Review of the MSI Crosshair Gaming Laptop
The MSI Crosshair Gaming Laptop is designed for gamers who demand high-performance hardware and immersive visuals. With its impressive specifications, including a 16-inch FHD+ IPS display, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 graphics, and an Intel 16-Core i7-14650HX processor, this laptop promises a gaming experience that rivals many desktop setups. Here’s a closer look at its features, performance, and user feedback.
Design and Build Quality
Overall Aesthetics
The MSI Crosshair comes in a sleek Cosmo Gray finish that exudes a modern look. Its compact dimensions (14.13 x 1.06 x 10.2 inches) and lightweight (5.07 pounds) design make it portable for gamers on the go. The laptop features a sturdy build quality that feels robust yet not overly heavy, making it a solid choice for both gaming and professional use.
Display Performance
The 16-inch FHD+ IPS display boasts a resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels with a refresh rate of up to 144Hz. Users have praised the vivid colors and sharp contrast, stating that the visuals “pop” and enhance the gaming experience. The smooth movement and clarity provided by the high refresh rate significantly improve gameplay, especially in fast-paced titles.
Performance
Processor and Graphics
Powered by the Intel Core i7-14650HX, a 14th Gen processor with 16 cores and 14 threads, the MSI Crosshair delivers exceptional performance for multitasking and demanding applications. The CPU can reach speeds of up to 5.2 GHz, ensuring that no task is too daunting. Coupled with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 graphics card, users can expect stunning visuals and ray tracing capabilities that elevate the gaming experience to new heights.
RAM and Storage
With a whopping 64 GB of DDR5 RAM, the Crosshair effortlessly handles multiple applications and intense gaming sessions. The 4 TB SSD provides ample storage space for games, applications, and media, ensuring quick load times and seamless transitions between applications. However, some users noted that the storage can fill up quickly, and while expansion is theoretically possible, practical limitations regarding connectors have been mentioned.
Gaming Performance
Real-World Testing
Gamers have tested the Crosshair with demanding titles such as Grand Theft Auto V and Demon’s Souls RPCS3, achieving impressive performance metrics (1080p at 60fps locked). Additionally, the laptop performs exceptionally well with other titles like Call of Duty and Cyberpunk 2077, even on high settings. Users have reported minimal lag, making this laptop suitable for competitive gaming.
Cooling System
The laptop’s cooling system is designed to handle the heat generated during intense gaming sessions. While some users reported that the fans can become loud under heavy load, this is generally expected in high-performance laptops. The chassis design allows for good airflow, especially when paired with a cooling pad.
Battery Life
Limitations
As with most gaming laptops, the MSI Crosshair’s battery life is a common point of concern. Users have reported approximately 1.5 to 2 hours of battery life during gaming, which is on the lower end. While casual tasks like web browsing may extend the battery life, users should be prepared to keep the laptop plugged in during gaming sessions.
User Feedback
Positive Aspects
Many users have expressed satisfaction with the overall performance and build quality of the MSI Crosshair. The keyboard, while featuring RGB backlighting, provides a pleasant typing experience that enhances gaming in low-light environments. The lightweight design and small bezels around the screen have also received positive remarks, contributing to a more immersive experience.
Criticisms
Despite the praise, some common criticisms have emerged. The placement of USB ports, particularly those at the front, can lead to cable clutter during use. Additionally, users have noted that the lack of an easily accessible SATA connector for storage expansion is frustrating, especially for those hoping to add a second SSD.
Conclusion
The MSI Crosshair Gaming Laptop is a powerhouse designed for serious gamers who demand performance and quality. Its robust specifications make it suitable for demanding gaming and multitasking scenarios, while the stunning display enhances the overall experience. However, potential buyers should keep in mind the limitations regarding battery life and the challenges posed by storage expansion.
Overall Rating: ★★★★½ (4.5/5)
The MSI Crosshair stands out as a great gaming laptop, but users should weigh its pros and cons based on their specific needs. For gamers seeking portability without sacrificing performance, this laptop is an excellent choice.
Gonsal2008 –
The merchant was great—my order arrived well-packaged in about a week. I have an MSI GE62 6QD Apache Pro with an NVIDIA GTX 960M graphics card, a 128GB SSD, a 1TB HDD, and an i7-6700HQ processor running at 2.6 GHz. I really love this laptop. However, while working from home, I accidentally dropped it and cracked the screen. Since it’s four years old, I figured it was time to get a new one and use the old one as a backup after replacing the screen.
Unfortunately, the MSI GP65 Leopard 10SEK-048 has been a big letdown.
Cons:
Pros:
As much as I wanted to love this laptop, I can barely use it. Its design is flawed, particularly with the power cord and USB port placement, and it disappoints in many fundamental ways. The biggest drawback is the battery life—what’s the point of a notebook that isn’t portable? If you just want a processor and graphics card for gaming on external monitors, there are better options available.
Update (2020-5-1): After some trial and error (without much help from customer support), I found a way to extend the battery life. By completely shutting down the Dragon Center software, I managed to increase my browsing time from 1 hour and 18 minutes to around 4 hours. Initially, I thought it was the keyboard lighting, so I switched to Super Battery mode, but that didn’t help. Once I closed Dragon Center, my battery life improved significantly—though I only got about four hours of light browsing (Amazon, eBay, reading articles, and posting on forums). I’ll update again after testing it with more demanding tasks, but I wanted to share this in case it helps anyone else facing the same issue.
Jorge –
This laptop is fantastic! I previously owned an MSI GL62M that lasted for 2 years, so I decided to upgrade to this model with a GTX 2060. When it arrived, I initially felt misled because I couldn’t locate the SATA port. It turned out to be hidden under a black cover on the left side.
I tested several games, and the performance was outstanding. For instance, I ran GTAV at 1080p with a locked 60fps, and Demon’s Souls on RPCS3 also at 1080p/60fps without any issues. The laptop is lightweight but feels sturdy. The battery life is decent, though not quite as long as I had hoped.
The colorful keyboard is appealing at first, but it fades into the background after a few hours. The screen is phenomenal at 144Hz, with vibrant colors that seem to leap off the display. Overall, I’m very pleased with this laptop and hope it lasts as long as my previous one.
Nathan P –
This is a gaming laptop, so if battery life is a priority for you, this isn’t the right choice. You can expect about an hour and a half to two hours of gaming before needing to recharge. It performs exceptionally well and has a sleek design. For the best value, consider a desktop tower, but if you prefer a laptop, this one is a solid pick. The storage fills up quickly, but adding another drive is a simple process.
Amazon Customer –
The fans can get quite loud when the laptop is under heavy load, which is to be expected, especially when running Cyberpunk on ultra settings. However, it handles nearly all games on max settings with ease. I’m really impressed with it. I loved it so much that I bought a second one for my wife, and I would definitely purchase another if anything happened to either of them.
Emmett –
This computer is impressive! It delivers excellent performance, has a sleek design, and is quite lightweight and compact. I really appreciate the minimal bezels on the screen. The only downside is the battery life, which isn’t fantastic; however, given its high specifications and sharp screen resolution, that’s to be expected.
Kruesser –
I have the GTX 2060 / 10th Gen i7 version of this model. I was hoping to run Nioh and Monster Hunter World with decent settings and playable FPS. To my surprise, it handles both games at over 60 FPS (locked at 60 for Nioh) on the highest settings, and the GPU doesn’t overheat—though it does reach the low 80s°C, which is safe for the 2060. The chassis provides excellent airflow, and a cooling pad can enhance this due to its design. The screen color is vibrant, and the keys feel great. It doesn’t seem like any compromises were made in the laptop’s design. I would definitely recommend it.
Nan –
WARNING – While it seems like you can upgrade this laptop by adding a second SSD, the connector is missing. I purchased this with the intention of installing my 1TB SSD for extra storage, so I wouldn’t have to carry an external drive. The reviews and description suggested that this was an option. There is a slot for the additional SSD, but they didn’t include a connector. Since I’ve opened it, I doubt I can return it for a different model; I would prefer to exchange it for the 17” model if that were an option. Aside from that, it appears to be a solid and fast laptop!
Nan –
Initially, I was really frustrated for the first couple of weeks. I experimented with various settings, but the system just wouldn’t perform well in games. Eventually, I discovered that using the Dragon app to adjust the performance settings made a significant difference. Now, everything runs smoothly, including Call of Duty on high settings without any lag.
My only issue is with the size of the charging cord and the battery life, which isn’t great. When I switch to battery saver mode, it only lasts a few hours for basic tasks like browsing the internet.