Redditor says buying MSI Thin 15 made him 'laughing stock'
A Reddit thread posted by user u/Ok_Mortgage_8452 has gone viral within the r/GamingLaptops subreddit, as the user publicly expressed deep regret over their purchase of the MSI Thin 15. Supposedly known among their peers for giving reliable laptop advice, the user admitted that choosing the Thin 15 was “the worst decision I’ve made,” adding that they've now become the “laughing stock” among friends.
The exact model isn’t named, but based on the specs shared in the thread, it’s reasonable to assume the user owns the MSI Thin 15 B12UC-1439 or a close variant. The user confirmed they are using a machine with an Intel Core i5-12450H and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050. In their words: “Temps are 90s and keeps above 88 while on boost mode. But it throttles. I tried to disable the boost but the i5 base clock is 2 GHz.”
The post triggered a wave of responses, with dozens of users echoing similar sentiments. Complaints ranged from thermal throttling and inconsistent performance to underwhelming chassis durability. Several users pointed out that the RTX 3050 in this model is capped at 45W TGP and cooled by a single fan, a setup that can lead to thermal limitations in gaming or creative workloads.
This isn’t the first time MSI’s budget gaming laptops have faced thermal criticism. An earlier Reddit post described how the GF63 Thin began throttling after just 15–20 minutes of gaming, prompting the user to tweak power settings in an attempt to stabilize performance.
While the GF63 Thin belongs to MSI’s older lineup, it shares key traits with the newer Thin 15, like lightweight construction, single-fan cooling, and low-wattage GPUs like the RTX 3050. Though not identical, both models target budget-conscious users and appear to feature similar thermal and performance trade-offs.
Despite the criticism, some users defended the Thin 15 as a budget compromise. Undervolting, repasting, and the use of laptop cooling pads were offered as workarounds. Others highlighted the machine’s lightweight profile as a rare positive in this price bracket.
Review of the MSI Thin 15 B12UC by websites such as Tech Critter and Laptop Media echo some of those mixed sentiments. The chassis is described as moderately rigid, with aluminum used on the lid and upper base giving it a slightly more premium feel than expected at this tier. Under testing, keyboard surface temperatures and fan noise remained within acceptable limits, pointing to adequate thermal and acoustic handling for everyday tasks.
The RTX 3050 GPU sustained a steady 45W power draw during continuous gaming sessions, suggesting stable performance within the laptop’s thermal headroom. However, as noted in the reviews, the system is not positioned as a high-performance device, being better suited for casual workloads and light-to-moderate gaming rather than extended, intensive use.
The thread ends with the user reflecting on expectations that didn’t match reality. Some replies suggested fixes, others shared similar regrets. Posts like these don’t prove anything outright, but they do tend to determine how other people shop in the future.
