MSI Katana 15 HX B14WFK-487 / ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 18 (2024) G834JYR

MSI Katana 15 HX B14WFK-487: B14WFK-487 (Germany): Core i7-14650HX, RTX 5060 Laptop GPU, 16 GB DDR5, 512 GB, 15.6-inch FHD 144 Hz, Core Black. The family’s QHD 165 Hz B14WFK US SKUs and the RTX 5070 B14WGK versions are separate configurations.

ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 18 (2024) G834JYR: G834JYR-R6125X: Intel Core i9-14900HX, GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop GPU 16 GB (175 W = 150 W + 25 W Dynamic Boost), 18-inch 2.5K 240 Hz Mini LED display, 2 × 32 GB DDR5-5600, 2 TB + 2 TB SSD (RAID 0), Windows 11 Pro. The RTX 4080 G834JZR, the 2023 SCAR 18 (G834JY) and the 2025 SCAR 18 (G835L) are separate models; memory and SSD capacity depend on the retail SKU.

SpecificationMSI Katana 15 HX B14WFK-487ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 18 (2024) G834JYR
Release year20252024
ProcessorIntel Core i7-14650HX; 16 cores, up to 5.2 GHz, 30 MB cache

Raptor Lake-HX Refresh generation; 8 performance and 8 efficient cores, 24 threads. There is no separate NPU for AI.

MSI		Intel Core i9-14900HX: 24 cores (8 P + 16 E), 32 threads, 2.2 GHz, up to 5.8 GHz, 36 MB cache

P-cores handle games and single-threaded loads, E-cores take background and multi-core work.

ASUS
GraphicsNVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Laptop GPU, 8 GB GDDR7; up to 115 W with Dynamic Boost; boost up to 2497 MHz

The laptop RTX 5060 is not the same card as the desktop RTX 5060; NVIDIA lists 45–100 W for the laptop version, and MSI reaches 115 W by shifting an extra 15 W with Dynamic Boost. That is the top power class for the RTX 5060 Laptop GPU; performance depends on cooling and power mode. MSI quotes 572 AI TOPS.

MSI		NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop GPU, 16 GB GDDR6; 2090 MHz ROG Boost at 175 W (2040 MHz boost + 50 MHz OC; 150 W + 25 W Dynamic Boost)

175 W is the maximum GPU power when Dynamic Boost borrows budget from the CPU; the base sits at the top of NVIDIA’s 80–150 W range for this GPU. The laptop GPU is not the same product as the desktop RTX 4090.

ASUS
Display15.6-inch Full HD (1920 × 1080), 144 Hz, IPS-level wide-view panel, thin bezel, anti-glare

144 Hz shows game motion more smoothly at up to 144 frames per second. US versions of the same family use a 165 Hz QHD panel; this SKU is Full HD.

MSI		18-inch ROG Nebula HDR, 2560 × 1600 (16:10) Mini LED; 240 Hz, 3 ms; 100% DCI-P3; anti-glare; G-Sync; Pantone Validated

Mini LED backlighting dims and lights zones behind the LCD so dark areas look deeper in HDR. 240 Hz means motion at up to 240 frames per second in suitable games; G-Sync matches refresh to frame rate to reduce tearing. 100% DCI-P3 covers the cinema colour space.

ASUS
Memory16 GB DDR5-5600 (2 × 8 GB, dual channel); 2 SO-DIMM slots, up to 96 GB

The two modules run in dual channel; because the slots are socketed, memory can be upgraded later.

MSI		2 × 32 GB DDR5-5600 SO-DIMM (64 GB), dual channel; up to 64 GB

Both slots are populated; the modules are not soldered. ASUS notes memory speed can vary with the CPU.

ASUS
Storage512 GB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD; 1 × M.2 PCIe 4.0 x4 slot

This SKU has a single M.2 slot; to add storage the installed SSD has to be replaced with a larger one.

MSI		2 TB + 2 TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD (RAID 0); two M.2 PCIe slots (both used)

RAID 0 joins the two SSDs into one drive for speed and capacity; if one SSD fails, all data in the array can be lost. ASUS says only single-sided SSDs are supported because of components near the M.2 slot.

ASUS
Ports1 × USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gb/s, DisplayPort and USB-PD 3.0 up to 100 W); 3 × USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gb/s); HDMI 2.1 (4K 120 Hz, 8K 60 Hz); Gigabit LAN; 3.5 mm combo audio

The USB-C port can drive an external display and accept up to 100 W USB-PD charging; a 240 W adapter is supplied. There is no Thunderbolt or card reader.

MSI		1 × Thunderbolt 4 (40 Gbit/s, DisplayPort / G-SYNC), 1 × USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C (10 Gbit/s, DisplayPort / power delivery / G-SYNC), 2 × USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A (10 Gbit/s), 1 × HDMI 2.1 FRL, 1 × 2.5G LAN, 3.5 mm audio

Thunderbolt 4 can also connect an external GPU enclosure or dock. The RJ45 port does not support Power over Ethernet, only data.

ASUS
WirelessIntel Wi-Fi 6E AX211; Bluetooth 5.3 MSIWi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) triple band 2×2, Bluetooth 5.2

Wi-Fi 6E can use the less congested 6 GHz band with a suitable router; ASUS notes the band may be unavailable in some countries.

ASUS
CoolingCooler Boost 5 dual-fan cooling MSI—
Keyboard, camera and audio4-zone RGB gaming keyboard with numpad and Copilot key; 120 × 75 mm Precision touchpad; 720p 30 fps webcam; stereo speakers, Nahimic 3 MSI—
Battery and adapter75 Wh, 4-cell lithium polymer (internal); 240 W external adapter MSI—
Size and weight359 × 262 × 25.5 mm (excluding feet); 2.4 kg MSI39.9 × 29.4 × 2.31–3.08 cm; 3.10 kg ASUS
Operating systemWindows 11 Home MSIWindows 11 Pro ASUS
Warranty2 years with pick-up and return service; optional 1- or 2-year extension

These terms are for the German SKU; warranty may differ in other countries.

MSI		—
Graphics switching—MUX Switch + NVIDIA Advanced Optimus

The MUX connects the display directly to the RTX GPU to cut latency in games; Advanced Optimus can switch without a restart.

ASUS
Keyboard and lighting—Per-key RGB backlit chiclet keyboard; Aura Sync rear glow, logo and light bar ASUS
Audio and camera—4 speakers with Smart Amp, Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res certification for headphones, AI noise cancelling, array microphone; 720p HD camera ASUS
Battery and power—90 Wh, 4-cell lithium-ion; 330 W AC adapter (20 V, 16.5 A, ø6.0 mm) and 100 W USB-C adapter

Full performance needs the 330 W adapter; the 100 W USB-C adapter is for light use and charging on the go. ASUS says the battery can reach 50% in 30 minutes with the proper adapter while the laptop is shut down. Bundled adapters can vary by country.

ASUS
Security—Firmware TPM, BIOS administrator and user password ASUS