Unbelievable Gaming Performance at an Unbeatable Price: MSI Cyborg 14 Laptop Review

Nvidia 50-Series Gaming Laptops: Worth the Hype?

The wait is finally over – Nvidia 50-series gaming laptops are on the horizon, and they’re bound to make a splash. However, with prices starting at around $2,000, not everyone can afford the luxury of these powerful machines. If you’re on a tighter budget, you might be wondering if it’s worth sacrificing performance for affordability. The answer lies in compromise.

MSI Cyborg 14: A Budget-Friendly Gaming Laptop

The MSI Cyborg 14 is a sub-$1,000 gaming laptop that plays the game of compromises. On the one hand, you get a lightweight, stylish design, a vivid display, a comfortable keyboard, decent gaming performance, and overall performance. On the other hand, the display could be brighter, the audio could be more powerful, and you’ll miss out on RGB backlighting and macros.

Pros and Cons

Here’s a breakdown of the pros and cons:

Pros:

• Lightweight and stylish design
• Comfortable keyboard
• Good gaming and overall performance
• Affordable

Cons:

• Dim display
• Weak audio
• No RGB backlighting
• No macros

MSI Cyborg 14 Review: Price and Configurations

The MSI Cyborg 14 comes in a few configurations, ranging from $1,500 to $900. The model I tested features a 2.4-GHz Intel Core i7-13620H processor, 16GB of DDR5 RAM, a 512GB NVMe SSD Gen 4×4 SSD, an integrated Intel UHD Graphics, a Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 GPU with 8G GDDR6 of VRAM, and a 14-inch, 1920 x 1200 display with a 144Hz refresh rate.

MSI Cyborg 14 Review: Design

The Cyborg 14 boasts a premium design, with an onyx anodized aluminum lid and a proud MSI emblem. It’s a stylish and modern look that’s sure to turn heads.

MSI Cyborg 14 Review: Performance

The Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 GPU provides decent frame rates in most games, but you’ll need to be mindful of settings. I tested the laptop with Cyberpunk 2077 and Black Myth: Wukong, and it handled both games with ease.

Benchmarks

Here are the results of some benchmarks I ran:

• Geekbench 6: 2,403 (single-core), 11,672 (multi-core)
• Handbrake: 5 minutes and 31 seconds (4K to 1080p video transcoding)
• Blender: 3 minutes and 28 seconds (CPU rendering)

MSI Cyborg 14 Review: Battery Life

Gaming laptops aren’t known for their battery life, and the Cyborg 14 is no exception. I ran the PCMark 10 Modern Office benchmark with the display brightness set to 100%, and the laptop lasted 3 hours and 42 minutes. The Gaming test was done after 59 minutes.

MSI Cyborg 14 Review: Verdict

Is the MSI Cyborg 14 the most powerful gaming laptop out there? No, but it’s also not the most expensive. This sub-$1,000 gaming system delivers solid gaming and overall performance in a stylish, relatively lightweight chassis. While it’s not perfect, it’s a great option for entry-level gamers or those on a budget. Just be prepared to make some compromises.