MSI Titan 18 HX Review: Incredibly powerful gaming laptop, but expensive!
Today, we delve into the realm of gaming laptops with a closer look at the MSI Titan 18 HX, a true powerhouse engineered to redefine the boundaries of portable gaming.
MSI has long been synonymous with cutting-edge technology, and with the Titan 18 HX, they’ve spared no expense in showing their expertise.
When we think of laptops, we often envision sleek ultrabooks designed for on-the-go productivity. However, the Titan 18 HX laptop transcends conventional notions of portability. It blurs the line between laptop and desktop, resembling more of an “all-in-one” solution than a traditional portable PC. This unique form factor allows MSI to push the boundaries of power in ways rarely seen in this category.
MSI Titan 18 HX: Video Review
| Specs | MSI Titan 18 HX |
| Screen | 18-inch, 3840 x 2400, Mini LED, 120 Hz, HDR 1000 |
| Processor | Intel Core i9-14900HX |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 |
| RAM | 128GB DDR5-5600 (32GB x 4) |
| Storage | 4TB PCIe NVME SSD Gen 4x4 (2TB x 2 in RAID0) |
| Networking | Killer Wi-Fi 7 BE1750x, Bluetooth 5.4 |
| Camera | 1080p, HDR, IR |
| OS | Windows 11 Pro |
| Audio | Sound by Dynaudio, 4x2W Speakers 2W x2W Woofer |
| Battery | 99.99 WHr |
| Power Supply | 400W |
| Keyboard | Cherry Mechanical KB SteelSeries per-Key RGB (99 Key) |
| I/O Ports | 2 x Thunderbolt 4, 3 x USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 2, SD card reader, |
| 3.5 mm headphone jack, HDMI 2.1, Ethernet, lock slot | |
| Dimensions | 15.9 x 12.08 x 1.26 inches (403.86 x 306.83 x 32.0 mm) |
| Weight | 7.93 pounds (3.6 kg) |
| Color | Core Black |
MSI Titan 18 HX: Design
The MSI Titan 18 HX is a formidable powerhouse, designed for those who demand uncompromising performance and functionality. Weighing a hefty 3.6 kilograms and boasting an 18-inch diagonal display with dimensions of 40.4 x 30.75 x 3.2 centimeters, this beast of a machine is not meant for casual carrying in any bag. Instead, it’s a desktop replacement, a PC that finds its home in the office rather than on the go, akin to iMacs rather than MacBooks.
Despite its bulk, the MSI Titan 18 HX exudes a sense of premium quality with its high-end finishes in magnesium and aluminum alloy. The two-tone design adds a touch of charm, although some components, like the clear reinforcement on the back of the PC, may seem less premium compared to others. Nevertheless, the sheer size and presence of the MSI Titan 18 HX make it an imposing and impressive device.
Sporting a mechanical keyboard with Cherry MX Low Profile switches, typing on the MSI Titan 18 HX is a delight. The switches are relatively quiet and precise, offering a pleasant typing experience, although requiring some adjustment time for users accustomed to stiffer keyboards. Additionally, the large fully illuminated touchpad adds a fun element to daily use, with customizable RGB lighting for those who enjoy personalization.
On the back of the device, users will find a proprietary power port, HDMI 2.1 port, and Ethernet port, while the right side features two USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports, a USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 port, and a combo jack. On the left side, there’s a second USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 port along with a full-format SD card reader. With such comprehensive connectivity, there’s little left to desire, although some users may have appreciated USB ports on the back for a cleaner setup.
Display
The MSI Titan 18 HX sets itself apart with its impressive 18-inch diagonal Mini LED panel, boasting a maximum resolution of 3840 x 2400 pixels and a 16:10 aspect ratio. With a refresh rate of 120 Hz, this display offers a stunning visual experience that caters to both productivity and entertainment needs.
Upon closer examination using DisplayCal software, the display’s capabilities shine even brighter. It covers an impressive 119% of the DCI-P3 color space and an outstanding 168% of the sRGB color space, ensuring vibrant and accurate colors across a wide range of content. However, it’s the maximum brightness of 906 cd/m² that truly stands out, guaranteeing excellent visibility in any lighting conditions and allowing users to fully immerse themselves in HDR content. This exceptional brightness is a testament to the advantages of Mini LED technology, which enhances both picture quality and overall viewing experience.
In terms of color accuracy, the MSI Titan 18 HX delivers commendable performance. In DCI-P3 mode, it maintains an average color temperature of 7569K, which may be slightly on the cooler side for some users but still within acceptable bounds. The average Delta E00 of 1.96 indicates minimal color deviation, with a maximum difference of only 3.84 observed on sky blue tones. While finer adjustment options would have been appreciated, especially considering the display’s capabilities, the overall performance of the MSI Titan 18 HX remains impressive, particularly when considering its remarkable maximum brightness.
Webcam
In terms of webcam performance, the MSI Titan 18 HX offers a standard 1080p sensor with an infrared sensor for Windows Hello facial recognition. While adequate for video conferencing, the color reproduction may appear dull, and the image quality slightly noisy, limiting its utility beyond basic communication needs.
Software
The MSI Titan 18 HX comes equipped with the reliable MSI Center software at its core for comprehensive computer management. Known for its user-friendly interface, MSI Center allows users to fine-tune and personalize the performance of their machine to suit their specific needs. Additionally, it harnesses the power of artificial intelligence to dynamically manage system modes in real-time, ensuring optimal performance without compromising efficiency.
We also found another software pre-installed free of charge in the configuration – AI Artist. This pre-installed software offers users the ability to effortlessly generate images from scratch, leveraging the capabilities of artificial intelligence. With AI Artist, users can explore their creativity and produce stunning visual content with ease. Furthermore, the software supports the import of styles and plugins from various free platforms, enhancing its versatility and creative potential.
While the inclusion of AI Artist is undoubtedly a welcome feature, some users may find the presence of adware such as Norton antivirus less desirable. Nevertheless, the attention to providing innovative software solutions demonstrates MSI’s commitment to delivering a well-rounded computing experience that caters to both productivity and creativity.
Performance
The MSI Titan 18 HX is a true powerhouse, boasting cutting-edge hardware. At its heart lies the formidable Intel Core i90-14900HX SoC, featuring an impressive 24 cores – 8 Performance and 16 Efficient – capable of handling 32 threads and turboing up to an astounding 5.8 GHz. Paired with a staggering 128 GB of DDR5 RAM and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 mobile graphics card at its maximum TGP of 175W, the Titan 18 HX leaves no stone unturned in delivering uncompromising performance. MSI’s OverBoost technology further enhances performance by providing a full 270W to the CPU and GPU pair, ensuring that users experience no sacrifice in performance, even under the most demanding workloads.
Storage is equally impressive, with 4 TB of storage provided by two NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSDs set to RAID 0. The Titan 18 HX offers flexibility with three M.2 storage slots: one PCIe Gen 5 and two PCIe Gen 4, allowing for future expansion and customization.
In terms of benchmarks, the Titan 18 HX showcases its superiority in the mobile computing landscape. With a multi-core score of 31,152 points and a single-core score of 2137 points in Cinebench R23, it rivals the performance of high-end desktop processors. PCMark 10 yields a remarkable score of 8400 points, reaffirming its position as the pinnacle of mobile computing performance.
On the GPU side, the RTX 4090 demonstrates its prowess, delivering impressive scores across various benchmarks. With scores ranging from 5,821 points in Speed Way to 10,978 points in Time Spy Extreme, the Titan 18 HX proves that NVIDIA’s mobile GPUs are capable of delivering desktop-grade performance. Additionally, the performance on inference calculations is exceptional, surpassing the capabilities of most modern laptops.
The storage solution provided by MSI’s RAID0 configuration lives up to its promises, delivering exceptional sequential reading speeds of 12,992 MB/s and sequential writing speeds of 10,703 MB/s.
The MSI Titan 18 HX sets a new standard for mobile computing performance, offering unmatched power and versatility for tasks ranging from photo and video processing to gaming and AI applications.
Cooling and noise
The MSI Titan 18 HX impresses not only with its formidable performance but also with its effective cooling system, ensuring that even under heavy loads, the device maintains stable temperatures. The hottest point recorded during testing reached 55°C, a common temperature for gaming laptops.
However, it’s worth noting that the Titan 18 HX can be quite noisy during intensive tasks, particularly when gaming. The fans are audible, and using headphones is recommended for a more immersive experience. Despite the noise, the performance remains consistent across extended gaming sessions, thanks to the efficient cooling system.
Autonomy
When it comes to battery life, the Titan 18 HX is equipped with a substantial 99.9 Wh battery, providing ample power for extended usage. Additionally, the device comes with a proprietary 400W power supply, ensuring that it receives sufficient power for optimal performance.
Users can also take advantage of the Power Delivery compatibility of one of the USB-C ports to recharge the device in case of emergencies. However, it’s important to note that despite the large battery capacity, the Titan 18 HX falls short in terms of battery life. With such a powerful configuration, users can expect between 1 to 2 hours of office use before needing to recharge. This limitation is understandable given the Titan 18 HX’s focus on replacing desktop configurations rather than prioritizing portability.
MSI Titan 18 HX: Conclusion
The MSI Titan 18 HX stands as a testament to MSI’s commitment to creating the most powerful laptop in the world, and it unquestionably succeeds in this mission. This isn’t just a laptop; it’s an all-in-one solution that competes with many desktop configurations, doing so with an impressive level of style and performance.
From its incredibly bright display to its responsive mechanical keyboard, the Titan 18 HX leaves little to be desired in terms of built-in features. With such comprehensive functionality, there’s little need for additional peripherals to complete the user experience.
However, it’s important to note that some aspects of the Titan 18 HX could use refinement, particularly considering its premium price point. While it delivers maximum power across the board and offers wide connectivity options, it’s not without its drawbacks. The laptop can be quite noisy during gaming sessions, which may be a concern for users seeking a quieter experience. Additionally, the battery life is disappointingly short, limiting its portability and making it more suitable for stationary use.
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