MSI Katana GF76 Specs
Value: $1,249/£824
CPU: Intel Core i7-12700H
GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 512GB NVMe PCIe Gen3x4
Show: 17.3 inch FHD (1920 x 1080), 144Hz
Battery: N/A
Measurement: 15.6 x 10.7 x 0.99 inches
Weight: 5.7 kilos
Gaming laptops can include all of the bells and whistles to pique the curiosity of power-hungry PC players. From sizeable 17-inch shows with 165Hz refresh charges to grow to be totally enveloped within the high-octane motion onscreen to smooth, gamer-esque designs making the daring assertion “this isn’t your common laptop computer,” these options attraction to anybody looking down a conveyable powerhouse that may play the newest video games.
Nevertheless it’s all for naught if there isn’t a succesful GPU caught inside. That’s the case with the MSI Katana GF76 we obtained, sporting an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti. Positive, it has the flexibility to supply ray-tracing graphics in a variety of titles, however its general efficiency is apparent disappointing. It type of defeats the aim of a gaming laptop computer, proper?
The excellent news is the Katana GF76 is available in a variety of configurations, as much as a extra engaging RTX 3070 Ti. What’s extra, every mannequin boasts a strong Intel twelfth Gen i7 CPU, 16GB of RAM, and as much as 1TB of storage. In fact, that bumps up the value, and the laptop computer can’t escape its dim show, flimsy plastic lid, and common keyboard and touchpad.
MSI Katana GF76 worth
The MSI Katana GF76 we obtained is supplied with an Intel i7-12700H CPU, an RTX 3050 Ti GPU, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB NVMe PCIe SSD. This comes out to round $1,249 within the US (opens in new tab) and £824 within the UK. I don’t say “round” flippantly although, as third-party retailers scatter these costs far and wide. For instance, Digital Specific at the moment has it at $1,119 at a reduction, down from $1,349, whereas antonline sells it for $1,309.36. Clearly, it may be picked up for cheaper, and the UK is getting a much better deal (that converts to $985).
The Katana GF76 may also be configured with as much as an RTX 3070 Ti and 1TB SSD, which is a little more becoming for a gaming laptop computer. Nevertheless, This mannequin will set you again $2,099 at Walmart (opens in new tab), whereas the RTX 3070 configuration retails at $1,899 (at the moment $1,799 at Abt (opens in new tab)). That’s a major worth soar for commendable energy, particularly contemplating a few of the greatest gaming laptops just like the $1,529 Lenovo Legion 5 Professional and $1,699 Asus ROG Strix G15 Benefit Version can get you stellar efficiency at extra inexpensive costs.
As for the RTX 3050 Ti configuration, it’s nonetheless dearer than different gaming laptops with the identical GPU. As an illustration, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 is now $990, and is usually discounted to round $900 (opens in new tab). What’s extra, the Acer Nitro 5 (2020), with a really comparable design, might be picked up for $669, and its GTX 1650 efficiency is nothing to sneeze at.
Even at its extra inexpensive worth as a 17-inch gaming laptop computer, the Katana GF76 isn’t competitively priced.
MSI Katana GF76 design
Should you’re aware of MSI’s lineup of Katana laptops, what you’re in for. Very similar to the final yr’s Katana GF66, the GF76 sports activities a slick, all-black plastic chassis with an engraved MSI brand on the lid. Subtlety is essential, and as a fan of minimalist designs with a contact of finesse, such because the lid curving downwards to mix in with the hinge, the GF76 does a great job of retaining issues spick and span.
Whereas the design is considerably easy, there are hints of it being influenced by the samurais of feudal Japan. The blade-like look of its rounded edges and the distinctive background picture on the show of a black-armored samurai (designed by Japanese illustrator Tsuyoshi Nagano of Romance of the Three Kingdom fame) give it a definite look with out wanting too flashy. On the finish of the day although, these subtleties might be simply dismissed, and I can think about many considering “proper, this can be a plain laptop computer with a black chassis.”
Open up the lid and also you’re handled with obtrusive, red-illuminated keys shaped in a tight-nit island keyboard and a comparatively small touchpad. I get that the purple keys match the design of the cool samurai aesthetic, however they find yourself wanting gaudy for those who’re utilizing any app that doesn’t showcase the background picture. The show is miles extra engaging, with factor bezels and a comparatively slim chin to take advantage of the display.
I respect the slight indent leaving room to simply elevate the laptop computer’s lid, particularly for its skinny design. Nevertheless, I observed that the lid is kind of flimsy, and any motion of my desk or the laptop computer itself had it wiggling backwards and forwards. What’s extra, whereas the GF76 could look slick, its plastic chassis made it really feel low-cost, specifically when utilizing the touchpad.
The Katana GF76 has dimensions of 15.6 x 10.7 x 0.99 inches and weighs 5.7 kilos, making it a beast in comparison with the Acer Nitro 5 (14.3 x 10 x 0.9 inches, 5.3 kilos) and Lenovo Legion 5 Professional (14 x 10.4 x 1.1 inches, 5.4 kilos). Nevertheless, it packs a 17.3-inch show, that means it provides a bit extra display than these two. For a greater comparability, the Alienware m17 R5 (14.1 x 10.2 x 1.1 inches, 5.6 kilos) is each smaller and lighter however nonetheless thicker, whereas the Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 (15.5 x 11.1 x 0.9~1.1 inches, 6.1 kilos) remains to be a tank.
MSI has tried to maintain the associated fee down by utilizing plastic and RGB-less keys whereas placing effort into its slick look, however it nonetheless lacks the premium really feel of different gaming laptops.
MSI Katana GF76 ports
The Katana GF76’s port choice isn’t something ground-breaking, however there are sufficient to plug in a gaming mouse and keyboard whereas listening to tunes through the helpful 3.5mm audio jack.
On the left aspect, there’s the facility jack and two USB Sort-A ports, whereas the proper options an RJ45 Ethernet port, an HDMI 2.0 port, a USB Sort-C port, a USB Sort-A port, and a headphone jack. Notably, the USB-A ports felt fairly stiff when plugging in my keyboard for some cause, and it took a variety of fidgeting to get it out.
Should you’re wanting so as to add much more ports to broaden its versatility, take a look at our greatest USB Sort-C hubs and greatest laptop computer docking stations pages.
MSI Katana GF76 show
For a giant, 17.3-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) show with a 144Hz refresh fee, the Katana GF76 doesn’t do a lot to make it shine. As in actually, the brightness on the laptop computer is dim at greatest.
To check it out, I watched The Umbrella Academy’s joyful and quirky reiteration of the “Footloose” dance-off. Whereas the small print of the now-Sparrow mansion had been crisp as Klaus Hargreeves funnily waved his arms within the air and Luther did is unusual crab dance, it was arduous to make out their faces or something that was in a touch of darkness, which subtracted from the goofiness of all of it.
I additionally performed Neon White, which oozes vivid blue skies and rays of lights shining on white pillars. That very same shade might be seen on the GF76’s show (it is arduous for it to not), and the sizeable show with minimal bezels provided a full scope of the crumbling metropolis of heaven. That mentioned, I noticed brighter, extra vivid colours when taking part in it on the ROG Strix Scar 17, however that’s the distinction between a premium gaming laptop computer and a finances one.
Whereas I don’t have benchmarked brightness outcomes, I’m assured that the colour and brightness are just like the outcomes on the Katana GF66. The GF66 coated a measly 43.9% of the DCI-P3 shade gamut, and hit 247 nits of brightness, which is worse than the Acer Nitro 5 (63% protection, 255 nits of brightness).
MSI Katana GF76 audio
Audio isn’t a robust level of the Katana GF76, so it’s a great factor there’s an audio jack and loads of wi-fi gaming headsets round.
I simply watched a scene with “Footloose” in it, so after all I listened to the belter of the tune from Keeny Loggins. The audio system are shallow and tinny, that means the raring up of the guitar riffs because the drums saved an upbeat tempo couldn’t get me as much as begin dancing (illegally). At the very least the vocals weren’t subdued, so I actually did “kick off the Sunday footwear.”
Gaming-wise, I performed Name of Responsibility: Vanguard (on pretty low settings) and couldn’t really feel the punchiness of a carbine capturing off or the impactful explosions kicking off left, proper, and heart. There is a lack of bass that makes the audio expertise uninteresting.
MSI Katana GF76 keyboard and touchpad
No matter your ideas are on the obtrusive purple tint of the Katana GF76’s keyboard, it nonetheless holds up as an honest typing expertise. The keys trip a skinny line between clicky and mushy, however there have been no unintended key presses or pressure in reaching for keys because of its easy, island-style keyboard format.
On the 10fastfingers.com typing check, I hit 70 phrases per minute. That’s spot on my 70 wpm common, and I used to be nonetheless tapping away as I usually would when taking part in FPS video games.
As for the 4.1 x 2.6-inch touchpad, it felt too wobbly and low-cost, as clicking felt off. At the very least the Home windows 10 gestures, like two-finger scrolling and three-finger tabbing, labored nicely.
MSI Katana GF76 gaming and graphics
Sporting an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 TI with GDDR6 $GB video reminiscence, there’s solely a lot you are able to do with this GPU. Throwing round “RTX 30 collection” doesn’t imply it might play the newest video games at acceptable high quality, and personally, I feel it defeats the aim of it being a gaming laptop computer.
I examined out the GF76’s gaming efficiency by taking part in Neon White, which isn’t a graphically demanding sport. Actually, its advisable settings on Steam state that it solely requires an Nvidia GeForce GTX 750 Ti, so it ought to run easily, proper? Properly, not a lot.
Understanding the GPU, I turned the graphics all the way down to medium, simply to see the way it might deal with. Disappointingly, it was a jittery mess, which isn’t perfect for a sport all about speedrunning. Even with a 144Hz show, the sport couldn’t sustain with that smoothness, which is was puzzled by seeing as an RTX 3050 Ti is meant to be a step above a number of previous-gen GPUs. I put the settings all the way down to low, and I might lastly get nicely previous 30 fps. To me although, a laptop computer made for gaming ought to simply surpass the 60 fps customary, and at the very least provide good visible particulars for a sport that doesn’t depend on graphics.
I then tried Hotline Miami 2: Flawed Quantity for a much less demanding expertise, and (because it ought to) it performed easily as I died a few dozen instances. It made me notice the video games that the GF76 is made for, video games the likes of Rogue Legacy 2 or Nightfall.
Whereas we don’t have correct outcomes from benchmarks, it isn’t doubtless it can rating nicely with video games like Shadow of the Tomb Raider or Murderer’s Creed Odyssey.
MSI Katana GF76 efficiency
The MSI Katana GF76’s shining grace is the Intel Core i7-12700H CPU and 16GB of RAM it has on board, however I wouldn’t say it might simply juggle the 40 Google Chrome tabs and 5 1080p YouTube movies I booted up. I’m undecided why, however there have been a number of points when going about my every day duties.
This can be a CPU that ought to maintain its personal and blast by way of any kind of multi-tasking, however I observed a slight slowdown when loading up a number of tabs. It wasn’t a game-breaker, however extra of a nuisance when attempting to go from a Google Doc to an article I used to be studying. I additionally had Netflix on within the background, and there was a noticeable problem there, too.
When watching Umbrella Academy, I skilled a number of crashes that utterly ripped the display right into a static of colours. I needed to utterly shut Chrome browser by ending the duty. I by no means had an issue with booting up Netflix on different laptops through Chrome, so I wasn’t positive if it was a difficulty with the Netflix video participant or the laptop computer itself.
We’re ready on Geekbench benchmarks and extra, however the Katana GF76 ought to carry out nicely with the twelfth Gen i7-12700H CPU. Nevertheless, with its 512GB SSD, switch charges will not be at optimum speeds. Actually, when downloading Nightfall, I discovered that the accessible area was simply 371.79GB. For downloading a library of video games, that area is on the low aspect.
MSI Katana GF76 battery life
Battery life in gaming laptops has been getting higher, and whereas the 53Whr battery doesn’t seem to be a lot, it did a commendable job holding up for a day of sunshine exercise. I might get by way of simply over 5 hours of engaged on Google Docs, watching a number of YouTube clips, and listening to music.
As for gaming, it’s arduous for any gaming laptop computer to final lengthy with out being plugged in. Nevertheless, I received a strong 2 hours and half-hour earlier than needing to juice it up once more. This could be as a result of kind of video games that don’t require large GPU demand, however it might nonetheless bust out a few hours. Not unhealthy for a finances gaming laptop computer.
MSI Katana GF76 webcam
Oh no, a 720p webcam. Which means a variety of noise that will even spoil the face of Marilyn Monroe. Nevertheless, regardless of its restricted decision and 30 fps speeds, the webcam isn’t the worst round.
The background of my work-from-home workplace was full of grains, however it was in a position to seize the comfortable inexperienced, brown, and orange stripes on my white T-shirt. Readability isn’t the very best, however it might seize the stray strands of my untidy beard.
Should you want a extra succesful digicam to look your greatest throughout on-line conferences or when livestreaming, don’t let that stunning face of your go unnoticed with the greatest webcams available on the market.
MSI Katana GF76 software program and guarantee
Not like most MSI gaming laptops, the MSI Katana GF76 options the MSI Middle as its central app. It screens CPU, GPU, disk, and reminiscence utilization. It additionally has efficiency settings, common Home windows settings, and a bit to replace the laptop computer’s drivers, which is useful. Aside from that, MSI doesn’t embody different branded apps.
The Katana GF76 comes with a one-year restricted guarantee. See how MSI carried out on our Tech Assist Showdown and Greatest and Worst Manufacturers rating.
MSI Katana GF76: Backside line
The MSI Katana GF76 doesn’t do a lot to face out in comparison with its earlier fashions, and remains to be a type of finances gaming laptops that gives a bit extra pizzazz with its delicate samurai look. Whereas we’ve but to get official outcomes, I’m sure I wouldn’t suggest this configuration of the Katana GF76. The 17.3-inch show, first rate battery life, and highly effective twelfth Gen CPU are interesting to players seeking to save a penny or two, however the RTX 3050 Ti put in can solely take it thus far.
Even for those who improve to extra dependable GPUs for higher gaming efficiency, the value tag for these fashions don’t justify the plastic chassis, uninteresting show, and slight efficiency hiccups.
Should you’re after a laptop computer that doesn’t skint on specs with out bumping up the retail worth, the Lenovo Legion 5 Professional with RTX 3070 energy, a 16-inch QHD show, and $1,529 price ticket is your greatest wager.
