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Alienware Vs MSI Monitors For Gaming

Budget Option
Alienware 240Hz Gaming Monitor 27 Inch...
Alienware AW2521H 25" Full HD LED LCD...
Editor's Choice
MSI Oculux NXG253R, 25" Gaming Monitor,...
MSI 32"" Full HD RGB LED Non-Glare Super...
Alienware 240Hz Gaming Monitor 27 Inch...
Alienware AW2521H 25" Full HD LED LCD...
MSI Oculux NXG253R, 25" Gaming Monitor,...
MSI 32"" Full HD RGB LED Non-Glare Super...
Budget Option
Alienware 240Hz Gaming Monitor 27 Inch...
Alienware 240Hz Gaming Monitor 27 Inch...
Alienware AW2521H 25" Full HD LED LCD...
Alienware AW2521H 25" Full HD LED LCD...
Editor's Choice
MSI Oculux NXG253R, 25" Gaming Monitor,...
MSI Oculux NXG253R, 25" Gaming Monitor,...
MSI 32"" Full HD RGB LED Non-Glare Super...
MSI 32"" Full HD RGB LED Non-Glare Super...

Last update on 2024-03-26 / As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more about us.

If you are a PC gamer going for a desktop, you have to pick each part carefully, including the monitor. In this article, we will explore the ups and downs of two different brands: MSI and Alienware. This way, you can know whether any of those brands meet your expectations.

We will evaluate each brand comparing them on certain aspects: resolution, refresh rate and response time, and panel tech.

Resolution

This is one of the first things people think about when they are buying new laptops, monitors, and TVs. After all, getting a good resolution is essential for a proper experience.

LCD screens have millions of pixels, and each pixel consists of three sub-pixels, each one for a primary color. The more pixels a square inch of a monitor has, the smoother and more fluid your image gets. Very high resolutions (such as QHD) are essential for monitors that are around 27 inches and bigger.

Here are the types of resolution and what they mean:

5K resolution   5120 x 2880
4K resolution   3840 x 2160 (typical monitor resolution) / 4096 x 2160 (official cinema resolution)
Ultra HD (UHD) resolution     3840 x 2160
Quad HD (QHD) aka Wide Quad HD (WQHD) aka 1440p resolution  2560 x 1440
2K aka 1440p resolution2560 x 1440 (typical monitor resolution) / 2048 x 1080 (official cinema resolution)
WUXGA resolution   1920 x 1200
Full HD (FHD) aka 1080p aka HD resolution         1920 x 1080
HD aka 720p resolution           1280 x 720

Alienware

Right now, the best Alienware monitor you will find is at a 4K resolution. Although Alienware is a sub-brand of Dell and Dell already makes 5K monitors, there are not specific 5K monitors for gaming in the Alienware line.

However, this is no disdain at all. Most gamers nowadays don’t even really need to pick up a 4K monitor, but having that option alone is already good.

4K technology is recent for the major public and delivers enough quality for gaming, especially when seeing each dot matters, like in fast-paced FPS games.

MSI

MSI, on the other hand, already sells 5K monitors. If you are a gamer who possesses an Nvidia RTX 3080 or 3090, then picking up such a monitor would be the perfect deal to have the best viewing experience.

If you don’t want to go for such an expensive monitor, you can pick lower-resolution monitors, as MSI has plenty of them.

Verdict

Even though MSI already offers 5K monitors, they might not be the best for gamers. To be honest, 4K and 5K monitors require top-notch GPUs to keep up with so many pixels.

The best resolution you can pick for gaming is QHD, as all GPUs support it without a second thought. And if we shall compare Alienware and MSI based on that, then it is a tie, as both brands have been manufacturing good monitors with such resolution for the past years.

Refresh Rate

Gamers usually will want a monitor with at least 75 Hz along with the lowest response time possible. The Hz number determines your refresh rate. It is an important feature because since games are fast-paced, you need your image to keep refreshing constantly.

Most gaming monitors nowadays have a standard refresh rate of 120 Hz, but you can find monitors with up to 360 Hz. As for response time, you should look for 5ms at max.

Some very good monitors, however, are limited to 60 Hz, such as the already mentioned 4K and 5K monitors. In case you opt for such a monitor, you should get one with G-Sync or FreeSync. G-Sync is for Nvidia GPUs, while FreeSync is for AMD GPUs.

Alienware

Alienware currently offers some monitors with the best refresh rate you can get, which is 360 Hz. The response time of some of their monitors is 1ms. This means you get the most fluid experience playing action and racing games.

MSI

Although the best refresh rate available to the large public right now is up to 360 Hz, MSI only recently started making monitors with such a high refresh rate. On their site, you can only find one option featuring 360 Hz. Most of their monitors go only up to 144 Hz, as has been known for years.

Verdict

Refresh rate is important, and even though not everyone will buy 360 Hz monitors due to financial limitations, knowing that those are available gives comfort. Variety is also important, so if you don’t like MSI’s only 360 Hz option, you will have to pick an Alienware monitor. Alienware wins this round.

Panel Tech

Nowadays, LCD panels use generally three different technologies: twisted nematic (TN), vertical alignment (VA), and in-plane switching (IPS). Each has some advantages and making sure that the brand you pick has the technology that matches your interest the most is key. So, let’s first figure out what each technology delivers.

TN

  • low response times
  • highest refresh rates
  • minimal motion blur
  • Low input lag
  • Worst viewing angles
  • Worst color
  • Cheapest
  • Best for gaming

VA

  • The longest response times typically
  • Higher refresh rates possible
  • Viewing angles typically better than TN
  • Good color
  • Best contrast
  • Best image depth
  • Pricier models can have performance comparable to TN
  • Best for general use

IPS

  • Slower response times than TN
  • faster response times than VA
  • Gaming-quality refresh rates are rare
  • Best viewing angles
  • Best color
  • Most expensive
  • Best for professionals

Alienware

Most of Alienware’s monitors have IPS technology. Even though it is rare for such monitors to have a decent refresh rate, Alienware puts out their IPS monitors with high refresh rates.

You can easily find products on their website which have IPS tech and 240 Hz. This means that you can get high response rates with plenty of image quality allied with refresh rates that allow you to play competitively (in case you are a competitive gamer).

Of course, these are the most expensive. But Alienware already is a premium brand anyway.

MSI

Although MSI is also a gamer brand, its products are not as premium as Alienware. As such, they have monitors featuring different panel techs. You can find the expensive IPS, as well as the cheaper VA.

Verdict

The panel tech might make a difference for gamers that can really spot the quality of colors. In the end, what you should truly seek is high refresh rates. So, on this round, MSI and Alienware are tied.

Best Alienware Monitors For Gaming

Alienware AW2720HF

Last update on 2024-03-26 / As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more about us.

The Alienware AW2720HF is perfect for competitive players of all sorts. This monitor features a 240 Hz refresh rate aligned with a true 1ms response time. Although its resolution is only 1080p, the rest of its features compensate heavily.

Specs:

  • LED edgelight LCD monitor – 27 Inch
  • Fast In-Plane Switching (IPS)
  • 1920 x 1080 at 240Hz
  • 350 cd/m2 (typical)
  • True 1ms (gray to gray)
  • Antiglare with 3H hardness
  • USB 3.0 hub
  • 16:9
  • 0.3108 mm x 0.3108 mm
  • 1000: 1 (typical)
  • 16.78 Million colors

Alienware AW2521H

Last update on 2024-03-26 / As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more about us.

If the highest refresh rate is all that matters for you, Alienware has an entire line of 360 Hz monitors, and the AW2521H is one of them.

Its resolution is also only 1080p, but this way the price is pretty balanced, letting you get the highest refresh rate with the quality that only Alienware delivers.

Response time is also on point, meaning that you get to play fast-paced games without that inconvenient feeling that you missed something.

Specs:

  • LED edgelight system – 24.5″
  • Fast In-Plane Switching Type
  • 1920 x 1080 at 360Hz (Native with DP) / 1920 x 1080 at 240Hz (Native with HDMI)
  • 1000 to 1 (typical)
  • 16.78 Million
  • 0.2829 mm x 0.2802 mm
  • 1ms (gray to gray) – Extreme Mode
  • 400 cd/m² (typical)
  • 16:9
  • Anti-Glare with 3H hardness

Pros

  • 360Hz
  • Quick response time and low input lag
  • NVIDIA G-SYNC & ULMB
  • Fully ergonomic stand
  • Accurate colors

Cons

  • Missing gamma, 6-axis, and sharpness image adjustment tools

Best MSI monitors for gaming

Oculux NXG253R

Last update on 2024-03-26 / As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more about us.

Remember that only recently MSI started making monitors with a 360 Hz refresh rate? Oculux NXG253R is that model. Because of this feature alone, it is the best gaming monitor competitive gamers should buy from MSI. Of course, it has other features such as 1ms response time and G-Sync.

Specs:

  • 24.5″ (62.2cm)
  • 1920 x 1080 (FHD)
  • 360Hz
  • 1ms GTG
  • Rapid IPS
  • 400 nits
  • 178° (H) / 178° (V)
  • 16:9
  • 1000:1
  • 543.168(H) x 302.616(V)
  • 0.2829(H) x 0.2802(V)
  • Anti-glare
  • 1.07B (8bits + FRC)

Pros

  • Best refresh rate and response time for gaming
  • Incredible viewing angles
  • Good price for overall quality

Cons

  • Only G-Sync and no FreeSync

MSI OPTIX MAG322CQR

Last update on 2024-03-26 / As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more about us.

The Optix MAG322CQR only features a refresh rate of 165 Hz, but that should be enough for most gamers. On the other hand, it has a higher resolution than the other monitors featured in this article.

What makes this monitor fully suitable for gaming, though, is its response time of 1ms. You should always want that. However, this one comes with FreeSync, so it is an option for gamers with AMD GPUs.

Specs:

  • 31.5″ (80 cm)
  • 2560 x 1440 (WQHD)
  • 165Hz
  • 1ms(MPRT)
  • VA
  • 300 NITS
  • 178°(H)/178°(V)
  • 16:9
  • 1500R curvature
  • 3000:1
  • 697.344 (H) x 392.256(V)
  • 0.2724 (H) x 0.2724 (V)
  • Anti-glare
  • 1.07B (8bits +2FRC)

Pros

  • The safe bet for a good gaming monitor
  • Excellent contrast ratio
  • AMD FreeSync Premium

Cons

  • Ghosting due to the limited refresh rate
  • Ergonomics are okay but not excellent

Final Verdict

It is safe to say that Alienware is a much better brand when it comes to gaming monitors. MSI is starting to pick up the slack as they endeavor with 360 Hz monitors, but there is still much work to be done.

Alienware offers more variety for gamers that want the best refresh rate monitors, such as curved screens and large displays (we didn’t cover these here because we sought a balance between price and true quality for gaming, but they are premium stuff worth checking out).