MSI Bravo 15 C7U review – well-performing device with good cooling and refreshed Zen 3+ CPUs

Name: MSI Bravo 15
Brand: MSI

LaptopMedia.com Reviews and Analysis MSI Bravo 15 C7U review - well-performing device with good cooling and refreshed Zen 3+ CPUs Page 11

From: Nikolay Palaozov 31 July 2023 / 18:48 0

11. Verdict

10. MSI Center Previous page Next page

Verdict

MSI has done a good job with the Bravo 15 C7U. The hardware platform here is the smart choice when it comes to price / performance ratio. The refreshed Zen 3+ CPUs are still powerful enough for modern games and even for photo and video editing if the cooling solution is good (like the one in this machine). In addition, these chips are quite efficient – the battery of our laptop has a modest capacity of just 53.5Wh but its juice is enough for 7 hours and 42 minutes of Web browsing or 7 hours and 9 minutes of video playback.

The GeForce RTX 3050 (Laptop, 75W, 6GB) is kind of a new video card that we start to see a bit often in 2023. Despite the 96-bit bus, the increased TMU and shader count compared to the 4GB version of the RTX 3050 leads to good gaming performance. The tested 6GB version of the graphics card is faster in Gears 5 and Assassin’s Creed Valhalla on Ultra details compared to the 95W model of the GeForce RTX 3050 Ti which speaks a lot. Despite the narrow memory bus, this GPU is a better choice than its 4GB sibling for newer and heavier games where the VRAM size is very important.

We like the view when the bottom panel is removed because this reveals the two SODIMMs for up to 64GB of DDR5-4800MHz and the two M.2 slots compatible with Gen 4 SSD. In addition, the cooling system is surprisingly massive for a not-so-pricey laptop. It comprises four heat pipes shared between the CPU and the GPU, and a pair of two pipes is dedicated to the graphics memory and the VRMs. Great!

The cooling is capable enough to handle ~1780MHz core clock and 75W TGP for the video card and 3.75 GHz @ 65W for the CPU in prolonged periods of gaming or in other heavy load like video rendering. The thermals are also under control. The fans of this device should be quality models because despite the fact that they are spinning quite fast in Auto mode (~4500 RPM) the noise is okay for a gaming notebook. You can fine-tune the fans’ speed because you have a manual fan mode at your disposal. The fans aren’t spinning when the processor’s temperature is under ~54°C. The noise is okay even when the Cooler Boost function is turned on for the maximum possible RPM which leads to lowered CPU and GPU temperatures. During gaming, the hotspot on the keyboard is at its center so the WASD zone isn’t too hot. The same applies to the palm rest area so you can use the device comfortably while playing your favorite titles.

The 15.6″ IPS display (Innolux N156HRA-EA1 (CMN1521)) has a 144Hz refresh rate and it’s PWM-free. Not bad considering the price of this machine. Well, the sRGB color coverage isn’t great but it’s not the most important thing when it comes to gaming laptops. The notebook boasts a MUX switch so you can disable the iGPU and unleash the full power of the discrete card. The 4-zone RGB keyboard is good for both typing and gaming – it has clicky feedback and decent key travel (and a NumPad). The touchpad isn’t big but offers smooth gliding and great accuracy. The I/O is adequate – 2x USB Type-A 3.2 (Gen. 1) ports, one USB Type-C 3.2 (Gen. 1) with Display Port Capabilities, and an HDMI 2.1 that supports 8K external displays sound decent for a device like this one. Still, no SD card and Thunderbolt here but that’s okay for this price range.

The build quality is alright. Expectedly, the build is plastic but the used material is sturdy and the device feels rigid enough for daily usage, gaming, and harsh typing. We observed some flexes on the lid but nothing too serious while the base feels stable.

Overall, the MSI Bravo 15 C7U is a great gaming device for the masses that isn’t too pricey. The capable hardware (for the price range), the 144Hz display, and the comfortable keyboard are one of the things that should attract buyers who don’t want to spend a fortune on a new gaming laptop.

You can check the prices and configurations in our Specs System: https://laptopmedia.com/series/msi-bravo-15-b7ex-c7vx-c7ux/