Products
MSI Optix G27C5
Dell S2721HGF
Tested using Methodology v1.1
Updated May 24, 2024 02:05 PM
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Amazon.com
Tested using Methodology v1.1
Updated Jun 13, 2025 08:56 PM
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Amazon.com
Size27"
Pixel Type
VA
Variable Refresh Rate
FreeSync
Native Resolution1920 x 1080
Max Refresh Rate
165 Hz
Size27"
Pixel Type
VA
Variable Refresh Rate
Adaptive Sync
Native Resolution1920 x 1080
Max Refresh Rate
144 Hz
Our Verdict
MSI Optix G27C5
Dell S2721HGF
The Dell S2721HGF and the MSI Optix G27C5 are both 27 inch VA panel gaming monitors with a 1080p resolution. The MSI has a slightly higher 165Hz refresh rate compared to the Dell's 144Hz; however, the Dell has a much better response time, especially in dark scenes. The Dell has better viewing angles, one of the best among VA panel monitors, and it gets brighter to combat glare. If you care about color accuracy or want to use it for content creation, the Dell has better accuracy out of the box, but the MSI has a better SDR color gamut.
Variants
- G27C5 (27")
- S2721HGF (27")
Check Price
27"
G27C5
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27"
S2721HGF
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27"
G27C5
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27"
S2721HGF
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27"
G27C5
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27"
S2721HGF
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27"
G27C5
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27"
S2721HGF
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Main Differences for
Mixed Usage
Mixed Usage
Threshold
Mixed Usage
6.9
7.3
Ergonomics
1.5
5.2
Horizontal Viewing Angle
5.3
6.9
Full Comparison
Design
Style
Design Picture
Size
27"
27"
Curved
Yes
Yes
Curve Radius
1500R
1500R
Weight (without stand)
8.4 lbs (3.8 kg)
9.0 lbs (4.1 kg)
Weight (with stand)
10.1 lbs (4.6 kg)
15.0 lbs (6.8 kg)
Stand
Stand Picture
Width
18.7" (47.5 cm)
9.2" (23.3 cm)
Depth
9.8" (24.9 cm)
7.6" (19.4 cm)
Ergonomics
1.5
5.2
Ergonomics Picture
Height Adjustment
0.0" (0.0 cm)
5.0" (12.8 cm)
Switch Portrait/Landscape
No
No
Swivel Range
No swivel
No swivel
Tilt Range
-20° to 5°
-21° to 5°
Back
Back Picture
Wall Mount
VESA 100x100
VESA 100x100
Borders
Borders Picture
Borders
0.3" (0.8 cm)
0.3" (0.7 cm)
Thickness
Thickness Picture
Thickness (with stand)
8.6" (21.9 cm)
6.2" (15.8 cm)
Thickness (without stand)
3.3" (8.3 cm)
2.8" (7.1 cm)
Build Quality
7.0
8.0
Build Quality Picture
Picture Quality
Contrast
8.2
8.1
Checkerboard Picture
Native Contrast
3,676 : 1
3,432 : 1
Contrast With Local Dimming
N/A
N/A
Local Dimming
0.0
0.0
Local Dimming Video
Local Dimming
No
No
Backlight
Edge
Edge
SDR Peak Brightness
7.4
7.5
SDR Real Scene
287 cd/m²
288 cd/m²
SDR Peak 2% Window
284 cd/m²
320 cd/m²
SDR Peak 10% Window
284 cd/m²
322 cd/m²
SDR Peak 25% Window
285 cd/m²
322 cd/m²
SDR Peak 50% Window
285 cd/m²
322 cd/m²
SDR Peak 100% Window
285 cd/m²
322 cd/m²
SDR Sustained 2% Window
284 cd/m²
320 cd/m²
SDR Sustained 10% Window
284 cd/m²
321 cd/m²
SDR Sustained 25% Window
285 cd/m²
322 cd/m²
SDR Sustained 50% Window
284 cd/m²
322 cd/m²
SDR Sustained 100% Window
285 cd/m²
322 cd/m²
SDR ABL
0.000
0.000
HDR Peak Brightness
0.0
0.0
HDR Real Scene
N/A
N/A
HDR Peak 2% Window
N/A
N/A
HDR Peak 10% Window
N/A
N/A
HDR Peak 25% Window
N/A
N/A
HDR Peak 50% Window
N/A
N/A
HDR Peak 100% Window
N/A
N/A
HDR Sustained 2% Window
N/A
N/A
HDR Sustained 10% Window
N/A
N/A
HDR Sustained 25% Window
N/A
N/A
HDR Sustained 50% Window
N/A
N/A
HDR Sustained 100% Window
N/A
N/A
HDR ABL
N/A
N/A
Horizontal Viewing Angle
5.3
6.9
Horizontal Viewing Angle Video
Horizontal Chroma Graph
Color Washout From Left
26°
46°
Color Washout From Right
26°
45°
Horizontal Hue Graph
Color Shift From Left
39°
68°
Color Shift From Right
39°
69°
Horizontal Lightness Graph
Brightness Loss From Left
28°
46°
Brightness Loss From Right
28°
45°
Black Level Raise From Left
13°
23°
Black Level Raise From Right
14°
21°
Gamma Shift From Left
15°
18°
Gamma Shift From Right
15°
17°
Vertical Viewing Angle
5.2
6.0
Vertical Viewing Angle Video
Vertical Chroma Graph
Color Washout From Below
27°
33°
Color Washout From Above
28°
34°
Vertical Hue Graph
Color Shift From Below
44°
53°
Color Shift From Above
43°
54°
Vertical Lightness Graph
Brightness Loss From Below
29°
35°
Brightness Loss From Above
29°
35°
Black Level Raise From Below
11°
16°
Black Level Raise From Above
11°
15°
Gamma Shift From Below
11°
17°
Gamma Shift From Above
10°
19°
Gray Uniformity
9.0
8.6
50% Uniformity Picture
50% Std. Dev.
1.750%
3.023%
50% DSE
0.097%
0.114%
5% Uniformity Picture
5% Std. Dev.
0.691%
0.599%
5% DSE
0.060%
0.072%
Black Uniformity
6.0
5.4
Native Black Uniformity Picture
Native Std. Dev.
1.977%
2.427%
Black Uniformity Picture With Local Dimming
Std. Dev. w/ L.D.
N/A
N/A
Pre Calibration
6.6
8.0
Pre Calibration Picture
Pre Gamma Curve Picture
Pre Color Picture
Picture Mode
User
Standard
Luminance
282 cd/m²
250 cd/m²
Luminance Settings
100
75
Contrast Setting
70
75
RGB Controls
Normal
100-100-100
Gamma Setting
No Gamma Setting
No Gamma Setting
Color Temperature
6,083 K
6,353 K
White Balance dE
3.59
2.73
Color dE
4.00
2.27
Gamma
2.00
2.25
Post Calibration
9.6
9.7
Post Calibration Picture
Post Gamma Curve Picture
Post Color Picture
Picture Mode
User
Custom Color
Luminance
100 cd/m²
99 cd/m²
Luminance Settings
56
21
Contrast Setting
55
78
RGB Controls
55-58-78
100-98-100
Gamma Setting
No Gamma Setting
No Gamma Setting
Color Temperature
6,397 K
6,536 K
White Balance dE
0.63
0.48
Color dE
0.70
0.61
Gamma
2.18
2.18
SDR Color Gamut
8.9
8.6
Color Gamut sRGB Picture
sRGB xy
97.2%
96.8%
Color Gamut ARGB Picture
Adobe RGB xy
81.1%
75.8%
sRGB Picture Mode
User
Custom Color
Adobe RGB Picture Mode
User
Custom Color
SDR Color Volume
9.4
8.9
sRGB Color Volume ITP Picture
sRGB In ICtCp
99.1%
97.1%
Adobe RGB Color Volume ITP Picture
Adobe RGB In ICtCp
88.5%
81.3%
sRGB Picture Mode
User
Custom Color
Adobe RGB Picture Mode
User
Custom Color
HDR Color Gamut
0.0
0.0
Wide Color Gamut
N/A
N/A
Color Gamut DCI-P3 Picture
DCI P3 xy
N/A
N/A
Color Gamut Rec.2020 Picture
Rec. 2020 xy
N/A
N/A
DCI P3 Picture Mode
No HDR
No HDR
Rec. 2020 Picture Mode
No HDR
No HDR
HDR Color Volume
0.0
0.0
P3 Color Volume ITP Picture
DCI-P3 In ICtCp
N/A
N/A
2020 Color Volume ITP Picture
Rec. 2020 In ICtCp
N/A
N/A
DCI P3 Picture Mode
No HDR
No HDR
Rec. 2020 Picture Mode
No HDR
No HDR
Image Retention
10
10
Image Retention Picture
IR After 0 Min Recovery
0.00%
0.00%
IR After 2 Min Recovery
0.00%
0.00%
IR After 4 Min Recovery
0.00%
0.00%
IR After 6 Min Recovery
0.00%
0.00%
IR After 8 Min Recovery
0.00%
0.00%
IR After 10 Min Recovery
0.00%
0.00%
Gradient
8.6
8.6
Gradient Picture
Color Depth
8 Bit
8 Bit
Color Bleed
10
10
Color Bleed Horizontal
Pixel Row Error
0.001%
0.000%
Color Bleed Vertical
Pixel Column Error
0.001%
0.001%
Reflections
7.5
7.9
Average Room
Average Room Off Picture
Bright Room Off Picture
Screen Finish
Matte
Matte
Total Reflections
5.4%
4.5%
Indirect Reflections
3.2%
2.7%
Calculated Direct Reflections
2.1%
1.8%
Text Clarity
7.0
7.0
ClearType On
Pixel Type
VA
VA
ClearType Off
Pixels
Sub-Pixel Layout
RGB
RGB
Motion
Response Time @ Max Refresh Rate
8.0
8.6
Motion Blur Picture
Response Time Table
Best Overdrive Setting
Fastest
Super Fast
Rise / Fall Time
5.5 ms
5.0 ms
Total Response Time
13.0 ms
13.0 ms
Overshoot Error
6.4%
3.5%
Dark Rise / Fall Time
12.4 ms
4.0 ms
Dark Total Response Time
21.3 ms
14.8 ms
Dark Overshoot Error
0.0%
8.3%
Response Time @ 60Hz
7.3
7.1
Motion Blur Picture
Response Time Table
Best Overdrive Setting
Fast
Super Fast
Rise / Fall Time
6.6 ms
6.0 ms
Total Response Time
17.8 ms
19.6 ms
Overshoot Error
3.5%
6.4%
Dark Rise / Fall Time
10.3 ms
6.5 ms
Dark Total Response Time
25.8 ms
24.5 ms
Dark Overshoot Error
2.6%
10.9%
Image Flicker
10
10
Backlight Picture
Flicker-Free
Yes
Yes
PWM Dimming Frequency
0 Hz
0 Hz
Black Frame Insertion (BFI)
6.1
6.0
Black Frame Insertion (BFI)
Yes
Yes
BFI Picture
BFI Frequency Picture
BFI Maximum Frequency
165 Hz
144 Hz
BFI Minimum Frequency
120 Hz
120 Hz
Refresh Rate
9.2
9.0
Variable Refresh Rate
FreeSync
Adaptive Sync
Native
165 Hz
144 Hz
Max Refresh Rate
165 Hz
144 Hz
Variable Refresh Rate
Yes
Yes
FreeSync
Yes
Yes
G-SYNC
Compatible (Tested)
Compatible (NVIDIA Certified)
VRR Maximum
165 Hz
144 Hz
VRR Minimum
< 20 Hz
< 20 Hz
VRR Supported Connectors
DisplayPort, HDMI
DisplayPort, HDMI
Inputs
Input Lag
9.6
9.5
Native Resolution
3.4 ms
4.1 ms
Native Resolution @ 60Hz
9.3 ms
8.9 ms
Variable Refresh Rate
3.6 ms
4.9 ms
Variable Refresh Rate @ 60Hz
9.3 ms
9.9 ms
10 Bit HDR
N/A
N/A
Black Frame Insertion (BFI)
4.9 ms
8.9 ms
Resolution And Size
7.1
7.1
Native Resolution
1920 x 1080
1920 x 1080
Aspect Ratio
16:9
16:9
Megapixels
2.1 MP
2.1 MP
Pixel Density
82 PPI
82 PPI
Screen Diagonal
27.0"
27.0"
Screen Area
310 in²
310 in²
Inputs
Inputs 1
Inputs 2
Total Inputs
DisplayPort
1 (DP 1.2)
1 (DP 1.4)
Mini DisplayPort
No
No
HDMI
2 (HDMI 1.4)
2 (HDMI 1.4)
DVI
No
No
VGA
No
No
DisplayPort Out
No
No
USB
No
No
USB C
No
No
Analog Audio Out 3.5mm
1
1
Microphone In 3.5mm
No
No
Digital Optical Audio Out
No
No
Analog Audio Out RCA
No
No
Power Supply
External Brick
Internal
Features
Additional Features
RGB Illumination
No
No
Speakers
No
No
HDR10
No
No
Multiple Input Display
No
No
On-Screen Display (OSD)
OSD Picture
Controls
Controls Picture
In The Box
In The Box Picture
Check Price
27"
G27C5
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
27"
S2721HGF
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
27"
G27C5
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
27"
S2721HGF
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
27"
G27C5
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
27"
S2721HGF
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
27"
G27C5
SEARCH
B&H
27"
S2721HGF
SEARCH
B&H
MSI Optix G27C5
Dell S2721HGF
Comments
MSI Optix G27C5 vs Dell S2721HGF: Main Discussion
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