How to open MSI Prestige 14 AI Studio C1U – disassembly and upgrade options

LaptopMedia.com Guides How to open MSI Prestige 14 AI Studio C1U - disassembly and upgrade options

From: Severin Kolakov 17 July 2024 / 11:20 | 0

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MSI Prestige 14 AI Studio

Processor: Intel Core Ultra 7 155H
VideoCard: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 (Laptop, 45W)
RAM: 32GB RAM
STORAGE: 1000GB SSD

Detailed review

$2001^.25

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Opening the Device

Undo the 7 Phillips-head screws securing the bottom panel.
Flip the laptop and use a thin plastic tool to pry the back hinge cover.
Open the lid and pry the front and sides through the base.
Pry the rear and then turn the device over.
Lift the left side and slide it to the right where the audio jack is located to remove the bottom panel.

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

Battery Removal

Unplug the battery connector from the mainboard.
Undo the 2 Phillips-head screws securing the battery.
Lift the battery to remove it from the device.

Note: The device uses a 90Wh battery, providing approximately 15 hours of video playback.

Memory Information

Note: There is a metal cap covering the memory zone that can be popped off with a lever tool. The Wi-Fi card on the left is soldered. The two SODIMMs can handle up to 32GB of DDR5-5600MHz RAM in dual-channel mode, though the CPU can support up to 96GB.

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

Storage Upgrade

Locate the single M.2 slot compatible with 2280 Gen 4 SSDs.
Remove the foil covering the SSD and the thick thermal pad below the preinstalled NVMe.
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.com (#CommissionsEarned)

Cooling System Overview

The thermal system includes two decently sized fans and two long heat pipes shared between the CPU and GPU, with one additional heat pipe for each chip.
The system also features four heat sinks and two large heat spreaders.
Ensure all cooling components are clean and free of dust for optimal performance.

Note: The cooling system is well-designed for such a small notebook, providing efficient heat management for the device’s components.

MSI Prestige 14 AI Studio (C1Ux / C1Vx) in-depth review

If you travel a lot and need a light but powerful machine with a good display and a long battery life, your options are a bit limited. Still, the MSI Prestige 14 AI Studio C1U could get your attention since it's offered with 28W Meteor Lake chips and a 45W dGPU (option). The memory isn't soldered and you get two SODIMMs for future RAM expansion alongside a big battery that can be paired with Intel Evo certification for even longer autonomous life. You don't get a whole plethora of ports, but the available connectors are modern, with DisplayPort and charging capabilities.The base display is[...]

Read the full review

Pros

Respectable performance for a light 14-incher
2x DDR5 SODIMMs
144Hz refresh rate + wide viewing angles (BOE0A3A)
96% sRGB coverage + accurate color with our "Design and Gaming" profile (BOE0A3A)
474 nits max brightness + 7.5 ms pixel response times (BOE0A3A)
Comfortable backlit keyboard
Rigid aluminum chassis
The Core Ultra 7 155HCore Ultra 7 155H can maintain 2.7 Ghz / 2.2 Ghz P and E core clock during short and medium loads
The MSI Center offers plenty of customizations
1x 10 Gbps Type-C + Thunderbolt 4+ 1x 10 Gbps Type-A port
Pretty big thermal system for such a form factor
1080p IR Web camera with privacy shutter and a fingerprint reader
The fans aren't noisy
Snappy SSD (1TB Samsung PM9A1a)

Cons

Strange "Balanced" mode that offers lower CPU and GPU clocks than the Extreme mode + the same noise levels
The bottom plate is hard to open
Just three USB ports
The touchpad is average at best

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