MSI is the first to offer a gaming laptop built around AMD's recently announced Radeon RX 5500M GPU. That qualifies the new Alpha 15 as the first laptop to feature a 7nm GPU, which MSI pairs with Ryzen 7 3750H processor.
Being first to implement a 7nm GPU in a consumer notebook is not lost on MSI, which is billing the Alpha 15 as the "first 7nm technology gaming laptop." Beyond the marketing hype, that's actually an intriguing proposition, because AMD's latest generation 7nm Navi GPUs and Zen+ mobile CPUs are capable hardware options.
Here are the full set of pertinent specs:
- Processor—up to AMD Ryzen 7 3750H
- Graphics—AMD Radeon RX 5500M 4GB GDDR6
- Display—15.6-inch 1080p IPS (120Hz and 144Hz options) /w FreeSync support
- Storage—1x M.2 SSD combo slot, 1x 2.5-inch HDD
- Audio—Hi-res audio (2x 2W speakers) w/ Nahimic 3
- Keyboard—Per ker RGB keyboard by SteelSeries (optional)
- Connectivity—Killer LAN E2600, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0
- Dimensions—357.7 x 248 x 27.5 mm, 2.3kg
Other features include a 720p HD webcam, three USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports, a SUB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C port, and a 51Wh battery.
According to PCWorld, pricing will start at a reasonable $999 for a model with 8GB of RAM, and $1,099 for a model with 16GB of RAM. It's not clear how much storage will come with either configuration, though MSI's product page only references a 512GB SSD, so perhaps that will be the standard option.
It's also not clear what other processor options will be available. MSI mentions "up to" a 3750H, but like the storage spec, the product page lists only a single CPU. Assuming the configurations are not gimped the $999 and $1,099 price points, the Alpha 15 has the potential to be one of the best gaming laptops, in terms of bang for buck.
The Alpha 15 will be available to purchase later this month.
Correction: A previous version of this article listed the Ryzen 7 3750H as being based on AMD's 7nm Zen 2 CPU architecture. That is incorrect—it is based on AMD's 12nm Zen+ CPU architecture.
