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Brightness and Contrast

To read about our monitor tests in-depth, please check out Display Testing Explained: How We Test PC Monitors. We cover brightness and contrast testing on page two.

Uncalibrated – Maximum Backlight Level

We went back in time a bit in our testing database to find a group of 34-inch ultrawides with HDR to compare the 343CQR’s performance. In the group is the Cooler Master GM34-CW, Gigabyte G34WQC, Viotek GNV34DBE and AOC CU34G2X. We also included the Samsung Odyssey G7 32-inch (C32G75T). Though it’s a 16:9 screen, it shares the same 1000R curvature as the MSI. All the panels are VA, 144 Hz or faster and WQHD or QHD resolution.

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MSI MPG Artymis 343CQR — (Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

The 343CQR doesn’t crank the brightness in SDR mode. It tops out at a reasonable 355.2 nits, which is plenty of light for such a large panel. Black levels are class-leading with just 0.09 nit at maximum brightness for an impressive contrast ratio of 3,888.7:1. That’s better contrast than almost every monitor we’ve tested to date.

After Calibration to 200 nits

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Our calibration (see our recommended settings on page 1) actually improved measured contrast slightly (3,938.2:1 versus 3,888.7:1), but we couldn’t actually see the difference in a side-by-side comparison. Regardless of the brightness level, the 343CQR is a standout monitor with some of the best black levels and contrast we’ve seen.

The 343CQR also leads the ANSI comparison with 3,768.9:1. Only a handful of monitors we’ve tested can beat this score, and one of them is Alienware’s AW5520QF OLED gaming monitor. The MSI’s image depth and realism are superb.

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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.

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