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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 1995 Stock Incentive 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