MSI Confirms Lack of Firmware Updates for Incoming MAG QD-OLED Monitors

[T0@st]

MSI is preparing to launch its new generation of MPG and MAG series QD-OLED gaming monitors—early 2024 promotional activity included a couple of pre-launch initiatives. The company's marketing division is attempting to get into good graces with the gaming community—we have already witnessed the introduction of a 3-year warranty for OLED panel product, and permanent price cuts planned for launch day. It is highly probable that MSI is trying to attract customers away from ASUS ROG—the MPG 321URX ($949.99, formerly $1199) will be going up against the Swift OLED PG32UCDM ($1299).

The "MSI_Darutohne" Reddit account reached out to potential (and well heeled) customers on a popular premium gaming monitor discussion community: "Hello r/OLED_Gaming! Our QD-OLED monitors are finally rolling out, and we'd love to clarify any misconceptions and make sure everyone here is making an informed purchase! Let's get started with the Six NEW QD-OLED monitors. You may find them all listed here." Many members thanked MSI for the comprehensive product rundowns and answering of questions/queries, but one participant—Mars0813—took issue with the MAG 321UPX model's apparent inability to receive software/firmware updates. MSI_Darutohne responded and confirmed: "You are correct. The MAG 321UPX QD-OLED will NOT support software updates." Subsequent repliers stated that they would cancel their pre-orders, or request refunds. Jamartty45 stated: "Appreciate you for clarifying, but I purchased this yesterday and it will be returned as soon as it gets to my door. A $900 monitor that doesn't support software updates is absurd." The more expensive MPG tier appears to be the best route for gamers who enjoy a little bit of future-proofing and bug fixing.




VideoCardz has combed through multiple contained discussion trees and extracted vital points of information: "(The) MSI employee later clarified that there will be no firmware update through MSI OSD or any different application. None of the MAG 27" and 32" monitors will support firmware updates. But there is an exception for the MAG 341CQP QD-OLED monitor. The company will provide no updates for the $900 MAG 32-inch OLED monitor, but for just $50 more (the price of the MPG variant) users will be able to flash new firmware through the USB Type-C connector."

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[sephiroth117]

On those monitors it’s important to have firmware update

in-between hdr settings, bugs, oled burn-in protections tweaks,..

 

[Dorek]

Would not buy one either since i learned the hard lesson with acers predator where they lied to everyone about getting updates and nobody did.

 

[Event Horizon]

I feel bad for anyone that falls for these disposable oleds.

 

[Dristun]

So monitors are also getting shipped unfinished now? I'm out of the loop, when did updates to monitors become commonplace?

 

[FoulOnWhite]

I'd love an OLED, but still enjoying my Dell 3422DWG for now. Do new monitors really need updates? surely if you are going to buy an expensive monitor, you would do a bit of research first rather than jump right in.

 

[Cheeseball]

Technically the MSI's MAG lineup has always been the... low-end(???) or base-level tiers, but really they should not be leaving out firmware updates for $900+ products regardless of brand tiering, especially if they rely on the firmware for controlling internal features, like OLED cleaning methods, VRR control, etc.

 

[Veseleil]

Hugging my IPS pair and holding them tight... Just you buy all of these OLED tech marvels, and keep dropping that obsolete tech IPS panels price in the process.

 

[watzupken]

I don’t use OLED monitors, but I wonder if there is a need for constant firmware updates if they implemented proper burn in protection to begin with? I presume if there are critical firmware updates required, one should still receive it anyway. At the end of the day, it is under warranty and in some cases, onsite warranty, and they have to fix an issue somehow. OLED TV gets firmware update periodically, but I am not sure how often you need it for the OLED panel to work properly. Some updates enables some features, and that’s about it. It just sounds like they purposely remove this feature to try and upsell people to a more expensive MEG series.

 

[Upgrayedd]

DP 1.4a ...I partly blame Nvidia for it, using the old standard but being the market leader.
Just market them as console screens please..

 

[Scrizz]

This is one reason I buy Dell monitors.

 

[Easo]

So monitors are also getting shipped unfinished now? I'm out of the loop, when did updates to monitors became commonplace?

Same question, when did it become so bad?

 

[Zubasa]

Same question, when did it become so bad?

It has been at least 5+years. Monitors these days often got released with bugged EOTF tracking or botched local dimming for HDR, or issues with Adaptive-Sync + HDR enabled.
These issue are most common with Mini-LED monitors, but OLED is definitely not immune to half baked firmware.
On top of that, there are issues with some monmitors abusing DSC too much, which can cause display artifacts.
For example the Samsung Neo G8 which has common scanline issue for trying to run 4k 240Hz + HDR way out of spec of their input interface.

 

[stimpy88]

MSI are lying. Of course those monitors can be updated, but it's probably built by a 3rd party, and it would have cost them to develop an end-user friendly update tool.

 

[Space Lynx]

I personally am waiting for WOLED monitors, they will have deeper blacks than the QD-OLED's.

 

[Ferrum Master]

So monitors are also getting shipped unfinished now? I'm out of the loop, when did updates to monitors become commonplace?

Same question, when did it become so bad?

Since ever... even your childhood CRT(Tube) TV's had FW updates, but those were never public, you had to cope with the flaw or send to service.

MSI are lying. Of course those monitors can be updated, but it's probably built by a 3rd party, and it would have cost them to develop an end-user friendly update tool.

It depends on the scaler used. Most panels update via JIG Board and hooked to ports starting from VGA, DVI whatever it has with a factory tool and the sticker maker(in this case MSI) has no idea nor knowledge about it, also no rights to alter it. MSI is basically involved just in the box, plastic and logo.bmp file. Reduced options means cheaper price. USB FW update means the USB HUB is attached to the Scaler and is much more smart (READ EXPENSIVE), the most expensive thing is the code maintainer that will be hired to do those fixes.

 

[Chomiq]

I personally am waiting for WOLED monitors, they will have deeper blacks than the QD-OLED's.

What are you waiting for then? We're already on what? 3rd gen of woled monitors?

 

[Space Lynx]

What are you waiting for then? We're already on what? 3rd gen of woled monitors?

4k 240hz (that have a physical button that changes it to 480hz 1080p) or 34" 3440 240hz variants are not WOLED yet or at least not on the market yet where I am

the new models fix text issues, etc. just a waiting game now.

 

[Dr. Dro]

DP 1.4a ...I partly blame Nvidia for it, using the old standard but being the market leader.
Just market them as console screens please..

DisplayPort 1.4a is not a bottleneck and will not be a bottleneck until you approach 8K resolutions and triple digit refresh rates.

 

[R-T-B]

DisplayPort 1.4a is not a bottleneck and will not be a bottleneck until you approach 8K resolutions and triple digit refresh rates.

It IS a bottleneck at 4K high refresh unless you use DSC or something.

 

[Onasi]

It IS a bottleneck at 4K high refresh unless you use DSC or something.

Considering that DSC has no drawbacks unless we are talking EXTREMELY high end color applications potentially... I kinda fail to see the issue.

 

[R-T-B]

Considering that DSC has no drawbacks unless we are talking EXTREMELY high end color applications potentially... I kinda fail to see the issue.

I didn't say there was one, but we certainly are hitting bandwidth constraints all the same.

 

[wiak]

no software updates on a hdr monitor is a fail right out of the box

 

[Tahagomizer]

The more expensive MPG tier appears to be the best route for gamers who enjoy a little bit of future-proofing and bug fixing.

There you go, it's a rather obvious upsell technique
What I find quite hilarious is that people are pre-ordering monitors. That's conspicuous consumption right there, Veblen would be disgusted.

 

[Dr. Dro]

I didn't say there was one, but we certainly are hitting bandwidth constraints all the same.

DSC's supposed to be visually lossless after all. For the very largest majority of monitors including this entire lineup, as well as whatever you can realistically ask of any Ada card 4090 and up included, DP 1.4a HBR3 is simply not a problem IMHO. This chart assumes 8 bpc input:

It's good for 4K/120 and 5K/60 uncompressed, all the while HDMI 2.1 (which Ada fully supports) can do 10 bpc 4K/120 and 4K/144 with variable refresh just fine as well, so it's another valid option.