MSI PS42 Series

MSI continues to impress the tech-savvy community with more simple and elegant laptop designs which are guaranteed to appeal to modern aesthetic views. The MSI PS42 enters the scene with much anticipation and more promising prospects to deliver. First of all, let us touch on the design of the laptop itself. MSI has made itself known to come up with laptops with a distinguished theme which typically revolves around prestige and elegance. This does not come short for the MSI PS42 as this particular laptop model retains the signature MSI look with its ultra-light chassis framework foiled with hair-brushed aluminum. The keyboard emits comforting white lights to complement with the entire theme of the laptop. Moreover, it is to be noted that the MSI PS42 is very thin and only measures up to 1.19 kilograms in weight. This makes the MSI PS42 extremely portable for frequent laptop users who are always on the go.

The MSI PS42 comes with a distinct cooling system of its own. Aptly named as the Cooler Boost 3, this dual thermal cooling system harnesses the strength of two dedicated fans and three heat pipes to channel out built-up heat efficiently under the pressure of intense workload. Generated noises caused by the Cooler Boost 3 are significantly mitigated to ensure that unwelcomed nuisance is removed from the equation. The Cooler Boost 3 technology works in tandem with high-end components such as the Core i7 Extreme CPUs and GTX880M 8GB graphics. This highly suggests that the Cooler Boost 3 is designed with the latest innovation in mind in order to improve cooling performance up to the next level.

The MSI PS42 also comes equipped with the exclusive True Color Technology which provides a variety of modes tailored for different settings and usage. The True Color Technology introduces up to six different profiles for screen color optimization. Users can opt for a profile of their choice, be it the Anti-Blue Mode or the professional Designer Mode, as long as the selected preset pleases the eyes without sacrificing viewing comfort in place of work efficiency. Not only that, users are bound to realize that the True Color Technology displays colors as close to 100 % sRGB. Suffice to say, each color-correcting mode is tailored with a specific target audience in mind, be they interior designers or avid gamers alike, the presets which are made available by the True Color Technology strive to deliver the best screen experience to whoever and wherever the users are.

Hands-on article by Jagadisa Rajarathnam

Processor: Intel Core i5 i5-8265U, Intel Core i7 i7-8565U, Intel Kaby Lake Refresh i5-8250U, Intel Kaby Lake Refresh i5-8550U
Graphics Adapter: Intel UHD Graphics 620, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Max-Q, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, NVIDIA GeForce MX150, NVIDIA GeForce MX250
Display: 14.00 inch, 14.10 inch
Weight: 1.18kg, 1.19kg, 1.2kg
Price: 900, 1000, 1300, 1350 euro
price: 85%, performance: 84%, features: 86%, display: 87%, mobility: 85%, workmanship: 90%, ergonomy: 76%, emissions: 88%

 

MSI Prestige PS42 8RB-073

Specifications

Notebook: MSI Prestige PS42 8RB-073
Processor: Intel Kaby Lake Refresh i5-8550U
Graphics Adapter: NVIDIA GeForce MX150 2048 MB
Display: 14.10 inch, 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixels
Weight: 1.19kg
Price: 1350 euro
Links: MSI homepage
 MSI notebook section

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Reviews

 

MSI Prestige PS42 8RB-059

Specifications

Notebook: MSI Prestige PS42 8RB-059
Processor: Intel Kaby Lake Refresh i5-8550U
Graphics Adapter: NVIDIA GeForce MX150 2048 MB
Display: 14.00 inch, 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixels
Weight: 1.19kg
Price: 1300 euro
Links: MSI homepage
 MSI notebook section

Pricecompare

Average Score: 70% - average

 

Reviews

Foreign Reviews

 

MSI PS42 8RB-021ES

Specifications

Notebook: MSI PS42 8RB-021ES
Processor: Intel Kaby Lake Refresh i5-8550U
Graphics Adapter: NVIDIA GeForce MX150
Display: 14.00 inch, 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixels
Weight: 1.2kg
Links: MSI homepage
 MSI notebook section

Pricecompare

Average Score: 78% - good

 

Foreign Reviews

 

MSI PS42 8M-064

Specifications

Notebook: MSI PS42 8M-064
Processor: Intel Kaby Lake Refresh i5-8250U
Graphics Adapter: Intel UHD Graphics 620
Display: 14.00 inch, 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixels
Weight: 1.19kg
Price: 900 euro
Links: MSI homepage
 MSI notebook section

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Average Score: 88% - very good

 

Foreign Reviews

 

MSI PS42 8RC-072ES

Specifications

Notebook: MSI PS42 8RC-072ES
Processor: Intel Kaby Lake Refresh i5-8550U
Graphics Adapter: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Max-Q
Display: 14.00 inch, 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixels
Weight: 1.2kg
Links: MSI homepage
 MSI notebook section

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Foreign Reviews

 

MSI PS42 8RB-060

Specifications

Notebook: MSI PS42 8RB-060
Processor: Intel Kaby Lake Refresh i5-8250U
Graphics Adapter: NVIDIA GeForce MX150
Display: 14.00 inch, 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixels
Weight: 1.2kg
Links: MSI homepage
 MSI notebook section

Pricecompare

Average Score: 70% - average

 

Reviews

Foreign Reviews

 

MSI PS42 8RC-001ES

Specifications

Notebook: MSI PS42 8RC-001ES
Processor: Intel Kaby Lake Refresh i5-8550U
Graphics Adapter: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile
Display: 14.00 inch, 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixels
Weight: 1.2kg
Links: MSI homepage
 MSI notebook section

Pricecompare

Average Score: 94% - very good

 

Foreign Reviews

 

MSI PS42 8RB-606XES

Specifications

Notebook: MSI PS42 8RB-606XES
Processor: Intel Kaby Lake Refresh i5-8550U
Graphics Adapter: NVIDIA GeForce MX150
Display: 14.00 inch, 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixels
Weight: 1.2kg
Links: MSI homepage
 MSI notebook section

Pricecompare

Average Score: 92% - very good

 

Foreign Reviews

 

MSI PS42 8RC-029ES

Specifications

Notebook: MSI PS42 8RC-029ES
Processor: Intel Kaby Lake Refresh i5-8550U
Graphics Adapter: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile
Display: 14.00 inch, 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixels
Weight: 1.2kg
Links: MSI homepage
 MSI notebook section

Pricecompare

Average Score: 95% - very good

 

Foreign Reviews

 

MSI PS42 8RB-206NL

Specifications

Notebook: MSI PS42 8RB-206NL
Processor: Intel Kaby Lake Refresh i5-8550U
Graphics Adapter: NVIDIA GeForce MX150
Display: 14.00 inch, 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixels
Weight: 1.2kg
Links: MSI homepage
 MSI notebook section

Pricecompare

Average Score: 60% - poor

 

Foreign Reviews

 

MSI PS42 Modern 8MO-023ES

The MSI PS42 Modern 8MO-023ES is a premium ultraportable laptop, which is slim, elegant and prestige. Crafted in ultra-light chassis with hair-brushed aluminium, combined with white keyboard illumination, the PS42 is made portable and durable wherever users go. With a thin profile of 15 millimetres and net weight of only 1.19 kilograms, this laptop is one of the most compact and lightest ultrabooks in the market. Ruggedness, reliability and durability are what a laptop should be. To provide the best in class laptops for all kinds of professionals, MSI laptops go through tremendous rigorous tests. The PS42 is tailored for professional minds and exploratory spirits. To pursue the best of the best, the product meets the MIL-STD 810G military standard for reliability and durability. As for the display, the 5.7 mm thin bezel resulted in a high screen-to-body ratio in a 14-inch chassis. Users can enjoy the magnificent view across the FHD IPS-Level anti-glare display. Furthermore, the MSI exclusive True Color Technology provides different modes to best fit user’s various usages. The MSI PS42 features an Intel Core i7-8565U processor, an Intel UHD Graphics 620, 16 GB RAM and 512 GB SSD storage, which offer excellent computing capability and instant boot-up time. This specifications makes for a supercharged laptop for work and play. As for the operating system, it comes with Microsoft Windows 10 Home 64 Bit. For the power source, a 50 Wh lithium-polymer battery supplies up to 10 hours of on-the-go usage. Whether for work or for entertainment, the PS42 accompanies the user’s non-stop lifestyle. A built-in fingerprint sensor is also available, designed for high privacy protection and business security. User login is as simple as a touch of the fingertip. With Nahimic 3, users can enjoy cinematic sound even when at home. Nahimic 3 Audio enhances your favorite music into virtual surround sound over standard audio equipment. Besides that, Exclusive Cooler Boost 3 with two dedicated fans and three heat pipes, stands out among the competition. This keeps the laptop cool even in intense usage. The PS42 provides up to 4 USB ports in a small form factor. The highly efficient USB 3.1 transfers 10x faster than USB 2.0. There is an HDMI video output (compatible with 4K monitors at 30 Hz), a 3-in-1 SD card reader (SD, XC, HC), an audio combo connector for headphones and external speakers, and an HD webcam (720p at 30 fps) with built-in digital microphone. As a conclusion, the MSI PS42 Modern is a compact, powerful and quiet laptop. It features an outstanding design, decent performance hardware components, great battery life and diverse connectivity options, which makes it a good ultraportable device to work on the go. Hands-on article by Jagadisa Rajarathnam

Specifications

Notebook: MSI PS42 Modern 8MO-023ES
Processor: Intel Core i7 i7-8565U
Graphics Adapter: Intel UHD Graphics 620
Display: 14.00 inch, 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixels
Weight: 1.2kg
Links: MSI homepage
 MSI notebook section

Pricecompare

Average Score: 90% - very good

 

Foreign Reviews

 

MSI PS42 Modern 8MO

Specifications

Notebook: MSI PS42 Modern 8MO
Processor: Intel Core i5 i5-8265U
Graphics Adapter: Intel UHD Graphics 620
Display: 14.00 inch, 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixels
Weight: 1.18kg
Price: 1000 euro
Links: MSI homepage
 MSI notebook section

Pricecompare

 

Foreign Reviews

 

MSI PS42 Modern 8MO-208XES

Specifications

Notebook: MSI PS42 Modern 8MO-208XES
Processor: Intel Core i5 i5-8265U
Graphics Adapter: Intel UHD Graphics 620
Display: 14.00 inch, 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixels
Weight: 1.2kg
Links: MSI homepage
 MSI notebook section

Pricecompare

Average Score: 94% - very good

 

Foreign Reviews

 

MSI PS42 Modern 8RA-280XES

Specifications

Notebook: MSI PS42 Modern 8RA-280XES
Processor: Intel Core i7 i7-8565U
Graphics Adapter: NVIDIA GeForce MX250
Display: 14.00 inch, 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixels
Weight: 1.2kg
Links: MSI homepage
 MSI notebook section

Pricecompare

 

Foreign Reviews

 

MSI PS42 8M-072ES

Specifications

Notebook: MSI PS42 8M-072ES
Processor: Intel Kaby Lake Refresh i5-8550U
Graphics Adapter: Intel UHD Graphics 620
Display: 14.00 inch, 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixels
Weight: 1.2kg
Links: MSI homepage
 MSI notebook section

Pricecompare

 

Foreign Reviews

 

Comment

MSI: Micro-Star International (MSI) was founded in 1986 in Taiwan. MSI is especially known as a manufacturer of motherboards and graphics cards for PCs, but also offers computer accessories, complete systems, motherboards, graphics cards, laptops, desktop PCs, monitors and other components. However, the Microstar brand name in Germany belongs to the Medion company. MSI is known for its gaming products and has developed a wide range of gaming laptops and desktop PCs. The company is also active in workstations, servers and industrial automation. MSI has offices in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia.

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Modern games should be playable with these graphics cards at low settings and resolutions. Casual gamers may be happy with these cards.

NVIDIA GeForce MX150: Pascal GP108 based laptop graphics card and mobile version of the desktop GeForce GT 1030. Offers 384 shader cores and usually 2 GB GDDR5 with a 64 Bit memory bus. Manufactured in 14nm.

Intel UHD Graphics 620: Integrated GPU (GT2, 24 EUs) found on some Kaby-Lake-Refresh CPU models (15 W ULV series). Technically identical to the previous Kaby-Lake GPU called HD Graphics 620.

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Max-Q: Efficient mid-range graphics card for thin and light laptops based on the same GP107 chip as the normal GTX 1050 for laptops but at slower clock speeds. Offers a approx. 10 - 15% lower performance than the laptop GTX 1050 but at a much lower power consumption.

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile: Mainstream graphics card based on Nvidia's Pascal architecture and successor to the GeForce GTX 960M. Is manufactured in a 14nm process at Samsung and the technical specifications are very similar to the desktop version.

NVIDIA GeForce MX250: Successor of the MX150 and still based on the same Pascal GP108 chip (similar to the desktop GT 1030) but with higher clock speeds. Available in two versions, a normal 25 Watt version and a low power version with 10 Watt TDP and reduced performance. The 25 Watt version e.g. offers a 21% higher boost clock than the old MX150 leading to a 5% performance gain.

» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Graphics Cards and the corresponding Benchmark List.

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Intel Kaby Lake Refresh:

i5-8550U: Kaby-Lake-Refresh based low power quad-core processor. The four cores are clocked between 1.8 and 4 GHz (Turbo Boost) and support HyperThreading. The integrated GPU is clocked between 300 and 1,150 MHz. The SoC is manufactured in a 14nm+ FinFET process.

i5-8250U: Kaby-Lake-Refresh based low power quad-core processor. The four cores are clocked between 1.6 and 3.4 GHz (Turbo Boost) and support HyperThreading. The integrated GPU is clocked between 300 and 1,100 MHz. The SoC is manufactured in a 14nm+ FinFET process.

Intel Core i7: The Intel Core i7 for laptops is based on the LG1156 Core i5/i7 CPU for desktops. The base clock speed of the CPUs is relatively low, but because of a huge Turbo mode, the cores can dynamically overclock to up to 3.2 GHz (920XM). Therefore, the CPU can be as fast as high clocked dual-core CPUs (using single threaded applications) but still offer the advantage of 4 cores. Because of the large TDP of 45 W / 55 W, the CPU is only intended for large laptops.  

i7-8565U: Whiskey Lake based low power quad-core processor (technically identical to Kaby Lake but produced in a further improved 14nm++ process). The four cores are clocked between 1.8 and 4.6 GHz (Turbo Boost) and support HyperThreading.

Intel Core i5:

i5-8265U: Whiskey Lake based low power quad-core processor (technically identical to Kaby Lake but produced in a further improved 14nm++ process). The four cores are clocked between 1.6 and 3.9 GHz (Turbo Boost) and support HyperThreading.

» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Processsors.

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14.00:

14 inch display size represents a middle ground between the small subnotebook formats and the screens of the standard 15 inch laptops.

The reason for the popularity of mid-sized displays is that this size is reasonably easy on the eyes, provides good resolutions with usable detail sizes, yet does not consume too much power and the devices can still be reasonably compact. 

In the past, 14-inch devices were very rare, but now they are the standard for laptops after the 15-inchers. 

» To find out how fine a display is, see our DPI List.

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No weight comment found (one expected)!

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79.35%: This rating is not earth-shattering. This rating must actually be seen as average, since there are about as many devices with worse ratings as better ones. A purchase recommendation can only be seen with a lot of goodwill, unless it is about websites that generally rate strictly.

» Further information can be found in our Notebook Purchase Guide.

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