MSI G274QPF E2 review: the reference 2K monitor for everything

2K resolution is gaining ground and is becoming a popular trend, literally. The MSI G274QPF E2 has every chance of becoming one of those monitors, as it has typical gaming features and offers good performance for the money. We have tested the monitor with a colorimeter, measured power consumption, evaluated the image quality, tested it in games, compared it with competitors, looked for shortcomings, and are ready to share our experience.

MSI G274QPF E2

Pluses:

high brightness and HDR support; full coverage of the sRGB color space; high refresh rate with low latency; minimal graying of the IPS matrix on black; functional stand with adjustment in all directions;

Minuses:

lack of built-in speakers and problems with sound quality through the 3.5 mm jack; 180 Hz 10-bit mode is available only for Display Port connection via cable

8.3/10

Rating ITC.ua

Specifications of MSI G274QPF E2

Completeness and packaging

The modest package includes the monitor itself, a stand, a leg, a Display Port cable, a power supply, an external power cable, paper documentation, and mounting screws. Everything is packed in a large box with foam filling. There is a plastic handle for carrying it. Power supply with coaxial connector, voltage 20 V, power up to 65 W.

Design of MSI G274QPF E2

The bezels around the screen are medium-sized, the finish is matte, and the build quality is good with a few exceptions. Despite almost zero plastic creaking (which is rare for monitors), you can see a slight gap between the matrix and the bottom bezel in the right corner. The gap is small and does not increase if you try to pull the bezel back, but a little dust can get in.

When assembled, the MSI G274QPF E2 looks elegant, beautiful, stylish, and neat. The central leg stand makes the monitor look more prestigious than models with «chicken legs». In addition, the stand is as functional as possible.

The MSI G274QPF E2 has tilt, height, and swivel adjustments. The range is impressive, allowing you to customize the device specifically to your needs and workplace. The ability to swivel it 90 degrees is also a nice bonus.

What if the owner wants to smoothly scroll through vertical videos on TikTok or play mobile games like Subway Surfers? In fact, there are many more scenarios for using vertical monitors, including for work.

The monitor swivels in both directions, so it does not have a fixed horizontal position. This is both an advantage (more convenient cable management) and a disadvantage because after the vertical mode, you will have to level it by eye. There is no water level included, although it is included in some cases of the same manufacturer.

Interfaces

The MSI G274QPF E2 does not have a full-fledged USB hub, and the only USB Type C is used to transmit video signals or charge equipment. It’s fine, but I’d like to be able to connect the monitor to a PC and then some peripherals.

For video, there are two HDMI 2.0b and Display Port 1.4. The full use of all the monitor’s capabilities is possible only with a DP cable because the HDMI connection limits the frequency to 144 Hz and the color to 8 bits. Please note that 180Hz 10-bit is only available via Display Port or USB Type C.

MSI G274QPF E2 display

The 27-inch IPS matrix pleasantly surprised us with the glare at the edges. To be more precise, it is almost absent. The black color does not give off gray when viewed at a right angle. Colors do not suffer or distort, although the matte finish makes itself felt.

In low-brightness mode, with low contrast in the dark, MSI G274QPF E2 gives off a little gray at an angle. During the day, the brightness margin is sufficient, even too much. The manufacturer claims 400 nits, and the colorimeter recorded 530 nits on a white background at 100% brightness.

To measure the color space, SpyderX asked me to lower the brightness to 200 nits and showed full sRGB coverage. Of course, this monitor is not a photographer’s dream, but it can be used for high-quality photo printing, photo editing, etc. It’s not a preferred choice for professionals, but they could work with it without complaining about the image quality.

Such a combination of gaming capabilities and a realistic matrix is not new, but MSI G274QPF E2 is trying to become a new model, a benchmark in this price category. Not everyone likes VA matrices (although they have a much deeper black color), so such IPS panels are still in good demand.

The difference in smoothness between 90 and 180 Hz is huge, but it is noticeable only in active games. For online shooters, anyone can see the difference, and in RPGs, racing, and other games with less dynamic gameplay, it’s no longer a priority. The manufacturer indicates delays of 1 ms, and the not-so-accurate TFTTEST program shows about 5 ms.

Software

Many MSI monitors can be controlled using a computer and a handy program, but not this one. The MSI G274QPF E2 does not support USB connection to a PC, so you can only control it with the joystick. It works in five directions and allows you to access quick settings that include the standard tabs for a modern monitor.

The user can choose ready-made game modes or professional modes, play around with changing the brightness, sharpness, contrast, black levels, and many other parameters. Gamer features like a built-in sight and timer are also present, but they are not useful in every game.

There are many settings, they are placed logically and easily accessible, but the navigation itself is slow. There is a slight delay after each click with the joystick, so it takes two seconds to get to the desired tab. This problem is typical not only for MSI G274QPF E2, but also for other models from this manufacturer. There is no Ukrainian language in the menu.

Power consumption of MSI G274QPF E2

The hero of the review consumes a little for its size. The power of the external power supply is 65 W, which is more than enough for this economical matrix. Excess power can be used to power portable equipment via the USB Type C connector (up to 15 W).

The device itself consumes 11-12 W in economy mode with the minimum backlight level and activated eco-profile. In gaming scenarios, you can see an average of 24–27 watts. The refresh rate has a slight effect on power consumption, changing the figure within the error range by 1-3 W.

Maximum brightness and activation of HDR mode makes MSI G274QPF E2 consume up to 38 watts. This is excellent for a bright monitor with an officially declared 400 nits, although in reality this figure may be higher. Power consumption is another advantage of IPS over VA.

Experience of use

We have already talked about the strengths and positive experiences in the previous sections with tests, so here we will focus on the main problems of the monitor. As it turned out, the MSI G274QPF E2 has a broken pixel close to the center, which is quite unpleasant. It created the impression of a small fly that sits there all the time, distracting and teasing with its presence.

The broken pixel was noticeable only on a white background or images in light colors. This sometimes happens with monitors, so the buyer should immediately contact us with the full right to exchange the product for the same one without defects. Let’s assume that this is an isolated case, not a massive defect. The manufacturing standard allows up to 3 broken pixels per matrix.

In my opinion, the main drawback of the model is the acoustics. Yes, there are no built-in speakers, which is unpleasant, but that’s not the problem. Connecting headphones via a 3.5 mm AUX cable was an unpleasant experience. All the time there was a slight background noise, like the hum of a transformer, and the low frequencies almost disappeared. When connecting the same headset via Bluetooth or directly with a cable to a computer, the bass was again pleasing to the ears, and the background noise disappeared.

In all other respects, the MSI G274QPF E2 did not leave negative impressions, as it combines a realistic image, high refresh rate, minimal black gray, flat design, low-power consumption, low latency, almost zero «ghosting» effect when moving objects quickly. It was also surprised with high brightness (the colorimeter recorded more than 530 nits).

Gamers will definitely be delighted with this monitor, not only eSports players, but also casuals who value image quality, smoothness, etc. It is also a good option for work, including with photos because the colors are pleasant and realistic, which is expected from a mid-range IPS matrix. This is probably one of the reasons why VA monitors have not yet replaced IPS.

Competitors and price of MSI G274QPF E2

Officially, MSI G274QPF E2 is sold only on the Comfy network for UAH 11,000. Given the UAH 3,000 discount, the new product looks confident against the analogs we’ll discuss. We consider gaming monitors with a functional stand, a refresh rate of at least 165 Hz, and a brightness of 350 nits or more to be competitors.

Asus ROG Strix XG27ACS — is the main threat to the hero of the review. This latest model almost completely repeats the characteristics of MSI G274QPF E2, although the brightness is still lower.

Samsung Odyssey G5A 27 is an exemplary IPS monitor in its class. The main advantage of the Korean is its certified support for NVIDIA G-Sync. Unlike MSI, there is no built-in USB.

Dell G2724D — is a great model that is not officially sold in Ukraine. It has many advantages: high brightness, high-quality IPS matrix, and low latency.

8.3/10

Rating ITC.ua

Design, Ergonomics, Materials, Build Quality

8

A classic mid-range monitor with a great stand

Brightness, HDR

9

High brightness and work with HDR content

Colors, Viewing Angles

8.5

Realistic image and 100% sRGB coverage

Frequency, Latencies

9

Fast gaming monitor with minimal ghosting effect

Interfaces, Energy

7.5

Relatively low power consumption, although only one USB

Price

7.5

The price is adequate, but the competition in this segment is too strong