Sure, Nvidia 50-series gaming laptops are coming. And sure, they’ll value an arm, leg, and probably a firstborn. And in an economic system the place many people are nervous concerning the worth of meals and different necessities, spending upwards of $2,000 on a laptop computer isn’t possible. In these circumstances, taking a look at a previous-generation mannequin or a much less highly effective system to avoid wasting money isn’t a nasty concept. You positively ought to try the MSI Cyborg 14.
As a sub-$1,000 gaming laptop computer, the Cyborg 14 is taking part in the sport of compromises. On the one hand, you might have a light-weight, surprisingly fashionable design, vivid show, snug keyboard, first rate gaming, and general efficiency. Then again, the show might be brighter, the audio extra highly effective, and I’m lacking RGB backlighting and macros. Nevertheless, for budget-savvy or entry-level players on the lookout for their first gaming laptop computer, the MSI Cyborg 14 is an effective selection.
MSI Cyborg 14
The MSI Cyborg 14 makes inexpensive gaming look good, however not with out compromises.
Execs
- Light-weight, fashionable design
- Comfy keyboard
- Good gaming and general efficiency
- Inexpensive
Cons
- Dim show
- Weak audio
- No RGB backlighting
MSI Cyborg 14 Overview: Worth and Configurations
MSI has a few configurations of the Cyborg on the menu. I examined the $900 model at present accessible at Finest Purchase. It has a 2.4-GHz Intel Core i7-13620H processor with 16GB of DDR5 RAM, a 512GB NVMe SSD Gen 4×4 SSD, an built-in Intel UHD Graphics, a Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 GPU with 8G GDDR6 of VRAM, and a 14-inch, 1920 x 1200 show with 144Hz refresh charge.
Adorama additionally has a number of pocket book fashions starting from $1,500 to $1,000. The specs begin with an Intel thirteenth Gen Core i5 CPU maxing out at Core i7, with 16-32GB of RAM, 512GB-1TB SSD, and a number of other Nvidia GPUs, together with 2050, 4050, and 4060 GPUs.
MSI Cyborg 14 Overview: Design
As soon as upon a time, a gaming laptop computer meant a pocket book swathed in a garish mixture of black and crimson. Fortunately, the world has matured considerably. The Cyborg, regardless of its mid-tier worth, appears to be like relatively premium. The onyx anodized aluminum lid is stately, and the MSI emblem is proudly emblazoned within the middle. The semi-gloss brand catches simply sufficient mild so as to add some understated aptitude.
The hinge, vents, and laptop computer’s undercarriage are made in a clear bluish-gray plastic. The colour performs up the copper warmth pipes. However I actually like all of the intricate patterns etched into the fabric. The again portion of the undercarriage has a circuit board design, whereas the entrance half is extra geometric, with a honeycomb sample with stars interspersed. To elevate some airflow, MSI put in 4 rubber toes in that cool bluish-gray. There’s a pair of bottom-firing audio system on the edges and eight black screws holding all the pieces in place.
I want the inside had a number of the coloration and elaborations discovered on the pocket book’s backside, however alas, outdoors of the clear WASD, and energy keys, it’s a bland affair. The black metallic deck isn’t dangerous; it’s a protected notice after teasing people concerning the laptop computer’s backside. That mentioned, the palm relaxation is giant and cozy, and the touchpad is giant. The keyboard sits above a barely recessed deck.
The show and deck are held in place by the 2 hinges. Some relatively thick bezels encompass the 14-inch show. A giant MSI emblem is stamped in the midst of the underside bezel, whereas the highest extends right into a pronounced lip housing the 720p webcam and mics. Concerning ports, MSI provides a modest set with a USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 port on the correct, a USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 port, an HDMI 2.1 port, and AC energy enter. On the left, you might have one other USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 port with a headset jack and a safe lock slot.
The 12.4 x 9.2 x 0.88-inch Cyborg 14 weighs 3.5 kilos, only a bit heavier than the three.2-pound, 12.2 x 8.9 x 0.67 ~ 0.78-inch Asus TUF Gaming A14.
MSI Cyborg 14 Overview: Show and Audio
The 14-inch IPS matte show is vibrant, however I want it had been brighter. Watching the “Sinners” trailer was disappointing. The film already has a light sepia solid, which, with the show’s dim solid, exacerbates the issue. The sky took on a yellow-gray solid, and the pores and skin of the actors Michael B. Jordan and Wunmi Mosaku seemed washed out. Probably the most vibrant second of the trailer was when Jordan was carrying a sapphire newsboy hat, which saved my eye on him.
Issues seemed higher once I performed Indiana Jones and the Nice Circle. The jungles had been lush and verdant with clear babbling brooks. Intricate particulars just like the joints in a tarantula’s legs or the ugly, raised scars on actor Tony Todd’s face and milky eye had been clear at the same time as his character tossed Indy round like a bag of soiled laundry. The 144Hz refresh charge helped the motion comparatively easy.
If I had three needs, the primary can be for world peace. The second can be that each technology of my household can be comfortably wealthy, and the final can be the tip of bottom-firing audio system. Regardless of the preinstalled DTS Audio Processing software program, the 2W audio system are a quiet riot. Irrespective of the setting, the Cyborg might barely fill my front room with sound. The tender audio system took a number of the gravitas away from Indy’s operating and gunning. The whip lacked the crispness you anticipate from being cracked towards an enemy’s torso.
When listening to music, I discovered the percussion tinny, the vocals crowded, and the instrumentals bloated. In the event you’re a bass fan, this isn’t your laptop computer, because the low finish is nonexistent. The audio system sound greatest when the Cyborg rests on a desk, however place it in your lap, and also you’re doomed to muffled audio.
MSI Cyborg 14 Overview: Options and Software program
The Cyborg 14 has a full-size island-style keyboard with keycaps accommodating most fingers. The house between keys is nice, and the sunshine blue backlighting permits hunt-and-peck typists to see the keys in a darkish room. The WASD keys are clear to assist them stand out much more. The keys are agency and springy when typing. I had no downside hitting my normal 70 phrases per minute on the MonkeyType typing check.
My solely criticism is that you may’t change out the backlighting or create macros like you possibly can on dearer MSI laptops.
The Cyborg comes with the same old suite of Home windows apps, together with Microsoft Copilot, discovered on most laptops. Nevertheless, MSI Middle is the app you’ll use most, because it permits you to verify system diagnostics, handle community prioritization, alter energy profiles, and accesss different options. Third-party software program contains DTS Audio Processing and Nvidia Broadcast, which is AI-powered and designed to reinforce the webcam and mic and add a digital background throughout streaming periods.
MSI Cyborg 14 Overview: Efficiency
Armed with a Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 GPU with 8GB of video reminiscence, you possibly can anticipate first rate body charges on most video games. You simply should be aware of the settings. My Indiana Jones playthrough was comparatively easy on low. If I tried to transcend low, I promptly bought a warning stating that my needs exceeded what the VRAM might deal with. Nonetheless, the sport seemed first rate on low. Nevertheless, I did discover the background surroundings sharpened if I stayed nonetheless and waited for all the pieces to render.
I ran a few video games with in-game benchmarks to indicate you ways effectively the Cyborg can recreation. I ran the Cyberpunk 2077 check with and with out ray tracing enabled. With the expertise turned on at 1920 x 1200 decision on Extremely, the laptop computer produced 35 frames per second, which rose barely to 39 fps on Medium. After I dropped the ray tracing and re-ran the check, I bought 57 and 79 fps on the Extremely and Medium, respectively. Switching over to Black Fable: Wukong, I noticed a body charge of 110 fps on Cinematic and 49 fps on the Medium graphical preset.
The Cyborg’s Intel Core i7-13620H processor permits the laptop computer to change from play to work with out breaking its stride. I’m a tab hoarder. I’ve 55 Google Chrome tabs operating with a mixture of G-Suite apps, information, social media, movies, and random bric-a-brac. The MSI pocket book saved pushing unabated. I additionally did some mild photograph enhancing in Adobe Photoshop, and the Cyborg was nonetheless unbothered.
When it was time to run some benchmarks, the Cyborg continued to carry its personal. On Geekbench 6, the pocket book produced 2,403 on the single-core check and 11,672 on the multi-core run, placing it on par with most laptops of its ilk. Nevertheless, the Cyborg was somewhat sluggish through the Handbrake video transcoding check, taking 5 minutes and 31 seconds to transcode a 4K video to 1080p. On the Blender benchmark, the place the system’s CPU is tasked with rendering a picture of a BMW, the MSI took 3 minutes and 28 seconds. It’s a decent rating however not sufficient to beat the Asus TUF Gaming A14, which accomplished the duty in 2:15.
MSI Cyborg 14 Overview: Battery Life
Gaming laptops aren’t recognized for his or her battery life, so it was no shock that the Cyborg tapped out in underneath 4 hours. I ran the PCMark 10 Fashionable Workplace benchmark with the show brightness set to 100%. The check runs by a simulated workload (social media, spreadsheets, video conferencing, net shopping, and many others.) till the laptop computer’s battery runs down. The MSI lasted 3 hours and 42 minutes. However since this can be a gaming laptop computer, operating the Gaming model of the check is simply truthful. The Cyborg was achieved after 59 minutes.
MSI Cyborg 14 Overview: Verdict
Is the MSI Cyborg 14 probably the most highly effective gaming laptop computer within the land? No, but it surely’s additionally not the most costly. This sub-$1,000 gaming system delivers strong gaming and general efficiency in a trendy, comparatively light-weight chassis. The keyboard is extraordinarily snug to sort on, and there’s a good quantity of ports. However at this worth level, you must anticipate a number of compromises. Within the case of the Cyborg, which means a vivid show however not the brightest, weak audio, and an absence of RGB backlighting and macros. Nonetheless, for a gaming laptop computer underneath $1,000, the MSI Cyborg 14 is a good possibility for entry-level players or people on a finances.
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