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Company ProductName Specs
What we think
The PerfectRec monitor team Learn more
Updated April 11, 2024·
If your primary interest is competitive gaming, the Dell Alienware AW2723DF offers a very high refresh rate that could provide smoother gameplay but at a higher price. On the other hand, if you're also into digital photo editing or print photo editing, the MSI MAG274QRF-QD has color gamuts that suit these needs at a more affordable price. Both monitors have similar screen resolution and size, and both are fine for casual gaming and media consumption. The Dell might give a slight edge in high-speed gaming scenarios, but the MSI offers strong performance across various uses, making it a more versatile choice for the money. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Dell Alienware AW2723DF (IPS)
- Very good for competitive gaming
- Very good refresh rate
Advantages of the MSI MAG274QRF-QD (IPS)
- The MSI MAG274QRF-QD (IPS) has no clear advantages over the Dell Alienware AW2723DF (IPS).
Key differences
Competitive Gaming
8.6
5.8
280Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
7.6 ms
TOTAL RESPONSE TIME
9.1 ms
20 - 280 Hz
VARIABLE REFRESH RATE
20 - 165 Hz
No
STROBING / BFI
Yes
384 nits
SDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
372 nits
The Dell Alienware AW2723DF (IPS) is very good for competitive gaming, while the MSI MAG274QRF-QD (IPS) is poor.
Digital Photo Editing
Yes
No
The Dell Alienware AW2723DF (IPS) is suitable for digital photo editing while the MSI MAG274QRF-QD (IPS) is not suitable for digital photo editing.
Print Photo Editing
No
Yes
The Dell Alienware AW2723DF (IPS) is not suitable for print photo editing while the MSI MAG274QRF-QD (IPS) is suitable for print photo editing.
Key similarities
Casual Gaming
6.4
6.1
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
280Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
1020:1
NATIVE CONTRAST
1195:1
384 nits
SDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
372 nits
672 nits
HDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
390 nits
99.6 %
DCI-P3 COLOR GAMUT
96.7 %
Semi-Gloss
COATING
Matte
The Dell Alienware AW2723DF (IPS) and MSI MAG274QRF-QD (IPS) are both only fair for casual gaming.
Productivity
6.4
6.2
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
109 PPI
PIXELS PER INCH
109 PPI
Yes
ADJUSTABLE STAND
Yes
Semi-Gloss
COATING
Matte
The Dell Alienware AW2723DF (IPS) and MSI MAG274QRF-QD (IPS) are both only fair for productivity.
Media Consumption
6.0
6.0
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
1020:1
NATIVE CONTRAST
1195:1
384 nits
SDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
372 nits
672 nits
HDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
390 nits
Semi-Gloss
COATING
Matte
The MSI MAG274QRF-QD (IPS) and Dell Alienware AW2723DF (IPS) are both only fair for media consumption.
Cost
$429
$436
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
The Dell Alienware AW2723DF (IPS) has a price of $429 and the MSI MAG274QRF-QD (IPS) costs $436.
HDR Gaming and Media Consumption
No
No
Both the Dell Alienware AW2723DF (IPS) and MSI MAG274QRF-QD (IPS) are not suitable for HDR gaming and media consumption.
HDR Video Editing and Color Grading
No
No
Both the Dell Alienware AW2723DF (IPS) and MSI MAG274QRF-QD (IPS) are not suitable for HDR video editing and color grading.
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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Dell Alienware AW2723DF (IPS) and the MSI MAG274QRF-QD (IPS) compare to other monitors
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Alienware AW2723DF (IPS) | MSI MAG274QRF-QD (IPS) |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$429 | $436 | ||
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 27" | 27" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1440 | 2560 x 1440 | |
Screen Type | |||
Screen Type | LED | LED | |
Screen Sub-type | |||
Screen Sub-type | IPS | IPS | |
Local Dimming Zones | |||
Local Dimming Zones | 16 | N/A | |
COLOR, CONTRAST & BRIGHTNESS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Native Contrast | |||
Native Contrast | 1020:1 | 1195:1 | |
SDR Peak Brightness | |||
SDR Peak Brightness | 384 nits | 372 nits | |
HDR Peak Brightness | |||
HDR Peak Brightness | 672 nits | 390 nits | |
Suitable for HDR Gaming and Media Consumption | |||
Suitable for HDR Gaming and Media Consumption | No | No | |
sRGB Color Gamut | |||
sRGB Color Gamut | 103.1 % | 96.8 % | |
MOTION CHARACTERISTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Total Response Time | |||
Total Response Time | 7.6 ms | 9.1 ms | |
Variable Refresh Rate | |||
Variable Refresh Rate | 20 - 280 Hz | 20 - 165 Hz | |
Strobing / BFI | |||
Strobing / BFI | No | Yes | |
Persistence Blur Score | |||
Persistence Blur Score | 8.6/10 | 7.1/10 | |
Ghosting Score | |||
Ghosting Score | 7.7/10 | 7.3/10 | |
TEXT & IMAGE CLARITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 109 PPI | 109 PPI | |
Coating | |||
Coating | Semi-Gloss | Matte | |
Text Clarity Score | |||
Text Clarity Score | 7/10 | 7/10 | |
Image Clarity Score | |||
Image Clarity Score | 7/10 | 7/10 | |
PORTS & CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
HDMI 1.4 Ports | |||
HDMI 1.4 Ports | 0 | 0 | |
HDMI 2.0 Ports | |||
HDMI 2.0 Ports | 2 | 2 | |
HDMI 2.1 Ports | |||
HDMI 2.1 Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Micro HDMI Ports | |||
Micro HDMI Ports | 0 | 0 | |
DisplayPort 1.2 Ports | |||
DisplayPort 1.2 Ports | 0 | 1 | |
Shopping
Dell Alienware AW2723DF (IPS)
See more
Dig into reviews and images
PC Gamer
Jeremy Laird | March 2023
"Put all the pieces together, the high quality IPS image quality, the punchy backlight, the good response and the buttery smooth 280Hz refresh and you have a pretty outstanding gaming panel that's also decent for general computing duties thanks to the 1440p resolution."
MSI MAG274QRF-QD (IPS)
See more
Dig into reviews and images
Tom's Hardware
Christian Eberle | April 2021
"The MSI Optix MAG274QRF-QD has the largest color gamut we’ve ever seen and near-perfect out-of-box accuracy. sRGB content will be oversaturated though, and HDR doesn’t do anything for image quality."
Give feedback
We're constantly perfecting our model
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About the monitor team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Monitors Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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