MSI Wind Top AE2010 Review

Until the last few years, desktop computers were the standard in personal computing. When someone needed a computer, they didn't compare netbook or notebook pricing; they simply bought a heavy mid-tower computer system with a detached monitor and lots of cables. Eventually the notebook computer crept into the desktop space near the eve of Y2K, and today we see a sophisticated array of smart phones and portable mobile devices replacing the languished desktop system. Fortunately, being defined as a desktop computer doesn't include surrendering a large portion of real estate inside your work area.

Desktop computers are making a resurgence, and have exploited the compact nature of newer technology to provide the best of both worlds. Netbooks are the popular item for travelers, but they don't get the job done for full time workers and students. Notebooks are nice, and meet halfway, but have their own limits too. Behold the nettop. It's a compact desktop computer with a notebook profile. In this article, Benchmark Reviews tests the MSI Wind Top AE2010-02SUS All-In-One touch screen desktop computer against an Intel Atom-equipped ASUS Eee PC netbook, Core 2 Duo notebook, and NVIDIA ION desktop system.

MSI has taken their portable Wind nettop computer system and combined it with a full-featured desktop computer. The result is a stylish and compact all-in-one (AIO) personal computer system that fits in the space of a 20-inch monitor. Not to be outdone, that small footprint doesn't just shelter a display, it also incorporates touch-screen functionality along with an integrated web cam and stereo SRS speakers. Even after all this, there are still more perks to be discovered on the MSI All-In-One desktop system. If you're interested in full-size computing using pint-size technology, Benchmark Reviews examines the MSI Wind Top AE2010.

About MSI Desktop

Founded in 1986, MSI strives to design and manufacture superior technology and innovative products, while offering outstanding customer service. MSI has continued to uphold a business philosophy that stresses "Award-winning product quality and outstanding customer service." MSI specializes in the design and manufacture of mainboards, graphics cards, desktop PCs, all-in-one PCs, wireless communication products, and Notebook PCs. To learn more about MSI's complete product lines, please visit: us.msi.com

MSI Wind Top AIO Features

The MSI Wind Top AE2010 is upgraded with an AMD Athlon X2 Dual Core processor for increased computing power and features an efficient touch-enabled All-in-One PC with a crystal clear 20-inch widescreen. The improved performance and beautiful form factor combined with EPA ENERGY STAR Version 5.0 efficiency rating provides users with a PC powerful enough for everyday computing and aesthetically pleasing enough to have as a design centerpiece.

The new AE2010 also includes a VGA input and output allowing the user to utilize the All-in-One PC as a monitor or transfer video data to another television or computer screen. Additionally, graphics capabilities have been improved via the onboard ATI Radeon 3200 graphics card with DDR3 128MB VRAM. Users will now experience brighter colors, sharper contract and significantly improved picture clarity. Lastly, design functionality has been improved with the addition of a VESA standard wall mount. Whether you choose to set on a countertop or mount on the wall, the AE2010 is poised to change in-home computing.

The MSI Wind Top AE2010 features touch-enabled applications, wireless connectivity, SuperMulti DVD Rewriter and a built-in webcam and microphone for maximum personal computing. Whether you are sharing and editing photos, videoconferencing, browsing the web or completing school or work products, the AE2010 provides the tools to get the job done efficiently and in style. Starting at $649.99, the AE2010 offers a tremendous value proposition for any computing scenario.

The AE2010 also features a 320 GB hard drive, 6 USB ports, 4-1 card reader and a color-matched multimedia keyboard and mouse. The ultra-silent, state-of-the-art cooling system eliminates traditional cooling fan noises and keeps the noise level no more than 26 decibels. As with all MSI All-in-One PCs, the AE2010 is engineered to consume up to 75% less energy then traditional desktop PCs.

AE2010-02SUS Specifications

Closer Look: MSI Wind Top

From the moment the MSI Wind Top AE2010 is removed from the box, it seems like you're in for constant surprises. And they come, one after another. The retail packages is exactly the same size as others used to contain 20-inch LCD monitors, yet MSI packs a keyboard and mouse along side their Wind Top product. The AE2010-02SUS model number refers to the black bezel surrounding the LCD touch screen, which is the product Benchmark Reviews is testing for this article.

The MSI Wind Net monitor (MSI7459) is a touch-screen sensitive 1600x900 TFT LCD display with a maximum visible display size of 44 cm x 25 cm (19.9") using the 16:9 aspect ratio at 32-bit. A faux-leather grain panel adorns the lower edge of the Wind Net monitor, and adds a small degree of elegance to the transparent frame edge.

Along the right side of the MSI Wind Top is a string of menu buttons: power, menu, left, right, auto-adjust, and a unique LCD power button. A sturdy spring-loaded stand can be pulled back to adjust the monitors viewing angle from 10° (shown above) up to 20°.

At the left side of the AE2010-02SUS is a compact media-card reader and slim optical drive. The DVD Super-Multi drive can read and write to CD of DVD media, however the newer Blu-ray Disc is not compatible. The built-in card reader supports various types of memory cards, such as XD (eXtreme Digital), SD (Secure Digital), SDHC (SD High Capacity), MS (Memory Stick), MS Pro (Memory Stick Pro) or MMC (Multi-Media Card) cards. Two Hi-Speed USB 2.0 ports are available for flash drives and digital media devices or connected cellular phones.

Although subdued, the back side of the MSI Wind Top AE2010-02SUS All-In-One Desktop System is bustling with features. The AE2010 does lack DVI output, but uses the space to include both D-Sub VGA input and output ports.

The specific features and components are examined and detailed in the next section, so please continue on.

AE2010-02SUS Detailed Features

A built-in BisonCam webcam is build into the top bezel of the MSI Wind Top AE2010. A pinhole microphone to the left, and a IR infrared receiver is provided to the right side for an optional remote control. The webcam offers 1.3 megapixel high-definition resolution, with stereo audio speakers firing up from behind the Wind Top.

At the back end of of the MSI Wind Top AE2010-02SUS All-In-One computer, there are several ports that set this system apart from every other netbook or desktop system. The AC power adapter receptacle accepts an external 90W power adapter with active PFC. Next come a pair of analog D-Sub input and output ports, followed by four more Hi-Speed USB 2.0 ports and an external SATA (eSATA) port. Microphone and speaker ports are positioned above a gigabit Ethernet port.

The MSI Wind Top AE2010 is equipped with a Realtek 8111DL-based Gigabit Fast Ethernet controller, which uses the Realtek RTL8168D/8111D Family PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet NIC driver native to Windows 7. Wireless B, G, and N Wi-Fi connectivity is available through the Realtek RTL8192E 802.11n wireless LAN network adapter. High Definition Audio is delivered by the ATI SB700 southbridge using the Realtek ALC888/1200 controller.

The first step in accessing the internal components is to remove the rear support leg. Four screws are removed from the VESA-compliant chassis panel, and several more screws must be removed from the outer shell. After a strenuous tussle with the plastic rear panel, the MSI motherboard is exposed to reveal the hardware components. None of these components are easily accessible through mini-doors or removable panels, so be sure that access is essential because removing the cover voids the product warranty.

The custom MSI MS-7549 motherboard houses the AMD "Hammer" 780G and SB700 chipset and a dual-core 1.5 GHz AMD Athlon X2 3250e processor. Two 2GB 800MHz DDR2 SoDIMM modules are seated beside a compressed twin heat-pipe array.

The layout is reminiscent of a notebook computer, right down to every component except one: the hard drive. It doesn't make great sense to use a nearly-obsolete 5400 RPM hard drive unless there's a specific purpose, such as the reduced heat output. The 3.5" hard drive leaves many options, the first of which is a 2.5"-sized notebook drive replacement that also opens the door for Solid State Drive products. While the 320 GB 5400 RPM hard drive isn't the fastest storage device, but it leaves a lot of room for upgrades if they're desired without wasting costs on the initial system assembly.

At first it seemed that the cooling system might not be enough to tame the dual-core Athlon processor, but it was surprising to find how well it worked. Allowed to sit idle for ten minutes in a 24°C room, the MSI AE2010 hovered around 42°C. Using Lavalys EVEREST to push both cores to 100% usage for ten more minutes, the final temperature of 55°C was recorded. All things considered, these are low temperatures and may allow the Wind Top to be positioned in relatively confined spaces.

In the following sections, the MSI Wind Top AE2010-02SUS All-In-One Desktop System is compared against several other competing systems: an Intel Atom-equipped ASUS Eee PC netbook, Core 2 Duo notebook, and NVIDIA ION desktop system.

Testing Methodology

Benchmark Reviews has used the following systems and test software for the performance tests reported in this article. Each system compared was tested using common software and Operating System variables, however not all aspects could be matched identically.

The CPU Benchmarks were collected from PCMark Vantage, EVEREST Ultimate Edition, PerformanceTest, and CINEBENCH test suites, and all used common settings for each test. PCMark Vantage features test suits with static settings, which include the TV/Movies, Gaming, and Music. PerformanceTest also conducts tests with static settings, such as the 2D and 3D graphics performance.

MSI AE2010-02SUS AIO System

• Motherboard: MSI MS-7549 (AMD 780G)
• System Memory: 4GB 800MHz DDR2 SoDIMM
• Processor: AMD Athlon X2 3250e 1.5 GHz
• Video: Integrated ATI Radeon HD 3200 (RS780)
• System Drive: OCZ Vertex 120GB SATA SSD OCZSSD2-1VTX120G
• Enclosure: MSI Wind Nettop Monitor Enclosure

ASRock Nettop ION 330 System

• Motherboard: ASRock AMCP7A-ION
• System Memory: 4GB OCZ Gold 800MHz DDR2
• Processor: 1.6GHz Intel Atom N330 Dual-Core
• Video: Integrated NVIDIA GeForce 9400 GPU (ION)
• System Drive: OCZ Vertex 120GB SATA SSD OCZSSD2-1VTX120G

ASUS Eee PC 1000HE-BLK005X System

• Mainboard Chipset: Intel i945GSE
• System Memory: 2GB 667MHz DDR2
• Processor: 1.6GHz Intel Atom N280
• Video: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 (GMA 950)
• System Drive: OCZ Vertex 120GB SATA SSD OCZSSD2-1VTX120G

Dell Inspiron 6400 System

• Mainboard Chipset: Intel i945GM (Calistoga)
• System Memory: 2GB 533MHz DDR2
• Processor: 1.66GHz Intel Core Duo 2300 Dual Core
• Video: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 (GMA 950)
• System Drive: OCZ Vertex 120GB SATA SSD OCZSSD2-1VTX120G

Support Hardware

• Sharp AQUOS LC-52D62U 52" LCD 1080P HDTV
• Insignia NSLCD32 32" LCD 720p HDTV
• SOYO DYLM26E6 26" LCD Monitor
• Samsung 2220WM-HAS 22" LCD Monitor

Test Software

• Microsoft Windows 7 RC1 32-bit Edition (Build 7100)
• Futuremark PCMark Vantage v1.01 System Test Suite
• Lavalys EVEREST Ultimate Edition v5.02.1750
• PassMark PerformanceTest v7.0 Build 1006
• Maxon CINEBENCH Release 10

PCMark Vantage Results

PCMark Vantage is an objective hardware performance benchmark tool for PCs running 32 and 64 bit versions of Microsoft Windows Vista or Windows 7. PCMark Vantage is perfectly suited for benchmarking any type of Microsoft Windows Vista/7 PC from multimedia home entertainment systems and laptops to dedicated workstations and hi-end gaming rigs. Benchmark Reviews has decided to use a few select tests from this suite to compare the MSI Net Top AW2010 to others in this article. Our tests were conducted on 32-bit Windows 7 RC-1 Build 7100.

TV and Movies Suite

The tests in the TV and Movies Suite have been selected to represent the Windows Vista TV and Movies Consumer Scenario. The combination of test sets covers the common TV and Movies usage. The TV and Movies Suite gives a separate PCMark TV and Movies Score which does not affect the overall PCMark Score. TV and Movies Suite include the following tests:

TV and Movies 1

o Two simultaneous threads
o Video transcoding: HD DVD to media server archive
o Video playback: HD DVD w/ additional lower bitrate HD content from HDD, as downloaded from net

TV and Movies 2

o Two simultaneous threads
o Video transcoding: HD DVD to media server archive
o Video playback, HD MPEG-2: 19.39 Mbps terrestrial HDTV playback

TV and Movies 3

o HDD Media Center

TV and Movies 4

o Video transcoding: media server archive to portable device
o Video playback, HD MPEG-2: 48 Mbps Blu-ray playback

Gaming Suite

The tests in the Gaming Suite have been selected to represent the Windows Vista Gaming Consumer Scenario. The combination of test sets covers the common Gaming usage. The Gaming Suite gives a separate PCMark Gaming Score which does not affect the overall PCMark Score. Gaming Suite includes the following tests:

Gaming 1

o GPU game test

Gaming 2

o HDD: game HDD

Gaming 3

o Two simultaneous threads
o CPU game test
o Data decompression: level loading

Gaming 4

o Three simultaneous threads
o GPU game test
o CPU game test
o HDD: game HDD

Music Suite

The tests in the Music Suite have been selected to represent the Windows Vista Music Consumer Scenario. The combination of test sets covers the common Music usage. The Music Suite gives a separate PCMark Music Score which does not affect the overall PCMark Score. Music Suite includes the following tests:

Music 1

o Three simultaneous threads
o Web page rendering - w/ music shop content
o Audio transcoding: WAV -> WMA lossless
o HDD: Adding music to Windows Media Player

Music 2

o Audio transcoding: WAV -> WMA lossless

Music 3

o Audio transcoding: MP3 -> WMA

Music 4

o Two simultaneous threads
o Audio transcoding: WMA -> WMA
o HDD: Adding music to Windows Media Player

Analyzing the results offers some perspective on where technology has helped shape performance. In our PCMark Vantage benchmark tests, the MSI AE2010 was the overall winner, outperforming a powerful Intel i945GM-based Dell Inspiron 6400 notebook as well the NVIDIA ION platform. The ASUS Eee PC, which is also re-packaged at the Eee Top, did well enough for compact computing purposes but little more.

TV and Movies performance indicated a tie between the MSI AE2010 (2034) and the Dell 6400 (1996), trailed by the NVIDIA ION (1629). The ASUS Eee PC failed this test because it cannot display at the 1024x768 resolution required by PCMark Vantage (640x480 was the best it offered).

Gaming performance swayed in favor of the MSI AE2010 first, which earned a score of 3223 by using the ATI Radeon HD 3200 GPU. Following closely behind was the NVIDIA ION system, which uses the GeForce 9400M (ION) GPU to score 2785 for second place. A rather weak Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 (which is not a DirectX 10 compatible hardware component) reduced Dell 6400 and ASUS Eee PC Gaming performance. The Dell Inspiron 6400 scored a mere 1551 points, but at least it earns credit for trying... since the ASUS Eee PC cannot run the test. An ASUS Eee Top would perform similar to the Dell notebook, based on identical graphics accelerators.

While Benchmark Reviews recognizes that a D-Sub monitor capable of 1024x768 could have been attached to the ASUS Eee PC 1000HE, and the PCMark Vantage tests completed, we would no longer be testing the Eee PC Netbook. Even if a monitor was connected, we suspect that the ASUS Eee PC 1000HE would have produced a score similar (albeit lower) to the Dell Inspiron 6400 notebook computer, since they both use the same GMA 950 processor for graphics.

Aside from gaming, which held the MSI AE2010's Radeon 3400 and NVIDIA ION's GeForce 9400m GPUs in high regard, the Music benchmark returns to the same overall system performance measure found in the TV and Movies test. The MSI Wind Top scored 4893 with a 1.5GHz AMD Athlon X2 3250e processor, while the 1.66GHz Intel Core Duo 2300 dual core CPU followed with 4692. The NVIDIA ION's 1.6 GHz Intel Atom N330 dual-core processors held their own against the slightly more-powerful systems, and produced 3601.

EVEREST CPU Benchmarks

Lavalys EVEREST Ultimate Edition is an industry leading system diagnostics and benchmarking solution for enthusiasts PC users, based on the award-winning EVEREST Technology. During system optimizations and tweaking it provides essential system and overclock information, advanced hardware monitoring and diagnostics capabilities to check the effects of the applied settings. CPU, FPU and memory benchmarks are available to measure the actual system performance and compare it to previous states or other systems. Furthermore, complete software, operating system and security information makes EVEREST Ultimate Edition a comprehensive system diagnostics tool that offers a total of 100 pages of information about your PC.

All of the benchmarks used in our test bed: Queen, Photoworxx, ZLib, and AES, all rely on basic x86 instructions, and consume very low system memory while also being aware of HyperThreading, multi-processors, and multi-core processors. While the EVEREST CPU tests really only compare the processor performance more than it measures platforms, it still offers a glimpse into what kind of power each platform possesses.

Queen and Photoworxx tests are synthetic benchmarks that operate the function many times over and over-exaggerate by several magnitudes what the real-world performance would be like. The Queen benchmark focuses on the branch prediction capabilities and misprediction penalties of the CPU. It does this by finding possible solutions to the classic queen problem on a chessboard. At the same clock speed theoretically the processor with the shorter pipeline and smaller misprediction penalties will attain higher benchmark scores.

Computers are often measured and compared by the processor more than any other component. The Wind Top's 1.5GHz AMD Athlon X2 3250e processor did well enough as a total package, but when singled out is just couldn't beat the 1.66GHz Intel Core Duo 2300 dual core CPU or NVIDIA ION's 1.6 GHz Intel Atom N330 dual-core processor.

The NVIDIA ION platform, with a soldiered-in Intel Atom 330 dual-core processor, offered the best Queen performance of the bunch scoring 6866. Even with the larger cache, the Dell Inspiron 6400's 1.66 GHz Intel Core Duo 2300 still fell behind the Atom 330 by almost 10% and scored 6476. The MSI AE2010 came performed with a score of 5226, while the ASUS Eee PC 1000HE uses a single-core Intel Atom N280 processor, which rendered 57% less performance than the ION's 330. But that's only CPU Queen...

Like the Queen benchmark, the Photoworxx tests for penalties against pipeline architecture. The synthetic Photoworxx benchmark stresses the integer arithmetic and multiplication execution units of the CPU and also the memory subsystem. Due to the fact that this test performs high memory read/write traffic, it cannot effectively scale in situations where more than two processing threads are used. The EVEREST Photoworxx benchmark performs the following tasks on a very large RGB image:

• Fill
• Flip
• Rotate90R (rotate 90 degrees CW)
• Rotate90L (rotate 90 degrees CCW)
• Random (fill the image with random colored pixels)
• RGB2BW (color to black & white conversion)
• Difference
• Crop

The Eee PC's Atom N280 scored 2294 in the CPU PhotoWorxx test, with the ION's N330 raising the score nearly 70% to 3882. Pushing ahead and over the ION system, the MSI Wind Top scored 4747. The Dell Inspiron's Intel Core Duo 2300 performed 35% better than the ION's N330 CPU with 5253.

The Zip Library test measures combined CPU and memory subsystem performance through the public ZLib compression library. ZLib is designed as a free lossless data compression library for use on virtually any computer hardware and operating system. The ZLib data format is itself portable across platforms and has a footprint independent of input data that can be reduced at some cost in compression. The Dell Inspiron's Intel Core Duo 2300 rendered a score of 19766 and performed 15% better than the MSI AE2010 which produced 17071, and 17% above the ION's N330 CPU with 16845. The Eee PC's Atom N280 scored only 8004 in the CPU Zip Library test to seat itself in last place.

The AES integer benchmark measures CPU performance using AES data encryption. It utilizes Vincent Rijmen, Antoon Bosselaers and Paulo Barreto's public domain C code in ECB mode and consumes 48 MB of memory. In the AES testing, the Intel Core Duo 2300 scored 5882 points, offering a 57% lead over the AE2010 and 60% lead over the N330. ION and Wind fought for second place, while the Eee PC's N280 offered a mere 1909 points for a distant last place finish.

Passmark PerformanceTest

PassMark PerformanceTest is a PC hardware benchmark utility that allows a user to quickly assess the performance of their computer and compare it to a number of standard 'baseline' computer systems. The Passmark PerformanceTest CPU tests all benchmark the mathematical operations, compression, encryption, SSE, and 3DNow! instructions of modern processors. In our tests there were several area's of concentration for each benchmark, which are combined into one compound score. This score is referred to as the CPU Mark, and is a composite of the following tests:

• Integer Math
• Floating Point Math
• Find Prime Numbers
• SSE/3DNow!
• Compression
• Encryption
• Image Rotation
• String Sorting

Taken together as a whole, the eight separate CPU tests offers a very realistic segment of what taxes the processor most for users. The tests are grossly exaggerated synthetic benchmarks, but they can still help illustrate the difference.

Collectively speaking, Passmark PerformanceTest has simply reinforced the scores we previously explained in the Lavalys EVEREST section: a single-core Atom N280 does half as well as the newer dual-core Atom 330, and the AMD Athlon X2 3250e and Intel Core Duo 2300 shows their desktop heritage by outperforming the Atom processors. In terms of CPU performance, the 1.66GHz Intel Core Duo 2300 dual core CPU inside the Dell Inspiron 6400 earned 835 CPU Marks. The MSI AE2010 Wind Tops 1.5GHz AMD Athlon X2 3250e processor trailed behind with 801 CPU Marks, while the NVIDIA ION's 1.6 GHz Intel Atom N330 dual-core processor scored only 638. The single-core ASUS Eee PC Atom N230 gathered only 323 CPU Marks.

The surprising element here is the 2D and 3D graphics tests, which give the Dell notebook's GMA 950 a distinct advantage over the MSI Wind Top's Radeon HD 3200 and also NVIDIA's ION GeForce 9400m GPU, which also in turn both managed to outperform the very same GMA 950 used in the ASUS Eee PC. The 2D Marks score makes sense, because of a heavy reliance on CPU power and memory (which the full-size notebook has more of), but the 3D Marks score is a different story.

Since the Intel i945GM/GMA950 platform used in the Dell Inspiron notebook and ASUS Eee PC Netbook are not DirectX 10 compatible, Passmark PerformanceTest did not complete the final (DX10) test and offered a short-score. Oddly enough, the Dell Inspiron's score of 105 3D Marks is still in the same realm as the MSI Wind Top (108) and NVIDIA ION (111) scores.

Maxon CINEBENCH OpenGL Results

Cinebench is a real-world test suite that assesses the computer's performance capabilities. Maxon Cinebench is based on Maxon's award-winning animation software, Cinema 4D, which is used extensively by studios and production houses worldwide for 3D content creation. Maxon software has been used in blockbuster movies such as Spider-Man, Star Wars, The Chronicles of Narnia and many more.

Maxon Cinebench runs several tests on your computer to measure the performance of the main processor and the graphics card under real world circumstances. The benchmark application makes use of up to 16 CPUs or CPU cores and is available for Windows (32-bit and 64-Bit) and Macintosh (PPC and Intel-based). The resulting values among different operating systems are 100% comparable and therefore very useful with regard to purchasing decision-making. It can also be used as a marketing tool for hardware vendors or simply to compare hardware among colleagues or friends.

The OpenGL test measures graphics card performance and is run inside the 3D editor window. The project file used can test all graphics cards that support the OpenGL standard. In this scene, only the camera was animated. This scene places medium to low demands on graphics cards and tests the maximum speed with which the scene can be properly displayed at the 800x580 resolution. Essentially, the Cinebench test removes the system hardware from the scoring influence, and centers the results around the GPU.

Looking over the chart, it becomes abundantly clear that the AMD "Hammer" 780G chipset and NVIDIA ION platform are both far superior to anything the ASUS Eee (or MSI Wind) platforms can offer in regard to OpenGL performance. While the NVIDIA ION offered an impressive OpenGL Graphics score of 1184, beating the the ASUS Eee PC 1000HE Netbook (30) and Dell Inspiron 6400 notebook (71), it was the MSI AE2010 that earned top marks with a score of 1802. CINEBENCH demonstrates how ineffective the GMA950 graphics processor is compared to the ATI Radeon HD 3200 or NVIDIA's ION 9400m GPU, which both maintain a huge performance lead over the Eee and Inspiron.

The tone changes once CINEBENCH begins CPU testing, at which point the CPU-intensive image-rendering scenes dismiss the GPU and train themselves on the platforms computing capability. In the single CPU test, the Intel Core Duo 2300 offers up a 1492 Cinebench points, while the MSI AE2010 scored 1245. Both the ION and Eee are identical and cince up last place with 538 and 567 respectively.

In CPU tests with multi-processor (or HyperThreading) speedup enabled, the 1.66GHz Intel Core Duo 2300 dual core CPU inside the Dell Inspiron 6400 earns 2796 for the lead. Followed closely is the AMD Athlon X2 3250e of the MSI Wind Top for 2417 points. The 1.6 GHz Intel Atom N330 dual-core processor inside the ION scores 1534, while the single-core version inside the ASUS Eee PC produced only 874.

Hands On User Experience

Computers are many things to different people... it all hinges on the task at hand. I personally spend the majority of my work day behind a monitor and keyboard, typing up articles like this one. Depending on my mood, or the concentration required, I might have music playing from my media collection, or listening to a webcast online. My day to day needs are on par with the average computer user: document creation, web browsing, multimedia entertainment, and messaging. To this extent, I don't need an expensive quad-core computer system with massive graphics power, I simply need comfort and convenience. To my pleasant surprise, the MSI Wind Top AE2010 delivered all of this, and even gave me back some of my work area.

After weeks of critical deliberation, I had finally decided it was time to shed my massive super-computer from the burden of these tasks. It's a lot of fun for high-demand video games and encoding multimedia, but the full-tower ATCS 840 Computer Case is just too much for the top of my desk (and too tall to fit beneath it). So I went about setting up the 20" touch screen MSI Wind Top AE2010 in the same corner as my 26" monitor resided, and the very first thing I realized was how much room this saved for the other important things on my desk (like paperwork and bills). I could still enjoy my favorite keyboard and mouse, or use the wired multimedia keyboard and optical USB 800dpi mouse that MSI provides with all Wind Top AIO kits, but it was the touch screen that I enjoyed most.

Admittedly, I have never been a fan of webcams, but with recently relocated family it wasn't much of a stretch to picture myself using a free video conferencing software or messaging program to connect with the distant relatives. Even if the webcam function was never utilized, I don't suffer the clutter of one more peripheral crowding my work space like it would with any other desktop computer. After thinking about the webcam, my thoughts drifted to how or when a person might use the IR remote (optional) with the AE2010. I pictured the Wind Top nestled into the corner of a cookbook table, with a culinary show streaming over the web through the integrated wireless-N network connection while the remote control rests beside cooking ingredients on the counter some distance away. This won't be me mind you, but it could something for you or a gift to your wife.

MSI was kind enough to ensure that since the Wind Top came with Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium by default, I could upgrade (for free) to Windows 7 Home Premium using the enclosed certificate. I took it upon myself to run the release candidate of Windows 7 for all my testing on the MSI Wind Top AE2010 All-In-One, and it was amazing how every single component in this compact desktop system was natively supported by Windows 7. Being locked down to 32-bit Windows wasn't going to be a problem, especially since I couldn't upgrade the DDR2 SoDIMM beyond 4GB anyway, and the 256MB video frame buffer was more than enough for any realistic video task I threw at the integrated Radeon HD 3200.

It was nice to see Windows 7 automatically install the Microsoft WDDM 1.1 driver for the ATI Radeon HD 3200 Graphics device. However, after the AE2010 had been tested one the Windows driver it was then compared against the ATI Catalyst 9.8 to help reveal any differences. The contrast was apparent in some applications and tests, but not in others. For example, PCMark Vantage scored TV and Movies exactly the same with the Windows default driver as it did with the Catalyst Control Center driver. Bt then in the Gaming and Music tests, the ATI CCC driver jumped from 3127 to 3223 and 4763 to 4893 respectively. Lavalys EVEREST and Passmark PerformanceTest didn't care either way, even in 2D or 3D tests, but Cinebench saw the difference. The Cinebench OpenGL test scored 57 with the Windows driver, and soared to 1802 with the Catalyst driver.

Probably the biggest treat of them all was the sound level, which I hope you'll notice was not labeled as noise. I can't speak for all other MSI Wind Top models, but the AE2010 was S-I-L-E-N-T, even when I was pressure-cooking the processor cores to find the maximum load temperatures. The sound of a DVD movie spinning up or the plastic stylus pen tapping the LCD screen was more audible than the operation of this Wind Top.

AE2010 Gaming Performance

This may seem unnecessary, but all-in-one computer systems and nettops or netbooks should not be purchased on the merit of gaming performance. This section details my own experience playing various games on the MSI Wind Top AE2010-02SUS, but it was done for the purpose of this article. Benchmark Reviews offers an entire section of desktop video card articles for the avid gamer who plays highly-demanding 3D video games. Without fail, someone will see the 20" LCD monitor featured on the MSI Wind Top and expect to make it into their next gaming system. Allow me to explain what you can expect.

Most readers understand that comparing integrated video performance to a discrete NVIDIA GeForce or ATI Radeon add-in graphics solution would be unfair, and at the same time it's also unfair to demonstrate the integrated Radeon HD 3200 to other integrated systems with different architecture because the results would not be apples-to-apples. While discrete graphics have the advantage of large memory buffers and powerful dedicated graphics processors, they can never fit inside the micro-size package All-In-One (AIO) system can. On that same token, AMD/ATI's mobile Radeon HD platform is more than capable of rendering digital graphics resolution as high as 2560x1600 (2048x1536 analog), while an ASUS Eee PC has a miniature 10" LCD screen intended for WSVGA 1024x600 resolution. Compact computers built with the Mobile Radeon (or NVIDIA ION) platform are the bridge between impotent Netbook graphics and overactive desktop performance.

Benchmark Reviews has spent most of 2008-2009 proving that almost any product on the desktop graphics market will play the most popular video games with acceptable settings and frame rate performance, but we can't rightfully say the same for compact computer platforms. While I'm sure someone has found some level of satisfaction in playing video games on their ASUS Eee PC or MSI Wind at 1024x600, it's simply unrealistic to expect an experience equal to a desktop PC or even a gaming console. What's sneaky about the Mobile Radeon platform is that it takes a very powerful ATI Radeon HD 3200 integrated graphics processor and essentially creeps inside the desktop perimeter unnoticed.

The ATI Radeon HD 3200 GPU inside the MSI Wind Top AE2010 shares a 256MB video memory buffer with the system and features 128MB of DDR3 Side Port memory. To our surprise the Wind Top's Radeon HD 3200 easily trumped the NVIDIA ION's GeForce 9400m as well as the graphics performance of Intel's integrated graphics chipset inside an Eee PC. The performance in most of our tests was incredible by notebook standards, and impressive by desktop standards, but ultimately the Radeon HD 3200 platform isn't going to be your cheap ticket to replacing discrete graphics performance in high-demand FPS video games.

Benchmark Reviews tested graphics frame rate performance of the MSI Wind Top using several video games displayed at 720p (0.92 MP @ 1080x720) and 1080p (2.07 MP @ 1920x1080 using secondary monitor output) resolutions, and the MSI AE2010 AIO Wind Top platform devoured every 2D application and multimedia video file we threw at it (including Adobe Flash movies in HD). When playing 3D games, such as Devil May Cry 4 or Call of Duty 4, the results were noticeably different. At 1080p these games could only be played with lower graphics settings. At 720p (1080x720) the performance perked up, and frame rates were well above FPS. At the Wind Top's default 1600x900 resolution, the touch screen LCD played these high-demand games only with lowest settings and post-processing effects turned off.

Since most first-person shooter and intense-action games are best experienced on high-precision monitors using 1680x1050 or 1920x1280 resolutions, I decided to change my format and play some of the more entertaining titles that depend less on graphical power. The first was Battlefield Heroes, an online-only first-person shooter that requires very little graphic processing but still offers outstanding game play and hours of fun. Comparing the desktop experience of playing Battlefield Heroes on high-resolution desktop monitors at 1680x1050 or 1920x1200 against the 1600x900 resolution offered by the MSI Wind Top AE2010 actually rendered no perceivable difference, which is exactly what full-size desktop computers should begin to fear. When it came to games like World of Warcraft, Spore, The Sims, or any of the parlor-style games such as Mahjong, Solitaire, online Poker, or puzzles, the Side Port DDR3 128MB memory integrated into Radeon HD 3200 really shined.

In reality, Wind Top AIO users aren't going to be loading Crysis or Far Cry 2 on their system. I hope not, at least. The AE2010 can push high frame rates in most low-demand games, but the higher-performance first person shooters will be best experienced on a more dedicated platform with discrete graphics.

Wind Top Final Thoughts

There's a lot of potential packed into the MSI Wind Top AE2010 that might not meet the eye. I'm currently using the AE2010 as my primary desktop workstation, using the stylus to drag and sort the hundreds of email I receive every day across the LCD touch screen before I get started in the morning. I've also found a few remarkable improvements to the 'Ink Input" Tablet PC functionality built into the writing pad of Windows 7, which allow me to handwrite my message and have Windows recognize it to text. This works incredibly well on a 20" 1600x900 touch screen.

I'm not sure if I like the idea of wall-mounting the Wind Top, primarily because it would require a swivel mount in order for me to access the rear ports, but if I change my mind MSI has included a VESA stand-off that replaces the support leg. At roughly 22 pounds, a standard 24-46" monitor VESA stand or wall mount could be used with no problems, so that's a plus. One small issue that came to mind was the lack of DVI output, which limits the Wind Top from attaching itself to most HDTVs. Instead of one analog D-Sub port for input and another for output, it would have been better for MSI to offer one D-Sub along with DVI. An HDMI port would have also been a giant perk.

When it's all said and done, the consumer should realize that an MSI AE2010 offers more performance than money can buy in similar desktop configurations. Purchasing a 20-inch LCD touch screen panel alone is enough to match the price of the Wind Top system, never mind having money left over for the rest of the components. As of early September 2009, the MSI Wind Top AE2010 was just reaching online store and sold for a little more than $600. Try to piece together a capable dual-core system with Radeon HD 3200 or better graphics and 4GB of system memory for less. Calculate the cost of a 20" LCD monitor, DVD-burner, 320GB hard drive, multimedia keyboard, basic stereo speakers, optical mouse, Wi-Fi-N adapter, AND Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium, at this point the value-packed MSI Wind Top transforms into more of a steal.

Gaming performance was actually very good with the Wind Top's Radeon HD 3200. It won't compete against a game-focused desktop computer with discrete graphics, at least not on major high-end games like Prototype or Cryostasis, but mid-level games such as World of Warcraft, The Sims, Spore, and Empire: Total War are within reasonable reach. The MSI AE2010 Wind Top is clearly a step up from the older Intel Atom-based 1900-series, and our benchmark tests show that it even outperforms the NVIDIA ION platform on every front.

For casual computer users, which is most of the connected world, life with a PC doesn't revolve around video games... at least not those requiring anymore graphics than what we have available here in the AE2010. I really liked the power of my desktop, but enjoyed the power savings my laptop offered for all-day computing. With an Energy Star 5.0 approval, the MSI AE2010 AIO desktop can finally merge the best of the two into one compact unit. For the longest time, All-In-One computer systems have fallen flat on their face. Perhaps all they needed (pun warning) was a second Wind.

MSI AE2010 Conclusion

Benchmark Reviews begins each conclusion with a short summary for each area that we rate. The first is performance, which considers the effectiveness of the MSI Wind Top in operation against direct competitors. On a scale of 1 to 10, which is exactly how we grade each section, the MSI Wind Top All-In-One Desktop receives a solid 9.0 when compared against other products in its related category. Compact desktop computers have never had it so nice, and to be bundled with a AMD Athlon X2 Dual Core 3250e processor and ATI Radeon HD 3200 GPU certainly creates some animosity among dual-purpose notebook and nettop computers. The AE2010 outperformed NVIDIA's ION platform, even when equipped with a dual core Intel Atom N330, and shamed GMA950 performance in the latest ASUS Eee PC.

MSI packaged the AE2010 in a nice full-color package similar to desktop monitors, but basic feature information and product specifications are absent. What the box lacks in allure the Wind Top makes up for in elegance. A clear plastic outer edge frames the piano-black bezel around the 20" touch screen LCD monitor. A textured simulated-leather trim piece casts some definition to the face of this AIO unit, and buttons are hidden away from sight and tucked in behind the edges.

Like notebook computers, the MSI Wind Top has compact-computer construction to credit for its durability. Nearly every facet of design has the internal components keeping close attention to ergonomics, while optimizing the dense use of internal volume. It took some extra effort to expose the hardware, and in doing so the plastic covers and extra shielding were examined and commended for their reinforced design. The touch screen LCD panel is extremely tough, although not quite bullet-proof, and the outer shell is tough and long lasting. After some consideration, there aren't any true 'weak' points in the Wind Top's construction. If there were to be any suggestions, it would be in the choice of output video ports used.

In terms of functionality, the MSI AE2010 sets new expectations for personal computers. In the space of a flat panel LCD monitor, MSI has managed to squeeze in a 20-inch touch screen, webcam, IR remote receiver, stereo SRS speakers, DVD super multi-drive, six High-Speed USB 2.0 ports, an eSATA port, 320GB hard drive, Gigabit Ethernet, Wireless N Wi-Fi adapter, D-Sub input and output, 4-in-1 multi-card reader, microphone and headphone jacks, the Radeon HD 3200 mobile GPU, and a dual core AMD Athlon X2 3250e processor. The limits of a diverse computer have just been blown away and redrawn.

Value, always the catch for any new consumer electronic item, is actually something I might consider the biggest strength behind the MSI Wind Top. As of early September 2009, the AE2010-02SUS was sold online for just over $600. The Nerds lists the AW2010 All-In-One desktop system for only $614, while PCRush sells for $612.

Anyone who has shopped the market for comparable features and functionality knows that you can't match the MSI Wind Top's list with its generous price. This article has spent many detailed pages exploring everything from touch screen and webcam to gaming frame rate and Wi-Fi N connectivity. While the MSI Wind Top shares the same desktop space as large full-size tower computers with discrete graphics, , mid-level games such as World of Warcraft, The Sims, Spore, and Empire: Total War are within reasonable reach but don't expect the Radeon HD 3200 GPU inside the AE2010 to play high-end games like Prototype or Cryostasis. Surprisingly, the AE2010 even worked for 3D-intensive CAD/CAM applications like AutoCAD 2009. For casual PC users who want to save space and still enjoy graphic design, web browsing, document creation, and email, the MSI Wind Top AE2010 All-In-One is the best thing I've recommending in a very long time.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The retail version of Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit O/S installs very quickly and only requires the Realtek RTL8192E 802.11n wireless network adapter driver to be installed afterward. The 32-bit version of Windows 7 Ultimate installed extremely slow however, and was unsuccessful after three attempts.

Pros:

+ 20-Inch Touch-Screen LCD Panel
+ AMD Athlon X2 dual-core 3250e Processor
+ 4GB of DDR2 SoDIMM System Memory
+ ATI Radeon HD 3200 GPU with 128MB DDR3 vRAM
+ Wireless-N and Gigabit Ethernet Connectivity
+ Free Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade
+ DVD Super-Multi Drive
+ 320GB SATA Hard Disk Drive
+ Includes Multimedia Keyboard and 800dpi Optical Mouse
+ Silent No/Low-Noise Operation
+ Outperforms Intel Atom N330 and NVIDIA ION
+ Outstanding Value and Price Point
+ Integrated Webcam and Microphone
+ Built-In Stereo SRS Speaker System
+ eSATA / USB 2.0 / Multi-Card Reader

Cons:

- Lacks DVI and HDMI Video Output
- Does Not Offer Internal Component Access
- 5400 RPM Hard Drive Slows Reaction Time

Ratings:

• Performance: 9.00
• Appearance: 9.25
• Construction: 9.25
• Functionality: 9.25
• Value: 8.75

Final Score: 9.1 out of 10.

Excellence Achievement: Benchmark Reviews Golden Tachometer Award.

Nomination: 2009 Editor's Choice Award.

Questions? Comments? Benchmark Reviews really wants your feedback. We invite you to leave your remarks in our Discussion Forum.

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