MSI Pro DP400 AI Review – 4K Gaming Powerhouse and AI Workstation

Introduction

The MSI Pro DP400 AI positions itself as a business‑oriented productivity machine, but its hardware tells a different story. With a top‑tier Intel Core Ultra processor, a massive 128 GB of RAM, and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090, the system easily doubles as a high‑performance workstation for video editing, CAD, and AI development – and it can still deliver smooth 4K gaming. This review breaks down the DP400 AI’s specifications, benchmark results, AI capabilities, gaming performance, and thermal behavior to determine whether it lives up to its dual‑purpose promise.

Hardware Overview

Core Components

• CPU: Intel Core Ultra 9 285 (24 cores, 24 threads, 36 MB cache) – 8 Performance cores up to 5.6 GHz, 16 Efficiency cores up to 4.6 GHz
• GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 with 32 GB GDDR6 memory
• RAM: 128 GB DDR5, quad‑channel, 4,400 MT/s
• Power Supply: 1,300 W 80 PLUS Gold certified, fully modular
• Storage: 2× M.2 slots (NVMe), 4× SATA‑III 6 Gb/s connectors, space for 2.5” and 3.5” drives
• Networking: Wi‑Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4
• Operating System: Windows 11 Pro (pre‑installed)

The DP400 AI is also available in lower‑spec variants (Core Ultra 265 paired with RTX 5070 or RTX 5080), but the configuration above represents the flagship model that showcases the platform’s full potential.

Cooling Solution

Unlike many high‑end desktops that rely on custom liquid loops, MSI opted for a robust air‑cooling design. Three front fans push cool air through a mesh intake, while the rear exhaust maintains steady airflow across both CPU and GPU. This approach eliminates the risk of pump failures or coolant leaks, a concern for mission‑critical workstations.

Performance Benchmarks

CPU Tests

• Geekbench 6: Single‑core score 3,140; multi‑core score 19,373 (the chip can reach ~2,100 with further tuning)
• Cinebench R24: Single‑core 135 (outperforming Apple M1 Max); multi‑core 2,175, comfortably ahead of competing desktop CPUs.

These results confirm that the Core Ultra 9 285 delivers strong single‑thread performance—critical for many creative applications—while its many cores excel in parallel workloads.

GPU Tests

• 3DMark SteelSeries (Time Spy): Total score 35,710; FPS 139.9 in the “Steel Nomad” test.
• 3DMark Time Spy: Total score 13,988.

The RTX 5090’s raw rasterization power translates into impressive frame rates across synthetic benchmarks, setting the stage for real‑world gaming.

AI and Creative Workloads

Image and Video Generation

Using ComfyUI with the Muse AI suite, the DP400 AI generated a six‑second kitten video in 26.6 seconds—a respectable turnaround for a consumer‑grade AI pipeline. The workflow involved:

1. Loading the model and optimizing the pipeline.
2. Rendering up to 96 diffusion steps per frame.
3. Stitching frames into a video.

While newer diffusion models (e.g., Stable Diffusion 2.2) can produce higher fidelity, the system’s RTX 5090 handles the workload comfortably without bottlenecks.

Large Language Model (LLM) Inference

Running Gemma‑3 27B in LM Studio, the rig processed 65.06 tokens per second, completing a 1,574‑token query in under 25 seconds. The inference ran entirely on the RTX 5090, demonstrating that the GPU is the optimal accelerator for LLM workloads on this platform.

These AI tests highlight the DP400 AI’s suitability for developers building custom models, content creators generating media, and researchers needing on‑premise compute.

Gaming Performance at 4K

Game	Settings	DLSS	Average FPS
Cyberpunk 2077	Ultra, no ray tracing, no scaling	Off	93
Cyberpunk 2077	Ultra, Ray Tracing Overdrive, DLSS 4 (Frame Generation)	On	220+
Spider‑Man 2	4K Ultra, DLSS High	On	58 (DLSS off)
Borderlands 4	4K Very High, DLSS Quality	Off	~80
Borderlands 4	4K Very High, DLSS Quality + Frame Generation	On	Higher FPS (exact value varies)

Even without DLSS, the RTX 5090 sustains near‑100 FPS in a demanding title like Cyberpunk 2077 at native 4K. Enabling DLSS 4 with frame generation pushes performance well beyond 200 FPS, proving the GPU’s ability to handle future‑proof gaming workloads.

Thermals and Noise

All testing was conducted with the side panel installed, reflecting a typical workstation setup.

• CPU Temperatures: Average 66 °C during 1440p gaming; peak 83 °C under sustained benchmark load.
• GPU Temperatures: Average 74 °C during gaming; peak 79 °C under full load.

The air‑cooling system kept both components within safe operating ranges while maintaining a reasonable acoustic profile. The front mesh intake and three fans provided ample airflow, mitigating the need for liquid cooling.

Storage, Expandability, and Connectivity

The DP400 AI offers a generous storage layout:

• Two M.2 NVMe slots for high‑speed SSDs (PCIe 4.0 x4).
• Four SATA‑III ports for additional SSDs or HDDs.
• Space for one 2.5” drive and one 3.5” drive.

This flexibility lets users configure massive storage arrays for media libraries, large datasets, or backup solutions. Combined with Wi‑Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4, the system is ready for modern networking demands.

Verdict

MSI’s Pro DP400 AI blurs the line between a traditional business workstation and a high‑end gaming rig. Its flagship configuration—Core Ultra 9 285, 128 GB DDR5, RTX 5090, and 1.3 kW power supply—delivers:

• Exceptional CPU performance for multi‑threaded creative tasks.
• GPU power that handles 4K gaming, ray tracing, and AI inference with ease.
• Robust thermal design that maintains safe temperatures without liquid cooling.
• Ample expandability for storage, networking, and future upgrades.

For professionals who need a reliable platform for video editing, CAD, AI development, and occasional 4K gaming, the DP400 AI offers a compelling all‑in‑one solution. While the RTX 5090 may be overkill for purely productivity‑focused environments, its presence future‑proofs the machine for emerging AI workloads and next‑gen gaming titles.

If you require a workstation that can simultaneously serve as a 4K gaming monster, the MSI Pro DP400 AI stands out as one of the most balanced options on the market today.