I pushed MSI's latest powerful gaming laptop to its limits. It didn't break a sweat

2025 has been a big year for mega nerds like me with the launch of Nvidia’s RTX 50-series graphics cards. These cards have had a big impact on gaming, and I’ve been dying to try one out. Recently I got that opportunity with MSI’s new Raider 18 HX AI, a gaming laptop that is a behemoth in every sense. 

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There are not enough words in the English language to adequately describe the Raider 18’s impressive performance, but I’m going to try my best. My review unit housed an Intel Core Ultra 9-285HX processor, 64GB of RAM, and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 laptop graphics card. The result? Every game I tested ran phenomenally well. Let’s take a closer look. 

Unmatched power

I ran several AAA games as part of testing, and saw right off the bat how well a job the hardware does at supporting these titles. When everything runs this effortlessly, you’re immediately pulled into the center of the action.

“Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth” spoiled me with high-impact fights in ultra-detailed locales with magic effects flying everywhere. “Monster Hunter Wilds” ran mostly great. It’s still a little unoptimized, but out of those few problematic moments, it delivered immersive battles with giant beasts. And “Marvel Rivals” looked like something straight out of a comic book.

I can’t give all the praise to the hardware, though. The Raider 18 HX boasts a 4K, mini-LED display running at a 120Hz refresh rate. On the high-resolution screen, enemies practically leaped out at me, and environments looked shockingly realistic. I would confidently say that the MSI Raider 18 HX serves well as a desktop replacement. Below is a list highlighting the laptop’s best results across three mainstream benchmark tests.

Its Geekbench 6 score puts the Raider 18 at second place on the developer’s Processor Benchmarks chart, falling just behind the AMD EPYC 9654P. The laptop also far outpaces the current top average score on Cinebench R23, which is held by the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX at 30,054.

These numbers also reveal that MSI’s machine can double as a powerful content creation desktop. Be aware that these results were achieved without fine-tuning the device’s output, however. It’s not firing on all cylinders, and already the laptop is performing phenomenally. With this in mind, I wondered if I could squeeze out an even better performance. Following instructions given by an MSI rep, I tweaked the output via the MSI Center app and got the following numbers: 

Processing output didn’t change much, although there was a significant improvement with the two image rendering benchmarks – Cinebench R23 and Cinebench 2024. To put these numbers into perspective, the 2025 Mac Studio had a top score of 2,099 on Cinebench 2024 during my time with it. This laptop out performed even that. 

Herein lies one of the first major considerations: a machine like the Raider 18 can run incredibly hot. To combat overheating, MSI equipped its computer with a robust cooling system dubbed Cooler Booster 5. It consists of two large fans and seven copper pipes working in tandem to push the heat out through the six vents (there are two on either side and two on the back).

The cooling system is quite effective at keeping internal temperatures low. Games ran smoothly without incident, and I could place my hand on the keyboard, only feeling a modicum of heat. However, the downside is that the fans are very loud.

Looking at the photographs, I’m sure you’ve noticed that the Raider 18 is a huge machine. It measures 5.91 x 12.09 x 1.26 inches closed and weighs nearly eight pounds. This is not a travel-friendly laptop, and it certainly doesn’t help that the power adapter is almost the size of a literal brick. The box it comes in has a handle for easier carrying, but you’ll still be traveling around with 10 pounds of tech with the adapter included.

Also: I tested Lenovo’s new Windows handheld PC – now I’m wondering if I need any other device for travel

Below the 4K display is a Steelseries RGB keyboard. Despite coming from a notable brand, the keys didn’t feel as high-end as I would’ve liked. Don’t get me wrong: the keyboard is fine. Travel distance is good, keys are evenly spaced out, and there’s even a full-size number pad. However, this keyboard feels like something you would encounter on a work laptop, not a premium gaming machine like the Raider 18.

I feel the same way about the trackpad. It’s decent and responsive, but rather small, considering the size of the huge wrist rest.

Through the SteelSeries GG app, you can activate one of several lighting patterns or create your own RGB profile. The software also allows users to create macros and gives access to a mini-game where you can practice your FPS (first-person shooter) aiming.

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Even though the MSI Raider 18 is large, it doesn’t have a whole lot of ports available. Much of the space is taken up by the six heat vents. The ports it houses include:

• Two Thunderbolt 5
• Three USB-A Gen 2
• HDMI 2.1
• 2.5 Gbps Ethernet input
• and a headphone jack

I should also mention that the MSI Raider 18 goes through its battery fast. Under its Extreme Performance mode, the laptop just shy of three hours. The Eco-Friendly mode isn’t much of an improvement, as the device lasts just four and a half hours on a single charge. 

Charge times are slow, too, taking 30 minutes just to reach 30%. For that reason, this is a laptop that you’ll want to keep plugged in for serious gaming sessions. 

ZDNET’s buying advice

According to MSI, prices for the Raider 18 HX start at $3,319. My review unit’s configuration is available at B&H Photo Video for $4,499. As expensive as it may be, it’s absolutely worth it. This laptop will provide you with years of excellent performance and a top-notch user experience, even superior to many desktops.