Review MSI Katana 17 HX B14WGK
MSI Katana 17 HX B14WGK · Core i7-14650HX · RTX 5070 Laptop
Intel Core i7-14650HX · NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Laptop (115W) · 16GB DDR5-5600 (2× SO-DIMM) · 1TB SSD (Micron 2500) · 17.3″ 2560×1440 IPS 240Hz · 2.748 kg
Large opening angle (180°) – stable GPU performance, wide color space,
RGB lighting, 2× SO-DIMM, fast SSD.
Rickety & cheap-looking chassis, battery life could be better,
8 GB VRAM not future-proof, keyboard placed too far down,
extremely loud under load, modest speakers, blurred webcam,
no USB 4, only 1× M.2.
RTX 5070 with 8GB VRAM is not future-proof
Display – 17.3″ QHD IPS · 240 Hz · 97.3% P3 · no PWM
Panel: CSOT MNH301CA3-1 – 17.3″ 2560×1440, IPS, matte, 240 Hz.
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Brightness (centre) | ~296 cd/m² |
| Brightness (average) | ~272 cd/m² |
| sRGB coverage | 99.6% |
| Display P3 coverage | 97.3% |
| AdobeRGB coverage | 89% |
| Response time (B/W) | 9.2 ms |
| Response time (grey) | 5.2 ms |
| PWM | Not detected |
| Finish | Matte (anti-glare) |
- 240Hz refresh rate – excellent for gaming
- Wide color space (97.3% DCI-P3)
- Good colour accuracy after calibration (ΔE 0.78)
- No PWM flickering – eye-friendly
- Low brightness (~272 cd/m²) – indoor use only
Panel FRU: CSOT MNH301CA3-1 (17.3″ QHD IPS, 240Hz, matte)
Processor – Intel Core i7-14650HX · 16c/24t · Raptor Lake-HX Refresh
- Model: Intel Core i7-14650HX – 8× Raptor Cove P-Core, 8× Gracemont E-Core
- Boost: 5.2 GHz (P-Core)
- TDP: 60 W PL2 / 50 W PL1 (sustained)
- Cinebench R23 Multi: ~16,453 pts
- Outdated platform – competitors pull ahead
CPU FRU: Intel Core i7-14650HX (Raptor Lake-HX Refresh, soldered BGA)
Graphics – NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Laptop (115W) · 8GB GDDR7
- Model: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Laptop – 8 GB GDDR7
- TGP: 115 W (including Dynamic Boost)
- 3DMark Time Spy: ~12,583 pts
- Cyberpunk 2077 (1080p Ultra): ~101.5 fps
- 8 GB VRAM not future-proof – struggles with modern titles
| Benchmark | Score |
|---|---|
| 3DMark Time Spy | 12,583 |
| 3DMark Fire Strike | 29,564 |
| 3DMark 11 Performance | 33,622 |
| Cyberpunk 2077 (1080p Ultra) | ~101.5 fps |
| Cyberpunk 2077 (QHD Ultra) | ~64.5 fps |
8 GB VRAM is not future-proof – RTX 5070 Ti with 12 GB is the better choice.
GPU FRU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Laptop (115W TGP, 8 GB GDDR7, soldered)
Memory – 16GB DDR5-5600 · 2× SO-DIMM · upgradeable
- Capacity: 16 GB DDR5-5600 (2× 8 GB SO-DIMM)
- 2× SO-DIMM slots – upgradeable
RAM FRU: DDR5-5600 SO-DIMM (2× 8GB) – upgradeable
Storage – 1TB Micron 2500 · PCIe 4.0 · only 1× M.2
- Drive: Micron 2500 1TB MTFDKBA1T0QGN – 1 TB, PCIe 4.0
- Seq. read: ~6,943 MB/s
- Seq. write: ~5,557 MB/s
- Fast SSD – excellent performance
- Only 1× M.2 slot – no additional storage
SSD FRU: Micron 2500 1TB MTFDKBA1T0QGN (1 TB, M.2 2280, PCIe 4.0)
Battery – ~5.1 hours · 75 Wh
- Capacity: 75 Wh
- WiFi surfing (150 nits): ~5.1 hours
- Poor battery endurance – competitors last 7-9 hours
Battery FRU: 75 Wh (internal) – replaceable
AC Adapter FRU: 200W (MSI proprietary)
Chassis & Connectivity – Plastic build · no USB 4 · no card reader · Wi-Fi 6E
- Materials: Plastic – rickety and cheap-looking
- Weight: 2.748 kg (6.06 lbs)
- Dimensions: 398 × 276 × 28 mm
- Left: USB-A 3.0, USB-C 3.1 Gen2 (DP), 3.5mm audio
- Right: 2× USB-A 3.0, HDMI 2.1, Gigabit Ethernet
- No USB 4 / Thunderbolt
- No card reader
- Wi-Fi 6E (Intel AX211)
WLAN FRU: Intel Wi-Fi 6E AX211 – M.2 2230, replaceable
Serviceability – RAM upgradeable · SSD replaceable · limited upgradability
| Component | Replaceable? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| SSD | ✅ Yes | 1× M.2 2280 slot – replaceable |
| RAM | ✅ Yes | 2× SO-DIMM slots – upgradeable |
| Wi-Fi | ✅ Yes | M.2 2230 – replaceable |
| Battery | ⚠️ Limited | 75 Wh – replaceable |
| CPU/GPU | ❌ No | Soldered BGA |
Only 1× M.2 slot – no room for additional storage.
RAM and Wi-Fi are replaceable – but storage expansion is limited.
Components FRU / Model Numbers
| Component | FRU / Model |
|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Core i7-14650HX (Raptor Lake-HX Refresh, soldered) |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Laptop (115W TGP, 8 GB GDDR7, soldered) |
| RAM | DDR5-5600 SO-DIMM (2× 8GB) – upgradeable |
| SSD | Micron 2500 1TB MTFDKBA1T0QGN (1 TB, M.2 2280, PCIe 4.0) |
| Display Panel | CSOT MNH301CA3-1 (17.3″ QHD IPS, 240Hz, matte) |
| WLAN | Intel Wi-Fi 6E AX211 – M.2 2230 |
| Battery | 75 Wh (internal) |
| AC Adapter | 200W (MSI proprietary) |
Procurement & Reseller Recommendations
CPUCore i7-14650HX – outdated platform
RAMUpgradeable – 2× SO-DIMM slots
GPURTX 5070 115W – 8GB VRAM is limiting
Display240Hz QHD – low brightness though
FansLoud – up to 59 dB(A) under load
Value~€1,800 – RTX 5070 Ti laptops are better value
Key Selling Points vs. Competitors
Strengths
- Large opening angle (180°)
- Stable GPU performance
- Wide color space (97.3% DCI-P3)
- RGB lighting
- 2× SO-DIMM – upgradeable RAM
- Fast SSD (Micron 2500)
Weaknesses
- Rickety and cheap-looking chassis
- Poor battery life (~5 hours)
- 8 GB VRAM not future-proof
- Keyboard placed too far down
- Extremely loud under load (59 dB(A))
- Modest speakers & blurred webcam
- No USB 4 / Thunderbolt
- Only 1× M.2 slot
Pro tip for resellers & repair professionals:
• Highlight the 240Hz QHD display and upgradeable RAM – key selling points.
• RTX 5070 with 8GB VRAM is not future-proof – recommend RTX 5070 Ti alternatives.
• Only 1× M.2 slot – storage expansion is limited.
• Extremely loud fans (59 dB(A)) – recommend headphones for gaming.
• Low brightness (~272 cd/m²) – best for indoor use.
• Highlight the 240Hz QHD display and upgradeable RAM – key selling points.
• RTX 5070 with 8GB VRAM is not future-proof – recommend RTX 5070 Ti alternatives.
• Only 1× M.2 slot – storage expansion is limited.
• Extremely loud fans (59 dB(A)) – recommend headphones for gaming.
• Low brightness (~272 cd/m²) – best for indoor use.