MSI Expands CES 2026 PC Hardware Push With GPU Safeguard Plus PSUs, OLED and LCD CPU Coolers, and the MEG MAESTRO 900R Panoramic Case
MSI used CES 2026 to showcase a broad set of PC hardware aimed at builders who want both premium reliability and showroom grade presentation, spanning new high end power supplies with active GPU protection, enthusiast cooling with integrated displays, and a panoramic flagship chassis designed to put the entire build on display.
The headline on the power side is MSI GPU Safeguard Plus, a monitoring and alert layer built for the current generation of ultra high power graphics cards that rely on 16 pin power connectors. MSI is positioning this as real time protection that detects abnormal current fluctuation and proactively warns the user through MSI Center with an on screen pop up, while also triggering an audio buzzer on the PSU itself. In a market where connector heat stress and power delivery margin have become mainstream talking points for high end GPUs like RTX 5090 and RTX 5080, MSI is clearly trying to turn the PSU into an active guardian rather than a passive component.
MSI’s flagship PSU lineup includes MPG Ai1600TS PCIe5 and MPG Ai1300TS PCIe5, built to deliver high power headroom while targeting 80 Plus Titanium efficiency. The positioning is simple: premium efficiency, strong cabling support for modern GPUs, and an added protection layer that aims to reduce the risk profile for builders pushing high draw systems. MSI also brought the same GPU Safeguard Plus concept into the more accessible MAG range with MAG A1200PLS PCIe5 and MAG A1000PLS PCIe5, signaling that MSI sees this not as a niche luxury feature but as a practical quality of life standard for modern builds.
Cooling is the second big pillar of the showcase, and MSI is clearly leaning into the trend of turning the CPU cooler into a front facing display surface for both monitoring and personality. For AIO enthusiasts, MSI introduced the MEG Coreliquid E15 360 with a 31 mm thick radiator and a TriFlow Reversal fan design meant to reduce turbulence and improve airflow efficiency. The most striking element is the 6.67 inch 2K curved OLED display with a 110 degree curvature, designed to show live hardware metrics or custom visuals, which turns the cooler into a centerpiece rather than something hidden behind a front panel.
For air cooling builders, MSI rolled out the MPG CoreFrozr AP15 and AP17 dual tower coolers, both featuring integrated displays for hardware monitoring. MSI frames AP15 as tuned for boosting thermal behavior on AMD X3D class chips, while AP17 focuses on mixing performance and aesthetics with an 8 heat pipe structure using 6 mm heat pipes, paired with a large 6 inch LCD for system readouts and visual flair. The strategic play here is clear: MSI wants high end air cooling to feel like a premium category again, not just a compromise for builders avoiding liquid.
To complete the ecosystem, MSI also unveiled the MEG MAESTRO 900R, a panoramic chassis built around tempered glass on 3 sides. The point is to make sure these coolers and internal components are never hidden, while keeping enough space and premium material quality to support modern high end builds and the cable management and airflow requirements that come with them. The 900R is positioned as a flagship desk showpiece, and it aligns perfectly with the display heavy cooling trend MSI is pushing this year.
Taken together, MSI’s CES 2026 lineup reads like a cohesive build strategy: reduce risk at the power layer, elevate usability and presentation at the cooling layer, and give it all a panoramic stage with the MAESTRO 900R. If MSI executes pricing and availability well, these launches could resonate strongly with both gamers chasing stable RTX 50 class power delivery and creators who want high performance rigs that also look premium on camera.
If you are building a high power RTX 50 series rig, would you prioritize an active protection PSU feature like GPU Safeguard Plus, or do you still trust manual cable discipline and monitoring tools more?
