MSI PRO DP21 14MQ-002US Black 2024

The MSI PRO DP21 14MQ packs a 20-core i7 CPU that's one of the best on the market for a mini PC, landing in the 81st percentile. It's a multitasking beast with 32GB of RAM and a tiny 2.3L chassis that can hide behind a monitor. Just don't buy it for gaming, the integrated graphics score a dismal 12.9 out of 100.

The star of the show here is the Intel Core i7-14700. With 20 cores and a 2.1GHz base clock, it's a multitasking monster for a box this small. In our benchmarks, it's well above average for desktop CPUs, making it a standout for heavy office workloads, data crunching, or running multiple virtual machines. The 32GB of DDR5 RAM is a generous pairing, sitting in the 78th percentile, so you won't run into slowdowns with dozens of browser tabs and apps open. The 1TB NVMe SSD is solid and middle of the pack for speed, but it's more than enough to keep boot times and file transfers feeling snappy.

The weak spot is, predictably, the graphics. The Intel UHD Graphics 770 is integrated and falls behind most dedicated GPUs, landing in the 31st percentile. You can drive multiple 4K displays for productivity, which is great, but don't even think about gaming or 3D rendering. Our gaming score for this system is a brutal 12.9 out of 100. This is a CPU-first machine, and it makes no apologies for it.

Stacked against the competition, the MSI PRO DP21 14MQ carves out a very specific niche. The Lenovo Legion 34IAS10 and HP Omen GT22 are gaming towers that will absolutely destroy this MSI in graphics performance, but they're massive in comparison and lack the business-centric vPro manageability. The ASUS Republic of Gamers GM700TZ and CLX SET systems are similarly in a different league for GPU power. The Dell Tower Plus EBT2250 is a closer business rival, but it's a traditional tower. The MSI's real advantage is its vanishingly small footprint and strong CPU performance for the size. You're trading raw expandability and GPU power for a clean, mountable workspace. If your workflow doesn't need a dedicated GPU, the MSI's compact design is a genuine differentiator.

Pricing for the DP21 14MQ is a bit of a moving target, with a $151 spread across vendors. You'll find it listed between $1519 and $1670. For a business-focused mini PC with a 20-core i7, 32GB of RAM, and Windows 11 Pro, the lower end of that range is a fair deal, especially if you value desk space and remote manageability. The sweet spot is clearly at the $1519 mark, so shop around before you buy. You're paying a premium for the tiny form factor and vPro features over a traditional tower, but for the right office setup, the space savings justify the cost.

The MSI PRO DP21 14MQ is a tiny desktop that packs a surprising punch for office work. Its 20-core Intel Core i7-14700 lands in the 81st percentile for CPU performance in our database, which means it chews through spreadsheets and multitasking without breaking a sweat. Pair that with 32GB of DDR5 RAM and a speedy 1TB NVMe SSD, and you've got a serious productivity machine that can hide behind your monitor. Just don't expect it to do anything graphically demanding. The integrated Intel UHD Graphics 770 sits in the 31st percentile, so it's strictly a work PC, not a play one.

At 1.27kg and just 2.3 liters in volume, this thing is built to disappear. MSI clearly designed it for kiosks, digital signage, and cramped office desks, and the VESA mount support means you can bolt it to the back of a screen and forget it's there. The port selection is a strong point, ranking in the 82nd percentile, with a mix of modern and legacy connections. It's a no-fuss, business-first machine that prioritizes CPU grunt and connectivity over flashy features.

Anyone who needs even a hint of graphical horsepower should look elsewhere. The integrated GPU is a real letdown, scoring just 12.9 for gaming and landing in the 31st percentile overall. If your workflow involves any 3D modeling, video editing with GPU acceleration, or gaming after hours, a small form factor PC with a dedicated GPU, or even a powerful mini PC with a better iGPU, will serve you far better. The mediocre reliability score in the 39th percentile also gives us pause for mission-critical deployments without a solid backup plan.

The MSI PRO DP21 14MQ is a purpose-built machine that excels at its job: being a powerful, invisible office workhorse. The 20-core i7 and 32GB of RAM make it a leading choice for CPU-heavy business tasks in a space-constrained environment. It's a terrible choice for gaming or creative work that needs a GPU, but it doesn't pretend to be anything else. If you need a compact, mountable PC with strong processing chops and remote management features, and you find it near the $1519 mark, it's an easy recommendation. Just keep your expectations for graphics firmly in check.