How to open MSI Stealth 14 AI Studio A1V – disassembly and upgrade options

LaptopMedia.com Guides How to open MSI Stealth 14 AI Studio A1V – disassembly and upgrade options

From: Severin Kolakov 04 July 2024 / 09:39 0

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MSI Stealth 14 AI Studio

Processor: Intel Core Ultra 7 155H
VideoCard: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 (Laptop, 90W)
RAM: 16GB RAM
STORAGE: 1000GB SSD

Detailed review

£1901^.00

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Opening the Device

Undo the 8 Phillips-head screws securing the bottom panel.
Lift the top two corners by inserting a thin plastic tool between the plate and the chassis.
Flip the laptop and pry the sides, lifting the left side up to the level of the audio jack.
Turn the laptop back over and pry the front.
Lift the panel on the right and slide it to the left where the audio jack is located.

More info: Here’s how the bottom panel looks on the inside.

Battery Removal

Pull out the battery connector from the mainboard.
Undo the 6 Phillips-head screws securing the battery.
Lift the battery to remove it from the device.

Note: The device uses a 72Wh battery, providing approximately 5 hours and 42 minutes of video playback with specific settings applied:

“Super Battery” preset and “Display Power Saver” function in the MSI Center.
“MSHybrid Graphics Mode” turned on and “Balance” mode selected in the BIOS under the “User Scenario” section.
“Best Power Efficiency” preset activated in the Windows “Power & Battery” menu.

Memory Upgrade

Locate the memory area protected by a metal plate with a rubber foot on top.
Raise the metal shroud using a thin plastic tool to access the memory slots.

Note: The two SODIMM slots support up to 96GB of DDR5-5600MHz RAM in dual-channel mode, the maximum specified for a Meteor Lake-H CPU.

You can buy compatible RAM modules here: Buy from Amazon.co.uk (#CommissionsEarned)

Storage Upgrade

Locate the single M.2 slot compatible with 2280 Gen 4 SSDs.
Remove the preinstalled NVMe and the two thermal pads below it.
Install the new SSD in the slot.

Hint: Don’t forget to check out our Top M.2 SSDs Performance Rankings for insights on the best storage options available.

You can buy compatible SSDs here: Buy from Amazon.co.uk (#CommissionsEarned)

Cooling System Overview

The vapor chamber cooling system includes two large fans, a pair of heat pipes, four heat sinks, and a heat spreader.
Ensure all cooling components are clean and free of dust for optimal performance.

Note: The cooling system is designed to efficiently handle the device’s high-performance components.

MSI Stealth 14 AI Studio (A1Vx) in-depth review

For power users and professionals who travel a lot, a small yet hardware-potent machine could be a dream come true. The MSI Stealth 14 AI Studio A1V has all the needed mouthwatering features to be a compact powerhouse for gaming or content creation. It relies on 28W Intel Raptor Lake-H CPUs and NVIDIA Ada Lovelace graphics cards with 90W TGPs. The device isn't hefty but it's not super thin at the same time since it has a big vapor chamber cooling and two SODIMMs under the hood. You don't get a plethora of connectors but the included ones are up to date including Thunderbolt 4 and an HDMI 2.1. [...]

Read the full review

Pros

Good performance for a 14-incher
2x SODIMMs for up to 96GB of DDR5 memory
1800p resolution + 120Hz refresh rate (SDC419B)
Full sRGB and DCI-P3 coverage + accurate color with our "Design and Gaming" profile (SDC419B)
High max brightness of 636 nits in HDR and 404 nits in SDR mode + infinite contrast ratio (SDC419B)
Great per-key RGB keyboard by SteelSeries + smooth and accurate touchpad
Solid magnesium aluminum chassis
The Core Ultra 9 185H can maintain 3.6 Ghz / 2.9 Ghz P and E core clock during heavy loads
The optional RTX 4070 offers 90W TGP and ~2000 MHz during gaming
The MSI Center offers plenty of customizations
Thunderbolt 4, 1x Type-C port + HDMI 2.1
Vapor chamber cooling
1080p IR Web camera with privacy shutter
MUX switch
Compact and powerful
The fans don't spin in idle if the GPU temperature is below 50°C

Cons

Loud fan noise + the keyboard feels hot to the touch during gaming in "Extreme Performance"
The "Balanced" preset offers just a ~45W GPU TGP
No G-Sync or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus support
Just three USB ports
Strange fan hysteresis under heavy CPU stress alongside high chip temperature
PWM usage (SDC419B)

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