[Computex 2024] A Quick Look Into MSI’s New Gaming Products
There are quite a lot of stuffs showcased here in MSI’s Computex booth at Nangang Exhibition Center (TaiNEX 1) at Taipei, and there are a few things we’re here to check out. There’s a section dedicated for gaming products, so what exactly has MSI brought to the table this time around?
MSI MEG Vision X AI: Display Galore
On one corner of the MEG section (MEG stands for MSI Enthusiast Gaming, which is their flagship line of products), there’s this PC called the MEG Vision X AI. It’s 2024, and there’s just no avoiding AI snuck into every corner imaginable, but let’s talk about what exactly is this.
The main feature is, unsurprisingly, AI, or “AI HMI” as MSI calls it. HMI stands for “human-machine interface” – buzzwords aside, you do get a huge secondary touchscreen display that can be repurposed into anything, like a chat window, for example. In its default form shown in the Computex booth, the screen displays various functions and monitoring similar to what you get from a MSI Center app, so it’s safe to say this is an adaptation of that.
As a bonus, the parts housed inside this PC are devoid of visible cables, so that’s at least a confirmation that this case, when it gets into retail, will support backside connector motherboards. We don’t know what exactly is powering this PC (as specs weren’t listed), but given the MEG designation, safe to say this will pack all the flagship parts you can find today – or even the next-generation ones when they arrive later this year.
MPG CORELIQUID P Series: AIO, Simplified
I can personally attest that installing an AIO into a case is quite the endeavor, especially when it comes to cable managing. Worst case, you’ll be dealing as much as five separate cables, a separate fan controller, and more cables after that, which can be a pretty complicated process if you aren’t paying attention. On paper, this MPG P Series AIO cooler has simplified installation down to just three things: install the radiator, install the AIO pump to the socket, and connect just one cable to make it all work. One!
Even the three steps involved here has been simplified on its own. The radiator comes with fans pre-installed – which is often not the case in AIOs sold today – so you can skip the process of figuring out which side should the fans be installed on; as for the socket installation, MSI has fused both AMD and Intel sockets into one, which they call the “UNI Socket”. That’s less materials to manufacture, which also benefits the environment. As for the sole cable, it handles both the pump and the fans, so all it takes is a USB-C cable on the radiator to work.
There’s also the display attached to the AIO pump, and it’s got one trick up its sleeve: it uses a flip-out mechanism for its 4.3-inch IPS display, so if you’re putting the case on the side of your desk, you no longer have to stick your head out to look at temperature metrics, for example. It supports up to 40 degrees of adjustability, which should accommodate most users no matter how the PC is placed.
Gaming Monitors
MSI has spawned quite a few monitors this year, most notably the new QD-OLED lineup that was launched in Malaysia earlier this year as well. The roster showcased here in Computex is a different beast, however: we got to witness the dual-mode curved gaming monitor (MPG 321CUPF), which MSI says is a world’s first. It switches between 4K 160Hz and 1080p 320Hz on its 0.5ms VA panel, and features a 1500R curvature for better immersion of this 32-inch monitor.
Another monitor that deserves a closer look is the MEG 321URX QD-OLED, and this is where “AI” enters the chat again: the monitor features a tiny slit of light bar at the bottom that isn’t for RGB, it’s for displaying crucial gameplay information such as health bars, ammo count, and more. In this demo, Monster Hunter is used to showcase the effects in real time, but questions have already been asked on whether this constitutes as gaining a competitive advantage, or even cheating – it’s really up to the games to decide at this point.
Elsewhere, you can find gaming monitors that aren’t quite the bleeding edge stuff, but still worth a quick mention here: there’s the MAG 271QPX QD-OLED E2, MAG 321UP QD-OLED, MAG 274URFW, MPG 321URX QD-OLED, and the MPG 341CQPX QD-OLED. The QD-OLED models all share features like OLED Care 2.0 that provides more detection to prevent premature burn-in, as well as improved heat dissipation to extend the panel’s lifespan.
Pokdepinion: It won’t take long before other OEMs decided to take on the idea of context-aware monitors, right? Competitive game developers will have to think about how to deal with this eventually.