Aim: The aim of this study is to compare the diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) with conventional MRI in the evaluation of acute cerebral ischemic stroke. Materials and methods: In this prospective study, for 2 years, 50 patients who were clinically suspected cases of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) underwent MRI using a 1.5 tesla scanner (SIEMEN MAGNETOM Aera) in the Department of Radiodiagnosis, Guru Nanak Dev Medical College, Amritsar, Punjab. The patients from all age groups and both sexes were included in this study. Results: In our study of 50 cases, the age range of patients was from 2 years to 80 years with a majority of 40 (90%) patients above 40 years age with 32 (64%) males and 18 (36%) females. About 20 (40%) patients presented with weakness/numbness on either side. The conventional MRI had a sensitivity of 50% in detecting stroke in patients presented within 3 hours of the onset of symptoms, while DW-MRI had a sensitivity of 100%. For the patients presented within 3 to 6 hours, conventional MRI and DWI had a sensitivity of 66% and 100%; for the patients presented within 6 to 12 hours, conventional MRI and DWI had a sensitivity of 85% and 100%, and for patients presented within 12 to 24 hours, conventional MRI and DWI had a sensitivity of 92.3% and 100%, respectively. The middle cerebral artery (MCA) was the most commonly involved territory. Conclusion: The DW sequence is the sensitive modality in the diagnostic evaluation of acute stroke as compared to conventional MRI sequences. It plays a pivotal role in the localization and characterization of acute ischemic lesions and, hence, effective and early treatment with thrombolytic therapy is needed.