MSI · Katana
MSI Katana 15 HX (B14W)
Budget gaming
A $999 RTX 5070 on a last-gen Raptor Lake CPU — strong frames-per-dollar with genuinely upgradeable RAM. The consistent compromise reviewers cite is a dim display; otherwise it's a sensible budget pick if you can live with 16:9 and a plastic build.
Pros
- RTX 5070 from $999
- Upgradeable RAM (to 96 GB)
- QHD 165 Hz panel option
Cons
- Dim display
- Last-gen Raptor Lake CPU
- 16:9 panel, plastic build
- Only Wi-Fi 6E
Also in
Configurations
RTX 5070 · Core i9-14900HX / i7-14650HX
Core i9-14900HX / i7-14650HX · GeForce RTX 5070 Laptop (8 GB) · up to 115 W
QHD 165 Hz panel.
from $999 (as of 29 Jun 2026)
Check price →RTX 5050 · Core i9-14900HX / i7-14650HX
Core i9-14900HX / i7-14650HX · GeForce RTX 5050 Laptop (8 GB) · up to 115 W
FHD 144 Hz panel.
from $999 (as of 29 Jun 2026)
Check price →Display
- Size
- 15.6"
- Panel
- IPS
- Resolution
- 2560×1440 (QHD) or 1920×1080 (FHD)
- Refresh rate
- 165 Hz (QHD) / 144 Hz (FHD)
- Brightness
- Dim (noted as a weakness at $999)
- Options
- QHD 165 Hz or FHD 144 Hz
Memory & Upgradeability
- Installed RAM
- 16–32 GB DDR5-5600
- Type
- DDR5 SO-DIMM (5600 MT/s)
- Max RAM
- 96 GB
- Upgradeable
- Yes
- Soldered
- No
Thermals & Noise
- Throttling
- Cooler Boost 5 (MSI series standard).
Connectivity & I/O
- Wi-Fi
- Wi-Fi 6E
Reliability & common issues
- Displaymoderate
Tom's Hardware flagged a dim display as the key weakness at $999; CNET rated it 7.2/10 for solid 1080p value.
FAQ
How much does the MSI Katana 15 HX (B14W) cost?
The MSI Katana 15 HX (B14W) starts from $999 (as of 29 Jun 2026). Pricing varies by configuration and retailer — check the latest on Amazon.
What GPU does the MSI Katana 15 HX (B14W) have?
It is offered with the RTX 5070 and RTX 5050 (NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50-series). 2 configurations are listed.
Is the RAM upgradeable on the MSI Katana 15 HX (B14W)?
Yes — the RAM is user-upgradeable up to 96 GB.
Sources & data quality
Compiled from manufacturer specs and independent reviews. Last verified 29 Jun 2026. Unknown values are left blank rather than guessed.
Recorded conflicts
- CPU SKU: Both Core i9-14900HX and i7-14650HX ship as separate SKUs under the same model.
