# This laptop is the ultimate insult

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AX5BAUL3R48
Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/AX5BAUL3R48
Generated: 2025-09-19T21:04:58.96+00:00

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## Quick Overview

The MSI Crosshair 18 HX AI A2XW laptop offers a strong balance of productivity and gaming performance with its Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX CPU and RTX 5060/5070 GPU, featuring a high-quality 240Hz QHD+ display and robust cooling, all at a competitive price point of around $1,700, despite some minor compromises in speaker quality and per-key RGB lighting.

**Key Points:**
- The MSI Crosshair 18 HX AI A2XW laptop integrates an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX CPU and an RTX 5060 or 5070 GPU, targeting both productivity and gaming performance.
- It boasts a 240Hz refresh rate QHD+ (2560x1600) display, which the reviewer praises as an "outstanding balance between clarity, ease of driving, and cost," capable of over 80 FPS in Cyberpunk 2077 at native resolution with medium settings.
- Cooling is a major focus, with MSI claiming up to six heat pipes and a robust solution that keeps the system responsive even under load, though the laptop can become "a little bit on the noisier side" in its high power profile.
- The laptop includes upgradeable DDR5 RAM (32GB standard), a Gen 5 SSD slot, and a modular Intel Wi-Fi 6E module, with a 88.24Wh battery providing "decent battery life" at around 7 hours in testing.
- Keyboard features include 1.7mm key travel and 24-zone RGB backlighting, with a "stiff deck" and a "reasonable compromise" on the number pad size to maintain user alignment.
- The laptop supports up to 100W charging via Thunderbolt 4 and includes a 240W charger brick, with a comprehensive IO selection including HDMI 2.1, Gigabit Ethernet, and multiple USB-A ports.
- Priced around $1,700 at the time of filming, the reviewer considers it a "more bang for the buck product" that avoids major compromises, though speaker performance is noted as "adequate" rather than exceptional.

**Context:** This video reviews the MSI Crosshair 18 HX AI A2XW, an 18-inch gaming and productivity laptop. The reviewer highlights MSI's use of the 'Crosshair' branding, typically associated with AMD, on an Intel-based laptop as a point of contention. The review focuses on the laptop's performance, cooling, display, keyboard, and overall value proposition for its price point.

## Detailed Analysis

The MSI Crosshair 18 HX AI A2XW is an 18-inch laptop designed for both productivity and gaming, featuring a Core Ultra 9 275HX CPU with 24 cores, claimed to offer a 20% performance increase over the previous generation. Graphics are handled by an RTX 5060 or RTX 5070 mobile GPU, with a total of 170 watts shared between the CPU and GPU. The laptop supports up to 100W charging via its Thunderbolt 4 port, and comes with a 240W power brick. Its I/O includes HDMI 2.1 for up to 8K 60Hz output, Gigabit Ethernet, and multiple USB-A ports. Internally, it features a substantial cooling solution with up to six heat pipes, upgradeable DDR5 RAM (32GB standard at 5600MHz), a Gen 5 SSD slot alongside a Gen 4 slot, and a modular Intel Wi-Fi 6E card. The 88.24Wh battery provides approximately 7 hours of use, considered decent for a gaming laptop. The keyboard offers 1.7mm key travel and 24-zone RGB backlighting, with a slightly smaller number pad to improve user ergonomics. The standout feature is the 18-inch QHD+ display with a 240Hz refresh rate, delivering sharp visuals and smooth gameplay with over 80 FPS in demanding titles like Cyberpunk 2077 at medium settings. While the laptop can get noisy under high load, MSI's Control Center software allows fan tuning. The speakers are described as adequate, with good clarity but lacking strong bass due to the absence of a dedicated subwoofer and downward-firing design. The webcam includes a physical privacy switch. The reviewer concludes that the laptop provides excellent value at around $1,700, balancing performance, display quality, and features effectively, despite minor compromises.

### Product Overview

- MSI Crosshair 18 HX AI A2XW
- 18-inch Gaming & Productivity Laptop
- Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX CPU & RTX 5060/5070 GPU

### Performance Metrics

- 20% performance uplift claimed over last gen CPU
- RTX 5070 delivers over 80 FPS in Cyberpunk 2077 (medium settings, native resolution)
- DLSS Frame Generation used for smoother perceived gameplay

### Display Quality

- 2560x1600 QHD+ resolution
- 240Hz refresh rate
- Over 550 nits peak brightness
- 100% DCI-P3 color space coverage

### Cooling and Internals

- Up to six heat pipes cooling solution
- Upgradeable DDR5 RAM (32GB standard)
- Gen 5 SSD slot
- Modular Wi-Fi 6E

### Keyboard and Trackpad

- 1.7mm key travel
- 24-zone RGB backlighting
- Stiff keyboard deck
- Reasonable compromise on number pad size

### Connectivity and Battery

- 240W charger brick
- 100W charging via Thunderbolt 4
- HDMI 2.1, Gigabit Ethernet, multiple USB-A ports
- 88.24Wh battery with approx. 7 hours of life

### Audio and Webcam

- Adequate downward-firing speakers with good clarity
- Webcam with physical privacy switch
- Laptop priced around $1,700 at time of filming