MSI Vector A18 HX A8W (2025) 18" specifications and in-depth review

MSI Vector A18 HX A8W (2025) 18"

Manufacturer: MSI

The MSI Vector A18 HX A8W (2025) is a gaming laptop designed for performance with a large 18″ LCD display. It features a 240Hz refresh rate and a sleek, modern design. Weighing in at 3600 g, it offers powerful capabilities while remaining portable enough for gaming on the go.

Under the hood, the MSI Vector A18 HX A8W is powered by 64GB of RAM running at 5600 MHz, paired with 2048GB of fast NVMe SSD storage. The laptop also boasts impressive graphics with 16GB of VRAM and support for ray tracing and DLSS, providing smooth gaming and multitasking performance.

Pros
  • Supports Intel Resizable BAR for enhanced graphics performance.
  • Equipped with multi-display technology for improved visual setups.
  • Supports ECC memory for increased data integrity and reliability.
  • Has a variety of USB ports, including Thunderbolt 4, offering flexible connectivity options.
  • Features a large memory bandwidth of 811.5 GB/s, which can benefit demanding applications.
Cons
  • Does not have Dolby Atmos for an enhanced audio experience.
  • Lacks support for a MagSafe power adapter, which may be a drawback for some users.
  • Does not include a stylus, limiting certain creative tasks.
  • Does not feature integrated GPS, which may limit outdoor or location-based use.
  • No optical disc drive, which may be inconvenient for those needing physical media support.
Who is this for?

This product is ideal for users who need powerful performance for multitasking and demanding tasks, thanks to its high RAM capacity (64GB) and fast CPU speed (16 x 2.5 GHz). It is also a strong choice for users requiring robust graphics capabilities, with ray tracing and DLSS support, making it suitable for gaming and content creation. Additionally, the inclusion of Thunderbolt 4 ports and USB Type-C ensures excellent connectivity for peripherals and high-speed data transfer.

Who is this NOT for?

This product may not be suitable for users seeking ultra-portability, as its weight of 3600g and thickness of 24mm make it bulky and less convenient for frequent travel. It also lacks a MagSafe power adapter and does not support Dolby Atmos for users seeking advanced audio or wireless charging capabilities. Additionally, without an optical disc drive or integrated GPS, it may not meet the needs of users relying on these features for specific tasks.

Design:

Type Gaming
weight 3600 g
Uses a fanless design
Has a backlit keyboard
volume 2976.672 cm³
width 404 mm
height 307 mm
thickness 24 mm
is weather-sealed (splashproof)
has a rugged build

The MSI Vector A18 HX A8W (2025) is a gaming laptop with a weight of 3600 g and dimensions of 404 mm in width, 307 mm in height, and 24 mm in thickness. It features a backlit keyboard for improved visibility during low-light gaming sessions. While it does not use a fanless design and is not weather-sealed or rugged, it offers a volume of 2976.672 cm³, making it a solid, functional choice for gaming.

Display:

screen size 18"
resolution 2560 x 1600 px
pixel density 167 ppi
Display type LCD, LED-backlit, IPS
has a touch screen
refresh rate 240Hz
has anti-reflection coating
supported displays 4

The MSI Vector A18 HX A8W (2025) is equipped with an 18″ LCD, LED-backlit, IPS display offering a resolution of 2560 x 1600 px and a pixel density of 167 ppi. It features a 240Hz refresh rate for smooth visuals, making it ideal for fast-paced gaming. While it lacks a touch screen and anti-reflection coating, the display supports up to four external displays, enhancing multitasking and gaming setups.

Performance:

RAM 64GB
RAM speed 5600 MHz
Uses flash storage
internal storage 2048GB
CPU speed 16 x 2.5 GHz
CPU threads 32 threads
VRAM 16GB
floating-point performance 23.04 TFLOPS
GDDR version GDDR7
texture rate 384 GTexels/s
pixel rate 144 GPixel/s
Is an NVMe SSD
DirectX version DirectX 12 Ultimate
GPU clock speed 975 MHz
uses multithreading
maximum memory amount 96GB
DDR memory version 5
turbo clock speed 5.4GHz
GPU turbo 1500 MHz
memory slots 2
PCI Express (PCIe) version 4
semiconductor size 4 nm
has XeSS (XMX)
Supports 64-bit

The MSI Vector A18 HX A8W (2025) delivers strong performance with 64GB of RAM running at 5600 MHz, and 2048GB of NVMe SSD storage for fast read/write speeds. Its 16GB of VRAM and GPU turbo speed of 1500 MHz make it suitable for demanding graphical tasks. With a CPU that features 32 threads and a turbo clock speed of 5.4GHz, the laptop supports multithreading and runs on the latest DirectX 12 Ultimate for enhanced gaming and productivity.

Benchmarks:

PassMark result 57540
PassMark result (single) 4452

The MSI Vector A18 HX A8W (2025) achieves a PassMark score of 57540, reflecting its strong overall performance. For single-threaded tasks, it scores 4452, indicating solid efficiency in tasks that rely on single-core processing power.

Connectivity:

USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports (USB-C) 0
USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports (USB-A) 1
USB 4 20Gbps ports 0
USB 4 40Gbps ports 2
Thunderbolt 4 ports 2
USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (USB-C) 0
USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (USB-A) 2
Thunderbolt 3 ports 0
has an HDMI output
Has USB Type-C
supports Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi version Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be), 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 5.4
RJ45 ports 0
HDMI ports 1
HDMI version HDMI 2.1
DisplayPort outputs 0
USB 2.0 ports 0
has AirPlay
mini DisplayPort outputs 0
has a VGA connector

The MSI Vector A18 HX A8W (2025) offers a variety of connectivity options, including two Thunderbolt 4 ports and two USB 4 40Gbps ports for high-speed data transfer. It also features HDMI 2.1 output, USB Type-C, and supports Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 for seamless wireless connectivity. The laptop includes an external memory slot for expandable storage and supports AirPlay for easy streaming to compatible devices.

Battery:

battery size 99 Wh
Has sleep-and-charge USB ports
Has a MagSafe power adapter

The MSI Vector A18 HX A8W (2025) is equipped with a 99 Wh battery, offering a solid power capacity for extended use. It also includes sleep-and-charge USB ports, allowing you to charge devices while the laptop is in sleep mode. However, it does not feature a MagSafe power adapter for charging.

Features:

release date January 2025
has stereo speakers
has a socket for a 3.5 mm audio jack
supports ray tracing
supports DLSS
has Dolby Atmos
Stylus included
Has a fingerprint scanner
number of microphones 1
Uses 3D facial recognition
video recording (main camera) 1080 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 Vector A18 HX A8W (2025) comes with stereo speakers and a 3.5 mm audio jack for high-quality audio and easy headset connectivity. It also supports advanced graphics features like ray tracing and DLSS for enhanced visual effects and performance. For video calls, it includes a front camera that records at 1080 x 30 fps, but it does not have Dolby Atmos or voice command capabilities.

Miscellaneous:

USB 3.0 ports 0
USB ports 5
Thunderbolt ports 2
clock multiplier 25
AMD SAM / Intel Resizable BAR Intel Resizable BAR
GPU architecture Blackwell
has LHR
Thermal Design Power (TDP) 80W
Supports 3D
Supports multi-display technology
OpenCL version 3
OpenGL version 4.6
Supports ECC memory
memory bus width 256-bit
effective memory speed 25400 MHz
maximum memory bandwidth 811.5 GB/s
render output units (ROPs) 96
texture mapping units (TMUs) 256
shading units 7680
Has Double Precision Floating Point (DPFP)
GPU memory speed 2000 MHz
Type Laptop, Desktop
Uses big.LITTLE technology
instruction sets MMX, F16C, FMA3, AES, AVX, AVX2, SSE 4.1, SSE 4.2
Has an unlocked multiplier
Has NX bit
L3 core 4 MB/core
L3 cache 64 MB
L2 core 1 MB/core
L2 cache 16 MB
L1 cache 1280 KB
GPU name Radeon 610M
Has integrated graphics
memory channels 2
RAM speed (max) 5600 MHz
CPU temperature 100 °C

The system is equipped with a variety of features including Intel Resizable BAR support, multi-display technology for enhanced graphics performance, and ECC memory support for increased data integrity. It uses a 256-bit memory bus width and boasts a memory bandwidth of 811.5 GB/s. The GPU, Radeon 610M, is powered by Blackwell architecture, and the system supports a range of instruction sets including AVX and SSE 4.2. Additionally, the CPU features a 4 MB/core L3 cache and has an effective memory speed of 25,400 MHz.

Final Verdict

The product stands out with its impressive 64GB of RAM and strong performance capabilities, including high CPU speeds and support for demanding tasks like gaming and content creation. With features such as Thunderbolt 4 connectivity and ray tracing, it's well-suited for power users who prioritize performance and multi-tasking efficiency. While it may not be ideal for those seeking portability or advanced audio features, its overall robust design and high-end technical specs make it an excellent choice for users who need heavy computing power and flexibility.

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