APC’s Desktop Titan: MSI Raider Reviewed

Key Takeaways

• The MSI Raider GE78 HX 13V is a bulky gaming laptop that delivers near desktop-level performance, making it a top choice for those who need the most power that can still be taken on the go.
• The laptop offers subtle design upgrades and a retro-futuristic light bar that adds flair, although it falls short in terms of overall design appeal.
• With impressive performance powered by an Intel Core i9-13950HX and NVIDIA RTX 4080, the MSI Raider GE78 HX 13V is a gaming powerhouse that can handle AAA titles at maximum settings with smooth gameplay.

Are you in the market for a ludicrous laptop that can go head-to-head with full-size gaming PCs while still allowing you to hit the road with your gaming rig? Then the Raider GE78 HX 13V should make its way onto your shortlist.

MSI Raider GE78 HX

8/ 10

$3799$3999 Save $200

Its overly “gamer” design vibes may not be for everyone, but without a doubt, this delivers some of the best performance to dollar ratio with outstanding specs.

Operating System

Windows 11

CPU

Up to Intel i9-13980HX

GPU

Up to NVIDIA RTX 4090

RAM

Up to 64gb

Storage

2TB NVMe

Battery

99Whr

Display (Size, Resolution)

17” Up to QHD+ 240Hz

Camera

1080p

Speakers

2x2W Speaker, 4x2W Duo Wave Woofer

Ports

1x Thunderbolt 4; 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2/DP; 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2/DP&PD; HDMI v2.1; 1 Audio Combo

Network

Killer WiFi 6E AX1690i, Killer E3100G, BT 5.3

Dimensions

14.97”x 11.73”x 1.13”

Weight

6.83 lbs

Adaptor and Battery

330W

Card Reader

SD7.0

Keyboard

SteelSeries per-Key RGB with Anti-Ghost key (102 Key)

Security

Physical Webcam cover

Pros

• Near desktop-level performance
• Best value in its class
• Excellent port selection
• Large 16:10 ratio 17” display
• Solid build quality
• New LED pixel bar is very cool

Cons

• Not so subtle “gamer” design that isn’t for everyone
• Gets very loud and very warm
• Over an inch thick
• Too much heat on its right side when using external mouse

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The MSI Raider GE78 HX 13V is a true heavyweight. While laptops are getting thinner and more powerful by the year, this beast bucks the trend by embracing its bulk and delivering near desktop-level performance.

Weighing in at nearly 7 pounds (over 3kg) and measuring over an inch thick, “portability” is certainly not its strong suit. However, MSI has made some subtle tweaks to make it slightly more comfortable to use than its predecessor. But that also includes a few gimmicky design updates, which I’m not a fan of.

The Mystic Light Bar adds a touch of retro-futuristic flair, somewhat reminiscent of the Hyundai Ioniq 5’s rear pixel lights. That’s a head-turner in its own right, though it’s not quite enough to overcome some of the GE78 HX’s otherwise cheesy looks.

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Where it matters, though, is with its performance, and in that respect, it knocks it out of the park.

Under the hood, our review unit is powered by an Intel Core i9-13950HX and an NVIDIA RTX 4080. These components are no slouch and bring it closer to desktop-level performance than ever before, trailing only slightly behind desktops with an Intel i7-13700K 4070 Ti in benchmarks.

This laptop is mostly intended as a desktop replacement rather than something you take on the go as much. Carrying around its massive 330W power adapter is a workout, and the battery life won’t keep you gaming—let alone browsing the web—for extended periods. That said, MSI has put a premium on cooling and maximizing performance, and it shows in the benchmark results. Just be ready to hit the gym if you plan to lug this beast around.

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Configurations

The MSI Raider GE78 HX 13V lineup is a refreshing update from its predecessor, the 2022 Raider GE77. It introduces a new chassis design and improved internals. Powered by Intel Raptor Lake-H CPUs and packing the mobile GeForce 40 GPUs, it promises serious gaming and productivity performance.

Available configurations start with the Core i9-13950HX CPU, a 140W GeForce RTX 4070 GPU, and a lower resolution and slower refresh 1920 x 1200 165Hz IPS display. For top-tier performance, you can opt for the Core i9-13980HX, a 175W RTX 4090, the upgraded 2560 x 1600 240Hz IPS display, and up to 64 GB of RAM.

For those seeking the best bang for their buck, theRaider GE78HX 13VI-079 is the one I’d suggest checking out. Priced at $2,600, it comes with the slightly faster Intel Core i9-13980HX, the powerful GeForce RTX 4080, a 17-inch 16:10 QHD+ (2560 x 1600) 240Hz display, 32GB DDR5 RAM, and a 1TB NVMe SSD.

As with MSI’s other lineups, one or two configurations usually have very competitive pricing that completely undercuts the rest of the competition. For example, one of the next cheapest options is the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 16, which offers similar specs but a smaller 16” display but is priced at $2,900.

Unmistakably Gaming

The design of the MSI Raider GE78 HX 13V is a bold statement, and it undoubtedly screams “gaming laptop” from a distance. It’s not lightweight, tipping the scales at 6.83 pounds and measuring 14.97 x 11.73 x 1.13 inches. It’s far from the most portable 17” gaming laptop, even compared to ones with identical specs. Fitting this into a backpack or a laptop bag might be a tight squeeze.

However, next to the behemoth Titan GT77 HX, which weighs 7.28 pounds and measures 16.63 x 12.99 x 0.91 inches, the Raider looks more manageable, though surprisingly, it’s still thicker.

While impressive, the 17-inch, 2560 x 1600 display doesn’t sport the thinnest bezels. The top of the screen is slightly thicker to accommodate the 1080p webcam with a physical cover.

In contrast to MSI’s recent designs, which aimed for clean and modern aesthetics that downplayed their gaming roots, the Raider GE78 HX 13V embraces its gaming identity. It’s unmistakably a gaming laptop, a departure from the more discreet designs seen in the Stealth Series.

The Raider brings back its distinctive lightbar, situated on the underside of the front. Unlike previous iterations that diffused individual LEDs for a smooth color effect, this time around, they’ve opted for individual square LEDs, giving it a charming retro aesthetic. What’s neat is that you can choose from a range of presets within the SteelSeries app or get creative by customizing it with various effects and colors. Even better, it can sync with other elements like the laptop’s keyboard, the MSI logo on the lid, or any other compatible accessories such as mice. However, despite the cool lightbar, it’s not enough to compensate for its other design shortcomings.

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Compared to last year’s MSI Raider GE77 series, which featured an all-black matte design with minimal branding, the GE78 Raider opts for a bolder look. It introduces gold plastic and red rubberized trims, which are purely aesthetic and unique to this model.

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The hinges that hold the display are now larger and firmer, although there’s a peculiar grill-like cutout below the display’s lower bezel that doesn’t appear to serve any purpose. Some might find these design elements a bit forced, reminiscent of cars with unnecessary chrome or faux hood scoops.

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On the build quality front, the Raider does reasonably well, with minimal creaking and just a bit of flex when pressure is applied to the outer lid. However, it’s worth noting that it lacks the Unibody design found in competitors like the Razer Blade 18, which exudes a higher level of refinement.

With its front LED bar, unique design elements, and lifted rear end, this laptop has a somewhat fragmented feel, but it’s still solidly built. Whether you love its aesthetic or find it a bit over-the-top, it’s impossible to ignore.

Connectivity

The Raider is equipped with the latest with Killer Wi-Fi 6E AX1690i, Bluetooth 5.3, and offers a solid selection of ports. The right side includes a pair of USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports and a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port.

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On the left side, you’ll find a Thunderbolt 4 port, an SD card slot, and a 3.5 mm headphone jack.

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Moving to the back, there’s an Ethernet port, HDMI 2.1, another USB Type-C port, and the power jack.

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Display

Our MSI Raider GE78 HX 13V uses a QHD+ panel boasting a resolution of 2560 x 1600. The 16:10 aspect ratio is a new addition to the Raider series, providing a taller screen, traditionally associated with productivity work, but it’s been making its way into most of MSI’s lineup over the past few years. The display only opens up to about 120 degrees—so no extreme angles with this one.

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The 240Hz refresh rate strikes a good balance. While the benefits of a 360Hz display might be imperceptible to the average user, this “slower” display brings cost savings, making it a worthwhile compromise. For games like Overwatch 2, where frame rates can reach 190-220 fps on the highest settings, the advantages of a faster display would only become apparent if you dialed down the settings considerably.

Trackpad and Keyboard

The MSI Raider GE78 HX 13V offers a full-sized keyboard with a number pad, and the arrow keys are highlighted and also double as shortcuts to add a reticle to the screen, change fan speeds, play or pause media, or turn off the touchpad.

For example, when in extreme performance mode, MSI tends to keep the fan speeds running faster even if there is minimal system load, so it’s nice to have quick controls to slow the fans down and make it run quieter. Similarly, the Fn key lights up when you’ve activated an associated Fn function.

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The keyboard customization options are rich, with per-key control and effects via the Steelseries software. The glass trackpad is large and provides a smooth, responsive experience with non-clunky clicks. Unlike its last year’s predecessor, MSI has moved the trackpad back to the center, rather than off to the left side, which I found a bit awkward.

MSI has also taken care of the comfort factor. The front lip and corners have been smoothed out, making it more comfortable to lay your wrists on. This, in combination with the extended depth of the laptop, makes long gaming sessions pain-free and enjoyable, as your wrists sit flat on the keyboard deck when using the WASD and arrow keys.

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Performance

The MSI Raider GE78 HX 13V delivers impressive performance with a Core i9-13950HX, a powerful mobile processor in Intel’s 13th-gen Raptor Lake platform. This CPU boasts 24 cores and 32 threads, featuring a hybrid design with 8 high-performance cores and 16 efficiency cores that can work together or independently, depending on the task. The laptop slurps down up to 140W of power during demanding CPU workloads on max-performance profiles.

In the graphics department, the 2023 Raider series packs top-tier RTX 4000 chips. Our review unit came equipped with the RTX 4080 Laptop GPU, capable of reaching up to 175W with Dynamic Boost. Notably, the laptop retains an MUX for a more direct connection to the GPU, although it requires a restart to switch between Hybrid and Discrete modes via the control software.

Noise and Heat

During testing and benchmarking, the laptop was set to the Extreme profile with the GPU in MYHybrid mode, and the screen at its native QHD+ resolution. In Extreme mode, the laptop runs quite loudly at 50+ dB, making a good pair of over-the-ear noise-canceling headphones a wise investment. Aside from this, one major thing to note is its cooling: it blows out some serious heat.

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This is most noticeable while gaming if you are right-handed, as it can push out very hot air from its right side. With this being such a large laptop already, I tend to place my mouse within a few inches of the laptop. After about 15 minutes of gaming, the laptop can be unbearably hot if you’re within 1-2 inches of it. I had to back away to about 4-5 inches not to notice the heat as much.

Gaming Benchmarks

The MSI Raider GE78 HX 13V is a gaming powerhouse designed to deliver a stellar experience at 1600p. You can consistently run AAA titles at maximum settings with over 100 fps, even with DLSS upscaling off and demanding RTX features enabled. In less demanding FPS games like Overwatch 2, you’ll enjoy a staggering 180-220 fps, and if you need even more frames, simply lower the settings to 1080p with High or Medium settings for an even more buttery 300+ fps.

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Performance Benchmarks

The MSI Raider GE78 HX 13V outperforms our previous laptop leader, the MSI Stealth 16 Studio, equipped with an Intel i9-13900H, Nvidia RTX 4070, and 64GB of RAM, in Cinebench R23 and Pugent Davinci Resolve rendering tests by about 30%. While the Stealth 16 Studio is an excellent choice for content creators, those who prioritize performance over portability can opt for the beefier GE78 HX 13V and even save more money.

For a more apple-to-apples comparison, consider the MSI Stealth 17 Studio A13VH-053US, which features the i9-13900H, RTX 4080, and 32GB of RAM, currently priced at $2,763.66. For about $263 more, you get a slightly slimmer and lighter laptop, but at the expense of a rather significant performance hit. This further highlights the value proposition of the GE78 HX 13V, which offers exceptional performance at this price point.

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The only concern we can share is with its unplugged performance. In Cinebench R23 our scores dropped to 7733, marking a 70% performance drop, despite still being in MSI’s highest power mode. This isn’t uncommon for MSI’s more powerful laptops, though we have seen options like the Razer Blade 17, which manage not to take as big of a hit when running unplugged tests.

Incredible Value

Our benchmark comparisons reveal that the MSI Raider GE78 HX 13V is an impressive performer, delivering around 79% to 89% of the performance of the full-sized Starforge Voyager Creator (our review ). The latter, equipped with an Intel i7-13700K, Nvidia RTX 4070 Ti, and 32GB of RAM, comes at a price of $2,900.

We’ve previously noted that the Starforge can be seen as overpriced. For roughly $200-$300 less, you can explore alternatives like the 2023 MSI Aegis RS 13NUF-439US, available at $2,300, which is one of the best value desktops considering its components. Considering that you’re paying just a $300 premium to achieve performance that comes remarkably close to the Starforge but in a relatively “portable” form factor, it’s even more impressive, especially considering that it includes a fantastic display and keyboard too.

The gap in performance between laptops and desktops is narrowing, and the price difference is becoming less significant. The GE78 HX sits firmly at the top end of this market.

MSI Raider GE78 HX

8/ 10

$3799$3999 Save $200

Its overly “gamer” design vibes may not be for everyone, but without a doubt, this delivers some of the best performance to dollar ratio with outstanding specs.

$3799 at Amazon See at MSI