MSI ups its all-in-one game
The Modern AM241P 11M all-in-one PC is MSI’s follow-on to the ho-hum Pro 24X 10M we reviewed last fall. Like the Pro 24X, the Modern AM241P (which starts at $849.99, as tested) is a compact, affordable 23.8-inch all-in-one (AIO) PC. In the intervening months, however, MSI has outfitted the Modern AM241P with an updated Intel Core i5 CPU and addressed the three biggest gripes we had about the Pro 24X 10M: too much fan noise, and the lack of both a webcam and USB Type-C connectivity. The Modern AM241P’s cooling fan still makes itself heard, but the system is much quieter when idle or under light loads. A pair of USB-C ports makes an appearance, and the system now includes a webcam—if not in the way you are probably thinking. (More on that in a moment.) The Modern AM241P is a clear improvement over the Pro 24X 10M, and a solid-enough AIO for small businesses, but the HP Pavilion 24 All-in-One remains our favorite budget Windows AIO. A Webcam Via… USB? Our MSI Modern AM241P 11M test system is the entry-level model in the line. It costs $849.99 and features an 11th Generation Core i5-1135G7,8GB of RAM, integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics, and a 256GB SSD. The $1,099.99 step-up model bumps you up to a Core i7-1165G7 CPU and doubles the RAM to 16GB and the solid-state storage to 512GB. The system is available in black or white; we received the former. All models are built around a 23.8-inch, full HD, non-touch display. (Photo: Molly Flores) The design remains the same as the Pro 24X with the exception of the stand. The sleek, compact enclosure didn’t require an update; it’s space-saving, modern-looking, and impressively thin. The top half of the system is only 0.2 inch thick, and the bottom half (where the PC components reside behind the display) is only 1.5 inches deep. The display measures 21.2 inches wide by 12.6 inches tall, which is about as compact as a 23.8-inch display can be. The top and side display bezels are a razor-thin 0.2 inch wide, and the bottom bezel is only 0.7 inch across. The Modern AM241P presents an attractive, polished visage. The V-shaped stand of last year’s model has been swapped out in favor of a rectangular base. The 9.9-by-7.3-inch base is sturdy and takes up less space on your desk than the previous stand. The biggest benefit of the new stand, however, is the addition of height adjustment. Where previously you had no ability to change the height of the display without employing a monitor riser or a large book (I was going to say « telephone book, » but no one has those anymore), you now have nearly 5.5 inches of height adjustment. You do lose swivel adjustment with the new stand, but I’d rather have height adjustment if given the choice between the two. (Photo: Molly Flores) The screen bezels are so thin that MSI still didn’t have room to add a webcam to the Modern AM241P’s chassis, but it did find a way to include a camera. MSI added a USB port at the top of the stand behind the display, and it bundles a USB webcam with the system. (Photo: Molly Flores) While this is not remotely as elegant an arrangement as an integrated camera, it’s not without its benefits. The camera has a 1080p resolution, which creates a more detailed image with less noise than the tiny-sensor 720p cameras commonly found on laptops and all-in-one PCs. Videos looked well balanced, with vivid colors and accurate skin tones. And a USB camera does offer the ultimate camera-privacy option: Unplug it when not in use! The rival Pavilion 24, however, supplies a higher-res (5-megapixel) webcam. Needs a More Modern A/V Boost You’re stuck with the same uninspiring video and audio output with the Modern AM241P as with the Pro 24X. The 23.8-inch non-touch display features a 1,920-by-1,080-pixel resolution, and you won’t want to sit too close to it. Text starts to look blurry from a couple of feet away, though it looks crisper when you push back a bit. The display doesn’t get terribly bright, but it shows good contrast, with deep blacks and bright whites. It also has an effective matte finish that keeps glare and reflections at bay. Ineffective, though: the Modern’s stereo speakers, which are wholly underwhelming. They sound tinny, with little to no bass response, and they don’t reach a very high level even at the peak volume setting.
