MSI Katana 17 B13UDXK-1414FR, versatile large format 17″ 144Hz gaming laptop PC under Intel Core i5-13420H and RTX 3050 – LaptopSpirit

Our opinion on the MSI Katana 17 B13UDXK-1414FR

Versatile large-format gaming laptop, the MSI Katana 17 B13UDXK-1414FR with a 17-inch anti-glare Full HD IPS screen whose frequency of 144Hz improves fluidity in games runs a lot of games thanks to its dedicated GeForce RTX 3050 ray tracing NVIDIA Ampere 6 GB graphics card. This GPU accelerates multimedia processing like the 16 GB of RAM and the high-performance Intel Core i5-13420H Raptor Lake processor as well as the fast 512 GB SSD storage which increases responsiveness. This versatile Windows 11 laptop designed for gaming and creating features a backlit keyboard and Wi-Fi 6E connectivity.

Features of the MSI Katana 17 B13UDXK-1414FR

The MSI Katana 17 B13UDXK-1414FR faces the competition

The MSI Katana 17 B13UDXK-1414FR is currently displayed in promotion at Amazon and positions itself among the cheapest in its category to adopt in such a large format (17 inches) such a high-performance processor and graphics card with such a high frequency screen and Windows included, but encounters competitors offering a more powerful GPU.

If this laptop PC does not completely meet your needs, we invite you to consult our guides Cheap laptop And Student laptopyou will find other similar laptops that can be good alternatives to MSI Katana 17 B13UDXK-1414FR.

Chassis, connections, screen of the MSI Katana 17 B13UDXK-1414FR

Cooled by Cooler Boost 5 technology using 2 fans, 4 heat pipes and air grilles, this laptop PC has a gamer appearance with its angular black design.

The connectivity integrated into this versatile gaming and creation-oriented laptop is good, consisting of 1 USB-C, Ethernet and audio ports, Bluetooth 5.3 and Wi-Fi 6E ax wireless modules for communicating and connecting remotely, a practical HDMI video output to easily connect it to a TV or monitor for example as well as 3 USBs including 2 USB 3.0 (USB 2.0 compatible) guaranteeing transfers up to 5 times faster only in USB 2.0 if USB 3.0 devices are plugged into it.

The chiclet keyboard benefits from RGB backlighting that can be activated whenever you need to better discern your keys.

Players will appreciate that the screen adopts a refresh rate of 144Hz because it provides better overall fluidity, including in games, than a classic 60Hz panel.
Furthermore, 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, thanks to its technology. IPS.
The screen also has an anti-reflective coating making it more readable in a bright environment (e.g. outdoors) than a shiny panel.

Performance, autonomy of the MSI Katana 17 B13UDXK-1414FR

The MSI Katana 17 B13UDXK-1414FR is aimed at those who want to equip themselves with a high-performance, large-format, versatile laptop computer geared toward gaming and creation.

Whether with the Iris Xe graphics module inserted in the processor or the dedicated GeForce RTX 3050 graphics card, watching photos and videos is obviously possible.
Optimus technology activates the GeForce RTX 3050 to carry out graphics work deemed too heavy for the Iris Xe.

Indeed Optimus favors operation on the Iris Xe as much as possible while its performance is significantly lower because it consumes little energy which promotes autonomy.
In this area, expect around 3 hours of battery operation in light use.

In any case, NVIDIA Optimus technology automatically switches in real time between the GeForce RTX 3050 and the Iris Xe. The first is activated when it comes to performing graphics tasks deemed too heavy for the Iris Xe, typically for gaming.

Thanks to the GeForce RTX 3050 ray tracing with older generation NVIDIA Ampere architecture, we can indeed play games that are not too demanding, especially since it offers 6 GB dedicated. Concessions are obviously necessary to play more demanding games.

The GeForce RTX 3050 will interest creative people. Because it accelerates multimedia processing in applications that take advantage of GPU computing power, such as Vegas, VSDC or the Adobe suite.

It is the Core i5-13420H which integrates the Iris Xe, an Intel Raptor Lake processor with 8 hybrid cores supported here by 16 GB of RAM to deliver very good general performance which will satisfy many users.

And especially the creators. Because if this heart accompanies the GeForce RTX 3050 well in games, it provides faster processing than if it were made up of a classic Quad Core. We particularly feel the difference in areas requiring CPU (and RAM) resources using multi-core, such as video editing or photo editing.

MSI offers 2 storage slots for M.2 SSD. One of them is free which is significant for scalability.
As a base, we find a 512 GB SSD integrated, as with many models on the market.
However, if you need greater capacity, you can insert a second SSD or use an external storage unit, preferably a USB 3.0/USB-C device for fast transfers.

In any case, thanks to the SSD it is quick to start/stop, carry out processing, launch games/software or even access online game cards.

In general, the SSD improves fluidity and responsiveness thanks to its high speed. It is also quiet, energy efficient and shock resistant.

As for heating and noise, expect them to be present in the event of heavy loads (e.g. games, processing) of this versatile creative-oriented gaming laptop PC which can be coupled if necessary to a ventilated support to limit its temperatures (remember to check the dimensions carefully!).