How to open MSI Sword 16 HX B14V – disassembly and upgrade options

LaptopMedia.com Guides How to open MSI Sword 16 HX B14V – disassembly and upgrade options

From: Severin Kolakov 10 July 2024 / 10:29 0

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MSI Sword 16 HX

Processor: Intel Core i9-14900HX
VideoCard: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 (Laptop, 115W)
RAM: 16GB RAM
STORAGE: 1000GB SSD

Detailed review

MSI Sword 16 HX

Processor: Intel Core i7-14650HX
VideoCard: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 (Laptop, 115W)
RAM: 16GB RAM
STORAGE: 1000GB SSD

Detailed review

MSI Sword 16 HX

Processor: Intel Core i7-14650HX
VideoCard: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 (Laptop, 115W)
RAM: 64GB RAM
STORAGE: 1000GB SSD

Detailed review

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Opening the Device

Undo the 13 Phillips-head screws securing the bottom panel.
Find the visible tiny gap in the front and start prying the panel from there.
Pop the sides until reaching the far end of the exhaust vents.
Create a small gap between the plate and the base in the top two corners.
Pry the rear by gliding the plastic tool carefully.
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

Detach the battery connector from the motherboard.
Undo the 4 Phillips-head screws securing the battery.
Lift the battery to remove it from the device.

Note: The device uses a 65Wh battery, providing approximately 5 hours and 18 minutes of video playback.

Memory Upgrade

Locate the memory area protected by a metal shroud with a rubber foot on top.
Lift the metal cap using a lever tool to access the SODIMM slots.
According to MSI, the two SODIMMs can handle up to 96GB of DDR5-5600MHz RAM in dual-channel mode.

Note: The CPU can support up to 192GB, so the laptop likely wouldn’t have issues running more than the official manufacturer’s specified limit.

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

Storage Upgrade

Locate the two M.2 slots for NVMe SSDs.
The top NVMe slot is compatible with Gen 5 SSDs, while the lower one is for Gen 4 units.
Each M.2 slot has a big thermal pad for better heat dissipation.
Install the new SSD in the appropriate 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) or Buy from Amazon.com (#CommissionsEarned)

Cooling System Overview

The cooling system, called Cooler Boost 5, includes two fans and four long, thick heat pipes shared between the CPU and GPU. A fifth heat pipe is solely dedicated to the GPU.
The thermal system offers four heat sinks, a heat spreader for the processor, and a large metal plate for the video card that also covers its memory and VRMs, making contact with the chipset as well.
Ensure all cooling components are clean and free of dust for optimal performance.

Note: The cooling system is impressively large and designed to handle high-performance components.

MSI Sword 16 HX (B13Vx / B14Vx) in-depth review

If you think that the MSI Sword 16 HX B14V is just a smaller version of the Sword 17 HX B14V, you are actually (almost) right. We have already reviewed the 17-ich version and yes, both machines look, feel, and perform nearly the same. This means that with the 16-incher you get a 20-core Intel Core i7-14700HX (or an i7-14650HX) alongside 115W NVIDIA RTX 4000 graphics cards. The upgradability is good and even one of the M.2 slots is for Gen 5 NVMe drives. The port selection remains decent at best.The base display is a 1200p unit with a 144Hz refresh rate. If you can stretch your wallet, you [...]

Read the full review

Pros

Good gaming performance
2x SODIMMs + 2x M.2 slot (one is for Gen 5 SSDs)
1600p resolution + 240Hz refresh rate (CMN162F)
PWM-free (CMN162F)
Full sRGB and 98% DCI-P3 coverage + accurate color with our "Design and Gaming" profile (CMN162F)
High max brightness (510 cd/m2) and fast pixel response times (9 ms) for an IPS panel (CMN162F)
Superb 24-Zone RGB Gaming keyboard with long key travel, NumPad, and big Arrow keys
Solid build quality
High GPU clocks (~2400 MHz) under gaming given the 115W TGP
The MSI Center offers plenty of customizations
4 USB ports + HDMI 2.1
Decent battery life for a 65Wh capacity
Quality audio
MUX switch
The fan noise isn't intrusive in "Extreme Performance" mode

Cons

Bulky
Low CPU clocks (~2.70 GHz / 2.10 GHz for the P and E cores) and power limit (80W) under any kind of load
Plastic chassis
No G-Sync or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus support
Three Gen 1 Type-A ports

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