MSI Katana 15 HX B14WFK-487 / ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024) GU605MI-QR194X

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 Zephyrus G16 (2024) GU605MI-QR194X: GU605MI-QR194X: Core Ultra 9 185H, RTX 4070 Laptop GPU 8 GB (105 W = 85 W + 20 W Dynamic Boost), 32 GB LPDDR5X, 2 TB SSD, 240 Hz OLED, Windows 11 Pro; Platinum White in ASUS’s image. The GU605 series spans SKUs from the RTX 4050 to the 4090 and from the Core Ultra 7 155H to the Core Ultra 9 185H; not every GU605MI SKU has the same memory or display.

SpecificationMSI Katana 15 HX B14WFK-487ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024) GU605MI-QR194X
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 Ultra 9 185H: 16 cores, 22 threads, 2.3 GHz base, up to 5.1 GHz, 24 MB cache; Intel AI Boost NPU (up to 11 TOPS)

The NPU runs constant AI tasks such as background blur and noise suppression at low power instead of the CPU/GPU.

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 4070 Laptop GPU, 8 GB GDDR6; ROG Boost 1655 MHz at 105 W (85 W + 20 W Dynamic Boost)

Dynamic Boost shifts a 20 W share of power to the GPU when CPU load is low, so 105 W is a conditional ceiling rather than a constant level. In the same series RTX 4060 SKUs are listed at 100 W and RTX 4080/4090 SKUs at 115 W. The GPU is soldered and cannot be upgraded.

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		16-inch ROG Nebula OLED, 2560 × 1600 (16:10), 240 Hz, 0.2 ms; 100% DCI-P3; G-Sync; Pantone Validated; anti-glare low-reflection (AGLR) coating

G-Sync matches the refresh to the game’s frame rate to reduce tearing. It is not a touchscreen. Some SKUs in the same series use an IPS-level panel.

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		32 GB LPDDR5X 7467 MHz, soldered to the board; dual channel; not expandable

Because memory cannot be added later, capacity has to be chosen at purchase.

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 PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD; 2 M.2 PCIe slots in total (including the one in use)

The second M.2 slot allows an additional SSD.

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 Gb/s, DisplayPort, charging); 1 × USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C (DisplayPort, charging); 2 × USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A; HDMI 2.1 FRL; SD card reader (UHS-II, 312 MB/s); 3.5 mm combo audio

Both USB-C ports support external displays and charging; there is no Ethernet port.

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

ASUS notes that Bluetooth features may vary with the OS and drivers.

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 MSI35.4 × 24.6 × 1.49–1.64 cm; 1.85 kg ASUS
Operating systemWindows 11 Home MSI—
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		—
MUX and graphics switching—MUX Switch + NVIDIA Advanced Optimus

The MUX switch connects the display directly to the NVIDIA GPU, removing the overhead of routing through the integrated GPU in games; Advanced Optimus makes this switch automatically without a restart.

ASUS
Keyboard, camera and lighting—Single-zone RGB backlit keyboard; 1080p FHD IR camera (Windows Hello); Slash Lighting on the lid

Slash Lighting is a programmable LED strip on the lid, controlled through AURA Sync.

ASUS
Audio—4 speakers with 2 tweeters and dual-force woofers; Smart Amp; Dolby Atmos; Hi-Res (headphones); 3-microphone array with AI noise cancelling ASUS
Battery and power—90 Wh, 4-cell lithium-ion; 200 W adapter with rectangular plug; a 100 W USB-C adapter is also listed

Which adapter is in the box varies by country and model. Full GPU power should not be expected when charging over USB-C.

ASUS
Operating system and security—Windows 11 Pro; firmware TPM; BIOS administrator and user passwords ASUS
In the box—ROG Zephyrus G16 Sleeve (2024), ROG Impact gaming mouse, USB-C 100 W adapter

Accessories may vary by country.

ASUS