MSI Vector 16 HX AI Laptop Review The Top Pick for Gaming
In this review, we look at the MSI Vector 16 HX AI (A2V), a top-class gaming laptop with the new NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Laptop GPU and an Intel Core Ultra 7 CPU. We'll check its gaming skills on many games to see how well it does in real life.
Main Specs
The parts inside this machine make it great for both gaming and making content.
- CPU: Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX (20 cores, 8 are high-performers), goes up to 110 watts.
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Laptop, raises to 140-watt TGP. It has 5,888 CUDA cores and importantly, 12 GB of GDDR7 VRAM on a 192-bit bus.
- RAM: 32 GB of DDR5 at 5600 MHz in two places.
- Storage: 1 TB NVMe SSD.
- Screen: 16-inch, 2560x1600 (16:10), IPS panel with 240Hz refresh rate and 500 nits brightest.
Design, Make, and Use
The MSI Vector 16 HX AI has a strong, all-plastic body with no bend or creaks. It's a bit big for a 16-inch machine, but this size lets it have good cooling that lowers heat when in use. For pros making content, it has a full-size SD card slot and many other ports on the side and back.
The laptop has many modes with MSI Center software, like "Extreme Performance" for 110W CPU and 140W GPU. For usual use, the "Balanced" mode (80W CPU, 120W GPU) is a good mix of speed and quiet, running about 10% slower than Extreme but much quieter.
Gaming Tests
We tested at the laptop's highest screen setting in "Extreme Performance" mode to see the best the parts can do. Here's the detailed performance in some big games.
Game-by-Game FPS Tests
- Cyberpunk 2077:
- Settings: 1600p, Ultra (No RT), DLSS Quality. Performance: Steady 80+ FPS.
- Settings: 1600p, Ultra (No RT), DLSS Quality + 2x Frame Making. Runs smooth at 120-130 FPS.
- Settings: 1600p, Ray Tracing Ultra, DLSS Performance + 4x Frame Making. Hits 200 FPS, shows what the laptop can do.
- The Last of Us Part Two Remastered:
- Settings: 1600p, Very High, Native (TAA). Runs over 60 FPS.
- Settings: 1600p, Very High, 2x Frame Making. Smooth 100+ FPS.
- Stalker 2:
- Settings: 1600p, High, DLSS Quality. Holds at 70+ FPS, some UE5 stutter.
- Settings: 1600p, High, DLSS Quality + 2x Frame Making. Goes up to 100+ FPS, but with clear input lag.
- Call of Duty: Warzone:
- Settings: 1600p, Ultra, Native (NIS sharpening). 100-120 FPS.
- Settings: 1600p, Ultra, DLSS Quality. Faster at 120-140 FPS.
- GTA 5 (Enhanced Edition):
- Settings: 1600p, Max RT Settings, DLSS Quality. Around 100 FPS, dips to high 60s in hard parts.
- Counter-Strike 2:
- Settings: 1600p, Very High, 2x MSAA. Changes a lot due to a CPU limit in deathmatch, but mostly way over 150 FPS.
- Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2:
- Settings: 1600p, Ultra, DLSS Quality. Smooth 80-90 FPS.
- Forza Horizon 5:
- Settings: 1600p, Max Settings, Native (TAA). About 113 FPS, lows of 91 FPS in hard parts.
- Indiana Jones and the Great Circle:
- Settings: 1600p, Ultra (No Path Tracing), DLSS Quality, LOD Fix. About 70-80 FPS.
- Settings: 1600p, Low Textures, Medium Path Tracing, DLSS Performance. About 60 FPS, big visual drop.
- Assassin's Creed Shadows:
- Settings: 1600p, High, Max RTGI, DLSS Quality + 2x Frame Making. Smooth, quick, well over 60 FPS. (Runs in the 50s without Frame Making).
- Battlefield 2042:
- Settings: 1600p, Ultra, DLSS Quality. Very smooth 130-140 FPS.
- Red Dead Redemption 2:
- Settings: 1600p, Custom Ultra, DLSS Quality. About 69 FPS, stays over 60 FPS in most cases.
- Horizon Forbidden West:
- Settings: 1600p, Very High, DLSS Quality. About 80-90 FPS.
- Doom: The Dark Ages:
- Settings: 1600p, Ultra Nightmare (No Path Tracing), DLSS Quality. About 70-80 FPS.
- Alan Wake 2:
- Settings: 1600p, High (No RT), DLSS Quality. Always over 60 FPS.
- Settings: 1600p, Medium RT, DLSS Performance. About 40s; not advised.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Great game play with RTX 5070 Ti at 1600p.
- 12GB of VRAM helps it stay good for the future.
- Bright, sharp, super smooth 240Hz QHD+ screen.
- Cooling system works well, keeps it cool.
- Has a full-size SD card slot.
- Good deal for its level of play.
Cons:
- Big, all-plastic body.
- CPU slows down in fast, CPU-heavy games like Stalker 2.
- Full ray tracing means you must drop other settings.
- Fans get loud when it runs hard in Extreme mode.
Performance Scores
- Game Play: 4.5 / 5
- Screen Look: 5 / 5
- Build & Extras: 4 / 5
- Worth the Money: 4.5 / 5
- Total: 4.5 / 5
Final Words
The MSI Vector 16 HX AI is a strong, well-built game laptop. It gives top-end play, easy runs new games at its high set screen size. The mix of a strong RTX 5070 Ti, good Core Ultra 7 CPU, and lots of 12GB VRAM makes it great for both gaming and work jobs.
Priced about $1,700-$1,800 in the US, it provides a great set that meets the play of prior high-end RTX 4080 laptops. For those who want a strong game time without paying top money, the MSI Vector 16 HX AI is a top pick.