Nowadays, you can find a lot of high-end devices in a 17-inch or 18-inch form factor. On the other hand, if you want a smaller machine with top-end hardware, your choice is fairly limited. Still, with the aid of Vector 16 HX A13V, MSI tries to prove that a 16-incher can perform as well as some of its bigger siblings with larger displays. Specs-wise, the device is a true monster. You get a choice of Intel Raptor Lake HX CPUs with tons of cores and the latest and greatest NVIDIA Ada Lovelace GPUs with the highest possible power limits. Display-wise, there are two IPS variants. The base one is a 144Hz 1200p unit and you can opt for a 240Hz 1600p model. There are no fancy OLED or 4K panels here. The absence of G-Sync support is quite strange given the price tag of the notebook. Still, there is a MUX switch for the best possible graphics performance, when the AC adapter is plugged in. For longer battery life, you can find an iGPU-only mode in the MSI Center app. It's great to see that one of the M.2 slots is compatible with Gen 5 NVMe drives. Speaking of internals, the Cooler Boost 5 cooling solution is quite massive with its six heat pipes, which is quite a logical solution considering the 175W video card under the hood. You can also rely on Wi-Fi 6E + Bluetooth 5.3 for connectivity, a big battery, a rich port selection, and a per-key RGB keyboard. You can check the prices and configurations in our Specs System: https://laptopmedia.com/series/msi-vector-16-hx-a13vx-a14vx/ Specs, Drivers, What's in the box Drivers All drivers and utilities for this notebook can be found here: https://www.msi.com/Laptop/Vector-16-HX-A13VX/support What's in the box? Inside the package, you'll find some manuals and a huge 330W barrel plug charger. Design and construction The MSI Vector 16 HX A13V looks almost like a smaller version of the MSI Vector GP78 HX (13V). The gaming design isn't too intrusive especially thanks to the muted Cosmos Gray color. The well-known dragon logo can be seen on the metal lid. The base is made of plastic which is a strange decision given the end price of the machine. This device is bulky for a 16-inch machine. It weighs 2.70 kilos and the profile thickness is 22.20-28.55 mm. The max angle of the opening isn't big because of the hinge cover that is placed behind the lid. The latter can be opened with a single hand. The build quality is very good, the whole chassis feels sturdy which is great news for all wealthy users. The side bezels are thin but the other two are a bit more thicker. The 720p Web camera with a privacy shutter and 3D Noise Reduction is placed orthodoxly above the panel. A look at the base and we can see the per-key RGB keyboard by SteelSeries. The illumination effects can be controlled via dedicated software. The size of the NumPad and the Arrow keys is a bit reduced. The board is comfortable for both typing and gaming - the key travel is long and the feedback is great. The touchpad size is big enough for normal work. The unit isn't the best one we've tested but its smoothness and accuracy are on point for a gaming device. On the bottom plate, we can see a plethora of feet that are different in size, two speaker cutouts, and two big ventilation grills that reveal a big part of the cooling system. The heat is guided via four vents - two on the back and two on the sides. Ports On the left, you get a Thunderbolt 4 / USB4 40Gbps port followed by an SD Express Card reader and an Audio combo jack. On the rear are placed a LAN, an HDMI 2.1 for up to 8K@60Hz external displays, a Kensington Lock slot, a USB Type-C 3.2 (Gen. 2) port with DisplayPort and charging capabilities, and a power connector. On the right, we can spot a USB Type-C 3.2 (Gen. 2) port that supports DisplayPort and Power Delivery 3.0 (up to 100W), a USB Type-A 3.2 (Gen. 2) port, and a USB Type-A 3.2 (Gen. 1) port. Display quality, Health impact (PWM), Sound MSI Vector 16 HX A13V is equipped with a WUXGA (Widescreen Ultra Extended Graphics Array) IPS panel, model number Innolux N160JME-GTK (CMN1621). It comes with a 144z refresh rate. Its diagonal is 16.0" (40.6 cm), and the resolution - 1920 x 1200p. Additionally, the screen ratio is 16:10, the pixel density – 141 ppi, and their pitch – 0.18 x 0.18 mm. The screen can be considered Retina when viewed from at least 61 cm (from this distance, the average human eye can’t see the individual pixels). Viewing angles are good. We offer images at different angles to evaluate the quality. Also, a video with locked focus and exposure. The maximum measured brightness is 304 nits (cd/m2) in the middle of the screen and 305 nits (cd/m2) average across the surface with a maximum deviation of 5%. The Correlated Color Temperature on a white screen and at maximum brightness is 6510K (average). In the illustration below you can see how the display performs from a uniformity perspective. The illustration below shows how matters are for operational brightness levels (approximately 140 nits) – in this particular case at 60% Brightness (White level = 141 cd/m2, Black level = 0.1 cd/m2). Values of dE2000 over 4.0 should not occur, and this parameter is one of the first you should check if you intend to use the laptop for color-sensitive work (a maximum tolerance of 2.0 ). The contrast ratio is very good – 1500:1. To make sure we are on the same page, we would like to give you a little introduction to the sRGB color gamut and the Adobe RGB. To start, there’s the CIE 1976 Uniform Chromaticity Diagram that represents the visible specter of colors by the human eye, giving you a better perception of the color gamut coverage and the color accuracy. Inside the black triangle, you will see the standard color gamut (sRGB) that is being used by millions of people on HDTV and on the web. As for the Adobe RGB, this is used in professional cameras, monitors, etc for printing. Basically, colors inside the black triangle are used by everyone and this is the essential part of the color quality and color accuracy of a mainstream notebook. Still, we’ve included other color spaces like the famous DCI-P3 standard used by movie studios, as well as the digital UHD Rec.2020 standard. Rec.2020, however, is still a thing of the future and it’s difficult for today’s displays to cover that well. We’ve also included the so-called Michael Pointer gamut, or Pointer’s gamut, which represents the colors that naturally occur around us every day. The yellow dotted line shows MSI Vector 16 HX A13V's color gamut coverage. Its display covers 53% of the sRGB/ITU-R BT.709 (web/HDTV standard) in CIE1976 and 42% of DCI-P3. Our “Design and Gaming” profile delivers optimal color temperature (6500K) at 140 cd/m2 luminance and sRGB gamma mode. We tested the accuracy of the display with 24 commonly used colors like light and dark human skin, blue sky, green grass, orange, etc. You can check out the results at factory condition and also, with the “Design and Gaming” profile. Below you can compare the scores of the MSI Vector 16 HX A13V with the default settings (left), and with the “Gaming and Web design” profile (right). The next figure shows how well the display is able to reproduce really dark parts of an image, which is essential when watching movies or playing games in low ambient light. The left side of the image represents the display with stock settings, while the right one is with the “Gaming and Web Design” profile activated. On the horizontal axis, you will find the grayscale, and on the vertical axis – the luminance of the display. On the two graphs below you can easily check for yourself how your display handles the darkest nuances but keep in mind that this also depends on the settings of your current display, the calibration, the viewing angle, and the surrounding light conditions. Response time (Gaming capabilities) We test the reaction time of the pixels with the usual “black-to-white” and “white-to-black” method from 10% to 90% and vice versa. We recorded Fall Time + Rise Time = 19 ms. After that, we test the reaction time of the pixels with the usual “Gray-to-Gray” method from 50% White to 80% White and vice versa between 10% and 90% of the amplitude. Health Impact: PWM (Screen flickering) Pulse-width modulation (PWM) is an easy way to control monitor brightness. When you lower the brightness, the light intensity of the backlight is not lowered, but instead turned off and on by the electronics with a frequency indistinguishable to the human eye. In these light impulses, the light/no-light time ratio varies, while brightness remains unchanged, which is harmful to your eyes. You can read more about that in our dedicated article on PWM. MSI Vector 16 HX A13V's display doesn't flicker at any brightness level. This makes the screen pretty comfortable for long periods of use. Health Impact: Blue light emissions Installing our Health-Guard profile not only eliminates PWM but also reduces the harmful Blue Light emissions while keeping the colors of the screen perceptually accurate. If you’re not familiar with the Blue light, the TL;DR version is – emissions that negatively affect your eyes, skin, and your whole body. You can find more information about that in our dedicated article on Blue Light. Health Impact: Gloss-level measurement Glossy-coated displays are sometimes inconvenient in high ambient light conditions. We show the level of reflection on the screen for the respective laptop when the display is turned off and the measurement angle is 60° (in this case, the result is 51.9 GU). Sound MSI Vector 16 HX A13V's speakers produce a sound of very good quality. Its low, mid, and high tones are clear of deviations. Buy our profiles Since our profiles are tailored for each individual display model, this article and its respective profile package are meant for MSI Vector 16 HX A13V configurations with 16.0" Innolux N160JME-GTK (CMN1621) (1920 x 1200) IPS. *Should you have problems with downloading the purchased file, try using a different browser to open the link you’ll receive via e-mail. If the download target is a .php file instead of an archive, change the file extension to .zip or contact us at bg.laptopmedia@gmail.com. Read more about the profiles HERE. Performance: CPU, GPU, Gaming Tests All benchmarks and tests were conducted with the "Extreme Performance" profile activated in the MSI Center. Also, the "Discrete Graphics Mode" is turned on and the "Performance mode" is applied in the BIOS in the "User Scenario" section. In addition, the “Best performance” preset is activated in the Windows “Power & Battery” menu. CPU options The Core i9-13980HX is the only CPU option for the series. GPU options In terms of graphics, you get only high-end GPUs like the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 (Laptop, 175W) or GeForce RTX 4090 (Laptop, 175W). If you don't need so much power, you can get the GeForce RTX 4060 (Laptop, 140W) or the GeForce RTX 4070 (Laptop, 140W). Gaming tests Assassin's Creed Valhalla Full HD, Low (Check settings) Full HD, Medium (Check settings) Full HD, High (Check settings) Full HD, Ultra (Check settings) Average FPS 256 fps 224 fps 185 fps 162 fps Borderlands 3 Full HD, V.Low (Check settings) Full HD, Medium (Check settings) Full HD, High (Check settings) Full HD, Badass (Check settings) Average FPS 253 fps 225 fps 193 fps 161 fps Far Cry 6 Full HD, Low (Check settings) Full HD, High (Check settings) Full HD, Ultra (Check settings) Average FPS 200 fps 163 fps 153 fps Gears 5 Full HD, Low (Check settings) Full HD, Medium (Check settings) Full HD, High (Check settings) Full HD, Ultra (Check settings) Average FPS 320 fps 244 fps 231 fps 209 fps Metro Exodus Full HD, Low (Check settings) Full HD, High (Check settings) Full HD, Extreme (Check settings) Average FPS 191 fps 147 fps 81 fps The performance of the GeForce RTX 4080 (Laptop, 175W) isn't too far away from the 175W RTX 4090 that is fitted in the MSI Vector GP78 HX (13V). Temperatures and comfort, Battery Life Max CPU load In this test we use 100% on the CPU cores, monitoring their frequencies and chip temperature. The first column shows a computer’s reaction to a short load (2-10 seconds), the second column simulates a serious task (between 15 and 30 seconds), and the third column is a good indicator of how good the laptop is for long loads such as video rendering. Average P-core frequency; Average E-core frequency; CPU temp.; Package Power Intel Core i9-13980HX (55W TDP) 0:02 - 0:10 sec 0:15 - 0:30 sec 10:00 - 15:00 min MSI Vector 16 HX A13V 4.07 GHz @ 2.36 GHz @ 73°C @ 185W 4.30 GHz @ 2.54 GHz @ 85°C @ 196W 3.61 GHz @ 2.28GHz @ 84°C @ 131W Lenovo Legion 9i Gen 8 (16″ Intel) 3.68 GHz @ 2.96 GHz @ 74°C @ 165W 3.64 GHz @ 2.99 GHz @ 83°C @ 165W 3.16 GHz @ 2.57 GHz @ 89°C @ 122W MSI Vector GP78 HX (13V) "Extreme Performance" preset 4.61 GHz @ 2.58 GHz @ 77°C @ 220W 4.45 GHz @ 2.52 GHz @ 83°C @ 203W 3.86 GHz @ 2.41 GHz @ 83°C @ 148W MSI Vector GP78 HX (13V) "Balanced" preset 4.48 GHz @ 2.51 GHz @ 78°C @ 215W 4.34 GHz @ 2.49 GHz @ 82°C @ 195W 3.77 GHz @ 2.35 GHz @ 83°C @ 139W ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 18 (G834, 2023) 3.53 GHz @ 2.96 GHz @ 76°C @ 147W 3.46 GHz @ 2.91 GHz @ 82°C @ 142W 3.35 GHz @ 2.81 GHz @ 84°C @ 133W It's great to see that the MSI Vector 16 HX A13V with a Core i9-13980HX can maintain almost the same clocks in medium and long loads as its bigger sibling, the MSI Vector GP78 HX (13V). Real-life gaming NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 GPU frequency/ Core temp (after 2 min) GPU frequency/ Core temp (after 30 min) MSI Vector 16 HX A13V 2400 MHz @ 78°C @ 174W 2364 MHz @ 83°C @ 174W Acer Predator Helios 3D 15 SpartialLabs Edition (PH3D15-71) "Turbo" preset 2227 MHz @ 79°C @ 173W 2208 MHz @ 83°C @ 174W Acer Predator Helios 3D 15 SpartialLabs Edition (PH3D15-71) "Performance" preset 1886 MHz @ 73°C @ 139W 1868 MHz @ 77°C @ 140W The mighty GeForce RTX 4080 is well-cooled and it can sustain a stable ~175W TGP after half an hour of gaming. Gaming comfort As always, the five performance presets can be found in the MSI Center app. If you don't like to switch between the power modes, just apply the "MSI AI Engine" that will tune the CPU and GPU clocks and power limits depending on the current load. You can also leave the fans on "Auto" or set a custom fan curve. Expectedly, the noise during gaming is high, especially in "Extreme performance" mode. On the bright side, the keyboard deck and the palm rest areas aren't too hot to the touch during gaming and you can use the device comfortably without sensing a big amount of heat beneath your fingers. The two fans are turned off if the CPU temperature is below the 45°C mark. Above this limit, the CPU fan starts to spin at around 2000 RPM. The Cooler Boost options bump the fan speed above 6000 RPM which is super noisy. Under 100% processor loads, you can expect ~ 6000 / 4000 RPM in "Extreme Performance" mode - that's loud. The "Balanced" preset with its ~4000 RPM is more suitable for work or gaming since the noise levels are acceptable. Curiously, applying one of the other two presets resulted in a 51% CPU load even though Prime95 was running in the background. When it comes to gaming, the "Extreme Performance" mode offers ~175W TGP and loud fans. The noise isn't an issue if the "Balanced" preset is selected but GPU TGP is decreased to 120W. The "Silent" and the "Super Battery" presets aren't suitable for heavy gaming because of the 60W power limit. You can also have a look at the main menu of the BIOS. Battery Now, we conduct the battery tests with the Windows Better performance setting turned on, screen brightness adjusted to 120 nits and all other programs turned off except for the one we are testing the notebook with. This notebook's 90Wh battery lasts for around 7 hours of Web browsing or 6 hours of video playback. Not bad given the powerful hardware and the high refresh rate display. To achieve that, you have to apply the "Balanced" preset in the MSI Center. Also, the "Integrated Graphics Mode" has to be turned on (in order to use the iGPU) and the "Balance" mode should be selected in the BIOS in the "User Scenario" section. The “Balanced” preset is also activated in the Windows “Power & Battery” menu. Disassembly, Upgrade options, and Maintenance To see the internals of this powerful machine, you need to undo 13 Phillips-head screws. Then, flip the laptop, pry the sides of the hinge cover with a thin plastic tool, and use a lever tool to pop the front of the cap. You can also open the lid which will ease the whole process. With that out of the way, you can lift away the shield from the chassis. Now it's time to pry the back with a thin plastic tool. Insert it in between the plate and the base and carefully pop the panel step by step. Turn over the laptop, open the lid, and pry the sides and the front through the base. Flip the device upside down. You can't raise the bottom plate straight upwards because the Audio jack sticks out of the mainboard. Lift up on the left and gently slide the panel to the right side. Here's how the bottom panel looks on the inside. Here we have a 90Wh battery. To take it out, detach the connector from the mainboard and undo the 4 Phillips-head screws that keep the unit in place. The battery has enough juice for around 7 hours of Web browsing or 6 hours of video playback. The RAM zone is protected by a metal cap. It’s glued to the plastic shrouds of the slots with a tiny pad so try not to pull the metal cap too hard. According to MSI, the two SODIMMs fit up to 64GB of DDR5-5600MHz RAM in dual-channel mode. However, since the CPU can support up to 192GB, this laptop likely wouldn’t have issues running a larger amount of memory than the official manufacturer’s specified limit. For storage, there are two M.2 slots - one for Gen 4 and one for Gen 5 SSDs. We can see two thick thermal pads below the preinstalled NVMe. The Cooler Boost 5 thermal system looks impressive! It comprises two fans and three thick heat pipes shared between the CPU and the GPU. You get one extra heat pipe for the processor as well as two more for the video card’s VRMs and memory. The bottom pipe is connected to the chipset via foil. The cooling is complemented by four big heat sinks as well as two heat spreaders, the larger one is on the GPU side. Storage performance Our device has a 1TB WD PC SN560 SDDPNQE-1T00-1032. Below you can see some benchmarks of this Gen 4 NVMe. It reaches 66°C during benchmarking. Verdict Compared to some bigger laptops, the MSI Vector 16 HX A13V can give them a run for their money. The device is bulky for a 16-inch machine. There is a reason for that - the high-end hardware that is well-cooled by the massive Cooler Boost 5 thermal system. The end result is great gaming performance thanks to the high CPU and GPU clocks during full loads. The 175W GPU TGP is tied with the "Extreme Performance" preset that will torture your ears with high noise levels. Still, in this mode, the Vector 16 HX isn't as noisy as the MSI Vector GP78 HX (13V) or Acer Predator Helios 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition (PH3D15-71). The "Balanced" preset is much more suitable for normal usage because the fans don't spin that aggressively in this scenario but unfortunately, the GPU TGP is heavily reduced to just 120W. We decided to buy a laptop with the default 1200p 144Hz IPS display (Innolux N160JME-GTK (CMN1621)). Overall, the unit is okay - the contrast ratio is very good, the viewing angles are wide, and there is no sign of PWM usage. On the other hand, the low sRGB coverage and the slow pixel response times don't correspond to the price class of the notebook. If money isn't a problem, perhaps the optional 1600p 240Hz panel is a better complement to such a device. The laptop is sturdy which applies to both the lid and body. However, the base is made of plastic which isn't an optimal solution for an expensive notebook. On the bright side, the backlit keyboard is great and the touchpad is smooth and precise. There is nothing to moan about the upgradability or the port selection - you get two SODIMMs, a pair of M.2 slots (one for Gen 5 SSDs), and a total of five USB ports plus an SD Card reader. Last but not least, the battery life is decent given the hardware - almost 7 hours of Web browsing on a single charge. Expectedly, this is possible when you select the iGPU-only mode. The MSI Vector 16 HX A13V impresses with top-of-the-line hardware, a capable cooling solution, a comfortable keyboard, and a solid build quality. You can check the prices and configurations in our Specs System: https://laptopmedia.com/series/msi-vector-16-hx-a13vx-a14vx/