MSI Vector A18 HX A9WIG-223US / ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024) GU605MV

MSI Vector A18 HX A9WIG-223US: Vector A18 HX A9WIG-223US: Ryzen 9 9955HX, RTX 5080 Laptop GPU 16 GB, 32 GB DDR5, 1 TB SSD, 18-inch QHD+ 240 Hz, Cosmo Gray. The A9WIG-076US comes with 64 GB / 2 TB and Windows 11 Pro; the RTX 5070 Ti A9WHG and other display options are separate SKUs.

ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024) GU605MV: GU605MV-QP176X: Intel Core Ultra 9 185H, GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU 8 GB (100 W), 32 GB LPDDR5X, 2 TB SSD, 16-inch 2.5K 240 Hz IPS-level display. The OLED QR versions, GU605MI (RTX 4070), GU605MY (RTX 4090) and the AMD-based GA605 are separate models.

SpecificationMSI Vector A18 HX A9WIG-223USASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024) GU605MV
Release year20252024
ProcessorAMD Ryzen 9 9955HX; 16 cores / 32 threads, 2.5–5.4 GHz

This is the Zen 5 version with 64 MB of L3 cache; the 9955HX3D with 128 MB of cache is a separate processor. AMD gives a 55 W default TDP with a 55–75 W configurable range.

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 is a separate unit for running AI tasks at low power. Intel lists 45 W base and 115 W maximum turbo power for this processor.

ASUS
GraphicsNVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop GPU, 16 GB GDDR7; up to 175 W with Dynamic Boost; boost up to 2287 MHz

The laptop RTX 5080 is a different chip from the desktop RTX 5080. 175 W is the top power limit for this GPU; with MSI OverBoost Ultra the combined CPU and GPU power reaches 260 W. The GPU is soldered and cannot be replaced.

MSI
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU, 8 GB GDDR6; ROG Boost 1940 MHz at 100 W (85 W + 15 W Dynamic Boost)

Because of the thin chassis, the power limit is lower than in thicker gaming laptops that run the same GPU at up to 140 W, which can mean lower frame rates under load. The GPU is soldered.

ASUS
Display18-inch 16:10 QHD+ (2560 × 1600), 240 Hz, IPS-level panel, 100% DCI-P3

The same family also has SKUs with FHD+ 144/165 Hz, UHD+ 220 Hz and UHD+ Mini LED 120 Hz panels. 240 Hz shows motion more smoothly in fast games, provided the game reaches high frame rates.

MSI
ROG Nebula: 16-inch 2.5K (2560 × 1600) 16:10, IPS-level, anti-glare low-reflection (AGLR); 240 Hz, 3 ms, 100% DCI-P3, G-Sync, Pantone Validated

This QP version uses an IPS-level panel; the QR-coded versions have a 0.2 ms OLED panel.

ASUS
Memory32 GB (2 × 16 GB) DDR5-5600

There are two SO-DIMM slots; MSI supports up to 96 GB. Actual speed depends on the memory combination and the processor.

MSI
32 GB LPDDR5X-7467 soldered on board; not upgradeable

ASUS states there is no memory slot in this configuration; capacity must be chosen at purchase.

ASUS
Storage1 TB NVMe SSD (PCIe Gen4 x4)

Of the two M.2 slots one is PCIe Gen4 and the other PCIe Gen5 compatible; a second SSD can be added.

MSI
2 TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD; 2 × M.2 PCIe slots

The second M.2 slot is for an additional SSD.

ASUS
Ports2 × USB4 Type-C (DisplayPort, Power Delivery 3.1); 3 × USB-A; HDMI 2.1; RJ45 2.5 GbE; SD card reader; headphone/mic jack

MSI describes the USB-C ports as Thunderbolt 4 compatible. HDMI 2.1 outputs 8K at 60 Hz or 4K at 120 Hz. The USB-A generation differs between MSI documents, so it is not given here.

MSI
1 × Thunderbolt 4 (DisplayPort, power delivery, 40 Gbps), 1 × USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C (DisplayPort, power delivery, 10 Gbps), 2 × USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 1 × HDMI 2.1 FRL, SD card reader (UHS-II, 312 MB/s), 3.5 mm audio jack; XG Mobile GC34 support

Both USB‑C ports accept charging. There is no wired network (RJ45) port. XG Mobile GC34 is ASUS’s external graphics enclosure.

ASUS
WirelessMediaTek Wi-Fi 7; Bluetooth 5.4 MSIWi‑Fi 6E (802.11ax) triple-band 2 × 2; Bluetooth 5.2 ASUS
Keyboard and cameraSteelSeries 26-zone RGB keyboard (99 keys, with number pad); IR FHD camera with privacy shutter

The IR camera enables Windows Hello face sign-in.

MSI
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Audio4 × 2 W speakers; array microphone MSI—
Battery and adapter4-cell 99.9 Wh lithium-ion; 400 W adapter

Gaming performance is available on the adapter; power limits drop on battery.

MSI
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Size and weight404 × 307.5 × 24–32.05 mm; 3.6 kg MSI35.4 × 24.6 cm footprint; 1.85 kg

ASUS gives the thickness as 1.49–1.72 cm depending on version.

ASUS
Operating system and warrantyWindows 11 Home; 1-year limited warranty (including 1-year global coverage) MSI—
Graphics switching—MUX Switch + NVIDIA Advanced Optimus ASUS
Keyboard, camera and audio—Single-zone RGB backlit keyboard; 1080p FHD IR camera for Windows Hello; 4 speakers (2 force-cancelling woofers + 2 tweeters), Dolby Atmos, 3 microphones; Slash Lighting on the lid

The IR camera allows Windows sign-in with face recognition. Slash Lighting is the programmable LED strip on the lid.

ASUS
Battery and power—90 Wh, 4-cell lithium-ion; 200 W adapter with rectangular connector; ASUS also lists a 100 W USB‑C adapter

USB‑C charging works, but full performance needs the 200 W adapter. ASUS says included adapters vary by country and model.

ASUS
Operating system—Windows 11 Pro; firmware TPM ASUS