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Micro-Star International
Taiwanese information technology company From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Micro-Star International Co., Ltd. (MSI; Chinese: 微星科技股份有限公司) is a Taiwanese multinational corporation based in New Taipei City, Taiwan. The company designs, develops, and provides computer hardware, related products, and services. Its product lineup includes laptops, desktop computers, motherboards, graphics cards, all-in-one computers, servers, industrial computers, peripherals, and automotive infotainment systems.
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MSI was founded on August 4, 1986, by Hsu Hsiang (Joseph Hsu), Huang Chin-Ching (Jeans Huang), Lin Wen-Tung (Frank Lin), Yu Hsien-Neng (Kenny Yu), and Lu Chi-Lung (Henry Lu). It is listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange.[2][3]
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Operations
First starting its business in New Taipei City, Taiwan, MSI later expanded into China, setting up its Bao'an plant in Shenzhen in 2000 and establishing research and development facilities in Kunshan in 2001. It also provides global warranty services in North America, Central/South America, Asia, Australia and Europe.
MSI's offices in Zhonghe District, New Taipei City, Taiwan, serve as the company's headquarters, and house a number of different divisions and services.[4]
Manufacturing initially took place at plants in Taiwan, but has been moved elsewhere. Many MSI graphics cards are manufactured at its plant in mainland China.
The company has branch offices in the Americas, Europe, Asia, Australia and South Africa. As of 2015, the company has a global presence in over 120 countries.
MSI and Syrma SGS announced their collaboration to make laptops in Chennai on January 10, 2025. MSI will transfer technology to Syrma SGS for localized production in India.[5][6]
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Products
Summarize
Perspective
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The company first built its reputation on developing and manufacturing computer motherboards and graphics cards. It established its subsidiary FUNTORO in 2008 for the vehicle infotainment market. It provides many computer and tech oriented products including laptops, desktops, monitors, motherboards, graphics cards, power supply products, computer cases and liquid cooler for gamers and content creators, all-in-one PCs, mobile workstations, servers, IPCs, multimedia peripherals, vehicle infotainment, and an autonomous mobility robot.[7]
When established in 1986, MSI focused on the design and manufacturing of motherboards and add-on cards. Later that year, it introduced the first over-clockable 286 motherboard.
In 1989, MSI introduced its first 486 motherboard; in 1990, its first Socket 7 based motherboard; in 1993, its first 586 motherboard; and in 1995, its Dual Pentium Pro-based motherboard. In 1997, it introduced its Intel Pentium II-based motherboard with Intel MMX Technology, along with its first graphics card product and first barebone product. In 2002, it released its first PC2PC Bluetooth & WLAN motherboard.[citation needed]
In 2000, MSI introduced its first set-top box product (MS-5205);[8] in 2003, its first Pen Tablet PC product (PenNote3100);[9] and in 2004, its first Notebook product (M510C).[10] In 2009, MSI introduced its first Ultra Slim Notebook (X320),[11] and first all-in-one PC (AP1900).[12]
MSI released their first digital audio player in 2003, in a line called MEGA.[13]
In 2008, MSI sponsored Fnatic and dived into the PC gaming market. Its GAMING series features laptops, desktops, motherboards, graphic cards, all-in-one PCs and gaming peripherals designed for gamers and power users.
The company has been a sponsor for a number of eSports teams[14] and is also the host of the international gaming event MSI Masters Gaming Arena (formerly known as MSI Beat IT).[15][16] The earliest Beat IT tournament can be traced back to 2010, featuring Evil Geniuses winning the championship.[17]
In 2015, MSI teamed up with eye-tracking tech firm Tobii for the creation of eye-tracking gaming laptops.[18][19]
In early 2016, MSI announced a collaboration with HTC and has revealed Vive-ready systems to offer Virtual Reality experiences.[20][21][22][23][24][25]
MSI expanded its scope of business into Content Creation in 2018 and demonstrated creator-centric laptops at IFA 2018.[26][27][28]
Laptop Product Lines
MSI’s laptop portfolio now spans both gaming and business productivity categories, each designed for different audiences and workloads.
Gaming Series
Titan – MSI’s ultimate desktop-replacement and mobile-workstation flagship. Titan delivers uncompromising, workstation-class power for 4K gaming, professional rendering, AI development, and other compute-intensive creative or engineering tasks. With premium high-resolution displays and mechanical-keyboard comfort, it is designed for enthusiasts, esports professionals, and content creators who need true desktop performance in a portable form factor.
Raider – Bold performance for competitive gamers and creators. This high-performance line pairs top-tier CPUs and GPUs with advanced cooling, customizable RGB lighting, and MSI’s signature Light Bar for a striking gamer aesthetic. Raider is ideal for players chasing ultra-high frame rates in AAA titles and for creators requiring smooth 3D rendering or high-resolution video production.
Vector – High-end gaming laptop for STEM professionals. Positioned between upper-mid and high-end, Vector offers powerful GPU/CPU performance in a more understated design. It appeals to serious gamers, STEM professionals, and technical users who need near-desktop gaming capability in a laptop suitable for labs, offices, or classrooms.
Stealth – Thin, Light, Built for Gaming and Work. Made with a premium magnesium-aluminum chassis, Stealth combines easy portability with discrete-GPU performance. It serves equally well as a high-end gaming laptop and a professional productivity machine for competitive play, creative projects, and everyday work.
Crosshair / Pulse – Mid-Range Laptops with Full-Power Graphics. Despite their mid-range positioning, these models deliver dependable full-power GPUs and smooth, high-refresh gameplay without premium pricing. Featuring vibrant QHD+ 240Hz displays and a customizable 24-zone RGB keyboard, they offer strong performance for esports, streaming, and immersive entertainment.
Katana – Affordable performance for everyday gamers. The Katana series blends reliable QHD/FHD gaming power with clean, minimalist styling and a 4-zone RGB keyboard to keep the gaming atmosphere alive. It’s ideal for budget-minded players, students, and casual creators seeking solid performance for popular titles, streaming, and light content creation.
Cyborg – Entry-level gaming with standout style. Cyborg emphasizes accessibility and bold design while remaining capable of smooth Full HD gameplay. With its translucent, exoskeletal aesthetic and eye-catching RGB keyboard, it appeals to first-time gamers, students, and anyone looking for an affordable yet distinctive laptop for gaming and everyday creative tasks.
Business & Productivity Series
Summit / SummitPro – MSI’s 2-in-1 notebooks line for premium mobile productivity. Convertible 2-in-1 notebooks with 360-degree hinges and MSI Pen support, Summit models are built for senior professionals, consultants, and enterprise teams who require top-tier portability, enterprise-grade security, and seamless connectivity for boardroom presentations, design reviews, or international travel. SummitPro adds discrete graphics for data visualization, advanced media editing, and 3D modeling, making it a versatile choice for architects, analysts, and creative directors who need tablet flexibility with workstation power.
Prestige / PrestigePro – Powerful, premium ultrabooks for creative and corporate mobility. The Prestige line combines high-performance computing with a sleek, professional design, delivering workstation-level responsiveness in an elegant, lightweight chassis. Long battery life and integrated enterprise-grade security make it ideal for creative professionals, executives, and graduate students who need a laptop that projects sophistication while handling intensive workloads. Its extended endurance removes “power anxiety” for frequent commuters and road warriors, while the PrestigePro adds dedicated graphics for demanding tasks such as AI applications, advanced data analysis, high-resolution video editing, and complex creative projects.
Venture / VenturePro – Robust hybrid workhorses for professionals on the move. Designed for entrepreneurs, remote workers, and content creators who split time between office, travel, and production, Venture laptops emphasize durability and robust reliability. VenturePro adds discrete GPUs for smooth performance in photo and video editing, AI-driven analytics, and other resource-intensive tasks—perfect for freelancers and small-studio creatives seeking a single device that handles both business management and demanding creative projects.
Modern – Accessible everyday productivity for students and home users. Colorful, budget-friendly, and easy to carry, Modern laptops deliver balanced performance for note-taking, online classes, streaming, and general coursework. They are ideal for students, first-time buyers, and casual home users who need an affordable system for day-to-day productivity and entertainment.
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History
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In 2003, MSi released the "Mega PC", a shelf stereo computer hybrid with a front panel resembling the former and desktop computer connectors on the rear.[29]
In 2017, MSI signed a laptop distribution deal with Mustek.[30] In April of the same year, MSI names certified partners for the creation of an RGB ecosystem with MSI Mystic Light Sync which includes Corsair, SteelSeries, G.Skill, Cooler Master, InWin, Phanteks, and others.[31]
Also April 2017, MSI launched "Join the Dragon" team sponsorship program to discover talented eSports teams.[32] They have partnered with ESL for ESL One events in 2018[33] and became the official partner of ESL One Cologne 2018, one of the biggest events on the Counter-Strike: Global Offensive calendar.[34] MSI sponsored the Method eSports organization in August 2018.[35] MSI partnered with ESL to bring MGA 2018 grand finals to New York. Kazakhstan's AVANGAR won the Championship.[36][37]
MSI and Ubisoft jointly presented Ambient Link (synchronized game lighting) on Assassin's Creed Odyssey and Tom Clancy's The Division 2 in 2019.[38][39][40]
In September 2020, MSI unveiled a new line of business-oriented laptops under the "Modern", "Prestige", and "Summit" lines, and a new logo specific to these models.[41]
Over the years, MSI has earned awards and recognitions, including being ranked among the Top 20 Taiwan Global Brands in 2008[42] and named one of the Top 100 Taiwan Brands in 2011.[43] In 2015, Laptop magazine ranked MSI the fourth-best laptop brand of the year,[44][45] and according to Topology Research Institute, MSI was the largest gaming laptop supplier worldwide in 2016.[46][47] MSI had also been awarded the Taiwan Excellence award for 15 consecutive years in 2013.[48] In August 2018, MSI was rated the Best Gaming Laptop Brand of 2018 by Laptop Mag. New designs of its GS65 Stealth Thin and GE63 Raider RGB laptops earned the company an 84 out of 100 and put it on the top spot.[49]
On 7 October 2020, MSI released a public statement about their subsidiary Starlit scalping MSI-made Nvidia RTX 3080 and 3090 GPUs, and selling them for higher than MSRP on eBay.[50]
During the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, MSI refused to withdraw from the Russian market. Research by Jeffrey Sonnenfeld of Yale University put MSI in the Yale CELI List of Companies category of "Digging In - Defying Demands for Exit or Reduction of Activities", the only Taiwanese company in the database.[51] MSI issued a statement on March 28, 2022, claiming that it abides by all international regulations in terms of its sales and operations in Russia.[52]
At Computex 2023, MSI revealed a collaboration with Mercedes-AMG for a special edition of its Alpha 17 gaming laptop. This limited-edition model features design elements inspired by the AMG performance brand, integrating the aesthetics and luxury of Mercedes-AMG with high-performance gaming hardware. The partnership emphasizes both brands' focus on speed, precision, and cutting-edge technology.[53]
In 2024, MSI Gaming Arena hosted a Dota 2 e-sports tournament in Southeast Asia. Teams were chosen through regional qualifiers for the online playoffs, which were scheduled from September 27 to October 6.[54]
The Discovery documentary Esports: The Rise of the New King examines the rapid transformation of gaming into a prominent sport, premiering in August 2023. It focuses on MSI's contribution to esports, particularly in hardware and cooling technology, while also showcasing events like ESL One New York and the MSI MGA finals. The program highlights the role of PC gaming in driving hardware sales and the growing partnership between manufacturers and esports tournaments.[55]
MSI introduced new server platforms powered by Intel's Xeon processors, featuring 6 performance cores for improved computational performance. These servers are designed to enhance AI, data processing, and cloud computing capabilities. The new platforms highlight MSI's focus on scalability and advanced technology for high-performance computing environments.[56]
At the 2024 Taipei Auto Show, MSI unveiled a new range of smart electric vehicle (EV) chargers. The lineup features residential and commercial models, including the EV Life charger, which is compatible with both U.S. and European charging standards. MSI's commercial chargers offer payment options and advanced management features, such as parking management via license plate recognition. Additionally, the EV AI charger has been honored with a Taiwan Excellence Award.[57]
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Sponsorship
The company once partnered with eSports teams Fnatic[58][59] and Cloud 9.[60]
It has also been a sponsor for a number of eSports teams worldwide, including METHOD,[61] PENTA Sports,[62] Energy eSports,[63] HWA Gaming,[64] yoe Flash Wolves,[65] NXA-Ladies,[66] Vox Eminor,[67] DeToNator,[68] Team Infused,[69] Aperture Gaming,[70] Phoenix GaminG,[71] Karmine Corp, Aiolikos FC, etc.
MSI announced a partnership with Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP in February 2022 to support the team with PC hardware throughout the MotoGP season.[72]
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See also
References
External links
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