MSI RTX 4070 Ti Gaming X Slim

Bigger is not always better. In fact, sometimes it can be downright problematic. Fitting some RTX 4090 cards into modestly-sized PC cases isn’t always possible. But it’s not just the RTX 4090 that became massively bulky this generation, it’s a lot of the lesser GPUs as well.

RTX 4080, RTX 4070 Ti, and even RTX 4070 are often outfitted in 2.5-slot and thicker designs, and the same goes for RX 7900 XTX and RX 7900 XT cards. We understand the need to balance cooling capacity with noise levels, so creating a huge 450W RTX 4090 can almost be excused. But when we’re talking about the 285W RTX 4070 Ti, or a 200W RTX 4070? Bring back the modestly sized dual-slot cards, please.

MSI has done precisely that with its RTX 4070 Ti Gaming X Slim, and it still sports a factory overclock. Granted, it’s not really that slim, more like slimmer, but it’s a step in the right direction. We’ve had 250W–300W graphics cards that used a single blower fan since 2013, and advances in cooling and materials technology should make it pretty simple to do the same for a 285W card a decade later.

MSI says it’s working to apply the same principles to higher-performance parts like the RTX 4080 and even the RTX 4090. We say thank you, because not everyone has or wants a big chungus full-size ATX case.

There weren’t a lot of new monitors at this year’s show, but Asus’ ROG Swift OLED PG49WCD certainly stood out – or should we say stuck out? At 49 inches wide with an 1800R curve, this ultra wide panel occupied a decent-sized chunk of Asus’ ROG booth on the show floor. It had so many people crowded around it that I had to come back on day two, just as the floor opened, to get up close and personal with this beastly display.

Its 5120 x 1440 resolution and 144 Hz refresh rate deliver lots of detail and smooth motion. But it’s the 10-bit QD-OLED tech that again steals the show here, delivering (according to Asus) 99% of the DCI-P3 color space and up to 1,000 nits of brightness. PG49WCD looks like a strong contender for best gaming monitors.

Key gaming specs help the PG49WCD provide a competitive edge in any game. Its 144Hz refresh rate serves up fluid, fast animation, while its strikingly low 0.03ms response time minimizes blur for supreme clarity in fast-paced action. AMD FreeSync Premium Pro tech ensures tear-free, low latency gameplay. 

The ROG Swift OLED PG49WCD’s easy-to-access joystick lets you quickly adjust display settings. Depending on your desk setup, though, it might be even easier to make adjustments with your trusty mouse and keyboard. That’s why we offer the ASUS DisplayWidget Center app. This lightweight app lets you change your GameVisual mode, add a crosshair or FPS counter, and much more, all through an intuitive interface. The DisplayWidget Center app also lets you quickly access options that help you maintain the health of your OLED display.    

The ROG Swift OLED PG49WCD rounds out our OLED gaming monitor selection with a super-ultra-wide display that’s ready for center stage. To learn more about the pricing and availability of the ROG Swift OLED PG49WCD in your region, please contact your local ROG representative.

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