MSI Titan 18 HX (2024)

MSI Titan 18 HX (2024)

Manufacturer	MSI
Release date	January 2024 (2024-01)
Introductory price	USD 5399
Discontinued	No
Operating system	Windows 11 Pro
CPU	Intel Core i9-14900HX
Memory	64 GB (2x32) or 128 GB (4x32) DDR5-3600 (supports up to 192 GB)
Memory slots	4 user accessible
Storage	2 TB or 4 TB NVMe SSD Gen4x4
Storage slots	3 user accessible (1x PCIe Gen5, 2x PCIe Gen4)
Removable storage	SD7.0 card reader
Display	Screen size: 18 inch Panel type: Mini LED or IPS Coating: Matte (anti-glare) Resolution: 3840 x 2400 or 2560 x 1600 PPI: 252 Aspect ratio: 16:10 Refresh rate: 120 or 240 Hz Brightness: 550 or 1100 Nits DCI-P3: 100 % VRR: No Screen-to-body ratio:
Graphics	Intel UHD 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 touchpad with RGB lighting
Connectivity	Killer WiFi 7 BE1750 Bluetooth 5.4 3 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 (Type-A) 2 x Thunderbolt 4 (Type-C, DP 1.4, 1 with PD 3.1) 1 x HDMI 2.1 1 x 3.5mm headphone/microphone jack 1 x Ethernet (2.5 Gbps) 1 x SD card reader
Mass	8 pounds (3.6 kg)
Power brick	400W AC adapter
Battery	4 cell Li-Polymer 99.9 Wh
Keyboard	Per-key RGB backlit, Cherry Mechanical KB SteelSeries
Chassis	Color: Core Black Materials: Magnesium aluminum alloy chassis Cooling: Vapor chamber cooler with two fans
Number pad	Full size
Fingerprint reader	No
Facial recognition	Yes (IR camera)
Predecessor	MSI Titan GT77
Website	MSI

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The MSI Titan 18 HX (2024) is a high-end gaming laptop designed for users seeking top-tier performance and customization options. It features the latest Intel Core i9-14900HX processor and Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 GPU, making it one of the most powerful gaming laptops available. The Titan 18 HX is built with a robust magnesium aluminum alloy chassis and offers a range of high-performance components and features.

Primary Hardware

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Processor

The MSI Titan 18 HX (2024) is equipped with the Intel Core i9-14900HX processor, which features 8 performance cores and 16 efficiency cores, totaling 32 threads. The processor operates at a base clock speed of 1.6 GHz and can boost up to 5.8 GHz. It has a PL2 power limit of 238 W for short bursts and a sustained PL1 power limit of 176 W.

Reviewers have noted that the CPU performs well under load, maxing out at 90 watts but not reaching the advertised 95-watt limit. Single-core performance is strong, though it drops slightly when running on battery power. The CPU can use much more power if the GPU is idle, such as in Cinebench, but overall, it shows only a slight clock speed boost compared to the previous generation i9-13980HX. The CPU stabilizes at around 180W of sustained power on the Extreme setting, with temperatures around 93-95°C.

Benchmarks:

• Cinebench R15: ~4900 points
• Cinebench R20: ~12103 points
• Cinebench R23: ~32428 points
• Geekbench 6.2 Multi-Core: ~16652 points

Graphics

The Titan 18 HX comes with the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop GPU, which features 16 GB of GDDR6 VRAM and operates at a core clock of 1555 MHz with a memory clock of 2250 MHz. The GPU has a TDP of 175 W with Dynamic Boost.

The GPU runs up to Nvidia’s 175-watt limit without issues, providing excellent performance across various gaming benchmarks. It consistently delivers high frame rates in demanding games, making it suitable for 4K gaming. However, the lack of G-Sync and Advanced Optimus may affect gaming performance in the long run. The GPU performs similarly to the previous generation, providing excellent gaming performance but no significant improvements.

Benchmarks:

• 3DMark Time Spy: ~21280 points
• 3DMark Fire Strike: ~38959 points
• 3DMark Fire Strike Ultra: ~20500 points
• Uniengine Superposition (1080p Extreme): ~12914 points

Memory

The Titan 18 HX supports up to 192 GB of DDR5-5600 memory across four SO-DIMM slots. Pre-configured SKUs come with either 64 GB (2x32) or 128 GB (4x32) DDR5-3600 memory.

Reviewers have noted that the RAM runs at DDR5-3600 by default due to Intel’s memory controller limitations, with potential for higher speeds that were not achieved during testing. The laptop supports up to four 48 GB sticks for a total of 192 GB, providing good upgradeability.

Benchmarks:

• AIDA64 Memory Read: ~89096 MB/s
• AIDA64 Memory Write: ~79917 MB/s
• AIDA64 Memory Copy: ~80776 MB/s
• AIDA64 Memory Latency: ~105 ns

Storage

The Titan 18 HX can be configured with either 2 TB or 4 TB NVMe SSD Gen4x4 storage. The storage is configured in RAID 0 with two 2 TB SSDs for the 4 TB option.

Reviewers have noted that the storage speeds are excellent, but the RAID 0 configuration poses a risk of data loss if one drive fails. The SSDs perform well in read/write tests, but the SD card slot is underwhelming compared to the capabilities of the V90 card.

Benchmarks:

• CrystalDiskMark Sequential Read: ~9576.8 MB/s
• CrystalDiskMark Sequential Write: ~8685.54 MB/s
• AS SSD Score Total: ~5369 Points

Co-processors

The Titan 18 HX does not feature any dedicated co-processors.

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 customizable lighting.

Reviewers have noted that the keyboard provides a satisfying typing experience with tactile feedback, but the positioning can lead to accidental key presses. The layout has been improved from previous models, with customizable per-key RGB backlighting and four levels of brightness. However, the small right shift key may annoy some users.

Touchpad

The Titan 18 HX comes with a haptic feedback touchpad with RGB lighting.

Reviewers have criticized the touchpad, noting issues in clicking and dragging, and difficulty in identifying borders without lighting. The haptic feedback is not as satisfying as a traditional touchpad.

Webcam

The Titan 18 HX features a 1080p webcam with a physical privacy shutter and IR support for Windows Hello.

Reviewers have noted that the webcam provides decent video quality for video calls, and the physical privacy shutter is a useful feature for security.

Microphone

The Titan 18 HX comes with an integrated microphone.

Reviewers have noted that the microphone quality is adequate for basic use, but not exceptional.

Output Devices

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Display

The Titan 18 HX offers two display options:

• 18" UHD+ (3840x2400) 120Hz Mini LED HDR 1000, 100% DCI-P3
• 18" QHD+ (2560x1600) 240Hz IPS-Level Panel, 100% DCI-P3

Reviewers have praised the display for its brightness and color accuracy. The Mini LED display is rated at over 1100 nits with HDR enabled and around 670 nits in SDR mode. However, it has noticeable halo effects and slower response times for dark to light transitions, which can be distracting during use.

Audio

The Titan 18 HX features four 2W speakers and two 2W woofers, with sound by Dynaudio.

Reviewers have noted that the sound quality is poor, lacking clarity and bass, especially compared to smaller competitors like the ASUS Zephyrus G14. The speakers get loud but do not provide a satisfying audio experience.

Connectivity

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WiFi

The Titan 18 HX is equipped with a Killer WiFi 7 BE1750 module.

Reviewers have noted that Wi-Fi speeds are good, but the latest router upgrade has made previous results obsolete. The laptop supports the latest Wi-Fi standards, but performance may vary based on the router used.

Bluetooth

The Titan 18 HX comes with Bluetooth 5.4.

SD Card Reader

The Titan 18 HX includes an SD7.0 card reader.

Reviewers have noted that the SD card slot is functional but not impressive, lacking security for the card and offering lower performance than expected.

USB

The Titan 18 HX is equipped with the following USB ports:

• 3 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 (Type-A)
• 2 x Thunderbolt 4 (Type-C) with DisplayPort 1.4, one with USB PD 3.1

Reviewers have noted that the port layout is convenient, with some larger ports located on the back for easier access. The Type-C ports support charging and DisplayPort connections, enhancing versatility.

Display Outputs

The Titan 18 HX comes with the following display outputs:

• 2 x Thunderbolt 4 with DisplayPort 1.4
• 1 x HDMI 2.1

Reviewers have noted that the HDMI port can run 4K 120Hz with G-Sync, providing excellent output options for high-resolution displays.

Case

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The Titan 18 HX features a magnesium aluminum alloy chassis with a core black finish.

Reviewers have noted that the build quality is solid, with minor flex and a design that feels robust and durable. The laptop is larger and heavier than many competitors, weighing 3.6 kg (8 lb) without the charger and 4.8 kg (10.5 lb) with the 400-watt charger.

Maintenance

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The bottom panel of the Titan 18 HX is held on by 12 Phillips-head screws. The laptop is designed for easy access to components for upgrades, allowing users to maintain and customize their systems.

Upgradeable components:

• 99.9 Whr battery.
• Three M.2 PCIe SSDs (1x PCIe Gen5, 2x PCIe Gen4).
• Four DDR5-5600 SODIMMs.
• M.2 2230 wireless card.

Cooling System

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The Titan 18 HX is equipped with a vapor chamber cooler with two fans. The cooling system is effective, keeping internal temperatures cool under load. The design has improved air ventilation compared to previous models, with air exhausted from multiple sides.

Heat

The laptop maintains cool temperatures even under stress tests, with no significant heat issues. Internal temperatures remain manageable during heavy workloads.

Benchmarks:

• CPU temperatures can reach 85 to 95 degrees Celsius under load.
• Outer case temperatures can exceed 50+ Celsius in certain areas.

Noise

The fans are loud in higher performance modes, but quieter with a cooling pad. In extreme performance mode, the fan noise is significantly louder than most other laptops.

Benchmarks:

• Fan noise during gaming can reach 62.8 dB(A) with Cooler Boost on.
• Up to 58 dBA on Extreme mode, 45 dBA on Balanced, and sub-35 dBA on Silent mode.

Energy Management

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Power Consumption

The Titan 18 HX ships with a 400W AC adapter.

Reviewers have noted that the laptop consumes power efficiently, with the CPU and GPU performing well under load. The high wattage charger is smaller and lighter than previous models.

Battery Life

All Titan 18 HX SKUs come with a 99.9 Whr Li-Polymer battery.

Reviewers have noted that battery life is poor, lasting less than 4hours during video playback tests. The display power saver feature reduces the refresh rate to save power when unplugged.

Benchmarks:

• WiFi Websurfing: ~4 hours 12 minutes
• Idle (minimum brightness): ~5 hours 53 minutes
• Load (maximum brightness): ~1 hour 12 minutes

Biometrics

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The Titan 18 HX supports Windows Hello facial recognition through its IR camera but does not include a fingerprint reader.

Software

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All SKUs ship with Windows 11 Pro preinstalled. The laptop also comes with various preinstalled software including MSI Center for system monitoring and updates, SteelSeries GG for keyboard lighting control, and MSI True Color for display settings.

Preinstalled Software

MSI Center

The MSI Center acts as the primary control center for the Titan 18 HX. It handles performance profiles, fan control, system monitoring, and updates. There are three preset performance profiles: Silent, Balanced, and Extreme.

SteelSeries GG

The SteelSeries GG software allows users to customize the per-key RGB backlighting of the keyboard. It also supports macro key programming and other advanced keyboard settings.

MSI True Color

MSI True Color provides various display modes for different usage scenarios, such as gaming, movie watching, and content creation. It allows users to adjust color settings and calibrate the display.

Other Preinstalled Software

The Titan 18 HX also comes with other software like Nahimic for audio enhancements and a 30-day trial of McAfee security software.

Linux Support

Basic functionality with Ubuntu 23.10 has been reported, but Wi-Fi is not recognized likely due to the latest Wi-Fi 7 hardware. Keyboard shortcuts for volume adjust and screen brightness work, but keyboard lighting controls do not function.

Accessories & Warranty

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The Titan 18 HX comes with a 400W AC adapter and paperwork.

There is a one-year limited manufacturer warranty if purchased in the US.

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 with its Intel Core i9-14900HX processor and Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 GPU. It is praised for its robust build quality, excellent display options, and high upgradeability. However, it has notable drawbacks including poor battery life, high weight, and loud fan noise under load. The lack of G-Sync and Advanced Optimus also detracts from its appeal as a flagship gaming laptop.

Problems Summary

• Poor battery life.
• High weight and large size.
• Loud fan noise under load.
• Lack of G-Sync and Advanced Optimus.
• Poor touchpad experience.
• High temperatures under load.
• SD card slot performance is underwhelming.
• Mediocre microphone quality.
• No fingerprint reader.

Links

i9-14900HX, RTX 4090, 128 GB RAM, 4 TB SSD: Jarrod's Tech

i9-14900HX, RTX 4090, 128 GB RAM, 4 TB SSD: Gizmosliptech

i9-14900HX, RTX 4090, 128 GB RAM, 4 TB SSD: Ultrabook Review

i9-14900HX, RTX 4090, 128 GB RAM, 4 TB SSD: Notebookcheck