MSI Katana 15 HX B14WFK-487 / MSI Vector A18 HX A9WIG-223US

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.

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.

SpecificationMSI Katana 15 HX B14WFK-487MSI Vector A18 HX A9WIG-223US
Release year20252025
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		AMD 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
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 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
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 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
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 (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
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		1 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
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		2 × 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
WirelessIntel Wi-Fi 6E AX211; Bluetooth 5.3 MSIMediaTek Wi-Fi 7; Bluetooth 5.4 MSI
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 MSI4-cell 99.9 Wh lithium-ion; 400 W adapter

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

MSI
Size and weight359 × 262 × 25.5 mm (excluding feet); 2.4 kg MSI404 × 307.5 × 24–32.05 mm; 3.6 kg MSI
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		—
Keyboard and camera—SteelSeries 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
Audio—4 × 2 W speakers; array microphone MSI
Operating system and warranty—Windows 11 Home; 1-year limited warranty (including 1-year global coverage) MSI