MSI Katana 17 (2023)
| Manufacturer | MSI |
|---|---|
| Release date | January 2023 |
| Discontinued | No |
| Operating system | Windows 11 Home (Can be configured with Windows 11 Pro) |
| CPU | Intel Core i7-13620H |
| Memory | 16 GB DDR5-5200 (supports up to 64 GB) |
| Memory slots | 2 user accessible |
| Storage | 1 TB NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD (supports up to 2 TB) |
| Storage slots | 2 user accessible |
| Display | Screen size: 17.3 inch Panel type: IPS Coating: Matte (anti-glare) Resolution: 1920 x 1080 PPI: 127 Aspect ratio: 16:9 Refresh rate: 144 Hz Brightness: 256 Nits Contrast Ratio |
| Graphics | Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop 6 GB GDDR6 105 W w/ Dynamic Boost Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop 8 GB GDDR6 105 W w/ Dynamic Boost Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop 8 GB GDDR6 105 W w/ Dynamic Boost |
| Sound | 2 x 2 W stereo speakers |
| Camera | Front: 720p with dual microphone |
| Touchpad | 10.5 centimetres (4.1 in) x 6.5 centimetres (2.6 in) |
| Connectivity | Intel AX201 WiFi 6 Bluetooth 5.2 1 x USB 2.0 (Type-A) 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 (Type-A) 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 (Type-C, DP) 1 x HDMI 2.1 1 x Ethernet (RJ45) |
| Dimensions | W: 398 millimetres (15.7 in) D: 273 millimetres (10.7 in) H: 25.2 millimetres (0.99 in) |
| Mass | 2.6 kilograms (5.7 lb) |
| Power brick | 200W slim 3-pin proprietary AC adapter (US) |
| Battery | 3 cell Li-Polymer 53.5 Wh |
| Keyboard | 4 zone RGB backlit |
| Chassis | Color: Black Materials: Plastic Cooling: Dual-fan cooling system |
| Number pad | Yes |
| Fingerprint reader | No |
| Facial recognition | No |
| Website | MSI |
All statements attributed to reviews are the reviewer's own opinion. Note that these claims were accurate at the time of publication and may be dated when you are reading this article. Read more.
This section was written by AI and requires review. Remove this after review.
The MSI Katana 17 (2023) is a mid-range gaming laptop designed to offer a balance between performance and price. It is equipped with Intel's 13th Gen processors and Nvidia's RTX 4000 series GPUs, making it suitable for gaming and productivity tasks. Available configurations vary by store and location.[1]
Primary Hardware
This section was written by AI and requires review. Remove this after review.
Processor
The MSI Katana 17 (2023) can come with the following processor[1]:
- Intel Core i7-13620H with 10 cores (6 P-cores + 4 E-cores) and 16 threads, 24 MB cache and a max frequency of 4.9 Ghz for P-cores and 3.6 Ghz for E-cores.
The Intel Core i7-13620H is part of the Raptor Lake-H series and is positioned as an entry-level i7 model. It performs well, sitting between the i7-12700H and i9-13950HX in terms of performance, making it suitable for gaming and productivity tasks.[2]
Benchmarks:
- Cinebench R15 Multi: ~2295 pts
- Cinebench R23 Multi: ~15496 pts
- Cinebench R20 Multi: ~5905 pts
- Geekbench 5.5 Multi-Core: ~11647 pts
- Blender Benchmark (v2.79 BMW27 CPU): ~215 seconds
Graphics
In addition to the integrated Intel UHD Graphics, the Katana 17 (2023) ships with the following discrete GPUs[1]:
- Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop GPU with 6 GB GDDR6 memory, 2355 Mhz boost clock, and 105 W Total Graphics Power (TGP).
- Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU with 8 GB GDDR6 memory, 2250 Mhz boost clock, and 105 W TGP.
- Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU with 8 GB GDDR6 memory, 1980 Mhz boost clock, and 105 W TGP.
All configurations support Dynamic Boost technology.
The RTX 4060 performs well in gaming, slightly outperforming the RTX 3070 Ti, and is capable of handling modern games at high settings.[2] The RTX 4070 and RTX 4050 also offer competitive performance for their respective tiers, with the RTX 4070 being the most powerful option available for this model.
Benchmarks[2]:
- 3DMark Fire Strike: ~27681 pts
- 3DMark Time Spy: ~10299 pts
- Blender Benchmark (v3.3 Classroom OPTIX/RTX): ~25 seconds
- 3DMark 11 Performance: ~30831 pts
- 3DMark Vantage P Result: ~90275 pts
Memory
The Katana 17 (2023) supports up to 64 GB of DDR5-5200 memory across two SO-DIMM slots.[1] Pre-configured SKUs come with 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR5-5200 RAM, which supports good multitasking and gaming performance.
Benchmarks[2]:
- AIDA64 Memory Copy: ~53601 MB/s
- AIDA64 Memory Read: ~61735 MB/s
- AIDA64 Memory Write: ~52922 MB/s
Storage
The Katana 17 (2023) can ship with up to 2 TB of NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD storage. The reviewed configuration includes a 1 TB Micron 2400 NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD, which offers decent storage capacity and speed, although it is slower compared to some competitors.
Benchmarks[2]:
- Sequential Read: ~3920 MB/s
- Sequential Write: ~3007 MB/s
- AS SSD Score Total: ~6311 pts
- DiskSpd Sequential Read: ~4719 MB/s
- DiskSpd Sequential Write: ~3629 MB/s
Co-processors
The MSI Katana 17 (2023) does not include any dedicated co-processors.[1]
Input Devices
This section was written by AI and requires review. Remove this after review.
Keyboard
The Katana 17 (2023) features a chiclet keyboard with multi-level RGB backlighting (four zones) and 1.7 mm key travel. The keyboard includes a highlighted WASD key area, which is beneficial for gaming.[2]
The typing experience is good, but the layout is somewhat awkward with a small numeric keypad and misplaced keys, which may hinder usability for some users.[2]
Touchpad
The touchpad measures 10.5 centimetres (4.1 in) x 6.5 centimetres (2.6 in).[2]
The touchpad is smaller than average for a laptop of this size. The surface could be smoother, but the click mechanism is satisfactory and provides a good tactile response.[2]
Webcam
The Katana 17 (2023) comes with a 720p webcam.[1]
The webcam delivers a typical low-quality image with noise and lack of sharpness, making it suitable for casual video calls but not for professional streaming.[2]
Microphone
The Katana 17 (2023) includes an integrated microphone.[1]
The microphone quality is adequate for video calls and basic recording tasks, but may not meet the needs of professional users.[2]
Output Devices
This section was written by AI and requires review. Remove this after review.
Display
The Katana 17 (2023) features a 17.3-inch, 1920 x 1080 pixel, IPS LED display with a 144 Hz refresh rate.[1]
The display is bright but has poor color accuracy and high response times, which may affect the gaming experience.[2]
Benchmarks[2]:
- Brightness: ~256 cd/m²
- Contrast: ~1271:1
- ΔE Color: ~4.7
- Color Gamut: ~61% sRGB, ~42.2% AdobeRGB, ~40.8% Display P3
Audio
The Katana 17 (2023) comes with two 2W stereo speakers.[1]
The speakers are loud but lack bass, making headphones a better option for gaming and media consumption.[2]
Connectivity
This section was written by AI and requires review. Remove this after review.
WiFi
The Katana 17 (2023) is equipped with an Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201 module.[1]
The Wi-Fi solution provides stable connectivity but lacks the latest Wi-Fi 6E standard.[2]
Benchmarks[2]:
- iperf3 transmit: ~1569 MBit/s
- iperf3 receive: ~1675 MBit/s
Bluetooth
The Katana 17 (2023) comes with a Bluetooth 5.2 module.[1]
SD Card Reader
The Katana 17 (2023) does not include an SD card reader.[1]
USB
The Katana 17 (2023) is equipped with the following USB ports[1]:
- 1 x USB 2.0 (Type-A)
- 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 (Type-A)
- 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 (Type-C) with DisplayPort
- 1 x HDMI 2.1
- 1 x RJ45
Case
This section was written by AI and requires review. Remove this after review.
The Katana 17 (2023) features a plastic case with a matte gray finish. The design is typical for gaming laptops, with a solid build but some flex in the palm rest.[2] The laptop feels sturdy overall, but the plastic construction may not appeal to all users.
Maintenance
This section was written by AI and requires review. Remove this after review.
The bottom panel is held on by 13 screws and clips for access.[2]
Upgradeable components:[2]
- 53.5 WHr battery.
- Two M.2 PCIe4 x4 SSDs (most configurations only have one slot filled from the factory).
- Two DDR5-5200 SODIMMs (most configurations only have one slot filled from the factory).
Cooling System
This section was written by AI and requires review. Remove this after review.
The Katana 17 (2023) is equipped with a dual-fan cooling system designed to keep temperatures in check during gaming sessions.[2]
Heat
The laptop remains cool during use, with palm rest temperatures staying low, making it comfortable for extended gaming sessions.[2]
Noise
The laptop is quiet during idle but can get loud under load, reaching up to 59 dB(A), which may be bothersome for sensitive users.[2]
Energy Management
This section was written by AI and requires review. Remove this after review.
Power Consumption
The Katana 17 (2023) ships with a 240 W AC adapter.[1] The laptop consumes around 85.22 W under load, which is typical for gaming laptops.[2]
Battery Life
The Katana 17 (2023) comes with a 53.5 WHr Li-Polymer battery. The battery lasts around 3 hours during WiFi web surfing, which is below average for laptops in this category.[2]
Biometrics
This section was written by AI and requires review. Remove this after review.
The Katana 17 (2023) does not support Windows Hello face recognition and does not have a fingerprint reader.[1]
Software
This section was written by AI and requires review. Remove this after review.
All SKUs ship with Windows 11 Home but the laptop can be upgraded to Windows 11 Pro, either manually or when buying directly from MSI.[1]
Preinstalled Software
MSI Center
The MSI Center program acts as the primary control center in the Katana 17 (2023). It provides additional features for system management and audio enhancement.[2]
Nahimic
The Nahimic software provides audio enhancement features.[2]
Other Preinstalled Software
The Katana 17 (2023) also comes with a one-month subscription to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate / PC Game Pass.[1]
Linux Support
Linux support is limited, as the laptop is primarily designed for Windows.[2]
Accessories & Warranty
This section was written by AI and requires review. Remove this after review.
The Katana 17 (2023) comes with a 240 W AC adapter and paperwork.[2]
There is a one-year limited manufacturer warranty if purchased in the US.[2]
Reviews Summary
This section was written by AI and requires review. Remove this after review.
Overall Sentiment
The MSI Katana 17 (2023) is considered a solid mid-range gaming laptop with high CPU and GPU performance relative to competitors. It is suitable for gamers looking for a balance between performance and price. The primary downsides are the subpar display, low battery life, and somewhat awkward keyboard layout.[2]
Problems Summary[2]
- Subpar display with poor color accuracy and high response times.
- Low battery life.
- Somewhat awkward keyboard layout.
- Small touchpad.
- No SD card reader.
- Plastic construction may not appeal to all users.
- Loud under load.
Links
i7-13620H, RTX 4060, 16 GB RAM, 1 TB SSD: NoteBookCheck
Community Reception
Overall Sentiment
Problems Summary
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 "Katana 17 (2023) Specifications". MSI.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 2.19 2.20 2.21 2.22 2.23 2.24 2.25 2.26 2.27 2.28 2.29 2.30 "MSI Katana 17 B13V laptop review: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 makes its debut". NotebookCheck.