MSI Modern AM242TP 11M: review in two minutes
If you’re not an architect or in-demand graphic designer, justifying Microsoft’s latest Surface Studio might be a chore, but not every all-in-one needs to break the bank. These sleek, uncluttered computers can be very affordable and make a lot of sense for a variety of workflows.
Take MSI’s Modern AM242TP (AM242P in AU) for example. This device comes with an 11th generation Intel i5 or i7 CPU with a 23.8-inch Full HD IPS display, a 2TB HDD and 16GB RAM. The entry-level model also gets a 256GB SSD, while the i7 model has a slightly larger 512GB internal SSD.
While this device is much more accessible than something like the Surface Studio 2, in some regions it’s actually quite a bit more expensive than its sibling, the MSI Modern. AM271P† However, the modern AM242TP is sleeker than its cheaper sibling as it has an integrated HD webcam and all units come with a basic wireless keyboard and mouse that most people should find good enough to work on. However, if you’re used to mechanical keyboards and mice with high polling rates, you might want to consider keeping these as a backup set, as the included combo is pretty rudimentary.
The 1080p monitor itself looks nice with nearly border-free bezels on the three top sides. You probably wouldn’t even realize this monitor actually contains a computer just by looking at it, as the components fit into a neat package on the lower back half of the screen.
While the square base doesn’t look as elegant as the Modern AM271TP’s thin legs, it does provide more stability, allowing it to be adjusted to the height and angle that’s most comfortable.
There’s a built-in microphone and speaker set, which is a lot more than most desktop monitors you’ll see on the market, but they’re both very basic and too quiet. You should be able to get through the odd YouTube video, but you’ll probably have to yell if you want to be heard on a conference call.
The performance of this CPU range wasn’t bad in 2021 when it was still current, but don’t expect it to keep up with 2022 PCs. That said, even 11th-gen quad-core i5 and i7 processors are great at running an Excel spreadsheet, and with 16GB of RAM, you can crank up a ton of Chrome tabs.
In fact, the Intel Iris Xe Graphics means you only get playable performance from slightly older games with Low 1080p settings and there’s plenty of graphical grunt for a range of creative workflows too.
Before you pull the trigger on the MSI Modern AM242TP 11M, you might want to check out USA Health Reports’s best all-in-one computer 2022.
MSI Modern AM242TP 11M: price and availability
- Starting price of $999 (£999, AU$1,899)
- SKU tested costs $1,190 (£1,047, AU$2,099)
- Two different processors available
Specification sheet
Here is the MSI Modern AM242TP 11M configuration sent to Ditching for review:
Processor: Intel Core i7-1165G7 processor
Graphics: Integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics
RAM: 16GB LPDDR5
Screen: 23.8-inch 1080p IPS
Storage: 512GB PCIe SSD, 2TB HDD
Ports: 2x USB-A 3.2 Type-C, 2x USB-C 3.2 Type-A, 1x HDMI in, 1x HDMI out, 1x RJ45 Ethernet, combi audio jack
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.1, 5G
Camera: 720p webcam
Weight: 13.58lbs (6.16kg)
Mate: 21.31 x 7.66 x 21.06 inches (54.1×19.5×53.5cm)
The entry-level MSI Modern AM242TP has a suggested retail price of $999 (£999, AU$1,899), which gets you an i5-1135G7 with either 8GB or 16GB of RAM, depending on which region you’re in.
To see the i7 processor and 512GB PCIe drive on our test model, you’re looking at $1,190 (£1,047, AU$2,099).
In Australia, pricing is slightly higher than in other regions and across the board there is no real shortage of computers that compete with this unit in both price and performance. It almost exactly corresponds to the cost of a 24-inch Apple iMac in some regions, which is an interesting comparison when you consider that the iMac gets a 24-inch 4.5K retina display.
- Price and availability: 2.5/5
MSI Modern AM242TP 11M: Design
- Modern screen without bezel
- Includes wireless keyboard and mouse
- Height adjustable stand
The overall design is one of the better elements of MSI’s modern AM242TP PC. With the three top edges of the device getting a nearly bezel-less bezel, the 1080p display has a modern, crisp aesthetic.
The 23.8-inch FullHD display doesn’t have as high a resolution as the devices on our Best all-in-one page, but it’s still a common offering in the corporate AIO space. As with most business screens today, the screen offers low blue light and flicker-free technologies to make things easier on your eyes and reduce the impact on sleep.
The device features a monitor joystick on the rear of the device that is easily accessible and the menu interface offers enough menu options for a screen of this caliber. All the ports on the side and back weren’t hard to get to and made it easy to plug in any devices you might want to use.
The modern AM242TP offers a built-in HD webcam with a physical clip for everyone who needs it. With flexible working conditions more prevalent than ever, it makes sense to include an integrated camera. This setup also offers an infrared camera compatible with Windows Hello facial security technology.
The webcam is only 720p, a fact that shouldn’t deter too many, but it’s a little disappointing when competitors offer 1080p. The same can be said about the microphone, the speakers and the wireless keyboard and mouse combination. All three included accessories worked on a functional level, but you wouldn’t really want to rely on them unless absolutely necessary.
MSI Modern AM242TP 11M: Performance
- 11th generation Intel CPU is dated
- CPU and GPU performance fit for purpose
Benchmarks
Here’s how the MSI Modern AM242TP 11M performed in our series of benchmark tests:
Cinebench R20 Multicore: 5,230
Geek Bench 5: 1,514 (single wire); 4,353 (multi-core)
PCMark 10 (Home Test): 4.310
PCMark 10 (battery life test): AFTER
3DMark – Time Spy: 1.189
Intel’s 11th Gen “Tiger Lake” processors have been replaced by 12th Gen iterations these days, but business AIOs like this are generally a bit late in the update schedule, so this should be current for most of 2022. While we only see the i7 configuration here, both processors should provide more than enough performance to tackle common workflows.
It’s not a huge price difference between the two models, but the i7-1165G7 is only a fraction faster on average than the i5-1135G7, so don’t expect much from a performance bump either.
Intel’s 11th generation processors were the first to get Iris Xe Graphics, which offers decent lightweight gaming performance and graphics work capabilities. Don’t expect too much, but you can basically play 2021 games on low 1080p graphics settings.
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First reviewed in June 2022.
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