage ICtCp
31.3%
Rec. 2020 Picture Mode
User

The HDR color volume is good. Its wide color gamut helps it display a large range of colors, but it struggles to properly display bright and dark colors well.

7.0
Picture Quality
Text Clarity
Pixel Type
IPS
Subpixel Layout
RGB

The text clarity is decent. While the monitor generally has sharp text, the panel sometimes has areas of discoloration due to pixel inversion, which can be distracting. You can see an example of this here. This can be caused by a range of content, including web browsing and watching videos.

With ClearType on (top photo), the diagonal lines appear bolder. These photos are in Windows 10, and you can also see it in Windows 11 with ClearType on and with ClearType off.

7.9
Picture Quality
Reflections
Screen Finish
Matte
Total Reflections
5.2%
Indirect Reflections
4.0%
Calculated Direct Reflections
1.2%

The MSI G274QPF-QD has very good reflection handling. While some strong light sources cause distracting glare, it also gets bright enough to fight glare in most well-lit office spaces.

9.8
Picture Quality
Gradient
Color Depth
10 Bit

The gradient handling is outstanding, and you won't notice any issues with banding in scenes with shades of similar colors.

Motion
7.6
Motion
Refresh Rate
Native Refresh Rate
165 Hz
Max Refresh Rate
170 Hz
Max Refresh Rate Over DP
170 Hz
Max Refresh Rate Over HDMI
144 Hz
Max Refresh Rate Over DP @ 10-bit
170 Hz
Max Refresh Rate Over HDMI @ 10-Bit
60 Hz

Due to bandwidth limitations, the max refresh rate is limited over HDMI, but you won't have issues reaching that max refresh rate over DisplayPort.

Motion
Variable Refresh Rate (VRR)
Variable Refresh Rate
Yes
FreeSync
Yes
G-SYNC
Compatible (NVIDIA Certified)
VRR Maximum
170 Hz
VRR Minimum
< 20 Hz
VRR Supported Connectors
DisplayPort, HDMI

NVIDIAVRR MinVRR Max
DisplayPort<20Hz170Hz
HDMIN/AN/A
AMDVRR MinVRR Max
DisplayPort<20Hz170Hz
HDMI<20Hz144Hz

7.4
Motion
VRR Motion Performance
Recommended VRR OD Setting
Normal
Variable Overdrive Advertised
No
Avg. CAD
209
Best CAD
209
Worst CAD
209

Frame RateCAD HeatmapRT ChartPursuit Photo
169HeatmapChartPhoto
165HeatmapChartPhoto
144HeatmapChartPhoto
120HeatmapChartPhoto
100HeatmapChartPhoto
80HeatmapChartPhoto
60HeatmapChartPhoto

This monitor has decent motion handling across its refresh rate range with VRR enabled. Its motion handling is extremely consistent with the 'Normal' Response Time overdrive setting, which is ideal if the frame rate of your game varies a lot, but there's still some motion blur. The 'Fast' overdrive setting is better at higher refresh rates, but it's much worse at lower refresh rates. The 'Fastest' overdrive setting has such a high CAD that it passes the limits of our chart, and you can see it in an alternative chart here.

If you prefer a gaming monitor with better motion handling, then the ASUS ROG Strix XG27ACS is a good alternative.

7.0
Motion
Refresh Rate Compliance
Compliance @ Max Hz
52%
Compliance @ 120 FPS
58%
Compliance @ 60 FPS
67%

The refresh rate compliance is decent. The 'Normal' overdrive setting has the most consistent compliance across the refresh rate range, including at lower refresh rates, but the 'Fast' overdrive setting has better compliance at high refresh rates. That said, the response time isn't fast enough to make full color transitions before the monitor draws the next frame.

7.9
Motion
CAD @ Max Refresh Rate
OD Transition Max Refresh Rate
Recommended Overdrive Setting
Fast
Avg. CAD
153
Best 10% CAD
105
Worst 10% CAD
216

Overdrive ModeCAD HeatmapRT ChartPursuit Photo
NormalHeatmapChartPhoto
FastHeatmapChartPhoto
FastestHeatmapChartPhoto

The CAD at the max refresh rate of 170Hz is very good. The 'Fast' overdrive setting has lower CAD than 'Normal,' resulting in less motion blur, which is great if your games maintain high frame rates.

Motion
Response Time @ Max Refresh Rate
Recommended Overdrive Setting
Fast
First Response Time
4.2 ms
Total Response Time
8.0 ms
RGB Overshoot
8 RGB
Worst 10% First Response Time
9.0 ms
Worst 10% Total Response Time
10.5 ms
Worst 10% RGB Overshoot
16 RGB

Overdrive ModeFirst Response HeatmapTotal Response HeatmapRGB Overshoot Heatmap
NormalHeatmapHeatmapHeatmap
FastHeatmapHeatmapHeatmap
FastestHeatmapHeatmapHeatmap

7.2
Motion
CAD @ 120Hz
OD Transition 120Hz
Recommended Overdrive Setting
Normal
Avg. CAD
206
Best 10% CAD
116
Worst 10% CAD
290

Overdrive ModeCAD HeatmapRT ChartPursuit Photo
NormalHeatmapChartPhoto
FastHeatmapChartPhoto
FastestHeatmapChartPhoto

The CAD at 120Hz is decent. The 'Normal' and 'Fast' overdrive settings have similar CAD, but 'Fast' has more overshoot that results in inverse ghosting, so 'Normal' is the better choice. This means you may have to change the setting if the frame rate of your game drops, unless you use 'Normal' with any refresh rate.

Motion
Response Time @ 120Hz
Recommended Overdrive Setting
Normal
First Response Time
8.9 ms
Total Response Time
8.9 ms
RGB Overshoot
0 RGB
Worst 10% First Response Time
13.2 ms
Worst 10% Total Response Time
13.2 ms
Worst 10% RGB Overshoot
0 RGB

Overdrive ModeFirst Response HeatmapTotal Response HeatmapRGB Overshoot Heatmap
NormalHeatmapHeatmapHeatmap
FastHeatmapHeatmapHeatmap
FastestHeatmapHeatmapHeatmap

7.2
Motion
CAD @ 60Hz
OD Transition 60Hz
Recommended Overdrive Setting
Normal
Avg. CAD
208
Best 10% CAD
114
Worst 10% CAD
301

Overdrive ModeCAD HeatmapRT ChartPursuit Photo
NormalHeatmapChartPhoto
FastHeatmapChartPhoto
FastestHeatmapChartPhoto

The CAD at 60Hz is decent. It's similar to 120Hz as 'Normal' has the best motion handling, with 'Fast' and 'Faster' having too much inverse ghosting. That said, there's still some motion blur.

Motion
Response Time @ 60Hz
Recommended Overdrive Setting
Normal
First Response Time
9.5 ms
Total Response Time
9.5 ms
RGB Overshoot
0 RGB
Worst 10% First Response Time
16.0 ms
Worst 10% Total Response Time
16.0 ms
Worst 10% RGB Overshoot
0 RGB

Overdrive ModeFirst Response HeatmapTotal Response HeatmapRGB Overshoot Heatmap
NormalHeatmapHeatmapHeatmap
FastHeatmapHeatmapHeatmap
FastestHeatmapHeatmapHeatmap

Motion
Backlight Strobing (BFI)
Backlight Strobing (BFI)
Yes
Maximum Frequency
170 Hz
Minimum Frequency
120 Hz
Longest Pulse Width Brightness
181 cd/m²
Shortest Pulse Width Brightness
181 cd/m²
Pulse Width Control
No
Pulse Phase Control
No
Pulse Amplitude Control
No
VRR At The Same Time
No

Refresh RateMotion Blur Photo
170HzPhoto
144HzPhoto
120HzPhoto

The MSI G274QPF-QD has a backlight strobing feature, commonly known as black frame insertion (BFI), to help reduce persistence blur. When active, it causes notable image duplication.

8.2
Motion
VRR Flicker
Dark Gray Flicker
1.3 RGB
Middle Gray Flicker
1.8 RGB
Light Gray Flicker
0.3 RGB

The MSI G274QPF-QD has minimal VRR flicker with changing frame rates. You can see a bit in dark scenes, but it isn't too distracting, and this isn't an issue with consistent frame rates.

10
Motion
Image Flicker
Flicker-Free
Yes
PWM Dimming Frequency
0 Hz

The backlight remains flicker-free at all brightness levels, which helps reduce eye strain if you're sensitive to flicker.

Inputs
8.9
Inputs
Input Lag
Native Resolution @ Max Hz
3.5 ms
Native Resolution @ 120Hz
4.7 ms
Native Resolution @ 60Hz
8.8 ms
Backlight Strobing (BFI)
6.9 ms

This monitor has extremely low input lag for a responsive feel while gaming.

7.5
Inputs
Resolution
Native Resolution
2560 x 1440
Aspect Ratio
16:9
Megapixels
3.7 MP
Pixel Density
109 PPI
4.9
Inputs
PS5 Compatibility
4k @ 120Hz
No
4k @ 60Hz
Yes
1440p @ 120Hz
Yes
1440p @ 60Hz
Yes
1080p @ 120Hz
Yes
1080p @ 60Hz
Yes

The MSI G274QPF-QD works well enough with PS5, but without HDMI 2.1 bandwidth and HDMI Forum VRR, it can't take full advantage of the console.

5.4
Inputs
Xbox Series X|S Compatibility
4k @ 120Hz
No
4k @ 60Hz
Yes
1440p @ 120Hz
No
1440p @ 60Hz
Yes
1080p @ 120Hz
Yes
1080p @ 60Hz
Yes

The MSI G274QPF-QD has some compatibility issues with the Xbox Series X|S. It doesn't support 1440p at 120Hz or HDR at all, even when we tried different options like Gaming Mode, Professional Mode, VRR settings, and a different Xbox.

Inputs
Inputs Photos
Inputs
Video And Audio Ports
DisplayPort
1 (DP 1.4)
Mini DisplayPort
No
HDMI
2 (HDMI 2.0)
HDMI 2.1 Rated Speed
No HDMI 2.1
DVI
No
VGA
No
Daisy Chaining
No
3.5mm Audio Out
1
3.5mm Audio In
No
HDR10
Yes
3.5mm Microphone In
No
Inputs
USB
USB-A Ports
0
USB-A Rated Speed
No USB-A Ports
USB-B Upstream Port
No
USB-C Ports
1
USB-C Upstream
Yes
USB-C Rated Speed
5Gbps (USB 3.2 Gen 1)
USB-C Power Delivery
15W
USB-C DisplayPort Alt Mode
Yes
Thunderbolt
No

The MSI G274QPF-QD has a USB-C input that supports DisplayPort Alt Mode, allowing you to display an image from a compatible device. The USB-C input supplies 15W of power, which isn't enough to charge most laptops while they're operating.

Inputs
macOS Compatibility

ConnectionHDMI 2.0USB-C
Max Refresh Rate144Hz170Hz
VRR RangeN/A48-170Hz
HDRYesYes

This monitor works well with macOS. When using HDR, the screen appears washed out. When using a MacBook, windows stay in place when reopening the lid or waking the laptop up from sleep.

Features
Features
Additional Features
Speakers
No
RGB Illumination
No
Multiple Input Display
PIP + PBP
KVM Switch
No

The MSI G274QPF-QD comes with a few extra features, including:

  • Low Blue Light: Adjusts the screen color temperature to a more yellow glow.
  • HDCR: Enhances image quality by increasing the contrast of images.
  • Image Enhancement: Enhances image edges to improve their sharpness.
  • Night Vision: Optimizes background brightness.
  • Screen Assistance: Overlays crosshairs to assist with aiming.

Features
On-Screen Display (OSD)