MSI Oculux NXG253R 360 Hz Monitor Review: Fastest Display We’ve Ever Tested

Great for eSports

Reviews
By Christian Eberle
published
MSI Oculux NXG253R
Editor's Choice
(Image: © MSI)

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Given the rise in popularity of esports, it’s safe to say that gaming isn’t just for entertainment any longer. If you plan to compete, you’ll need the best possible tools for the job. A 144 Hz monitor probably won’t cut it when your opponents are using 240 Hz or more. Framerates make a huge difference not only in moving image quality but in control response and aiming precision. An image that moves exactly as intended can increase player skill and, therefore, gaming success.

With the advent of 360 Hz monitors, gamers have a high-end tool to take their play experience to another level. There are now four major screens to choose from: Alienware’s AW2521H, Asus PG259QN, Acer’s X25 and the leader (for now) MSI’s Oculux NXG253R.

(Image credit: MSI)

All four lack DCI-P3 color and offer similar levels of accuracy and image quality. They all have HDR with variable backlight and so do a good job rendering that extra dynamic range. MSI is near the top with almost 8,000:1 HDR contrast. And they all have the same set of gaming aids, like the Nvidia Reflex Latency Analyzer, ULMB with variable pulse width, aiming points and timers. All sport premium build quality and a premium price to match. But the NXG253R wins the speed contest by a hair.

There is no question that it provides a superb gaming experience. Playing at over 300 fps is an altogether different thing than playing at 240 fps. While stats and charts make it seem like a small gap, visually, it is obvious. Put simply, faster monitors are better. The only thing we wish for as casual gamers is more color. Inevitably, 360 Hz and faster displays will appear with larger gamuts. But not today.

If you’re looking for the fastest possible monitor to power your quest for esports domination, the MSI Oculux NXG253R is it.

Christian Eberle
Christian Eberle
Contributing Editor

Christian Eberle is a Contributing Editor for Tom's Hardware US. He's a veteran reviewer of A/V equipment, specializing in monitors. Christian began his obsession with tech when he built his first PC in 1991, a 286 running DOS 3.0 at a blazing 12MHz. In 2006, he undertook training from the Imaging Science Foundation in video calibration and testing and thus started a passion for precise imaging that persists to this day. He is also a professional musician with a degree from the New England Conservatory as a classical bassoonist which he used to good effect as a performer with the West Point Army Band from 1987 to 2013. He enjoys watching movies and listening to high-end audio in his custom-built home theater and can be seen riding trails near his home on a race-ready ICE VTX recumbent trike. Christian enjoys the endless summer in Florida where he lives with his wife and Chihuahua and plays with orchestras around the state.

9 Comments Comment from the forums
  • dimar
    How long before we get 1GHz screens?
    (correction 1 KHz)
    Reply
  • helper800
    dimar said:
    How long before we get 1GHz screens?
    Even if we had them right now they would be nearly useless. Even CS:GO only gets about 500-550 fps with the best hardware available. Anything in excess of that is useless on a monitor at 1000hz refresh rate.
    Reply
  • escksu
    dimar said:
    How long before we get 1GHz screens?

    I guess you meant 1khz, 1ghz is 1 billion frames per sec.
    Reply
  • Chrys
    escksu said:
    I guess you meant 1khz, 1ghz is 1 billion frames per sec.
    I was laughing when I read that. I just took it as going to the absurdly far extreme.
    Reply
  • DXRick
    Why would any serious gamer buy a 1080 these days?
    Reply
  • dimar
    Chrys said:
    I was laughing when I read that. I just took it as going to the absurdly far extreme.
    You're totally correct! I meant 1 MHz
    Reply
  • helper800
    dimar said:
    You're totally correct! I meant 1 MHz
    You mean 1 KHz. 1 MHZ is 1,000,000 frames per second.
    Reply
  • mihen
    We already have screens that refresh every 0.001ms . OLEDs. The issue with OLEDs on refresh rates is down to the 4k native resolution, large screen size, and cable standard. If you run the screen at 1080p, you can go to a very high refresh rate.
    Reply
  • helper800
    mihen said:
    We already have screens that refresh every 0.001ms . OLEDs. The issue with OLEDs on refresh rates is down to the 4k native resolution, large screen size, and cable standard. If you run the screen at 1080p, you can go to a very high refresh rate.
    Do you have any source material I can read on that? As far as I am aware the response time of the technology has nothing to do with its capabilities of displaying higher Hz refresh rates.
    Reply