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                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.2


                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS


       We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration
Statement on Form S-8 of MKS Instruments, Inc. (the "Company") related to the
Company's Amended and Restated 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, of our report
dated January 22, 1999, except for the information in the first and second
paragraph of Note 13, as to which the date is January 28, 1999 and February 24,
1999, respectively, relating to the consolidated financial statements of MKS
Instruments, Inc., which appears in the Company's Registration Statement on Form
S-1 (File No. 333-71363). We also consent to the incorporation by reference of
our report dated January 22, 1999, relating to the financial statement schedule
of MKS Instruments, Inc., which appears in the Company's Registration Statement
on Form S-1 (File No. 333-71363).

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
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    PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
                                             
Boston, Massachusetts
May 6, 1999