MSI Launches Raider Shadow Laptop Featuring 12-Core Ryzen 7 7840HX: A First in the Market

MSI Launches Raider Shadow Laptop Featuring 12-Core Ryzen 7 7840HX: A First in the Market

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Written By Eric Sandler

First AMD Ryzen 7 7840HX ‘Dragon Range’ Laptop Launches in China

MSI has unveiled the Raider Shadow, the first laptop powered by the AMD Ryzen 7 7840HX, marking a significant milestone for AMD’s Dragon Range processors. Designed for high-performance gaming and productivity, this laptop combines powerful specs with a competitive price, setting the stage for the next wave of gaming laptops.

A Year in the Making: Dragon Range Hits the Market

The Ryzen 7 7840HX is part of AMD’s Dragon Range series, a lineup of Zen 4-based processors that bring desktop-level performance to mobile devices. While Dragon Range processors were announced over a year ago, it took months for laptops featuring this new architecture to hit the market.

Unlike AMD’s Hawk Point and Strix Point processors, which balance CPU and GPU capabilities, Dragon Range sacrifices integrated graphics performance to prioritize raw computing power. This makes the series ideal for gamers and professionals relying on discrete GPUs for heavy lifting. For basic tasks, the Ryzen 7 7840HX includes a modest Radeon 610M graphics unit with 2 RDNA2 CUs, sufficient for light workloads but far from gaming-ready.

Ryzen 7 7840HX: What Makes It Special?

The Ryzen 7 7840HX is a down-clocked version of the Ryzen 7 7845HX, featuring 12 cores and 24 threads. While its sibling, the 16-core Ryzen 9 7945HX, has gained traction in high-end gaming laptops, the 7840HX targets mid-range systems. MSI has stepped up to offer this processor in the Raider Shadow, making it an attractive option for gamers and creators seeking a balance of power and affordability.

Performance Highlights:

  • 12 Cores, 24 Threads for multitasking and demanding workloads.
  • Expected to deliver 8% faster Cinebench R23 multi-core performance compared to competing processors in this segment.
  • A focus on single-threaded performance, making it ideal for gaming and creative applications.

MSI Raider Shadow: A Competitive Contender

The Raider Shadow is part of MSI’s lineup featuring Dragon Range processors and NVIDIA’s RTX graphics cards. Positioned as an option between higher-end 7945HX/RTX 4070 systems and more budget-friendly models, the Raider Shadow strikes a balance between performance and price.

Key Specifications:

  • Display: A 17.3-inch 2.5K panel with a 240Hz refresh rate, ensuring smooth gameplay and vibrant visuals.
  • Graphics: NVIDIA RTX 4060 GPU, delivering robust performance for modern gaming and creative tasks.
  • Memory: 16GB DDR5 RAM, upgradable to 64GB for multitasking and future-proofing.
  • Storage: 1TB of SSD storage, providing ample space for games and applications.
  • Connectivity: Supports Wi-Fi 7, offering faster and more reliable wireless connectivity.

While the Raider Shadow lacks PCIe Gen5 support, which is standard in many Dragon Range systems, it compensates with a solid combination of performance and features.

Affordability and Availability

Priced at 7,599 RMB (approximately $1,048 including taxes), the Raider Shadow is an excellent value for a laptop with these specs. However, availability is currently limited to China, with no announcements about a global release.

Conclusion: A Promising Start for Dragon Range Laptops

The MSI Raider Shadow is a welcome addition to the gaming laptop market, showcasing the potential of AMD’s Ryzen 7 7840HX processor. With a strong balance of performance, display quality, and pricing, it’s poised to appeal to gamers and creators alike. As Dragon Range laptops continue to roll out, this launch marks the beginning of a new era for mobile computing. Keep an eye on MSI and AMD for what’s next!

Eric Sandler

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