MSI Thin 15 B13U (2024) 15.6" specifications and in-depth review

MSI Thin 15 B13U (2024) 15.6"

Manufacturer: MSI

The MSI Thin 15 B13U (2024) is a 15.6″ gaming laptop built around a configuration oriented toward everyday gaming and multitasking workloads. It weighs 1860 g and measures 21 mm thin, keeping its footprint relatively compact for a machine in its category. The display runs at 144Hz on an IPS LCD panel at 1920 x 1080 resolution, delivering 141 ppi and support for up to four simultaneous external displays.

Under the hood, the system pairs a 10-core CPU with a turbo clock of 4.9GHz and 16 threads against a dedicated GPU built on the Ampere architecture, carrying 4GB of GDDR6 VRAM and reaching a boost clock of 1740 MHz. Floating-point performance is rated at 4.329 TFLOPS, backed by 2048 shading units and a 128-bit memory bus with 192 GB/s of maximum bandwidth. The 512GB NVMe SSD operates over PCIe 4, system RAM sits at 16GB DDR4 running at 3200 MHz across two slots expandable to 64GB, and connectivity includes Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, one USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 port, three USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports, and one HDMI output. The 52.4 Wh battery rounds out the hardware profile.

Pros
  • The 144Hz IPS display provides smooth motion handling for fast-paced content without tearing or stuttering
  • Wi-Fi 6E support ensures access to the latest wireless standard for faster and less congested connections
  • Ray tracing and DLSS support expand compatibility with modern rendering techniques in supported games
  • The NVMe SSD on PCIe 4 offers fast storage access, and the two memory slots allow upgrades up to 64GB of RAM
  • A 21 mm thin chassis with a backlit keyboard makes it practical for use in varied lighting conditions
  • Intel Resizable BAR support allows the CPU to access the full GPU frame buffer, which can benefit rendering workloads
Cons
  • The 52.4 Wh battery is relatively modest for a gaming laptop, potentially limiting unplugged usage during demanding sessions
  • No Thunderbolt ports, no DisplayPort output, no RJ45 Ethernet jack, and no external memory slot restrict wired connectivity options
  • The front camera is limited to 720p at 30 fps, which is below what many users now expect for video calls
  • With only 4GB of GDDR6 VRAM, the GPU may face limitations with memory-intensive workloads at higher settings
  • The chassis is neither weather-sealed nor ruggedized, offering no protection against moisture or physical stress
Who is this for?

This laptop suits users who want a capable gaming machine in a relatively slim 21 mm form factor, particularly those who prioritize a 144Hz IPS display for smoother gameplay and fast-moving visuals. Its support for ray tracing, DLSS, and DirectX 12 Ultimate makes it a reasonable fit for players engaging with modern titles that leverage these rendering features. The 10-core CPU with multithreading, 16GB of DDR4 RAM expandable to 64GB, and a PCIe 4 NVMe SSD also make it workable for content creators or students handling moderately demanding productivity workloads alongside gaming. Wi-Fi 6E support adds value for users in environments with access to newer wireless infrastructure.

Who is this NOT for?

Users who require sustained high-fidelity gaming at demanding settings may find the 4GB GDDR6 VRAM insufficient, as memory-intensive titles at higher resolutions can exhaust that headroom quickly. The 52.4 Wh battery is a limiting factor for those who need extended unplugged use, making this a poor fit for anyone frequently working away from a power source. The absence of an RJ45 Ethernet port, Thunderbolt connectivity, and DisplayPort output makes it less suitable for professional workstation users who rely on wired network stability or high-bandwidth peripheral connections. Additionally, the lack of weather sealing or a rugged build rules it out entirely for users who need a laptop that can withstand harsh or unpredictable environments.

Design:

Type Gaming
weight 1860 g
Uses a fanless design
Has a backlit keyboard
volume 1914.906 cm³
width 359 mm
height 254 mm
thickness 21 mm
is weather-sealed (splashproof)
has a rugged build

The MSI Thin 15 B13U (2024) is classified as a gaming laptop and carries a weight of 1860 g, with a footprint of 359 mm wide by 254 mm tall and a thickness of just 21 mm, resulting in a total volume of 1914.906 cm³. It features a backlit keyboard for use in low-light conditions and relies on an active cooling system rather than a fanless design. The chassis is neither weather-sealed nor built to rugged standards, positioning it as a conventional consumer gaming machine.

Display:

screen size 15.6"
resolution 1920 x 1080 px
pixel density 141 ppi
Display type LCD, LED-backlit, IPS
has a touch screen
refresh rate 144Hz
has anti-reflection coating
supported displays 4

The MSI Thin 15 B13U (2024) comes equipped with a 15.6″ IPS LCD panel that is LED-backlit, delivering a resolution of 1920 x 1080 px at a pixel density of 141 ppi. Its 144Hz refresh rate makes it well-suited for fast-paced content, while support for up to four simultaneous displays adds flexibility for multi-monitor use. The screen does not include a touch layer or an anti-reflection coating.

Performance:

RAM 16GB
RAM speed 3200 MHz
Uses flash storage
internal storage 512GB
CPU speed 6 x 2.4 & 4 x 1.8 GHz
CPU threads 16 threads
VRAM 4GB
floating-point performance 4.329 TFLOPS
GDDR version GDDR6
texture rate 67.65 GTexels/s
pixel rate 42.28 GPixel/s
Is an NVMe SSD
DirectX version DirectX 12 Ultimate
GPU clock speed 712 MHz
uses multithreading
maximum memory amount 64GB
DDR memory version 4
turbo clock speed 4.9GHz
GPU turbo 1740 MHz
memory slots 2
PCI Express (PCIe) version 4
semiconductor size 8 nm
has XeSS (XMX)
Supports 64-bit

The MSI Thin 15 B13U (2024) runs a 10-core, 16-thread CPU built on an 8 nm process, with clock speeds of 6 cores at 2.4 GHz and 4 cores at 1.8 GHz, reaching a turbo frequency of 4.9GHz, alongside multithreading support and 64-bit compatibility. System memory stands at 16GB of DDR4 RAM running at 3200 MHz across two slots, expandable up to 64GB. Storage is handled by a 512GB NVMe SSD over PCIe 4, using flash storage for fast data access. On the graphics side, the dedicated GPU operates at a base clock of 712 MHz and boosts up to 1740 MHz, backed by 4GB of GDDR6 VRAM, delivering 4.329 TFLOPS of floating-point performance, a texture rate of 67.65 GTexels/s, a pixel rate of 42.28 GPixel/s, and support for DirectX 12 Ultimate; XeSS (XMX) is not supported.

Benchmarks:

PassMark (G3D) result 9278
PassMark result 23805
PassMark result (single) 3569

In standardized PassMark testing, the MSI Thin 15 B13U (2024) achieves an overall PassMark score of 23805, reflecting the combined CPU throughput across all cores and threads, while the single-core result comes in at 3569, indicating per-core processing capability. The GPU-focused PassMark G3D benchmark registers a score of 9278, representing the graphics subsystem's measured rendering performance.

Connectivity:

USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports (USB-C) 0
USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports (USB-A) 0
USB 4 20Gbps ports 0
USB 4 40Gbps ports 0
Thunderbolt 4 ports 0
USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (USB-C) 1
USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (USB-A) 3
Thunderbolt 3 ports 0
has an HDMI output
Has USB Type-C
supports Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi version Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax), Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n)
has an external memory slot
Bluetooth version 5.3
RJ45 ports 0
HDMI ports 1
DisplayPort outputs 0
USB 2.0 ports 0
has AirPlay
mini DisplayPort outputs 0
has a VGA connector

The MSI Thin 15 B13U (2024) offers a wired port selection consisting of one USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C port, three USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports, and one HDMI output; there are no Thunderbolt 3 or 4 ports, no DisplayPort or mini DisplayPort outputs, no RJ45 Ethernet jack, no VGA connector, and no external memory slot. Wireless connectivity is handled by Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) — also backward compatible with Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi 5, and Wi-Fi 4 — paired with Bluetooth 5.3. AirPlay is supported, rounding out the wireless feature set.

Battery:

battery size 52.4 Wh
Has sleep-and-charge USB ports
Has a MagSafe power adapter

The MSI Thin 15 B13U (2024) is equipped with a 52.4 Wh battery. It does not include sleep-and-charge USB ports, nor does it use a MagSafe power adapter for charging.

Features:

has stereo speakers
has a socket for a 3.5 mm audio jack
supports ray tracing
supports DLSS
has Dolby Atmos
Has a fingerprint scanner
number of microphones 1
Uses 3D facial recognition
video recording (main camera) 720 x 30 fps
has voice commands
has a front camera
Has S/PDIF Out port
has a gyroscope
has GPS
has an accelerometer
has a compass
Has an optical disc drive

The MSI Thin 15 B13U (2024) includes stereo speakers and a 3.5 mm headset jack for audio output, though it does not feature Dolby Atmos or an S/PDIF port. On the graphics side, it supports both ray tracing and DLSS, expanding its capabilities for compatible titles. A front-facing camera is present and records video at 720p and 30 fps, accompanied by a single built-in microphone; there is no fingerprint scanner, 3D facial recognition, or voice command functionality. Sensor-wise, the laptop does not include a gyroscope, accelerometer, compass, or GPS, and it has no optical disc drive.

Miscellaneous:

USB 3.0 ports 0
USB ports 4
clock multiplier 24
has LHR
Supports ECC memory
Has Double Precision Floating Point (DPFP)
Has air-water cooling
Thermal Design Power (TDP) 75W
Supports 3D
OpenCL version 3
OpenGL version 4.6
memory bus width 128-bit
effective memory speed 12000 MHz
maximum memory bandwidth 192 GB/s
render output units (ROPs) 40
texture mapping units (TMUs) 64
shading units 2048
GPU memory speed 1500 MHz
AMD SAM / Intel Resizable BAR Intel Resizable BAR
GPU architecture Ampere
GPU name UHD Graphics 770
Type Laptop
L2 cache 9.5 MB
L3 cache 24 MB
Has an unlocked multiplier
Uses big.LITTLE technology
Has NX bit
CPU temperature 100 °C
GPU execution units 64
Has integrated graphics
memory channels 2
instruction sets SSE 4.2, SSE 4.1, AVX, AES, FMA3, F16C, MMX
RAM speed (max) 5200 MHz

The MSI Thin 15 B13U (2024) houses a laptop-class CPU with a 75W TDP, a clock multiplier of 24, a maximum operating temperature of 100 °C, and a locked multiplier; it employs big.LITTLE technology, carries an NX bit for hardware-level security, and supports ECC memory alongside Double Precision Floating Point (DPFP). The processor includes 9.5 MB of L2 cache and 24 MB of L3 cache, operates across two memory channels, and is compatible with instruction sets covering SSE 4.1, SSE 4.2, AVX, AES, FMA3, F16C, and MMX, with RAM speeds officially supported up to 5200 MHz. Integrated graphics are present alongside the dedicated GPU, which is built on the Ampere architecture and carries 2048 shading units, 64 texture mapping units, 40 ROPs, and 64 execution units; GPU memory runs at 1500 MHz with an effective speed of 12000 MHz across a 128-bit bus, yielding a maximum bandwidth of 192 GB/s. The system supports Intel Resizable BAR, OpenCL 3, OpenGL 4.6, and stereoscopic 3D, while LHR and air-water cooling are absent. The total USB port count is four, with no legacy USB 3.0 or USB 2.0 ports in the mix.

Final Verdict

The MSI Thin 15 B13U (2024) presents itself as a focused entry in the gaming laptop segment, pairing a 10-core CPU and an Ampere-based GPU with a 144Hz IPS display and support for ray tracing and DLSS — a combination that covers the needs of casual to mid-range gamers reasonably well within a 21 mm chassis. Its PCIe 4 NVMe storage, Wi-Fi 6E, and expandable RAM up to 64GB give it enough headroom to remain relevant for productivity-oriented use alongside gaming. That said, the 4GB VRAM ceiling, modest battery capacity, and limited wired connectivity options mean it is best suited to users whose demands fall within those boundaries. For those who fit that profile, it delivers a solid and coherent feature set; those with heavier or more specialized requirements should weigh those constraints carefully before committing.

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