MSI Raider 18 HX AI 2025, Core Ultra 9 285HX, 96GB, 16TB SSD + 8TB SSD, RTX 5090
The RTX 5090 with 24GB VRAM and a 24-core Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX delivers uncompromised performance for local AI workloads and 4K rendering. Its 18-inch Mini-LED display reaches 1000 nits with 100% DCI-P3 coverage, while the custom 16TB dual-drive RAID configuration provides massive, high-speed storage that eliminates external drives. This desktop replacement is best for AI researchers and data scientists who need to run large language models locally without relying on cloud compute.
CPU Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX
RAM 96 GB
Storage 16 TB
Screen 18" 3840x2400
GPU NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
OS Windows 11 Pro
Weight 3.6 kg
Battery 100 Wh
63 Overall Score
No current retailer price
Snapshot
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Strong storage (100th percentile) 100th
- Strong screen (100th percentile) 100th
- Strong ram (99th percentile) 99th
- Strong cpu (99th percentile) 99th
Cons
- Below average affordability (0th percentile)
- Below average portability (1st percentile)
- Below average social proof (20th percentile)
The proof
Performance
Specifications
Full Specifications
Processor
| CPU | Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX |
| Cores | 24 |
| Frequency | 2.1 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 36 MB |
Graphics
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 |
| Type | Discrete |
| VRAM | 24 GB |
| VRAM Type | GDDR7 |
Memory & Storage
| RAM | 96 GB |
| RAM Generation | DDR5 |
| Storage 1 | 16 TB |
| Storage 1 Type | NVMe SSD |
| Storage 2 | 8 TB |
| Storage 2 Type | NVMe SSD |
Display
| Size | 18" |
| Resolution | 3840x2400 (4K UHD) |
| Panel | Mini-LED |
| Refresh Rate | 120 Hz |
| Brightness | 1000 nits |
| Color Gamut | 100% DCI-P3 |
Connectivity
| USB-C Ports | 2 |
| USB Ports | 3 |
| Thunderbolt | Thunderbolt 5 x 2 |
| HDMI | HDMI 2.1 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.4 |
| Ethernet | 2.5GbE LAN |
Physical
| Weight | 3.6 kg / 7.9 lbs |
| Battery | 100 Wh |
| OS | Windows 11 Pro |
vs Competition
| Spec | MSI Raider 18 HX AI | Apple MacBook Pro M4 Max | ASUS ROG Zephyrus GA403WW-G14.R95080 | Lenovo Legion 5i 83F00008US | HP OMEN Transcend | Alienware Aurora LAC16251-9582BLU-PUS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX | Apple M4 Max | AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 | Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX | Intel Core Ultra 9 285H | Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX |
| RAM (GB) | 96 | 64 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 |
| Storage (GB) | 16384 | 4096 | 2048 | 1024 | 1024 | 2048 |
| Screen | 18" 3840x2400 | 14.2" 3024x1964 | 14" 2880x1800 | 15.1" 2560x1600 | 14" 2880x1800 | 16" 2560x1600 |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 | Apple (40-Core) | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 |
| OS | Windows 11 Pro | macOS | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home |
| Weight (kg) | 3.6 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 2 | 1.6 | 2.5 |
| Battery (Wh) | 100 | 72 | - | 80 | 71 | 96 |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | CPU | GPU | RAM | Ports | Screen | Portability | Storage | Reliability | Social Proof | Affordability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSI Raider 18 HX AI | 98.8 | 98.5 | 99.4 | 98.6 | 99.7 | 0.7 | 100 | 60.4 | 19.6 | 0 |
| Apple MacBook Pro M4 Max Compare | 93.8 | 90.6 | 95.7 | 73.5 | 99.3 | 68.9 | 98.5 | 98.1 | 87.8 | 1.6 |
| ASUS ROG Zephyrus GA403WW-G14.R95080 Compare | 91.2 | 97.4 | 90.9 | 89.4 | 96.5 | 73.7 | 89.8 | 60.4 | 98.4 | 5.4 |
| Lenovo Legion 5i 83F00008US Compare | 94.6 | 87.4 | 86.4 | 97.3 | 94.4 | 56.4 | 79.3 | 81.8 | 89.3 | 27.3 |
| HP OMEN Transcend Compare | 90.1 | 92.6 | 89.7 | 89.4 | 96.5 | 72.3 | 65.2 | 33.4 | 97.3 | 8.4 |
| Alienware Aurora LAC16251-9582BLU-PUS Compare | 97.2 | 92.6 | 86.4 | 83.3 | 90.7 | 12.6 | 89.8 | 4 | 98.4 | 14.1 |
Usage Scores
- Overall63.3
- AI/LLM77.9
- Gaming85.2
- Portability39.4
- Creator85.2
- Student48.4
- Business54.3
- Developer78.9
- Entertainment69.8
A full written review is coming soon. The specs, scores, prices and charts above are always up to date.
