MSI PRO DP21 14M-1003US 2025, Core i3-14100, 16GB, 1TB SSD, Black

The MSI PRO DP21 shines on connectivity with 8 USB ports and Wi-Fi 6E, landing at the 81st percentile for ports. But the Core i3-14100 CPU sits at the 35th percentile and the RAM is not upgradeable, which is a tough pill for a desktop. At $949 to $1,000, it's a decent compact office machine if you never plan to upgrade it.

The Core i3-14100 is a 4-core chip running at 3.5GHz, and in our database it lands at the 35th percentile for CPUs in this category. That's below average, but for the intended use case of general productivity, it gets the job done. The 16GB of DDR5 helps keep things snappy when you have a dozen browser tabs open alongside Office apps. The 1TB NVMe SSD sits at the 73rd percentile for storage, which is a nice surprise in a budget-focused box. Boot times and app launches will feel quick.

Graphics are where this thing shows its limits. The Intel UHD 730 is integrated, no dedicated GPU in sight, and it ranks at the 38th percentile. Gaming performance scores an 11 out of 100 in our database, which is about as close to zero as you can get without being a literal potato. This is a work machine, not a play machine. The 120W PSU tells you everything you need to know about the power envelope here.

Stacked against the competition, the DP21 has a clear niche but some obvious trade-offs. The Apple Mac mini M4 Pro absolutely crushes it on CPU and GPU performance, though you'll pay more and lose the Windows ecosystem. The Lenovo Legion Tower 5a Gen 10 and HP OMEN GT16-0364 are gaming-focused machines with dedicated GPUs that make the DP21's integrated graphics look silly, but they're also much larger and draw way more power. The Dell Tower Plus EBT2250 is probably the closest competitor in spirit, a productivity-focused desktop, and it likely offers better CPU performance for similar money. Where the DP21 wins is connectivity, that 81st percentile port selection beats most of these rivals, and the 1.52kg weight means you can actually move it around without a forklift.

Pricing is a bit scattered. US listings run from $949 to $1,000 across 4 listings, while the single Canadian listing sits at CAD 1,492. For that money you're getting a compact box with solid storage and great connectivity, but a below-average CPU and no dedicated graphics. The value proposition hinges entirely on whether you need the small footprint and the port selection. If you're just looking for raw performance per dollar, there are better options out there. But if desk space is at a premium and you need lots of USB ports, the price starts to make more sense.

The MSI PRO DP21 14M-1003US is a small form factor desktop that lands at 53.6 out of 100 in our database, which puts it squarely in the middle of the pack. The port selection is the real story here, sitting at the 81st percentile with 8 USB ports, DisplayPort, HDMI 2.1, and Wi-Fi 6E. That's a lot of connectivity for a box this size. But the CPU only hits the 35th percentile and the integrated Intel UHD 730 graphics lands at the 38th, so this is not a machine for heavy lifting.

The 16GB of DDR5 RAM and 1TB NVMe SSD are solid for everyday office work, but the RAM is not upgradeable according to customer Q&A. That's a real limitation for a desktop, even a compact one. At 1.52kg and running off a 120W power supply, it's clearly designed to sit quietly on a desk and handle spreadsheets, email, and web browsing. Just don't expect to add more memory down the road.

If you have any plans to upgrade your machine over time, skip this. The non-upgradeable RAM is a dealbreaker for anyone who likes to tinker or extend the life of their hardware. Gamers should obviously look elsewhere, the 11 out of 100 gaming score speaks for itself. And if you're expecting a complete setup out of the box, know that there's no monitor included. The 20th percentile user sentiment score suggests that even among owners, satisfaction is lukewarm at best. For the same money, you can find desktops with better CPUs and actual upgrade paths, though you'll likely sacrifice the compact size and port selection.

The MSI PRO DP21 is a competent little office box with a connectivity suite that punches above its weight class. The 8 USB ports, Wi-Fi 6E, and HDMI 2.1 make it a solid choice for a desk setup with lots of peripherals. But the non-upgradeable RAM is a real problem for a desktop, and the below-average CPU means this thing will feel dated sooner than it should. The 20th percentile user sentiment score suggests owners aren't exactly thrilled either. If you need a compact Windows 11 Pro machine for basic office work and you value ports over performance, this works. Just know you're buying a fixed configuration with no room to grow.