An older model, but no less problematic, we bring you MSI's MAG342CQPV, 34 in.

With an ultra-wide 21:9 aspect ratio and native resolution of 3440 x 1440, this monitor definitely nails the sweet spot of today's gaming monitors, available for $280 from Newegg (opens in new tab).

Of course, you won't get the absolute most advanced experience at this low price point. These are high refresh monitors. But it is 100 Hz, not 144 Hz. It also uses a VA panel, not IPS.

The advantage is the strong inherent contrast, and the panel is rated at 3000:1. This is far superior to any IPS screen; the disadvantage of VA panels is their generally poor response time, but MSI rates this screen at 1 ms on the MPRT index. Therefore, it should be around 2 ms on the more demanding GtG index.

If there is one specification that is of concern, it is the modest peak brightness of 250 nits. However, again, at this price point, something has to be given up. It is worth noting, however, that the MSI MAG342CQPV is not a typical monitor, but an actual gaming model.

There are quite a few 34-inch ultra-wide 100 Hz panels out there that are not explicitly designed for gaming. Perhaps less effort has been put into those models with respect to areas such as latency performance and OSD menu options.

If you prefer IPS and 144Hz, you'll be buying from a major brand. But there is also the option of lesser brands: the Sceptre E345B offers a 34-inch ultrawide IPS at 144Hz for just under $300 on Amazon.

In terms of quality control, there is a bit more at stake. Also, it is sold and shipped by a third party, not Amazon, whereas MSI is a well-known major brand and is sold and shipped by Newegg. So there are multiple layers of peace of mind that you don't necessarily get with the Sceptre option.

Overall, we recommend MSI, but it may not be suitable if your gaming rig is in a location with very high ambient light levels. For more general low-light gaming environments, 250 nits should be fine.