MSI has announced two new Intel Core i5-based 14” notebooks

The CX420 and CR420 will probably feature Intel's Core i5-520M or i5-520UM processors

MSI has announced two new 14” notebooks to feature in its new generation of its 'Classic series', the CX420 and CR420. The company's press release states rather vaguely that both machines will be fitted with 'the latest Intel Core i Series processors', which hail from the new '2010 Intel Core Processor Family'. It's likely that both notebooks will feature Intel Core i5 processors, because both the CX420 and CR420 contain Mobile Intel HM55 Express Chipsets, which are compatible with the i5-520M, i5-520UM, i5-540M and the i7 range, and not the i3 range.

Considering the size of the CX420 and CR420, and the nature of previous notebooks in MSI's Classic series, these two new notebooks are unlikely to contain i7 processors, which are typically reserved for use in high-end gaming machines. Furthermore, it's probable that MSI has opted for the i5-520M or the slower i5-520UM for both machines, as the i5-540M is an expensive, high end processor, which out-performs the Core 2 Duo T9800. To find out how well these processors perform, please take a look at our detailed i5-520M and i5-540M pages.

The specifications of both notebooks are the same, but for the GPU: the CX420 contains a 1GB ATI Radeon HD5470, and the CR420 utilizes the CPU's integrated GPU, namely an Intel HD Graphics GPU. The HD5470 is a DirectX 11 GPU with entry-level to lower middle class performance capabilities and is at number 92 in our GPU benchmark list. For a detailed profile of the HD5470, please have a look at our dedicated page, here.

Both machines will contain up to 4GB of DDR3 RAM, and a 2.5” SATA hard drive with a capacity of up to 500GB. They are both fitted with a 802.11 b/g/draft N WLAN adaptor and a Bluetooth V2.1 adaptor. Each machine has a 14” (1366 x 768) HD 16:9 display, a chiclet keyboard and a seamless touchpad. There is no word yet with regards to pricing or availability, but we'll keep you informed of any new developments. Here are the full specifications as detailed in MSI's press release:-