Image: MSI
Alrighty, PC gamers, it’s time to upgrade to an OLED monitor if your budget will allow it. And it’s particularly easy today, as Walmart has a deal on an MSI 34-inch ultrawide OLED that’s pretty hard to beat. You can get it for $499.99, a couple hundred bucks beneath the going rate even for refurbished OLED monitors at this size.
The MSI MAG 341CQP isn’t the fastest monitor in this category, as it’s “only” pairing its 3440×1440 resolution to 175Hz of refresh. But that’s still going to make your gaming desktop sweat on any recent triple-A game at high settings, and it’s fast enough to keep up with the twitchy esports crowd. This monitor has USB-C with a built-in KVM switch for managing multiple systems, but with just 15 watts of power output, it’s not a great pairing for a gaming laptop.
But with DisplayPort and double HDMI 2.1, it can play nice with any modern gaming console. Compatibility with AMD FreeSync Premium Pro means things will stay smooth even if your frame rate drops, and around the back is… wait, what’s this? This is a gaming monitor and it lacks superfluous RGB lighting? About frickin’ time! Also there’s a standard VESA mount for a monitor arm back there, though the display comes with a pretty sturdy default stand.
Again, even for a monitor that’s a year old, this is a fantastic deal. It helps that this is new—not refurbished—and comes with MSI’s awesome 3-year warranty against burn-in on that OLED panel. This is the best price I’ve seen on an ultrawide from a major manufacturer since Prime Day, and it’s possible it won’t be beaten in the upcoming Black Friday blitz. But if you’re just not ready to buy yet, be sure to check out PCWorld’s roundup of the best monitors on the market.
Get this 34-inch MSI 1440p ultrawide OLED monitor for just $500
Author: Michael Crider, Staff Writer, PCWorld
Michael is a 10-year veteran of technology journalism, covering everything from Apple to ZTE. On PCWorld he’s the resident keyboard nut, always using a new one for a review and building a new mechanical board or expanding his desktop “battlestation” in his off hours. Michael’s previous bylines include Android Police, Digital Trends, Wired, Lifehacker, and How-To Geek, and he’s covered events like CES and Mobile World Congress live. Michael lives in Pennsylvania where he’s always looking forward to his next kayaking trip.