In the vast landscape of Intel Arrow Lake-HX gaming laptops, the MSI Vector A18 HX stands out with its AMD Fire Range CPU, offering a refreshing alternative. However, this model does not feature the highly sought-after X3D SKU. Instead, it is equipped with the Ryzen 9 9955HX. Alternatively, there is the enigmatic Ryzen 9 8945HX, which AMD didn’t showcase during CES 2025.
Graphics Options
Regrettably, users will not be able to combine their new Fire Range GPU with a GeForce RTX 5090. Instead, they must settle for either the 16 GB GeForce RTX 5080 or the 12 GB GeForce RTX 5070 Ti.
Memory and Connectivity
Once again, MSI has failed to specify the memory and storage options for the MSI Vector A18 HX. This will probably differ from one SKU to another, but having at least 32 GB of DDR5 would seem essential, considering the price of the Ryzen 9. The laptop offers 1x PCIe Gen 4 and 1x PCIe Gen 5 SSD slots. For connectivity, it features two USB 4.0 ports, three USB 3.2 Type-A ports, an SD card reader, an HDMI 2.1 port, and a 3.5 mm combo audio jack.
Display and Additional Features
The MSI Vector A18 HX sports a 16-inch QHD+ (2,560 x 1,600) IPS LCD display that refreshes at a speedy 240 Hz. Additional features include a 1080p webcam, a robust 99.9 Wh battery, 2.5G Ethernet (available only on select models), four 2 Watt speakers, a 26-zone RGB keyboard, and a physical privacy shutter for the webcam.
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