Our opinion on the MSI Katana A15 AI B8VG-484XFR
Comfortable for playing recent games, the creative gaming laptop MSI Katana A15 AI B8VG-484XFR supplied without Windows benefits from the high-end GeForce RTX 4070 ray tracing NVIDIA Ada Lovelace graphics card which accelerates processing like the Ryzen 7 8845HS Hawk Point processor and 16 GB of efficient RAM. But also fast 512 GB SSD storage enhancing responsiveness. This versatile black Windows 11 laptop designed for creative-oriented gamers is also equipped with a 15.6-inch Full HD IPS anti-glare screen with a frequency of 144Hz to improve fluidity, a backlit keyboard and Wi-Fi 6E connectivity.
Features of the MSI Katana A15 AI B8VG-484XFR
Screen(s) | 15.6 » Full HD LED IPS 144Hz (1920×1080, antireflet/mat) |
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS Hawk Point (8 cœurs, 3.8 GHz, 35W) |
Installed RAM (max) | 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR5 5600 MHz (64 GB), 2 slots (occupied) |
Graphics card | NVIDIA Ada Lovelace GeForce RTX 4070 8 GB dedicated GDDR6 (105W 1980MHz boost), AMD Radeon 780M integrated into the processor and Optimus |
Storage | 512 Go M.2 SSD (NVMe PCIe 4.0 x4) + 1 free M.2 slot |
Connections | 2 USB 3.2 (Gen1) + 1 USB 2.0 + 1 USB 3.2 Type-C (Gen1), HDMI 2.1 |
Network | Wi-Fi 6E ax (2×2, AMD RZ616), Bluetooth 5.3 + Ethernet Gigabit |
Backlit keyboard | Oui, RGB 4 zones (course 1.7mm) |
Numeric keypad | Oui |
Windows Hello | – |
Audio system | 2 speakers (2 x 2W) Nahimic 3 Audio |
Operating system | Windows 11 64bits |
Announced autonomy / Battery | 3 hours / Li-Polymer 3 cells 53.5Whr (200W adapter) |
Poids / Dimensions (mm) | 2.25 Kg / 359 x 259 x 24.9mm |
The MSI Katana A15 AI B8VG-484XFR faces the competition
The MSI Katana A15 AI B8VG-484XFR is now on sale at Cdiscount and offers an attractive configuration/price ratio for its category where it is one of the least expensive to offer such a recent and powerful processor (AMD) just like the graphics card, with the choice of operating system.
If this MSI Katana A15 AI B8VG-484XFR does not meet all your criteria, you will find other configurations for gaming with a similar budget in our gaming laptop guide. For the same budget, choose the model with the most powerful graphics card, it will have the greatest impact on performance.
Need a student laptop? Check out our guide.
Chassis, connections, screen of the MSI Katana A15 AI B8VG-484XFR
Cooled by Cooler Boost 5 technology using 2 fans, 6 heat pipes and air grilles, this versatile, gamer-oriented and creative laptop has a clearly gamer appearance with its angular black design.
This creative gaming laptop PC integrates good connectivity including 1 USB-C, a practical HDMI video output to easily connect it to a TV or monitor for example, Ethernet and audio ports, Bluetooth 5.3 and Wi-Fi wireless modules 6E ax to communicate and connect remotely as well as 3 USB including 2 USB 3.0 (USB 2.0 compatible) ensuring transfers up to 10 times faster than USB 2.0 if USB 3.0 devices are connected to it.
The chiclet keyboard has an RGB backlighting solution that can be activated whenever you need to better discern your keys.
Players will appreciate that the screen has a frequency of 144Hz higher than the standard 60Hz because it provides much better fluidity in games and more generally in everyday life.
The Full HD screen, which lends itself well to displaying videos due to its 16:9 format, benefits from significant viewing angles, both horizontally and vertically.
As it adopts an anti-reflective coating, the screen is also more readable in a bright environment (eg outdoors) than a shiny panel.
To exploit the full capabilities of this laptop, you must install a complete operating system, such as a Linux or Windows distribution.
NVIDIA Optimus technology can thus be activated to determine in real time the graphics resources necessary for the successful completion of the tasks carried out.
When the performance of the graphics solution inserted in the processor proves insufficient, Optimus automatically switches to the dedicated graphics card.
The first is used to the maximum by Optimus while its performance is significantly lower because it is energy efficient, which promotes autonomy compared to the second, which is more demanding and powerful. Viewing photos and videos is of course possible with either one.
Performance, autonomy of the MSI Katana A15 AI B8VG-484XFR
The MSI Katana A15 AI B8VG-484XFR may be of interest to those who wish to have a versatile laptop PC that performs well in gaming and creation.
You can play recent games on this gaming laptop because it benefits from a high-end dedicated graphics card. In this case it is the GeForce RTX 4070 ray tracing with NVIDIA Ada Lovelace architecture.
Players will therefore be delighted. And creative people too. Because the GeForce RTX 4070 accelerates processing under software using GPU computing power, such as the Adobe suite, Vegas or VSDC.
The heart of this laptop supports the GeForce RTX 4070 well in its tasks.
Indeed it consists of 16 GB of RAM and an AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS Hawk Point processor.
We thus obtain good overall power which will delight demanding users, such as creators.
Because processing is carried out more quickly with this core than with a PC based on a classic Quad/Hexa Core. We clearly feel the difference in areas that are intensive in RAM and CPU resources taking advantage of multi-cores, such as 3D rendering, video editing or photo editing.
On the storage side MSI provides 2 slots for SSD. One of them is available to insert another storage unit if more space is needed.
With this in mind, you can also more simply connect an external storage device, preferably USB 3.0/USB-C type to benefit from fast transfers.
Here we find a classic solution, namely a 512 GB SSD.
Like any SSD it is silent, energy efficient, shock resistant and fast.
As a result, the SSD provides great responsiveness and fluidity on a daily basis, which translates in particular into rapid arrival on online game cards, as well as game/software launches, processing and starts/stops.
Finally, in terms of autonomy, expect around 3 hours of battery operation in light use (with Optimus, around 2 times less without).
In case of heavy loads (e.g. games, processing) expect this versatile multimedia-oriented gaming laptop to heat up and make itself heard.
To contain its temperatures, it can be coupled with a ventilated support (remember to check the dimensions carefully!).