Micro-Star International

Micro-Star International Co., Ltd (MSI; Chinese: 微星科技股份有限公司) is a Taiwanese multinational information technology corporation headquartered in New Taipei City, Taiwan. It designs, develops and provides computer hardware, related products and services, including laptops, desktops, motherboards, graphics cards, All-in-One PCs, servers, industrial computers, PC peripherals, car infotainment products, etc.

"MSi" redirects here. For other uses, see MSI (disambiguation).
Micro-Star International Co., Ltd
Native name
微星科技股份有限公司
TypePublic
TWSE: 2377
IndustryComputer hardware
Electronics
Founded4 August 1986 (1986-08-04)
FoundersJoseph Hsu
Jeans Huang
Frank Lin
Kenny Yu
Henry Lu
HeadquartersZhonghe, New Taipei, Taiwan
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Jeans Huang, President
Products
  • Gaming laptops, desktops, monitors, motherboards, graphics cards and peripherals
  • Content Creation laptops, desktops, monitors, motherboards, graphics cards and peripherals
  • Mobile Workstations
  • Servers
  • Industrial computers
  • Car infotainment
  • Autonomous Mobility Robot
RevenueUS$4 billion (2018)
Number of employees
2,320 (2018)
Websitewww.msi.com

The company has a primary listing on the Taiwan Stock Exchange[1] and was established in August 1986 by 5 founders – Hsu Xiang (a.k.a. Joseph Hsu),[2] Huang Jinqing (a.k.a. Jeans Huang),[3][4] Lin Wentong (a.k.a. Frank Lin),[5] Yu Xian'neng (a.k.a. Kenny Yu), and Lu Qilong (a.k.a. Henry Lu). First starting its business in New Taipei City, Taiwan, MSI later expanded into Mainland China, setting up its Baoan Plant in Shenzhen in 2000 and establishing research and development facilities in Kunshan in 2001. It also provides global warranty service in North America, Central/South America, Asia, Australia and Europe.[6]

The company has been a sponsor for a number of esports teams[7] and is also the host of the international gaming event MSI Masters Gaming Arena (formerly known as MSI Beat IT).[8][9][10][11] The earliest Beat IT tournament can be traced back to 2010, featuring Evil Geniuses winning the championship.[12] The company's slogan as seen in 2017 is "TRUE GAMING. SOME ARE PC, WE ARE GAMING."[13]

Operations

MSI's offices in Zhonghe District, New Taipei City, Taiwan serve as the company's headquarters, and house a number of different divisions and services.[14]

Manufacturing initially took place at plants in Taiwan.

The company has branch offices in the Americas, Europe, Asia, Australia and South Africa. As of 2015, the company has a global presence in over 120 countries, spanning the Americas, Europe/Middle East/Africa (EMEA) and Asia Pacific.

Products

The company first built its reputation on developing and manufacturing computer motherboards and graphics cards. It established its subsidiary FUNTORO in 2008 to provide solutions for vehicle infotainment. Now it provides a variety of products ranging from laptops, desktops, monitors, motherboards and graphics cards for gamers and content creators, to all-in-one PCs, mobile workstations, servers, IPCs, multimedia peripherals, vehicle infotainment solutions, Autonomous Mobility Robot (AMR),[15] etc.

When established in 1986, MSI focused on the design and manufacturing of motherboards and add-on cards. Later that year, it introduced the first overclockable 286 motherboard.

In 1989, MSI introduced its first 486 motherboard; in 1993, its first 586 motherboard; in 1995, its Dual Pentium Pro-based motherboard. In 1997 it introduced its Intel Pentium II-based motherboard with Intel MMX Technology, along with its first graphics card product, and its first barebone product; in 1990 it introduced its first Socket 7 based motherboard, and in 2002, its first PC2PC Bluetooth & WLAN motherboard.

In 2000, MSI introduced its first set-top box product (MS-5205).[16] In 2003, its first Pen Tablet PC product (PenNote3100),[17] and in 2004, its first Notebook product (M510C).[18] In 2009, MSI introduced its first Ultra Slim Notebook (X320),[19] and first All-in-One PC (AP1900).[20]

In 2008, MSI sponsored Fnatic and dived into the PC gaming market. Its GAMING series features laptops, desktops, motherboards, graphic cards, All-in-One PCs and gaming peripherals designed for gamers and power users.

In 2015, MSI teamed up with eye-tracking tech firm Tobii for the creation of eye-tracking gaming laptops.[21][22]

In early 2016, MSI announced a collaboration with HTC and has revealed Vive-ready systems to offer Virtual Reality experiences.[23][24][25][26][27][28]

MSI expanded its scope of business into Content Creation in 2018 and demonstrated creator-centric laptops at IFA 2018.[29][30][31]

MSI Optix MPG27CQ Gaming Monitor was the recipient of the 27th Taiwan Excellence Gold & Silver Awards.[32]

History

MSI's five founders Joseph Hsu, Jeans Huang, Frank Lin, Kenny Yu and Henry Lu all worked for electronics company Sony before establishing MSI. Sony's corporate downsizing in 1985 brought them together. With the engineering background working for Sony, they established Micro Star International together in August 1986.

In 1997, MSI inaugurated its Plant I in Zhonghe; in 2000, it inaugurated its Plant III in Zhonghe.

In 1998, it became a public company with an IPO (Initial Public Offering) on the Taipei Stock Exchange (TAIEX).

In 2000, MSI Computer (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. was founded, and in 2001, MSI Electronics (Kunshan) Co., Ltd.

In 2002, MSI set up its European logistics center in the Netherlands.

In 2008, MSI was ranked among the Top 20 Taiwan Global Brands.[33] In 2011, the firm was named one of the Top 100 Taiwan Brands, distinguished among 500 brands.[34] By 2013, MSI has been awarded from Taiwan Excellence for 15 consecutive years.[35]

In 2015, MSI was ranked the fourth-best laptop brand of 2015 by Laptop magazine.[36][37]

According to research, MSI was the largest gaming laptop supplier worldwide in 2016.[38][39]

MSI launched "Join the Dragon" team sponsorship program in April 2017 to discover talented eSports teams.[40] Also in April 2017, MSI names certified partners for the creation of an RGB ecosystem with MSI Mystic Light Sync which includes Corsair, SteelSeries, G.Skill, Cooler Master, InWin, Phanteks, and others.[41]

Mustek and MSI sign laptop distribution deal in 2017.[42]

ESL has partnered with MSI for upcoming ESL One events in 2018.[43]

MSI was the official partner of ESL One Cologne 2018, one of the biggest events on the CS:GO calendar.[44]

In August 2018, MSI was rated the Best Gaming Laptop Brand of 2018 by Laptop Mag. New designs of its GS65 Stealth Thin and GE63 Raider RGB laptops earned the company a stellar 84 out of 100 and put it on the top spot.[45]

Method eSports organization joined forces with MSI in August 2018.[46]

MSI partnered with ESL to bring MGA 2018 grand finals to New York. Kazakhstan's AVANGAR won the Championship.[47][48]

MSI worked with BlueStacks for the creation of MSI App Player to bring Android games to MSI computers.[49]

MSI & Ubisoft jointly presented Ambient Link synchronized game lighting on Assassin's Creed Odyssey and Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 in 2019.[50][51][52]

On 7 July 2020 it was reported that the CEO since January 2019, Charles Chiang, fell to his death from one of the company's buildings in Taiwan.[53]

Sponsorship

The company once partnered with esports heavyweights Fnatic[54][55] and Cloud 9.[56]

It has also been a sponsor for a number of eSports teams worldwide, including METHOD,[57] PENTA Sports,[58] Energy eSports,[59] HWA Gaming,[60] yoe Flash Wolves,[61] NXA-Ladies,[62] Saigon Fantastic Five,[63] MSI-Evolution,[64] Vox Eminor,[65] DeToNator,[66] Team Infused,[67] Aperture Gaming,[68] Phoenix GaminG,[69] etc.

Controversies

In July 2020 a controversy developed around MSI and British technology site TechteamGB. TechteamGB alleged, that after they tested one of MSI's Laptops and found it to be "disappointing", the company first tried to delay the release of the product review and then offered money in exchange for not publishing it.[70] Other media outlets like Linus Tech Tips and Gamers Nexus reported on the events, with first calling MSI's actions "inappropriate"[71] and the latter considering them consistent to behavior they experienced from the company in the past.[72]

  • A MSI Z270 GAMING motherboard
  • A MSI Trident gaming desktop PC
  • A MSI Z97A GAMING 5 motherboard
  • A MSI panocam, a type of panoramic camera
  • A MSI GS72 laptop
  • An MSI Bravo 17 laptop
  • A MSI Aegis desktop PC
  • A MSI workstation PC
  • A MSI shop in Taipei, Taiwan
  • The MSI booth as seen at the IT Month 2016 Taipei

See also
  • List of companies of Taiwan
  • Taiwan portal
  • Companies portal

References
  1. "Micro-Star International Co (2377:Taiwan Stock Exchange)". Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  2. "Xiang Xu, General Manager and Chairman, Micro-Star International Co., Ltd". Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  3. "Jin Qing Huang, Senior Vice President of Research and Development Headquarter and Director, Micro-Star International Co., Ltd". Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  4. "The Distro Interview: MSI Senior Vice President and co-founder, Jeans Huang". Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  5. "Wen Tong Lin, Senior Vice President of Materials and Director, Micro-Star International Co., Ltd". Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  6. "GLOBAL WARRANTY SERVICE LOCATIONS". Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  7. "MSI Gaming teams". Retrieved 21 October 2015.
  8. "MSI Masters Gaming Arena 2015". Retrieved 5 October 2015.
  9. "MSI Masters Gaming Arena 2015 at gosugamers". Retrieved 21 October 2015.
  10. "Coverage: MSI Beat IT Global 2014". Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  11. "MSI Beat IT 2014: Global Gaming Competition a Spectacular Festival That Leaves All Longing For More". Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  12. "Evil Geniuses win MSI BEAT IT 2010". Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  13. "MSI GT75VR Titan gaming laptop stays frosty, slays benchmarks". Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  14. "headquarters". Retrieved 21 October 2015.
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  20. "MSI AP1900 All-in-One PC". Archived from the original on 16 July 2015. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
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  25. "ALIENWARE AND MSI OFFER POWERFUL VIVE OPTIMIZED SYSTEMS". Retrieved 29 March 2016.
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  40. "MSI Launches Gaming Team Sponsorship Program". Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  41. "MSI Mystic Light Sync Website Launched and Lists Certified Brand Partners". Vortez. Retrieved 2018-10-31.
  42. "Mustek and MSI sign laptop distribution deal". Retrieved July 16, 2018.
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  44. "ESL ONE Cologne 2018: MSI offizieller Partner des CS:GO Events". Retrieved July 4, 2017.
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  46. "Enter the Dragon: Method Joins Forces with MSI". Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  47. "MSI Partners with ESL One to Bring MGA 2018 to New York, Barclay Center". Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  48. "AVANGAR WIN MSI MGA FINALS". Retrieved 4 December 2019.
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  52. "INFORMATION ABOUT MSI MYSTIC LIGHT". Retrieved 4 December 2019.
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  64. "MSI-Evolution". Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  65. "Vox Eminor". Retrieved 13 February 2015.
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