The Official *MSI Optix MAG251RX* Owners Thread

[Siran]

Also wanted to chime in, I registered just for this monitor.

I'm also a proud owner of the MAG251RX for a few weeks and really impressed with it, no comparison to my BenQ 2411T with badly washed out colors and aging DVI connection.

Reading through all the recommended settings, I've installed the ICC profile and tried the custom resolution via CRU in order to get a "native" resolution - thanks for all those suggestions. Sadly, I'm also missing the 10bit option afterwards (I'm connected via DP through my 1080ti Zotac Mini). Since this is the only monitor with a 10bit (8bit + FRC) panel out of the 240 IPS panels I fear I'll miss out on one of its main features - what's the verdict here, is it worth losing 10bit and the better color representation over the "native" resolution? I haven't tried connecting via HDMI but since nvida blocks 10bit 4:4:4/RGB via HDMI on my 1080ti I'm afraid it won't help anyway.

Also I've noticed a strange thing when Windows 10 sends the monitor to sleep after the set amount of time in the energy saving settings. First, it goes absolutely dark, but after a short while it will switch on again with a black screen. Since the panel is far from an OLED it's pretty noticeable that the panel is on and just displaying a black screen. Has anyone else had the same experience and maybe a solution fur this? I'm using the DP cable that came with the monitor if that makes any difference.

As far as backlight bleed I have a bit in the lower right corner which is noticeable in dark scenes but I can live with it, it's far better than some of the pictures posted here. I tried to wipe with a soft cloth and I believe it got a bit better but not by that much or do you have to apply a bit more pressure? I'm afraid I'll damage the monitor if I apply too much pressure.

[axaro1]

Also wanted to chime in, I registered just for this monitor.

Since this is the only monitor with a 10bit (8bit + FRC) panel out of the 240 IPS panels

The Asus can run 240hz 10bit with LCD Reduced timings, but it does not work at 280hz (it's too much bandwith to be able to output 10bps).
Iirc someone owning the Acer 240hz said that he was able to run 240hz 10bit with the LCD reduced trick (which btw you need to apply just once, it's literally 3 clicks once you open CRU).

[Siran]

Also wanted to chime in, I registered just for this monitor.]
Since this is the only monitor with a 10bit (8bit + FRC) panel out of the 240 IPS panels

The Asus can run 240hz 10bit with LCD Reduced timings, but it does not work at 280hz (it's too much bandwith to be able to output 10bps).
Iirc someone owning the Acer 240hz said that he was able to run 240hz 10bit with the LCD reduced trick (which btw you need to apply just once, it's literally 3 clicks once you open CRU).

I was talking about the panel, not which signal they can accept. To my knowledge both, Asus and Acer, only have an 8Bit panel. See Displayspecifications

[purplew]

don't use CRU imo, there's likely a reason MSI uses the very specific refresh (it's not 240.000hz) probably for image retention issues but it also allows 10bit. with 240.000hz typical lcd timings you can't use 10bit, but with lcd reduced you can. I just don't use CRU as we're talking about what... like a 0.001ms benefit

[ko4]

My mag251rx arrived today and sadly 1 dead pixel :/

[Joel D]

My mag251rx arrived today and sadly 1 dead pixel :/

Ahhh man. Sorry to hear that one. Sucks

Return it immediately, don't accept that.... and then wait for the next one to come ! Hopefully the next one will be a perfect one !

[Joel D]

don't use CRU imo, there's likely a reason MSI uses the very specific refresh (it's not 240.000hz) probably for image retention issues but it also allows 10bit. with 240.000hz typical lcd timings you can't use 10bit, but with lcd reduced you can. I just don't use CRU as we're talking about what... like a 0.001ms benefit

But pending on the game, 240hz just has a much smoother look to the movements and especially panning camera sweeps. Most open world type games really benefit from this. I agree, worrying about the input lag is kinda moot at that point. But fluidity is very important to me.

And I'm not referring to the reduced trick thing, but rather with this MSI, to get 240hz as a "native" resolution, you need CRU

[axaro1]

don't use CRU imo, there's likely a reason MSI uses the very specific refresh (it's not 240.000hz) probably for image retention issues but it also allows 10bit. with 240.000hz typical lcd timings you can't use 10bit, but with lcd reduced you can. I just don't use CRU as we're talking about what... like a 0.001ms benefit

I don't know a single 240hz monitor owner who is actually running his monitor natively at 240.000, mine is something like 239.973 for 240hz and 279.843 for 280hz.
What do you mean when you say 0.001ms benefit? the only downside from using LCD reduced is slightly reducing VTs (with minor difference in crosstalk behaviour, +1000vt makes a difference, -50/-100VT not really)
The Asus natively let you select either 6bit/8bit or 10bit in the Radeon Software if you use a Amd video card, but it doesn't retain 10 bit and switches back to 8bit unless you select LCD Reduced timings, at this point both the software and the monitor display 10bits.
Every 240hz IPS panel is natively 8 bit, from what I can see 10 bit is achievable in every HDR certified model, I'm not sure it's possible to reach 10bit on the AW2521hf tho.

[Stevie66]

don't use CRU imo, there's likely a reason MSI uses the very specific refresh (it's not 240.000hz) probably for image retention issues but it also allows 10bit. with 240.000hz typical lcd timings you can't use 10bit, but with lcd reduced you can. I just don't use CRU as we're talking about what... like a 0.001ms benefit

I don't know a single 240hz monitor owner who is actually running his monitor natively at 240.000, mine is something like 239.973 for 240hz and 279.843 for 280hz.
What do you mean when you say 0.001ms benefit? the only downside from using LCD reduced is slightly reducing VTs (with minor difference in crosstalk behaviour, +1000vt makes a difference, -50/-100VT not really)
The Asus natively let you select either 6bit/8bit or 10bit in the Radeon Software if you use a Amd video card, but it doesn't retain 10 bit and switches back to 8bit unless you select LCD Reduced timings, at this point both the software and the monitor display 10bits.
Every 240hz IPS panel is natively 8 bit, from what I can see 10 bit is achievable in every HDR certified model, I'm not sure it's possible to reach 10bit on the AW2521hf tho.

Can you choose 10bit on the Asus and 240/280hz? and if so does it even look better than 8 right when you switch?

[axaro1]

Can you choose 10bit on the Asus and 240/280hz? and if so does it even look better than 8 right when you switch?

You can run 240hz 10bit but you cannot run 280hz 10 bit.
The difference is minor, I mean, you don't notice banding in very limited scenarios and the monitor is indeed receiving 10 bits thru displayport and displaying 10 bps according to the OSD but it's not a game changer.

It's a sweet feature if you watch h265 10bit content (For example with something like MadVR which lets you use hardware encoders and can make you play 10bit or higher content) or if you use your monitor for color sensitive applications but I'd argue that +40hz of raw performance is more worth it, +15% frames, some very minor input lag reduction and less image persistence can make a difference if you want to take a competitive approach with this monitor.

That being said the MAG251RX is definitely the best looking 240hz IPS right now, color coverage is outstanding for a 240hz IPS monitor and according to RLSContender it can actually run 12bits at a lower refresh rate.
You can definitely use this monitor for both gaming and professional content creation.