MSI launches the Pro Max family: a range of products including desktops and screens with a professional edge. AI and Plus are also present.
Last January, we already lamented that absolutely everything had to be Pro, Max, or Ultra in IT land. MSI hasn’t read that comment and is launching its own Pro Max series at CES this year. MSI Pro Max is not to be confused with Dell Pro Max and has nothing to do with the AMD Ryzen AI Max Pro processors. In MSI’s case, Pro Max stands for a collection of screens, PCs, and components.
MSI states that the series is aimed at professionals in a hybrid context and should offer intuitive, predictable experiences in various work environments. In concrete terms, this mainly seems to mean that you work with white hardware, because the common thread throughout MSI Pro Max is a modern design language with a focus on white.
Pro Max desktops
First and foremost, Dell Pro Max includes computers, but no laptops. In the range, we find two desktop PCs: the Pro Max 80 AI+ and the Pro Max 150 AI+. Yes, in addition to Pro and Max, you can also tick AI and Plus on your bingo card.
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The devices (photo above) have AMD Ryzen AI 300 processors on board (and therefore no AMD Ryzen Max Pro chips). These are not the latest chips from AMD, as the manufacturer put AMD Ryzen AI 400 on the market at CES. However, the difference between the two generations is small.
The desktops are also available with an Nvidia GeForce RTX GPU. MSI points to ten USB Type-A ports, which is a lot, and only one USB Type-C port, which is not much. Administrators can disable USB functionality for security reasons. A Kensington lock is also present. Information about RAM is unfortunately lacking at this time.
Pro Max All-in-One
Those who want more integration can opt for an All-in-One computer in the range. MSI is launching the Pro Max 24 and the Pro Max 27, with screen diagonals of 24 inches and 27 inches respectively. For these devices, MSI opts for an AMD Ryzen 7 H 255 processor with integrated graphics capabilities. This chip is also not the very latest from AMD.
The screen of the devices has a 120 Hz refresh rate and is somewhat surprisingly touch-sensitive. A 5 MP webcam can pop up from the screen edge and is adjustable.
Pro Max screen
If you want a screen, but no built-in computer, you can consider the MSI Pro Max 271UPXW12G monitor. That 26.5-inch screen has a 4K QD-OLED panel with anti-reflective coating. MSI states that the display has a very accurate color representation out of the box, with a DeltaE of less than two.
Somewhat surprisingly, MSI is aiming for compatibility with Apple MacBooks here. Brightness and volume can be adjusted directly via a MacBook, and the display supports M-Color Mode for color synchronization with Apple computers.
Pro Max components
Finally, we find separate PC components in the Pro Max family. These parts are also white and fit perfectly with the design of the above devices. First of all, we have the Pro Max X870E-A Wifi motherboard that supports Wifi 7 and USB-C, and is compatible with the latest AMD processors.
You can provide power for your self-built PC via the Pro Max 1000PL: a PSU. Everything fits neatly into the Pro Max 030 chassis, which accepts ATX and Micro-ATX motherboards. To keep your computer cool, you can rely on the Pro Max M15: a liquid cooling solution.
Pro Max questions
The entire Pro Max range raises the necessary questions. It is not entirely clear what MSI is trying to achieve with the new product family. For example, the white liquid cooling doesn’t really fit into the narrative surrounding hybrid work. The modern look, in turn, is at odds with the slightly older AMD processors in the AiO and desktops. The screen stands out due to extra compatibility with Apple (although it also works with Windows computers, including those from MSI itself, of course).
Perhaps the most striking thing is the naming. ‘Pro’ and ‘Max’ are so cliché in PC naming that the terms are completely worn out and meaningless, but that is not the biggest problem. We can’t believe that MSI is launching a Pro Max series, with AI and Plus options, without including an AMD Ryzen Max+ processor. The manufacturer does integrate that AI Max Plus chip into a new white computer (the MSI AI Edge), but it is NOT part of the Pro Max range.