MSI Raider GE68HX 16" 2023, Core i9-13950HX, 32GB, 1TB SSD, RTX 4060, Black

The MSI Raider GE68HX packs a 24-core i9-13950HX and 32GB of DDR5 into a 5kg chassis with a 99th percentile port selection. The RTX 4060 is a mid-range GPU that can't fully exploit that CPU, and the 45% NTSC display is a letdown. Canadian buyers can find it for CAD 1,190, which makes the value proposition much better than the $1,999 US price.

The i9-13950HX is the headline act here. With 8 performance cores and 16 efficiency cores, it's one of the best laptop CPUs on the market right now. For CPU-heavy work like compiling code, rendering, or running simulations, this thing chews through tasks. The 32GB of DDR5 RAM means you can keep a dozen Chrome tabs, a game, and a render going without breaking a sweat. Storage is a 1TB NVMe SSD, which is solid but not exceptional, landing in the 79th percentile.

The RTX 4060 is where things get interesting. It's a capable 1080p gaming GPU, and with DLSS 3 you'll get smooth frame rates in most titles. But it's not the flagship. If you're buying this for the i9 and expecting desktop RTX 4080-level performance, you'll be disappointed. The 144Hz display pairs well with the 4060 for esports titles, but you're not going to push 4K ray tracing on this thing. It's a balanced 1080p gaming setup with a CPU that's frankly overkill for the GPU it's paired with.

Against the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14, the MSI wins on raw CPU power and ports but loses badly on portability. The G14 is a much more travel-friendly machine, while the Raider is a desktop replacement. The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 10 is a closer match in terms of size and power, and it typically offers better display options than the 45% NTSC panel here. The Apple MacBook Pro M4 Max is in a different league for creator work and battery life, but it costs significantly more and can't match the port selection. The HP OMEN Transcend 14 is lighter and has a better screen, but its CPU can't touch the i9-13950HX. If you want maximum CPU performance and ports in a gaming laptop, the MSI is compelling. If you want portability or a better display, look elsewhere.

Value is tricky here. The US listing sits at $1,999, but Canadian buyers have a much better deal with prices ranging from CAD 1,190 to CAD 1,400 across two listings. That's a CAD 210 spread, so if you're in Canada, shop around before you buy. The lower end of that range is actually a pretty good deal for an i9 with 32GB of RAM. At the US price, though, you're paying a premium for that CPU and port selection while getting a mid-range GPU. Affordability lands in the 16th percentile, so this is not a budget-friendly machine by any stretch. You're paying for the i9 and the port array, not the graphics card.

The MSI Raider GE68HX is a spec monster that's a bit of a weird mix. You get a 24-core Intel i9-13950HX, 32GB of DDR5, and a 1TB NVMe SSD, which puts the CPU in the 93rd percentile and the RAM in the 87th for gaming laptops. But then MSI paired all that with an RTX 4060, which is a solid GPU but not the top-tier chip you'd expect next to that processor. The port selection is the real star here, landing in the 99th percentile with Thunderbolt, three USB-C ports, two USB-A, HDMI 2.1, and Ethernet. You won't be hunting for a dongle with this thing.

That said, this laptop is a tank. At 5kg, it's in the 7th percentile for compactness, which means it's one of the least portable gaming laptops we've seen. The 16-inch 144Hz display is fine but the 45% NTSC color coverage is underwhelming for a machine this expensive. The 100Wh battery is the legal max for flights, but with these specs, don't expect it to last long unplugged. It's a desktop replacement in the truest sense, and you'll feel that every time you move it.

Skip this if you care about portability or display quality. At 5kg, it's one of the heaviest gaming laptops we've tracked, and the 45% NTSC screen is a real letdown for a machine at this price point. If you're a creator who needs accurate colors, look at the MacBook Pro or a laptop with a better panel. If you want a balanced gaming experience with a GPU that matches the CPU, the RTX 4060 here will leave you wanting more in demanding titles. And if you're on a budget, the 16th percentile affordability ranking means you're paying a premium for that i9 and port array, not the graphics performance.

The MSI Raider GE68HX is a weird but lovable machine. It's a 5kg desktop replacement with a best-in-class port selection and a CPU that's one of the best on the market. The RTX 4060 is fine for 1080p gaming, but it feels like MSI put a Ferrari engine in a car with commuter tires. If you're a developer or creator who needs raw CPU power and every port imaginable, and you don't plan to move this thing often, it's a solid buy, especially at the lower Canadian price. If you want a balanced gaming laptop with a better screen and less back strain, this isn't it.