MSI Titan 18 HX (2024)
| Manufacturer | MSI |
|---|---|
| Release date | January 2024 |
| Introductory price | USD 5399 |
| Discontinued | No |
| Operating system | Windows 11 Pro |
| CPU | Intel Core i9-14900HX |
| Memory | 64 GB (2x32) or 128 GB (4x32) DDR5-5600 Mhz SODIMM (supports up to 192 GB) |
| Memory slots | 4 user accessible |
| Storage | 2 TB or 4 TB (2x2 TB) M.2 2280 NVME |
| Storage slots | 3 user accessible |
| Removable storage | SD7.0 |
| Display | Screen size: 18 inch Panel type: Mini-LED or IPS Coating: Matte (anti-glare) Resolution: 3840 x 2400 or 2560 x 1600 PPI: 264 or 188 Aspect ratio: 16:10 Refresh rate: 120 or 240 Hz Brightness: 550 to 1100 Nits DCI-P3: 100 % VRR: No Screen-to-body ratio: 89 % |
| Graphics | Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop 16 GB GDDR6 175 W w/ Dynamic Boost |
| Sound | 4 x 2 W stereo w/ 2 x 2 W woofers, Sound by Dynaudio |
| Camera | Front: 1080p with IR and physical shutter |
| Touchpad | Haptic feedback, 5.1 inches (13 cm) x 3.2 inches (8.1 cm) |
| Connectivity | Killer WiFi 7 BE1750 Bluetooth 5.4 3 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 (Type-A) 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 (Type-C, Thunderbolt 4, DP 1.4, 100W PD) 1 x HDMI 2.1 1 x Ethernet (2.5 Gbps) 1 x 3.5mm headphone/microphone jack 1 x SD7.0 card reader |
| Dimensions | W: 15.9 inches (40 cm) D: 12.08 inches (30.7 cm) H: 1.26 inches (3.2 cm) |
| Mass | 7.93 pounds (3.60 kg) |
| Power brick | 400W slim 3-pin proprietary AC adapter (US) |
| Battery | 4 cell Li-Polymer 99.9 Wh |
| Keyboard | Per-key RGB backlit, black (US) Standard full size layout |
| Chassis | Color: Core Black Materials: Magnesium-aluminum alloy Cooling: Dual 70 mm fans, vapor chamber, liquid metal on CPU |
| Number pad | Full size |
| Fingerprint reader | No |
| Facial recognition | Yes |
| Predecessor | MSI Titan GT77 (2023) |
| 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.
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The MSI Titan 18 HX (2024) is a high-end gaming laptop designed for enthusiasts and power users. It features Intel's 14th gen Raptor Lake-HX processors and Nvidia's top-tier RTX 4090 Laptop GPU. The Titan 18 HX is known for its premium build quality, extensive port selection, and high-performance components.[1]
Primary Hardware
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Processor
The MSI Titan 18 HX (2024) is equipped with the Intel Core i9-14900HX processor, which features 24 cores (8 P-cores + 16 E-cores) and 32 threads, with a base frequency of 1.6 GHz and a maximum turbo frequency of 5.8 GHz. The processor is designed to handle high-power loads, making it suitable for demanding gaming and productivity tasks.[1]
Reviewers have noted that the CPU allows for high power limits and excellent performance, but it can get very hot, occasionally reaching temperatures between 85-95°C.[2] The CPU consistently runs at 170-180W in demanding loads, providing high performance but also contributing to thermal challenges.[3]
Benchmarks:
- Cinebench R23:
- GeekBench 6.0.2:
Graphics
The Titan 18 HX is equipped with the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop GPU, which features 16 GB of GDDR6 memory and a maximum TGP of 175W with Dynamic Boost. This GPU is designed to deliver top-tier gaming performance, comparable to desktop RTX 4090 GPUs.[1]
Reviewers have praised the GPU's performance, noting that it performs exceptionally well in gaming and other GPU-intensive tasks. The GPU runs at Nvidia's 175-watt limit without issues, providing excellent gaming performance.[4] However, the lack of G-Sync and Advanced Optimus is considered a significant drawback for a gaming laptop of this price.[2]
Benchmarks:
Memory
The Titan 18 HX can be configured with either 64 GB (2x32) or 128 GB (4x32) of DDR5-5600 MHz memory. The laptop supports up to 192 GB of RAM across four SODIMM slots.[1]
Reviewers have noted that while the high capacity is impressive, the memory runs at DDR5-3600 by default due to Intel's memory controller limits. Attempts to increase the speed to DDR5-4800 were unsuccessful.[4] The memory performance is high, but not the fastest available.[2]
Benchmarks:
Storage
The Titan 18 HX can be configured with either 2 TB or 4 TB (2x2 TB) of NVMe SSD storage. The laptop features three M.2 slots, with two slots populated in the 4 TB configuration.[1]
Reviewers have praised the storage performance, noting that the RAID 0 configuration provides extremely fast transfer rates, approaching 13,000 MB/s.[5] However, the RAID 0 configuration also means that data loss can occur if one drive fails.[4]
Benchmarks:
Co-processors
The Titan 18 HX does not feature any specific co-processors.[1]
Input Devices
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Keyboard
The Titan 18 HX features a mechanical keyboard with Cherry MX ultra-low profile switches and per-key RGB backlighting. The keyboard includes a full-size number pad and offers excellent travel and feedback.[1]
Reviewers have praised the typing experience, noting that the mechanical switches provide a tactile feel. However, the keys are loud and may not be suitable for quiet environments.[5] The keyboard layout is well-designed, with additional features like FN lock and volume controls.[2]
Touchpad
The Titan 18 HX comes with a haptic feedback touchpad that measures 5.1 inches (13 cm) x 3.2 inches (8.1 cm) and features RGB lighting.[1]
Reviewers have noted that while the touchpad has a sleek design, it is less practical for multi-touch inputs. The haptic feedback can be frustrating, and the touchpad is difficult to click and drag.[4]
Webcam
The Titan 18 HX features a 1080p webcam with IR support for Windows Hello and a physical privacy shutter.[1]
Reviewers have noted that the webcam provides good image quality, with decent detail and color representation. However, brightness issues have been noted in some reviews.[5]
Microphone
The Titan 18 HX features an integrated microphone with the webcam.[1]
Reviewers have noted that the microphone provides decent quality for video calls and other uses.[3]
Output Devices
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Display
The Titan 18 HX is available with two display options:
- 18" UHD+ (3840x2400) 120Hz Mini LED HDR 1000, 100% DCI-P3[1]
- 18" QHD+ (2560x1600) 240Hz IPS-Level Panel, 100% DCI-P3[1]
Reviewers have praised the display quality, noting that the Mini LED display is extremely bright, with a peak brightness of over 1100 nits in HDR mode and around 670 nits in SDR mode.[4] The display also offers excellent color accuracy, covering 100% of the DCI-P3 color gamut.[5] However, the lack of G-Sync is considered a drawback for a gaming laptop.[2]
Benchmarks:
Audio
The Titan 18 HX features a sound system by Dynaudio, with four 2W speakers and two 2W woofers.[1]
Reviewers have noted that the speakers are very loud, reaching up to 94 dB. However, the audio quality is not the best for the price range, with muddled bass and mids.[2][3]
Connectivity
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WiFi
The Titan 18 HX is equipped with a Killer WiFi 7 BE1750 module, which supports the latest WiFi 7 standard.[1]
Reviewers have noted that the WiFi performance is solid, with no connectivity issues and high transfer speeds.[3]
Benchmarks:
Bluetooth
The Titan 18 HX comes with a Bluetooth 5.4 module.[1]
SD Card Reader
The Titan 18 HX includes an SD7.0 card reader.[1]
Reviewers have noted that the card reader performance is average, with transfer speeds slower than some competitors.[5]
Benchmarks:
USB
The Titan 18 HX is equipped with the following USB ports[1]:
- 3 x USB-A (USB 3.2 Gen 2, 10 Gbps)
- 2 x USB-C (USB 3.2 Gen 2, 10 Gbps, Thunderbolt 4, DisplayPort 1.4, 100W Power Delivery)
Reviewers have praised the comprehensive port selection, noting that it provides excellent connectivity options.[3]
Display Outputs
The Titan 18 HX comes with the following display outputs[1]:
- 2 x USB-C with DisplayPort 1.4, Thunderbolt 4
- 1 x HDMI 2.1
Reviewers have noted that the display outputs support high resolutions and refresh rates, making it suitable for connecting to external monitors.[3]
Case
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The Titan 18 HX features a magnesium-aluminum alloy chassis with a Core Black finish. The laptop is designed to be sturdy and robust, with a premium build quality.[1]
Reviewers have noted that the build quality is high, with a rigid and firm design. However, the laptop is large and heavy, weighing 7.93 lbs, which makes it less portable.[3][4] The design could be improved, as it is prone to fingerprints and slightly thicker than some competitors.[5]
Maintenance
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The bottom panel of the Titan 18 HX is secured by 12 Phillips screws, making it relatively easy to open for maintenance and upgrades.[5]
Upgradeable components:[5]
- 99.9 WHr battery
- Three M.2 2280 PCIe4 x4 SSDs (most configurations have two slots filled from the factory)
- Four DDR5-5600 SODIMMs (most configurations have two or four slots filled from the factory)
- M.2 2230 wireless card
Cooling System
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The Titan 18 HX is equipped with an advanced cooling system that includes dual 70 mm fans, a vapor chamber, and liquid metal on the CPU.[1]
Reviewers have noted that the cooling system is effective but results in high CPU temperatures, especially during demanding tasks. The fans can be very loud, especially in Extreme Performance mode.[3][4]
Heat
Surface temperatures vary depending on the configuration and load.
Reviewers have noted that the CPU can get very hot, occasionally reaching temperatures between 85-95°C. The GPU temperatures are more manageable, typically around 75-80°C.[2][3]
Benchmarks:
Noise
The Titan 18 HX is known for its loud fan noise, especially in Extreme Performance mode. The fans can reach noise levels of up to 63 dB.[2][5]
Benchmarks:
Energy Management
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Power Consumption
The Titan 18 HX ships with a 400W AC adapter.[1]
Reviewers have noted that the laptop has high power consumption, especially with the 4K display.Both the CPU and GPU draw significant power during demanding tasks, with the CPU consistently running at 170-180W and the GPU at 175W with Dynamic Boost.[3][4]
Benchmarks:
Battery Life
The Titan 18 HX is equipped with a 99.9 WHr Li-Polymer battery.[1]
Reviewers have noted that the battery life is short, typical for high-performance gaming laptops. The laptop can last around 3-4 hours during light tasks and about 1 hour during gaming.[3][4]
Benchmarks:
- WiFi Websurfing: ~4h 12min[5]
- Load: ~1h 12min[5]
- Text editing: ~4h[3]
- 1080p video: ~4-5h[3]
- Netflix 4K HDR: ~4-5h[3]
- Browsing: ~3h[3]
- Gaming: ~1h[3]
Biometrics
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The Titan 18 HX supports Windows Hello face recognition through its IR camera but does not include a fingerprint reader.[1]
Reviewers have noted that the face unlock feature is effective and provides a convenient way to log in.[4]
Software
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All SKUs ship with Windows 11 Pro.[1]
Preinstalled Software
MSI Center
The MSI Center acts as the primary control center for the Titan 18 HX. It allows users to manage performance profiles, system updates, and other settings.[3]
SteelSeries GG
The SteelSeries GG software is used for RGB lighting customization and other keyboard settings.[3]
Other Preinstalled Software
The Titan 18 HX also comes with other preinstalled software, including MSI True Color and Nahimic for audio enhancements.[2]
Linux Support
Linux support is not detailed in the reviews, but one reviewer tested Ubuntu 23.10 live CD and noted that most features work except for Wi-Fi and keyboard backlighting.[4]
Accessories & Warranty
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The Titan 18 HX comes with a 400W AC adapter and standard paperwork.[5]
There is a one-year limited manufacturer warranty if purchased in the US.[5]
Reviews Summary
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Overall Sentiment
The MSI Titan 18 HX is considered one of the most powerful gaming laptops available, offering top-tier performance and extensive upgradeability. It is suitable for enthusiasts and power users who require maximum performance and customization options. However, the high price, significant weight, and thermal challenges are notable drawbacks.[2][3][4][5]
Problems Summary[2][3][4][5]
- Lacks G-Sync and Advanced Optimus.
- High CPU temperatures during demanding tasks.
- Loud fan noise, especially in Extreme Performance mode.
- Heavy and large, making it less portable.
- Short battery life.
- Touchpad usability issues.
- Prone to fingerprints.
- Average SD card reader performance.
Links
i9-14900HX, RTX 4090, 128 GB RAM, 4 TB SSD: Gizmosliptech
i9-14900HX, RTX 4090, 64 GB RAM, 2 TB SSD: Ultrabookreview
i9-14900HX, RTX 4090, 128 GB RAM, 4 TB SSD: Jarrod's Tech
i9-14900HX, RTX 4090, 128 GB RAM, 4 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 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 1.21 1.22 1.23 1.24 "Titan 18 HX (2024) 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 "MSI Titan 18HX Review". Gizmosliptech.
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 3.16 3.17 3.18 3.19 3.20 3.21 3.22 3.23 3.24 "MSI Titan 18 HX Review". Ultrabookreview.
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 "MSI Titan 18 Review". Jarrod's Tech.
- ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11 5.12 5.13 5.14 5.15 5.16 5.17 5.18 5.19 5.20 5.21 5.22 5.23 5.24 5.25 5.26 5.27 "MSI Titan 18 HX A14VIG Review". Notebookcheck.