MSI Stealth 16 AI Studio A1V review: Scotty, we need more CPU power

MSI’s latest 16-inch gaming laptop may tout “AI”-enhanced branding, but what lies beneath its sleek exterior is a crucial gaming specification. The actual key features within the device include an impressively powerful Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 graphics processing unit (GPU), and a notable 4K-plus mini LED display with a 120Hz refresh rate? The combination of these cutting-edge components is sure to leave even the most discerning PC gamers reeling with excitement, all for a seemingly affordable price tag of $3,299.

While the MSI 16AI Studio A1V has its attractions, it falls short of being a top-tier gaming laptop; however, it offers significant value at this price point. What audience are you targeting with this content? MSI’s focus may well revolve around the gamer, creative, and artistic spheres, respectively. This studio laptop computer is equipped with essential processing power to optimize performance in industry-standard applications like Adobe Photoshop and Blackmagic Design DaVinci Resolve. The colour-accurate display and GPU combination alone are already impressive, but this system also boasts ample RAM to seamlessly handle demanding tasks.

What intrigued me was this very aspect, to be honest. As a gamer with a passion for digital creativity, I’ve devoted several years to honing my skills in Photoshop, crafting an impressive portfolio that showcases my versatility – from designing engaging World of Warcraft interfaces to building professional websites, résumés, and even 3D home models. I’ve devoted the past fortnight to thoroughly testing the Studio A1V to determine its capabilities, exploring whether it’s a viable replacement for my full-featured desktop in terms of functionality. As a 20-year veteran of World of Warcraft, it’s no surprise that I’ve spent a significant amount of time playing other video games within the platform as well.

Specs

The MSI Stealth 16 A1V boasts a robust set of hardware specifications, providing the foundation for its impressive performance. MSI has combined one of Intel’s latest highly efficient Core Extreme processors with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 laptop GPU and 32GB of DDR5 RAM running at a swift 5,600MHz – in fact, you’ll even find 64GB as standard in US models.

The CPU is the core component extremely powerful, primarily based on the innovative Meteor Lake architecture. The processor boasts a total of 16 cores, comprising six high-performance Efficiency Cores (P-cores) ideal for demanding applications like gaming. The new M1 chip features eight high-efficiency environment-friendly cores, known as E-cores, which work in tandem with the remaining two “low-power” environment-friendly cores. Windows efficiently coordinates the various cores, assigning software threads to each core based on their specific masses and purposes, leveraging historical precedent to optimize performance.

In theory, this CPU has the potential to reach a clock speed of up to 5.1GHz, provided that the power supply and cooling system are sufficient; however, in my experience, this specific chip requires a substantial amount of both energy and cooling headroom.

While the RTX 4090 Laptop computer GPU may share some similarities with its desktop counterpart, it is likely to have several key differences. As an alternative to one that boasts a whopping 16,384 CUDA cores, this GPU is actually equipped with a more modest 9,728. The truth lies in the fact that its fundamental specifications are remarkably akin to those of a desktop RTX 4080, with one notable exception: a significantly reduced thermal design power (TDP). As a direct result, the clock speeds recorded here exhibit a notable reduction in pace, with maximum increase frequencies reaching only around 1,455MHz on MSI’s specific model here. You do receive 16GB of VRAM, a generous allocation that comfortably supports 1440p gaming and beyond.

You also receive an ample amount of storage space with the A1V configuration, featuring a 2TB drive. Notably, Samsung’s PM9A1 PCIe 4.0 SSD, while not widely renowned, can potentially reach speeds of up to 7,000MB/s without overheating, precisely what you need in a laptop.

Options

The MSI Stealth 16 AI Studio A1V’s standout feature is undoubtedly its display, boasting a large and prominent promotional level. It’s a critical unit. The display boasts a 16-inch diagonal and a 16:10 aspect ratio, featuring a crisp resolution of 3840 x 2400 pixels. This unique display delivers an additional 11% more pixels compared to traditional 4K screens, resulting in a pixel density of precisely over 283 pixels per inch. At approximately 138 pixels per inch (ppi), the 32-inch 4K gaming monitor ensures a remarkably crisp visual experience for this display.

On top of that, it boasts a seamless 120Hz refresh rate, paired with remarkably low latency, clocking in at an impressive 7.6ms according to Blur Busters’ rigorous MPRT test. The mini-LED backlight produces remarkably vibrant colours in almost every scenario. Regardless of whether you’re streaming YouTube HDR content or watching Prime Video, this device truly excels. Throughout my experience testing, using this screen proved to be a genuine challenge, particularly when creating innovative content.

While the laptop boasts a powerful RTX 4090 GPU, it still falls short of delivering smooth performance in modern AAA games at high resolutions, with frame rates struggling to reach 120fps; we’ll delve into the details in our subsequent analysis.

The keyboard, alternately, is quite typical for a gaming laptop computer at this price point. While sporting SteelSeries’ design, this keyboard lacks mechanical components or tangible feedback through its keys. While you’ll still find a familiar set of operating keys, additional features for regulating fan speed, displaying FPS readouts, and controlling media playback are also included, but that’s roughly the extent of it. The trackpad boasts a precise measurement, making it a useful feature for on-the-go usage with this laptop.

You’re spoiled for choice when it comes to ports. This device features a dedicated 2.5G Ethernet port, complemented by Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity options. Additionally, it boasts HDMI 2.1, USB 3.2 ports in both Type-C and Type-A configurations, as well as a Thunderbolt 4 connector and an audio jack. I was particularly thrilled to find that the device came with a microSD card reader, which proved incredibly useful for transferring files from my camera.

When acquiring this product, ensure that the seller offers a comprehensive warranty that covers all aspects. While MSI’s 12-month warranty applies to its laptops, it comes with several limitations outlined in the fine print. Fortunately, the product documentation does cover the primary hardware components, albeit with one notable omission: a zero-dead pixel guarantee.

Design

While aesthetics may be a personal preference, the primary challenge with this MSI laptop is undoubtedly the uninspired design, which MSI applies consistently across its entire Stealth 16 Studio lineup, utilizing the same chassis throughout. The $2,100 base model shares a common chassis with its flagship counterpart, mirroring the design synergy between the two variants.

While a bespoke design might not have posed a problem, the fundamental design’s implausibility is the true concern; it’s not just the additional cost for high-end components that’s the issue, but rather the chassis’ inability to justify its premium price point. While the display screen exhibits a punchy visual presentation and the hardware performs stably, the overall build quality falls short of expectations, leaving a disappointing impression.

For nearly $4,000, one expects more than a lackluster navy blue finish and an unexceptional keyboard. Without a doubt, this performance figure lacks the cohesion expected when benchmarked against the Razer Blade 16’s impressive specifications.

One notable advantage of the MSI Stealth is its remarkably slim and lightweight design, considering its impressive specifications – it tips the scales at just 2kg, a full 500g lighter than the Razer Blade 16.

Fortunately, the Stealth 16 offers several high-quality upgrade options for those seeking to expand its internal capacity over time. The motherboard features two SO-DIMM slots, allowing you to install your own DDR5 memory modules, up to a maximum capacity of 96GB supported by the CPU. Compared to the Asus ROG Zephyrus G16, this laptop offers a distinct advantage with its upgradable memory, whereas the latter has soldered RAM, restricting future upgrades. Additionally, you’ll have access to two PCIe 4.0 M.2 SSD slots.

The icing on the cake is its impressive cooling system, which surprisingly operates quietly. This gaming laptop offers an excessively rewarding experience. Over the past eight years, nearly every gaming laptop I’ve reviewed, including those with innovative liquid cooling systems, has consistently been plagued by ear-piercingly loud fan noise when booting up a game. Don’t misjudge the situation here; while you’ll still need a headset for an immersive gaming experience without distraction from the noise, at least this gaming laptop is significantly quieter than its high-performance counterparts available today?

While the cooling system’s performance may seem subpar compared to some lower-priced alternatives, it’s worth noting that the former’s relatively slower fan speeds don’t necessarily translate to reduced overall efficiency? While the CPU efficiency is notably underwhelming, a closer examination of the benchmark results reveals that this machine struggles to keep pace with competitors boasting less powerful processors. That this may signify significant CPU throttling occurring behind the scenes, or a scarcity of power being allocated to the CPU, resulting in decreased clock speeds.

Benchmarks

The Stealth 16 AI Studio A1V presents a dichotomy between its powerful GPU and underwhelming CPU performance, raising questions about the overall impact on creative workflows. Is the Intel Core i9-185H likely to be an impressive and powerful processor? With its 22 threads and 16 cores, coupled with a maximum CPU frequency of 5.1 GHz, this processor is impressively efficient; nonetheless, it also tends to run hot and consume excessive power when pushed to its maximum capacity.

Two sets of benchmarking results were collected for gaming performance. Two resolutions are available: 3,840 x 2,400 and 1,920 x 1,080. Recently, I had the opportunity to thoroughly evaluate the Alienware M16 R2, featuring a Core i9-12900H processor, a significant upgrade from the previous model’s Core i5-11400H. The extremely variant seven, despite varying naming conventions, is fundamentally the same CPU, distinguished only by maximum turbo speed, base frequency, and minor power consumption differences. Notably, the latter sacrifices around 300 MHz across these specifications. In terms of principle, this should result in a relatively minor decrease in speed compared to the extremely fast 9-185H.

Despite this, Cinebench R24’s single-core and multi-core tests disclosed unmistakable signs of throttling on the MSI system. The Stealth achieved a score of 785 in the multi-core test, while maintaining a consistent 102 in the single-core test. Despite being equipped with a theoretically slower processor, the Alienware M16 R2 impressively scored a 981 in the multi-core benchmark and achieved a respectable 104 in the single-core test.

While MSI’s single-core and multi-core results are underwhelming, a 300MHz turbo boost should still yield superior single-core performance compared to Alienware’s offering. Comparable to the Asus ROG Zephyrus G16, powered by the same Intel Core i9-185H as the MSI, it still managed to outperform the Stealth in the Cinebench multi-threaded test with a score of 1,049, significantly higher than the Stealth’s 785. The Razer Blade 16’s 24-core Core i9 14900HX processor delivers a substantial performance boost, as evidenced by its impressive multi-threaded score of 1,473.

The MSI Stealth efficiently handles gaming at 1920×1080, but its limited CPU clock speed becomes a hindrance when faced with demanding game loads. In benchmarks for Complete Struggle: Warhammer 3, the MSI’s average frame rate was an impressive 112fps, outperforming the Alienware’s 93fps. The GPU also effortlessly delivered a remarkable frame rate of 72fps while playing F1 23 at extremely high settings that included the use of advanced ray tracing features. In comparison to its peers, the Alienware’s average framerate clocks in at a respectable 43fps on this benchmark test.

The MSI Stealth features an Nvidia RTX 4090, allowing it to take advantage of DLSS 3 technology with its body eraser feature for enhanced graphics rendering. Cyberpunk 2077 performance on MSI Stealth was impressive at 1080p, utilizing Extremely ray tracing preset, Body Era enabled, and Tremendous Decision set to High quality in DLSS; the average frame rate reached a substantial 102fps, marking a significant increase from the baseline 45fps without DLSS. Notably, while the Alienware’s performance lags behind at a mere 29 frames per second without DLSS, it surges to an impressive 102fps when this technology is enabled, placing it on par with the MSI.

Despite its impressive native resolution of 3,840 x 2,400 pixels, the MSI Stealth’s display struggles to accommodate demanding video games, making it less than ideal for gaming enthusiasts. The Complete Struggle: Warhammer 3 ran respectably, delivering a mean frame rate of 56 frames per second (fps) during our testing. However, our other game tests struggled to maintain similar performance at this resolution.

With integer scaling enabled in the Nvidia driver, setting your video games to scale at 3,840 x 2,400 resolution and then running them at 1,920 x 1,200 produces a crisp, native 1,920 x 1,200 display for gaming, accompanied by smooth frame rates.

While the MSI Stealth excels at gaming when not demanding native resolution, its performance is generally underwhelming considering its specs and price, particularly with regards to CPU capabilities? The 3DMark Time Spy benchmark demonstrates the system’s performance capabilities, offering a comprehensive breakdown of CPU, GPU, and overall efficiency metrics. The MSI’s GPU rating of 14,866 seems dubious, while its CPU rating of 7,102 is underwhelming, ultimately dragging the overall score down to a disappointing 12,711.

The Alienware gaming PC is evaluated as having a GPU rating of 12,195, thanks to its powerful RTX 4070 graphics card. Notably, the system’s CPU implementation outperforms its GPU counterpart, yielding a CPU rating of 11,402, despite the ostensibly lesser chip. The overall rating of 12,066 indicates that the result isn’t significantly slower than the MSI’s, despite a notable disparity in CPU and GPU performance between the two models. The same CPU exhibits a notably superior performance within the Asus ROG Zephyrus G16, achieving a Time Spy CPU score of 15,060.

Battery

Despite some drawbacks, the Stealth truly excels in one area: its remarkable battery life, which reigns supreme among its peers. While I’ve witnessed laptops relying solely on Arm processors surpassing this device’s battery performance. In assessing battery life, we employ a dual-approach methodology that encompasses both objective metrics from PCMark 10’s benchmark suite and real-world evaluations based on subjective day-to-day usage and actual user experience.

We conduct our gaming and fashionable workplace tests at 50% brightness separately.

Upon reaching that gaming milestone, the studio sustained a remarkable 122-minute duration. Given a stellar performance over any span longer than an hour, let alone 90 minutes, it’s truly exceptional for the feat to extend to two hours – a truly unparalleled achievement. Similarly, I was thoroughly impressed by Fashionable Workplace’s exceptional performance, particularly the Stealth mode which astonishingly lasted a remarkable 365 minutes – equivalent to a staggering six hours. In a benchmarking test, the Lenovo Legion Slim 5 equipped with an NVIDIA RTX 4060 GPU, 16GB of DDR5 RAM, and a Ryzen 7 7840HS processor surprisingly only managed to sustain gaming performance for a mere 53 minutes before overheating, while its productivity capabilities lasted for approximately 218 minutes during office testing.

Worth

So, onto the massive query. Can you justify the premium price of the MSI Stealth 16 AI Studio A1V? With its exceptionally well-rounded interior specifications, You’ll receive top-notch performance, paired with a reliable processor for optimal execution, a superior graphics processing unit, and an exceptional display that truly shines. Despite these efforts, the CPU setup ultimately holds the machine back, as it is incapable of reaching excessively high clock speeds.

While the Alienware M16 R2’s Core i7-155H processor excels in CPU benchmarks, it’s worth noting that this advantage comes at a significant premium cost for users who don’t require such high-performance processing capabilities. At this price point, the physical proficiency just doesn’t measure up. The chassis lacks pizzazz, the keyboard is unremarkable, and the device desperately needs an injection of innovative flair to truly set itself apart in the market.

Verdict

MSI appears to be on the right path with its Stealth 16 AI Studio A1V. With impressive underlying hardware, an exceptional display screen, and viewed positively, this option appears solid. While the pricing is reasonable considering the specifications, the real selling point lies in its impressive expandability options. However, it’s worth noting that the relatively short one-year warranty may raise some concerns about long-term support. This machine falls short due to its unimpressive physical appearance and limited processing power.

The RTX 4090 and Core i9 combination boasts tremendous potential, yet somehow falls short of delivering its full promise here. Despite the MSI’s impressive low-noise operation and extended battery life, the system’s overall performance is hindered by CPU throttling, which ultimately undermines the balance of its capabilities.

While acknowledging the limitations of battery life, let’s be realistic – if you’re serious about gaming, you’ll likely want to keep this device plugged in at all times, especially when using a headset, rendering portability unnecessary. If you’re a creator who relies heavily on processing power, as MSI targets with this laptop, you’ll want your CPU performing at peak capacity?

Given its modest specifications, it’s challenging to rationalize the MSI Stealth 16 AI Studio A1V’s existence amidst such formidable competition. If you’re seeking a high-performance 16-inch gaming laptop, the Razer Blade 16’s exceptional specs make it an excellent choice, while the Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 offers a better overall balance between performance and portability.

Alternate options

Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024)

For a more affordable alternative to the MSI Stealth 16, the latest Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 efficiently leverages its Core i9-185H processor, boasting ample gaming power alongside an astonishing OLED display that truly sets it apart from the competition. While the Zephyrus G16 has several notable features, its reliance on soldered RAM is a significant drawback – this means that users may not be able to upgrade their RAM capacity in the future. Therefore, we recommend purchasing a model with at least 32GB of RAM from the start.

Razer Blade 16 (2024)

Razer’s premium 16-inch gaming laptop boasts a sleek, well-crafted design, complemented by a stunning 240Hz OLED display and a powerful Core i9-14900HX processor. While its fans can produce noticeable noise when running at full capacity, and the display’s screen can be overwhelmingly reflective, this gaming laptop still boasts impressive performance, a premium appearance, and exceptional build quality.