MSI unveils desktop Wind

 

Gallery

By Barry Collins

Posted on 4 Jun 2008 at 16:42

MSI is following the now well-trodden Eee PC path by launching a desktop version of its low-cost Wind brand.

Click here for our first look at the MSI Wind laptop

The Wind PC will be based on Intel's Atom processor, which has suddenly become the must-have chip for low-cost PCs.

MSI says the Wind PC will only consume 35 watts at full speed, which is a fraction of the power of a normal desktop PC.

That is in no small part due to the power parsimony of the 4W Atom processor, although as our exclusive benchmarks of the chip reveal, the Atom's speed is no match for Intel's Core range of desktop processors.

The passively-cooled PC will be only 6.5cm wide according to MSI, which is a third of the width of the traditional ATX chassis.

The Wind PC comes in a week full of low-cost PC announcements, with Asus fleshing out the details of its 10in Eee PC, and Acer launching its own low-cost laptop, the Aspire One.