MSI Raider 16 Max HX Wins ZDNET Praise for RTX 5090 Performance at $3,500
Updated
Updated · ZDNet · May 29
MSI Raider 16 Max HX Wins ZDNET Praise for RTX 5090 Performance at $3,500
3 articles · Updated · ZDNet · May 29
ZDNET called the MSI Raider 16 Max HX a desktop replacement after testing a $3,500 configuration with an Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus, 32GB of DDR5 RAM and Nvidia's RTX 5090.
16-inch hardware drove that verdict: the laptop posted benchmark results above rivals such as Alienware 16 Area-51 and Lenovo Legion 9i, while sustaining triple-digit frame rates and stable performance under long gaming and editing sessions.
MSI paired that speed with a 2.5K OLED panel at 240Hz, strong speakers and a Quick Access Panel that exposes SSD and memory slots, making upgrades such as an added 4TB drive unusually easy.
50-decibel fan noise and cool-touch thermals helped offset typical gaming-laptop drawbacks, though ZDNET still flagged average battery life and a high price; a lower-spec RTX 5070 Ti model starts around $2,500.
This laptop boasts desktop-killing power, but can its debated build quality and battery life withstand the demands of elite users?
With MSI planning steep price hikes, is this the last chance to afford a true desktop-replacement laptop?