With the release of the new-generation NVIDIA GeForce RTX 40 series laptop GPU performance ban, the e-sports laptop market has become lively, and MSI, a major player in the e-sports industry, also launched “Leaping over the Singularity” in February. ” as the slogan, released a full series of new machines equipped with 13th generation Intel Core H series processors and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 40 series notebook GPUs, from top flagship, mainstream performance, light and easy to carry to practicality…etc. All orientations have new faces, providing players with quite a variety of choices.
Previously, MSI Sword and MSI Katana, the cold weapon models created by the “Special Edition” in the practical-grade gaming notebook GF series, this year MSI also plans to make them a completely independent series, and simultaneously launch 15-inch and 17-inch laptops. There are two sizes in two inches, and its appearance is also like its name of “Dragon Soul Blade”. It has a body line that resembles a sword cut. It is sharp and neat with many finely crafted details. appearance.
The update of hardware specifications is naturally the most concerned part of Dragon Soul Blade. In addition to the excellent performance of the 13th generation Intel Core H series processor, the new generation architecture also brings a comprehensive upgrade to the game’s operating performance! Of course, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 8GB GDDR6 laptop GPU, which debuted on the laptop platform for the first time, is definitely the highlight among the highlights. It not only adopts the same Ada Lovelace architecture as the desktop host version, but also upgrades to the fourth-generation Tensor core, The third-generation RT core also further enhances the performance of the game when running ray tracing. DLSS 3 technology greatly improves the dynamic fluency; in addition, thanks to the process upgrade, it can still release excellent performance at lower power consumption, supporting MUX independent Graphics direct connection technology enables it to enjoy advanced performance without the need for an integrated graphics card.
MSI Katana 17 B13V Features preview
- Up to Intel Core i7-13620H processor
- Up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 8GB GDDR6 laptop GPU, Ada lovelace architecture and Max-Q technology, support DLSS 3
- Built-in DDR5-5600 memory, PCIe Gen4 SSD
- Equipped with a 17.3-inch Full HD resolution IPS-level panel that supports 144Hz refresh rate
- Supports direct connection design of MUX discrete graphics card to further boost processing performance
- Equipped with a full-size keyboard with independent nine-key digital keys, four-zone RGB full-color backlight, 1.7mm key stroke, unique translucent WASD keycap design
- MSI’s exclusive Cooler Boost 5 high-efficiency cooling technology blessing, built-in six cooling ducts and dual-fan cooling modules
- MSI Center provides comprehensive system monitoring functions. Players can adjust system performance and switch exclusive gaming modes through customized configuration files
- Support playing high-resolution music
Ultra-classic and simple appearance, with details showing a unique e-sports style
MSI’s two “Dragon Soul Blades” have completely different styles. Among them, the Sword is as white as snow, giving people a fresh and refined sense of agility, while the Katana shows a straight-forward, elegant and neat feeling. The color with dark gray as the main tone has the classic atmosphere of MSI’s previous gaming notebooks, but the lines of the body are closer to the current mainstream simple aesthetics. It is worth mentioning that many details are painted with Chinese ink painting It is presented by various techniques, such as the modification of the corners of the fuselage, and the C surface and side are also equipped with local blocks and dotted pixel style patterns to bring a lot of variability to the whole machine.
In terms of display, Katana 17 is equipped with a 17.3-inch narrow-frame IPS-level screen with FHD resolution and a 144Hz gaming-level refresh rate. Stability and fluency allow the advantages of hardware performance to be fully displayed in the experience of sound and light effects.
The C side of the fuselage is an island-style keyboard with keycaps of the same color as the fuselage. The four-zone RGB full-color backlight is very eye-catching, and the keys also have a long key travel of 1.7 mm. The performance of the measured feel is really excellent.
The new generation of hardware specifications is worth looking forward to
In recent years, the hardware specifications on the notebook platform have developed like a great leap forward. Among them, the core processor related to the overall performance also has a new architecture. Take the 13th generation Intel Core H processor, which is the mainstream of gaming notebooks this year, for example. , the design continues the “hybrid architecture” of the previous generation. Through the combination of multiple performance cores (P-Core) and energy-saving cores (E-Core), it provides better multitasking performance and battery life. Not to mention that the newly unlocked NVIDIA GeForce RTX 40 series notebook computer GPU also brings a new generation of architecture and optimization technology, so that real-time ray tracing effects and AI artificial intelligence computing capabilities can be greatly improved, not only presenting more than before. Gorgeous game sound and light, and at the same time, through deep learning technology like DLSS 3, combined with game optimization support, it can achieve smoother game dynamic effects in high-quality images, and Katana 17 is through this new generation of ” Dual-core” provides players with efficient and smooth excellent performance.
In addition, Katana 17 is also equipped with the same high-speed DDR5-5600 memory, and adopts PCIe Gen4 SSD, which further improves the speed of game startup, and brings more stable data loading and transmission speed while the game is running.
Katana 17 （B13V) list of key specifications
Katana 17 （B13V) Processor and storage performance benchmark list
Katana 17 （B13V）3D List of performance benchmarks
Katana 17 （B13V) System comprehensive performance running score list
Game performance test
This year’s new version of Katana 17 combines the 13th-generation Intel Core i7-13620H standard-pressure processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 notebook GPU with two powerful cores, how powerful it can run 3A masterpieces is naturally It is very exciting, and the author also selected four 3A masterpieces that support real-time ray tracing or DLSS, including “Long March 5”, “Horizon: Dawn”, “Thriller Tunnel: Exile” and “Dian Yu Rebellion” Guest 2077″, to test the actual performance of Katana 17.
Among them, “Dian Yu Ren Ke 2077” is also one of the few games that supports DLSS 3 technology. Through the “DLSS frame generation” function, AI artificial intelligence can be used to directly generate a new frame between the original image frames of the game and improve its resolution. , thus greatly enhancing the fluency of game dynamics.
If you choose to enable the DLSS frame generation function, the benchmark test achieves 126.01 fps under the default “Extremely High” setting. If you use the default “Ray Tracing: Highest” setting and turn on the DLSS frame generation function, the benchmark test A score of 125.07 fps was obtained, which is more than twice that of before it was turned on.
MSI Center Tailor the performance you want
Katana 17 also has a built-in one-stop system adjustment tool “MSI Center” that players are familiar with. In addition to the simple and beautiful interface design, the modular “function set” also gives players a high degree of flexibility in matching the required functions. At the same time, players can Instantly view hardware specifications and system resource usage to achieve proper hardware monitoring, and can switch to different environmental setting modes according to personal needs such as usage scenarios, game running, etc. Even the fan speed of the cooling system can be adjusted freely school!
In addition, MSI Center has newly added the “Display Mode Switching” function. In addition to the default “MSHybrid Display Mode” where the system distinguishes between the built-in graphics card and the dedicated graphics card, players can also switch between the CPU and the dedicated graphics card according to different needs. Directly connected “Discrete Graphics Mode” or “Built-in Graphics Mode” that focuses on battery life, you can decide how you want to run.
Summary: A good choice to enjoy the performance of the new generation without hurting the wallet!
As a “practical” gaming laptop, the overall performance of Katana 17 is indeed quite satisfactory. Although the size and weight are not up to the performance of the previous class, the 17.3-inch large screen in exchange is also quite satisfactory. The sound and light effects of the game are greatly improved, and the IPS-level e-sports panel has a good level of image quality and color. The high update rate of 144Hz also shows the good performance of Katana 17.
In terms of appearance, Katana 17 lacks fancy and gorgeous decorations, and presents the most mainstream contemporary technological aesthetics in a minimalist style. In particular, Katana 17 handles small details very delicately, allowing players to enjoy the practicability of the laptop while also looking at it. to rich visual elements.
In terms of key performance, Katana 17 also performed well. Although the discrete graphics card that is closely related to game running performance is paired with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 8GB GDDR6 laptop GPU, the actual results are very good, comparable to RTX 3080-level Performance, but relatively lower power consumption, when running games for a long time, there is no need to worry about the problem of excessive system temperature. In addition, the DLSS 3 supported by RTX 4060 notebook computer GPU has an excellent effect in increasing the number of frames in the actual test, especially for supported games such as “Dian Yu Ren Ke 2077”, when the DLSS frame generation function is turned on, the frame rate The improvement can even be as high as more than two times. The combination of top sound and light effects and excellent fluency is impressive. I look forward to more games supporting this technology in the future, so that the game experience of 3A masterpieces will be even higher.
