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MSI Bravo 17 laptop review: All-AMD gaming machine

One-stop shop. While Intel and Nvidia dominated the gaming laptop market in the past years, more and more devices based solely on AMD components are now appearing. The Bravo 17 from MSI trumps with modern 7 nm components. A Ryzen 7 4800H is used as a processor, while a Radeon RX 5500M takes care of the graphics.
MSI Bravo 17

Price-conscious gamers will be confronted with a wide range of exciting laptops in 2020. After a long dry spell, AMD fans are now also getting their money's worth. A good example is the brand-new MSI Bravo 17, which will be sold in stores for just under 1,250 Euros (~$1,414).

At this price, buyers receive an upper mid-range system suitable for gaming. While the Radeon RX 5500M positions itself between the GeForce GTX 1650 and the GeForce GTX 1660 Ti in terms of performance, the Ryzen 7 4800H is making even the strongest Intel CPUs tremble - not only in terms of performance but also in terms of energy efficiency. Otherwise, our test configuration also houses a 512 GB SSD and 2x 8 GB DDR4 3200 RAM sticks in dual-channel mode. Moreover, the laptop features a matte 120 Hz display with FreeSync support.

MSI Bravo 17 A4DDR (Bravo 17 Series)
Processor
AMD Ryzen 7 4800H 8 x 2.9 - 4.2 GHz, Renoir-H (Zen 2)
Graphics adapter
AMD Radeon RX 5500M - 4 GB VRAM, Core: 1448 MHz, Memory: 1750 MHz, GDDR6, Adrenalin 19.40.30, Switchable Graphics
Memory
16 GB 
, 2x 8 GB SO-DIMM DDR4 3200, dual-channel, all slots occupied, max. 64 GB
Display
17.30 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel 127 PPI, AU Optronics B173HAN04.7 (AUO479D), IPS, Full HD, FreeSync, glossy: no, 120 Hz
Mainboard
AMD Promontory/Bixby FCH
Storage
Toshiba KBG30ZMV512G, 512 GB 
, PCIe SSD, slots: 1x M.2 type 2280 and 1x 2.5-inch (free)
Soundcard
Realtek ALC233 @ AMD K17.6 - Audio Processor
Connections
4 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 HDMI, 1 Kensington Lock, Audio Connections: 1 headphone, 1 microphone
Networking
Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller (10/100/1000MBit/s), Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200 (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/ax = Wi-Fi 6/), Bluetooth 5.1
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 23 x 397 x 260 ( = 0.91 x 15.63 x 10.24 in)
Battery
51 Wh Lithium-Ion, 3 cells
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 Home 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: HD 720p
Additional features
Speakers: 2x 2W, Keyboard: chiclet, Keyboard Light: yes, 180-watt power adapter, quick-start guide, recovery information, Dragon Center, 24 Months Warranty
Weight
2.244 kg ( = 79.15 oz / 4.95 pounds), Power Supply: 590 g ( = 20.81 oz / 1.3 pounds)
Price
1300 EUR
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Among the Bravo 17's competitors are other budget gaming laptops in the price range of less than 1,500 Euros (~$1,696) such as the Asus TUF FX705DT, the Asus TUF A17 FA706IU, and the Lenovo Legion Y540-17IRH. The MSI Alpha 15 and MSI GF75 Thin 9SC in-house contenders also appear in the tables as comparison devices.

Rating
Date
Model
Weight
Height
Size
Resolution
Best Price
80.9 %
07/2020
MSI Bravo 17 A4DDR
R7 4800H, Radeon RX 5500M
2.2 kg23 mm17.30"1920x1080
78.8 %
02/2020
MSI Alpha 15 A3DDK-034
R7 3750H, Radeon RX 5500M
2.3 kg27.5 mm15.60"1920x1080
78 %
07/2019
MSI GF75 Thin 9SC
i7-9750H, GeForce GTX 1650 Mobile
2.3 kg23.1 mm17.30"1920x1080
77.8 %
06/2019
Asus TUF FX705DT-AU068T
R5 3550H, GeForce GTX 1650 Mobile
2.7 kg26.6 mm17.30"1920x1080
82.9 %
05/2020
Asus TUF A17 FA706IU-AS76
R7 4800H, GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Mobile
2.6 kg26 mm17.30"1920x1080
82.3 %
07/2019
Lenovo Legion Y540-17IRH
i5-9300H, GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Mobile
2.8 kg26.3 mm17.30"1920x1080

Case

The case of the Bravo 17 looks surprisingly high quality for the estimated price. In this way, not only the lid is made of brushed aluminum but also the keyboard surroundings. You often had to live with a rattly plastic chassis in the past here. When you open the somewhat wobbly screen, the stability also cuts quite a fine figure. In most areas, the base unit can only be bent a bit under strong pressure. The design is - apart from the keyboard with red labeling - rather plain, which makes the device not look too flashy.

MSI Bravo 17
MSI Bravo 17
MSI Bravo 17
MSI Bravo 17
MSI Bravo 17
MSI Bravo 17
MSI Bravo 17
MSI Bravo 17
MSI Bravo 17
MSI Bravo 17

There are also plus points for the moderate weight: At 2.2 kg, the Bravo 17 is the lightest 17-incher in the test. The competition ranges between 2.3 and 2.8 kg. Some buyers will also be pleased with the low overall height: 2.3 cm guarantees a slender look. Thanks to the slim bezel design, the main dimensions are also kept within limits (39.7 x 26.0 cm). The workmanship doesn't leave anything to be desired either. In our test device, all elements merged neatly into one another. MSI could improve the rubber feet and the hinge construction, respectively. The laptop slips away very easily/quickly when it's opened.

Size comparison

399.8 mm / 15.7 inch 279.4 mm / 11 inch 26.6 mm / 1.047 inch 2.7 kg5.95 lbs399 mm / 15.7 inch 290 mm / 11.4 inch 26.3 mm / 1.035 inch 2.8 kg6.15 lbs399 mm / 15.7 inch 269 mm / 10.6 inch 26 mm / 1.024 inch 2.6 kg5.73 lbs397 mm / 15.6 inch 260 mm / 10.2 inch 23.1 mm / 0.909 inch 2.3 kg4.96 lbs397 mm / 15.6 inch 260 mm / 10.2 inch 23 mm / 0.906 inch 2.2 kg4.95 lbs357.7 mm / 14.1 inch 248 mm / 9.76 inch 27.5 mm / 1.083 inch 2.3 kg5.04 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs

Connectivity

Ports

You shouldn't expect the Bravo 17 to have a generous port configuration. MSI forgoes both a DisplayPort connection as well as a card reader. USB 3.2 Gen 2 (x2), not to mention Thunderbolt 3, is also a no-show. As a result, the existing USB ports (3x Type-A, 1x Type-C) only support USB 3.2 Gen 1, which corresponds to the old 3.0 standard. In addition, there's an HDMI port (note: Only 30 Hz at 4K), an RJ45 port and two gold-plated audio jacks. Even if the arrangement of the connections isn't quite ideal due to the ventilation grills on the sides, you don't lose that much room for movement when using an external mouse.

Left side: power supply, HDMI, 2x USB-A 3.0
Left side: power supply, HDMI, 2x USB-A 3.0
Right side: Kensington lock, headphone, microphone, USB-A 3.0, USB-C 3.0, RJ45 LAN
Right side: Kensington lock, headphone, microphone, USB-A 3.0, USB-C 3.0, RJ45 LAN

Communication

Although the Wi-Fi results are not comparable with the competition due to the recently changed test setup (ax router instead of ac router), the Bravo 17 is right at the top of the list when it comes to WLAN performance. 880 Mb/s for sending and 1,520 Mb/s for receiving data represent good to very good values. With the Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200, MSI has installed a cutting-edge wireless module.

Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
MSI Bravo 17 A4DDR
Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200
880 MBit/s
Lenovo Legion Y540-17IRH
Intel Wireless-AC 9560
684 MBit/s -22%
MSI GF75 Thin 9SC
Intel Wireless-AC 9560
658 MBit/s -25%
MSI Alpha 15 A3DDK-034
Realtek 8822CE Wireless LAN 802.11ac PCI-E NIC
634 MBit/s -28%
Asus TUF A17 FA706IU-AS76
Realtek 8822CE Wireless LAN 802.11ac PCI-E NIC
623 (577min - 656max) MBit/s -29%
Asus TUF FX705DT-AU068T
Realtek 8821CE Wireless LAN 802.11ac PCI-E NIC
201 (89min - 272max) MBit/s -77%
iperf3 receive AX12
MSI Bravo 17 A4DDR
Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200
1520 MBit/s
Lenovo Legion Y540-17IRH
Intel Wireless-AC 9560
680 MBit/s -55%
MSI Alpha 15 A3DDK-034
Realtek 8822CE Wireless LAN 802.11ac PCI-E NIC
665 MBit/s -56%
MSI GF75 Thin 9SC
Intel Wireless-AC 9560
649 MBit/s -57%
Asus TUF A17 FA706IU-AS76
Realtek 8822CE Wireless LAN 802.11ac PCI-E NIC
634 (621min - 646max) MBit/s -58%
Asus TUF FX705DT-AU068T
Realtek 8821CE Wireless LAN 802.11ac PCI-E NIC
215 (199min - 221max) MBit/s -86%

Webcam

Like most laptops, the Bravo 17 also lacks a decent webcam. Neither the image sharpness nor the color accuracy are convincing (see photos).

ColorChecker
20.5 ∆E
17.5 ∆E
9.6 ∆E
12 ∆E
12.4 ∆E
13.1 ∆E
11.9 ∆E
12.9 ∆E
12.6 ∆E
12.6 ∆E
7.1 ∆E
9.7 ∆E
11.7 ∆E
9.4 ∆E
11.9 ∆E
12.5 ∆E
12.7 ∆E
14.6 ∆E
12.8 ∆E
15.8 ∆E
14.6 ∆E
15.1 ∆E
14.5 ∆E
14 ∆E
ColorChecker MSI Bravo 17 A4DDR: 12.99 ∆E min: 7.14 - max: 20.5 ∆E

Accessories

In terms of accessories, MSI has only included a quick-start guide and a recovery guide in the box. The 180-watt power adapter, which weighs approximately 600 grams, turned out to be relatively compact with a size of 15 x 7.5 x 3 cm.

Maintenance

The maintenance options are typical for a gaming laptop. After you have removed the 12 Philips screws from the case bottom, the complete bottom side can be lifted out of the anchoring - provided you have some skill. Inside the chassis, you will find the battery and the Wi-Fi chip and also two RAM slots, an M.2 slot, and a (free) 2.5-inch slot. The cooling system consists of two fans with several heatpipes running from them towards the CPU and GPU (each soldered).

MSI Bravo 17
MSI Bravo 17
MSI Bravo 17
MSI Bravo 17
MSI Bravo 17

Warranty

The warranty is valid for 24 months. MSI mentions a pick-up-and-return service.

Input devices

Keyboard

Although the keyboard model is already known from other MSI laptops, the layout requires a certain amount of getting used to. In addition to the <>| key, the # key is also in an unusual position on the German version, which can lead to incorrect entries at the beginning. Additionally, there is a single-line Enter key, which is also suboptimal. The fact that the arrow keys extend into the (rather narrow) number pad and the main field, on the other hand, is seen often.

By the way, MSI forgoes RGB lighting to reduce costs a bit. The keyboard is illuminated in red to match the red labeling. We would describe the typing experience as ranging from decent to good. It feels neither particularly mushy nor particularly hard. The keyboard's positioning, in particular, is a point of criticism for MSI. Because it's placed very low, the palm rest only reaches a height of 7.5 cm. Unless you have tiny hands, your palms always lie unpleasantly on the edge or slide downwards off the case completely - an unnecessary design flaw.

Chiclet keyboard...
Chiclet keyboard...
...with red lighting
...with red lighting

Touchpad

The touchpad proves to be unspectacular. Thanks to the smooth finish, fingers glide quite well over the surface. The precision isn't bad either. The same goes for the multi-touch support. Documents, websites, etc., can be zoomed and scrolled stress-free with two fingers. Gesture recognition works reliably for the most part. Since the touchpad doesn't have any dedicated keys, left and right clicks are triggered by pressing the main area. The triggering noise is - in contrast to the keyboard - relatively loud and sounds rattly. However, there's nothing to complain about with the basic stability of the mouse replacement.

Display

The 17-inch display delivers mixed results. Let's start with the positive aspects. Due to the low black value of 0.23 cd/m², the Bravo 17 is able to offer a convincing contrast. Just under 1,150:1 should satisfy most buyers.

243
cd/m²
236
cd/m²
242
cd/m²
250
cd/m²
264
cd/m²
242
cd/m²
246
cd/m²
237
cd/m²
233
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
AU Optronics B173HAN04.7 (AUO479D) tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 264 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 243.7 cd/m² Minimum: 11 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 88 %
Center on Battery: 264 cd/m²
Contrast: 1148:1 (Black: 0.23 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 3.85 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5, calibrated: 3.4
ΔE Greyscale 1.95 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
60% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
42% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
41.88% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
60.1% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
40.54% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.52
MSI Bravo 17 A4DDR
AU Optronics B173HAN04.7 (AUO479D), IPS, 1920x1080
MSI Alpha 15 A3DDK-034
AU Optronics B156HAN08.0 (AUO80ED), IPS, 1920x1080
MSI GF75 Thin 9SC
AU Optronics B173HAN04.2, IPS, 1920x1080
Asus TUF FX705DT-AU068T
AU Optronics B173HAN04.2, IPS, 1920x1080
Asus TUF A17 FA706IU-AS76
BOE NV173FHM-NX1, IPS, 1920x1080
Lenovo Legion Y540-17IRH
AU Optronics B173HAN04.4 (AUO449D), IPS, 1920x1080
Display
58%
52%
51%
-0%
68%
Display P3 Coverage
40.54
66.4
64%
62.5
54%
62.3
54%
40.55
0%
69
70%
sRGB Coverage
60.1
91
51%
90
50%
89.1
48%
59.7
-1%
98.3
64%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
41.88
66.6
59%
64
53%
63.7
52%
41.89
0%
70.7
69%
Response Times
74%
6%
-2%
40%
56%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
40 ?(19.2, 20.8)
7 ?(3.4, 3.6)
82%
34 ?(17.6, 16.4)
15%
41 ?(20, 21)
-3%
22.4 ?(11.6, 10.8)
44%
18 ?(8.4, 9.6)
55%
Response Time Black / White *
29.6 ?(16.4, 13.2)
10.4 ?(5.2, 5.2)
65%
30.4 ?(18, 12.4)
-3%
30 ?(16, 14)
-1%
19.2 ?(9.6, 9.6)
35%
12.8 ?(7.6, 5.2)
57%
PWM Frequency
Screen
-2%
9%
7%
-18%
13%
Brightness middle
264
310
17%
344.7
31%
316
20%
264.8
0%
286
8%
Brightness
244
310
27%
332
36%
294
20%
253
4%
282
16%
Brightness Distribution
88
86
-2%
91
3%
84
-5%
90
2%
87
-1%
Black Level *
0.23
0.29
-26%
0.3
-30%
0.32
-39%
0.31
-35%
0.19
17%
Contrast
1148
1069
-7%
1149
0%
988
-14%
854
-26%
1505
31%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
3.85
4.78
-24%
3.08
20%
3.39
12%
4.73
-23%
3.57
7%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
9.13
8.1
11%
6.32
31%
5.56
39%
18.89
-107%
7.5
18%
Colorchecker dE 2000 calibrated *
3.4
2.36
31%
2.94
14%
2.14
37%
4.64
-36%
1.31
61%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
1.95
4.78
-145%
3.8
-95%
3.17
-63%
1.4
28%
4.51
-131%
Gamma
2.52 87%
2.43 91%
2.17 101%
2.39 92%
2.16 102%
2.36 93%
CCT
6371 102%
7739 84%
7284 89%
7098 92%
6641 98%
7411 88%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
42
59
40%
58
38%
51
21%
38.4
-9%
64
52%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
60
91
52%
89.6
49%
89
48%
59.3
-1%
98
63%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
43% / 18%
22% / 17%
19% / 14%
7% / -8%
46% / 29%

* ... smaller is better

The situation is similar when it comes to color accuracy. The True Color MSI tool (the sRGB standard mode was tested) provides pretty good Delta E values, as our CalMAN screenshots prove. The IPS technology also guarantees pleasingly high viewing angles. Gamers will be especially pleased with the combination of FreeSync and 120 Hz, which produces a very smooth image.

CalMAN: Grayscales
CalMAN: Grayscales
CalMAN: Color saturation
CalMAN: Color saturation
CalMAN: ColorChecker
CalMAN: ColorChecker
CalMAN: Grayscales (calibrated)
CalMAN: Grayscales (calibrated)
CalMAN: Color saturation (calibrated)
CalMAN: Color saturation (calibrated)
CalMAN: ColorChecker (calibrated)
CalMAN: ColorChecker (calibrated)

However, the 17-inch panel from AU Optronics (B173HAN04.7) has some weaknesses too. Around 243 cd/m² of luminosity is as modest as 60% of coverage for the sRGB color space. As a result, the image lacks a bit of intensity, which can be especially bothersome when it comes to photo and video segments. The Bravo 17 is also hardly suitable for outdoor use due to its poor brightness.

MSI Bravo 17 vs. sRGB (60%)
MSI Bravo 17 vs. sRGB (60%)
MSI Bravo 17 vs. AdobeRGB (42%)
MSI Bravo 17 vs. AdobeRGB (42%)

Despite the 120 Hz technology, the response times aren't exactly dazzling either. The mentioned shortcomings also affect other budget gaming laptops, but in our opinion, a higher-quality panel should be installed in devices costing from 1,000 Euros (~$1,131) on, at most.

Against the light
Against the light
Subpixel grid
Subpixel grid
Viewing angles
Viewing angles

Display Response Times

Display response times show how fast the screen is able to change from one color to the next. Slow response times can lead to afterimages and can cause moving objects to appear blurry (ghosting). Gamers of fast-paced 3D titles should pay special attention to fast response times.
       Response Time Black to White
29.6 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 16.4 ms rise
↘ 13.2 ms fall
The screen shows relatively slow response rates in our tests and may be too slow for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 76 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (21.6 ms).
       Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
40 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 19.2 ms rise
↘ 20.8 ms fall
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 55 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (33.9 ms).

Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)

To dim the screen, some notebooks will simply cycle the backlight on and off in rapid succession - a method called Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) . This cycling frequency should ideally be undetectable to the human eye. If said frequency is too low, users with sensitive eyes may experience strain or headaches or even notice the flickering altogether.
Screen flickering / PWM not detected

In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 18110 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured.

Test conditions

Buyers have the opportunity to adjust many system settings in the preinstalled Dragon Center. For our measurements, we used the "User" user scenario with the "High" performance level and the "Auto" fan speed.

Dragon Center
Dragon Center
Dragon Center
Dragon Center
Dragon Center
Dragon Center

Performance

While the CPU belongs to the high-end segment, the GPU is "only" positioned in the mid-range. Since most games are graphically limited, we would, therefore, speak of an upper mid-range laptop, as mentioned at the beginning.

CPU-Z
CPU-Z
CPU-Z
CPU-Z
CPU-Z
GPU-Z
GPU-Z
HWiNFO
AS SSD benchmark
CrystalDiskMark

Processor

The fact that Intel has rested on its laurels for years is now becoming the doom of the former "processor king". Slowly but surely AMD is taking over the helm or rather the dominance in the CPU segment again, which seemed unthinkable a few years ago, especially for laptops. The best example of the race to catch up is the lightning-fast octa-core Ryzen 7 4800H, which is created with a 7 nm process (Intel is still stuck at 14 nm) and can process up to 16 threads in parallel via SMT. The base clock speed is 2.9 GHz, and the maximum boost speed is 4.2 GHz.

Single-core rendering
Single-core rendering
Multi-core rendering
Multi-core rendering
GPU load
GPU load

We checked how the Ryzen 7 4800H behaves in practice with the help of the Cinebench R15 benchmark. Around 3.7 GHz in the multi-core test is a good result. In contrast to other laptops, the CPU performance only drops slightly over a longer period of time (less than 5% in the Cinebench loop).

095190285380475570665760855950104511401235133014251520161517101805Tooltip
MSI Bravo 17 A4DDR AMD Ryzen 7 4800H, AMD Ryzen 7 4800H: Ø1847 (1814.88-1892.51)
Asus TUF A17 FA706IU-AS76 AMD Ryzen 7 4800H, AMD Ryzen 7 4800H: Ø1773 (1724.58-1815.79)

The benchmark results are particularly impressive. With a multi-score of 1,892 points, the Ryzen 7 4800H sprints almost 80% past the hexa-core Core i7-9750H processor in Cinebench R15. The gap to the popular quad-core CPU, the Core i5-9300H, is even over 120%. Ergo: Intel is currently hardly competitive when it comes to budget products and has to prepare itself for the worst in 2020.

Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit
MSI GF75 Thin 9SC
Intel Core i7-9750H
189 Points 0%
Asus TUF A17 FA706IU-AS76
AMD Ryzen 7 4800H
189 Points 0%
MSI Bravo 17 A4DDR
AMD Ryzen 7 4800H
189 Points
Lenovo Legion Y540-17IRH
Intel Core i5-9300H
171 Points -10%
Asus TUF FX705DT-AU068T
AMD Ryzen 5 3550H
144 Points -24%
MSI Alpha 15 A3DDK-034
AMD Ryzen 7 3750H
143 Points -24%
CPU Multi 64Bit
MSI Bravo 17 A4DDR
AMD Ryzen 7 4800H
1892 (1814.88min - 1892.51max) Points
Asus TUF A17 FA706IU-AS76
AMD Ryzen 7 4800H
1816 (1724.58min - 1815.79max) Points -4%
MSI GF75 Thin 9SC
Intel Core i7-9750H
1071 Points -43%
Lenovo Legion Y540-17IRH
Intel Core i5-9300H
850 Points -55%
Asus TUF FX705DT-AU068T
AMD Ryzen 5 3550H
742 Points -61%
MSI Alpha 15 A3DDK-034
AMD Ryzen 7 3750H
734 Points -61%
Blender - v2.79 BMW27 CPU
Asus TUF A17 FA706IU-AS76
AMD Ryzen 7 4800H
271 Seconds * -3%
MSI Bravo 17 A4DDR
AMD Ryzen 7 4800H
262 Seconds *
7-Zip 18.03
7z b 4 -mmt1
Asus TUF A17 FA706IU-AS76
AMD Ryzen 7 4800H
4717 MIPS 0%
MSI Bravo 17 A4DDR
AMD Ryzen 7 4800H
4699 MIPS
7z b 4
MSI Bravo 17 A4DDR
AMD Ryzen 7 4800H
51468 MIPS
Asus TUF A17 FA706IU-AS76
AMD Ryzen 7 4800H
48837 MIPS -5%
Cinebench R20
CPU (Single Core)
MSI Bravo 17 A4DDR
AMD Ryzen 7 4800H
481 Points
Asus TUF A17 FA706IU-AS76
AMD Ryzen 7 4800H
477 Points -1%
Lenovo Legion Y540-17IRH
Intel Core i5-9300H
427 Points -11%
Asus TUF FX705DT-AU068T
AMD Ryzen 5 3550H
361 Points -25%
MSI Alpha 15 A3DDK-034
AMD Ryzen 7 3750H
352 Points -27%
CPU (Multi Core)
MSI Bravo 17 A4DDR
AMD Ryzen 7 4800H
4339 Points
Asus TUF A17 FA706IU-AS76
AMD Ryzen 7 4800H
4132 Points -5%
Lenovo Legion Y540-17IRH
Intel Core i5-9300H
1877 Points -57%
Asus TUF FX705DT-AU068T
AMD Ryzen 5 3550H
1659 Points -62%
MSI Alpha 15 A3DDK-034
AMD Ryzen 7 3750H
1633 Points -62%
Geekbench 5.5
Single-Core
MSI Bravo 17 A4DDR
AMD Ryzen 7 4800H
1197 Points
Asus TUF A17 FA706IU-AS76
AMD Ryzen 7 4800H
1189 Points -1%
MSI Alpha 15 A3DDK-034
AMD Ryzen 7 3750H
874 Points -27%
Multi-Core
MSI Bravo 17 A4DDR
AMD Ryzen 7 4800H
8068 Points
Asus TUF A17 FA706IU-AS76
AMD Ryzen 7 4800H
7782 Points -4%
MSI Alpha 15 A3DDK-034
AMD Ryzen 7 3750H
3537 Points -56%
HWBOT x265 Benchmark v2.2 - 4k Preset
MSI Bravo 17 A4DDR
AMD Ryzen 7 4800H
13.1 fps
Asus TUF A17 FA706IU-AS76
AMD Ryzen 7 4800H
12.2 fps -7%
LibreOffice - 20 Documents To PDF
MSI Bravo 17 A4DDR
AMD Ryzen 7 4800H
95.8 s *
Asus TUF A17 FA706IU-AS76
AMD Ryzen 7 4800H
61.4 s * +36%
R Benchmark 2.5 - Overall mean
Asus TUF A17 FA706IU-AS76
AMD Ryzen 7 4800H
0.596 sec * -5%
MSI Bravo 17 A4DDR
AMD Ryzen 7 4800H
0.568 sec *

* ... smaller is better

Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
1892 Points
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
123 fps
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
98 %
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
189 Points
Help

System performance

The fast processor also helps put the Bravo 17 in the top position in the system performance category. 5,970 points in PCMark 10 could also come from a genuine and considerably more expensive high-end system. However, the 17-incher has to struggle with short delays in everyday use, which mainly occur when launching a program. The graphics-switching solution, which dynamically switches between the CPU's graphics chip and the dedicated GPU depending on the application, could be to blame.

PCMark 10 - Score
MSI Bravo 17 A4DDR
Radeon RX 5500M, R7 4800H, Toshiba KBG30ZMV512G
5970 Points
Asus TUF A17 FA706IU-AS76
GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Mobile, R7 4800H, Intel SSD 660p 1TB SSDPEKNW010T8
5617 Points -6%
Lenovo Legion Y540-17IRH
GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Mobile, i5-9300H, WDC PC SN520 SDAPNUW-512G
5613 Points -6%
MSI GF75 Thin 9SC
GeForce GTX 1650 Mobile, i7-9750H, Crucial P1 SSD CT1000P1SSD8
5249 Points -12%
MSI Alpha 15 A3DDK-034
Radeon RX 5500M, R7 3750H, Kingston RBUSNS8154P3512GJ
4605 Points -23%
Asus TUF FX705DT-AU068T
GeForce GTX 1650 Mobile, R5 3550H, WDC PC SN520 SDAPNUW-256G
4339 Points -27%

DPC latency

Despite the subjective delays, the Bravo 17 does quite well in the latency test (apart from the stuttery 4K YouTube video). The LatencyMon tool doesn't detect any particularly high values that would indicate a bad driver.

Latencies
Latencies
Latencies
DPC Latencies / LatencyMon - interrupt to process latency (max), Web, Youtube, Prime95
Asus TUF A17 FA706IU-AS76
GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Mobile, R7 4800H, Intel SSD 660p 1TB SSDPEKNW010T8
8852 μs * -868%
MSI Bravo 17 A4DDR
Radeon RX 5500M, R7 4800H, Toshiba KBG30ZMV512G
914 μs *

* ... smaller is better

Storage

As is appropriate for a modern laptop, the operating system (Windows 10 Home 64-bit) runs on a PCIe SSD. The 512 GB Toshiba KBG30ZMV512G model built into the test device is oriented towards the Kingston SSD of the MSI Alpha 15 and the WDC drive of the Asus TUF FX705 or the Lenovo Legion Y540 in the CrystalDiskMark. On the other hand, the 1 TB models of the MSI GF75 (Crucial) and the Asus TUF A17 (Intel) are able to gain a certain lead - at least on paper.

MSI Bravo 17 A4DDR
Toshiba KBG30ZMV512G
MSI Alpha 15 A3DDK-034
Kingston RBUSNS8154P3512GJ
MSI GF75 Thin 9SC
Crucial P1 SSD CT1000P1SSD8
Asus TUF FX705DT-AU068T
WDC PC SN520 SDAPNUW-256G
Asus TUF A17 FA706IU-AS76
Intel SSD 660p 1TB SSDPEKNW010T8
Lenovo Legion Y540-17IRH
WDC PC SN520 SDAPNUW-512G
CrystalDiskMark 5.2 / 6
-1%
43%
15%
56%
8%
Write 4K
94.6
105.4
11%
133
41%
145
53%
189.7
101%
105.1
11%
Read 4K
47.12
33.24
-29%
55.6
18%
45.28
-4%
62.3
32%
34.41
-27%
Write Seq
850
1029
21%
1623
91%
1301
53%
1681
98%
1298
53%
Read Seq
1157
1098
-5%
1386
20%
1362
18%
1608
39%
1099
-5%
Write 4K Q32T1
277.7
322.1
16%
501
80%
249.1
-10%
468.6
69%
335.7
21%
Read 4K Q32T1
546
352
-36%
584
7%
342.1
-37%
541
-1%
231.4
-58%
Write Seq Q32T1
908
1036
14%
1696
87%
1301
43%
1770
95%
1454
60%
Read Seq Q32T1
1632
1606
-2%
1572
-4%
1732
6%
1898
16%
1740
7%
Toshiba KBG30ZMV512G
CDM 5/6 Read Seq Q32T1: 1632 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write Seq Q32T1: 908 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Read 4K Q32T1: 546 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write 4K Q32T1: 277.7 MB/s
CDM 5 Read Seq: 1157 MB/s
CDM 5 Write Seq: 850 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Read 4K: 47.12 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write 4K: 94.6 MB/s

Continuous load read: DiskSpd Read Loop, Queue Depth 8

No graph data

Graphics card

The graphics card is only partially on par with the level of the Ryzen 7 4800H. With the Radeon RX 5500M, AMD has a DirectX 12 accelerator in its portfolio that offers a performance ranging between the GTX 1650 and the GTX 1660 Ti. Depending on the benchmark, the results sometimes tend more towards one direction and sometimes rather towards the other.

3DMark
1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics
Asus TUF A17 FA706IU-AS76
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Mobile
15334 Points +20%
Lenovo Legion Y540-17IRH
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Mobile
14186 Points +11%
MSI Bravo 17 A4DDR
AMD Radeon RX 5500M
12753 Points
MSI Alpha 15 A3DDK-034
AMD Radeon RX 5500M
12441 Points -2%
MSI GF75 Thin 9SC
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Mobile
9350 Points -27%
Asus TUF FX705DT-AU068T
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Mobile
9274 Points -27%
2560x1440 Time Spy Graphics
Asus TUF A17 FA706IU-AS76
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Mobile
5744 Points +33%
Lenovo Legion Y540-17IRH
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Mobile
5590 Points +29%
MSI Bravo 17 A4DDR
AMD Radeon RX 5500M
4331 Points
MSI Alpha 15 A3DDK-034
AMD Radeon RX 5500M
4298 Points -1%
Asus TUF FX705DT-AU068T
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Mobile
3506 Points -19%
MSI GF75 Thin 9SC
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Mobile
3470 Points -20%
3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance GPU
Asus TUF A17 FA706IU-AS76
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Mobile
20793 Points +23%
Lenovo Legion Y540-17IRH
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Mobile
19733 Points +17%
MSI Bravo 17 A4DDR
AMD Radeon RX 5500M
16937 Points
MSI Alpha 15 A3DDK-034
AMD Radeon RX 5500M
16335 Points -4%
Asus TUF FX705DT-AU068T
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Mobile
13337 Points -21%
MSI GF75 Thin 9SC
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Mobile
13143 Points -22%

Technically, the RX 5500M has access to 1,408 shaders and 4 GB of GDDR6 video memory (128-bit interface). 4 GB is a borderline amount nowadays, since some games crave for at least 6 GB at higher settings.

3DMark 11 Performance
16271 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
39492 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
11461 points
3DMark Time Spy Score
4712 points
Help

Speaking of games: We tested the clock speeds of the Navi chip for about 60 minutes with the RPG The Witcher 3. Result: The RX 5500M settles at around 1,650 MHz. That is clearly more than the base clock speed of 1,448 MHz. As you can see from the graph below, the frame rate remained very constant over the entire period of time.

051015202530354045Tooltip
MSI Bravo 17 A4DDR Radeon RX 5500M, R7 4800H, Toshiba KBG30ZMV512G: Ø45.3 (41-47)

Gaming performance

In general, the Radeon RX 5500M runs almost all titles at the native Full HD resolution (1920x1080) at high to maximum details, whereby the display frequency is rather rarely exploited. Stuttering only occurs in very demanding and/or moderately optimized games like Borderlands 3. Small tip: You should absolutely update the graphics driver after purchase. Some titles complained about the version with our test device. Doom Eternal didn't even want to run at all with the preinstalled driver (at least on the dedicated graphics card).

The Witcher 3
1920x1080 High Graphics & Postprocessing (Nvidia HairWorks Off)
Lenovo Legion Y540-17IRH
GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Mobile, i5-9300H
109.6 fps +52%
Asus TUF A17 FA706IU-AS76
GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Mobile, R7 4800H
103 (98min - 108max) fps +43%
MSI Alpha 15 A3DDK-034
Radeon RX 5500M, R7 3750H
73.3 fps +2%
MSI Bravo 17 A4DDR
Radeon RX 5500M, R7 4800H
72 (55min) fps
MSI GF75 Thin 9SC
GeForce GTX 1650 Mobile, i7-9750H
67.6 fps -6%
Asus TUF FX705DT-AU068T
GeForce GTX 1650 Mobile, R5 3550H
59.1 fps -18%
1920x1080 Ultra Graphics & Postprocessing (HBAO+)
Asus TUF A17 FA706IU-AS76
GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Mobile, R7 4800H
55.6 (53min - 60max) fps +22%
Lenovo Legion Y540-17IRH
GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Mobile, i5-9300H
55.1 fps +21%
MSI Bravo 17 A4DDR
Radeon RX 5500M, R7 4800H
45.4 (38min) fps
MSI Alpha 15 A3DDK-034
Radeon RX 5500M, R7 3750H
44.7 fps -2%
MSI GF75 Thin 9SC
GeForce GTX 1650 Mobile, i7-9750H
37.7 fps -17%
Asus TUF FX705DT-AU068T
GeForce GTX 1650 Mobile, R5 3550H
33.3 fps -27%
low med. high ultra
GTA V (2015) 168 104 53.1
The Witcher 3 (2015) 72 45.4
Dota 2 Reborn (2015) 120 113 106 103
X-Plane 11.11 (2018) 49.4 37.9 34.1
Shadow of the Tomb Raider (2018) 65 54
Battlefield V (2018) 93 88.2
Borderlands 3 (2019) 47.9 35.9
Escape from Tarkov (2020) 81.5 64.5
Hunt Showdown (2020) 56.5
Doom Eternal (2020) 0 0
Gears Tactics (2020) 78.5 55.1

Emissions

Noise emissions

The noise level generated in idle usage is reminiscent of the MSI GF75 with the Core i7-9750H and the GeForce GTX 1650. The two fans aren't extremely quiet, but 33 to 35 dB is still in order.

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2038.529.830.328.737.32540.633.83429.7413131.730.430.528.233.84035.735.137.432.734.95042.236.337.432.140.86333.330.528.227.832.68029.325.627.827.232.810028.626.22925.329.412525.725.4262426.7160292830.825.428.920032.730.630.322.227.725028.425.228.420.928.631530.629.524.72029.640034.62221.718.636.25002622.22318.34063027.521.520.717.837.880025.522.420.917.636.4100028.724.222.717.541.3125029.726.123.717.842160029.52521.717.642.3200028.523.522.217.944.7250025.321.619.818.242.5315022.519.218.117.939.7400020.818.918.417.836.7500020.118.217.717.734.8630018.817.817.717.731.8800017.817.717.617.627.91000017.717.617.517.825.91250017.617.617.517.622.41600017.717.617.517.519.3SPL38.734.533.230.151.9N3.12.221.47.5median 26median 22.2median 21.7median 17.8median 34.8Delta4.53.841.46.3hearing rangehide median Fan NoiseMSI Bravo 17 A4DDR

The noise level increases significantly under load. About 48 dB in The Witcher 3 and 52 dB in the stress test with the FurMark and Prime95 tools tend towards the Asus TUF A17 and the Lenovo Legion Y540, respectively, and they represent a value that ranges from clearly audible to annoyingly loud (without headphones). At least the Bravo 17 runs noticeably quieter than its MSI counterpart, the Alpha 15.

Noise Level

Idle
33 / 34 / 35 dB(A)
Load
39 / 52 dB(A)
  red to green bar
 
 
30 dB
silent
40 dB(A)
audible
50 dB(A)
loud
 
min: dark, med: mid, max: light   Audix TM1, Arta (15 cm distance)   environment noise: 30 dB(A)
MSI Bravo 17 A4DDR
R7 4800H, Radeon RX 5500M
MSI Alpha 15 A3DDK-034
R7 3750H, Radeon RX 5500M
MSI GF75 Thin 9SC
i7-9750H, GeForce GTX 1650 Mobile
Asus TUF FX705DT-AU068T
R5 3550H, GeForce GTX 1650 Mobile
Asus TUF A17 FA706IU-AS76
R7 4800H, GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Mobile
Lenovo Legion Y540-17IRH
i5-9300H, GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Mobile
Noise
-13%
6%
6%
3%
0%
off / environment *
30
29
3%
28.2
6%
30.8
-3%
28.7
4%
30
-0%
Idle Minimum *
33
36
-9%
33.6
-2%
30.8
7%
28.7
13%
30
9%
Idle Average *
34
37
-9%
33.6
1%
30.8
9%
30.5
10%
32
6%
Idle Maximum *
35
46
-31%
33.8
3%
32.2
8%
32.5
7%
34
3%
Load Average *
39
50
-28%
37.2
5%
38.6
1%
42.5
-9%
44
-13%
Witcher 3 ultra *
48
51
-6%
40.6
15%
50.1
-4%
50
-4%
Load Maximum *
52
57
-10%
44.4
15%
44.8
14%
53.4
-3%
52
-0%

* ... smaller is better

Temperature

Despite the high volume, the Radeon RX 5500M gets pretty hot with 3D applications. Just under 85 °C (~185 °F) in our The Witcher 3 test and 88 °C (~190 °F) under full load are relatively high for a GPU. The Ryzen 7 4800H also reaches around 90 °C (~194 °F) under extreme conditions (about 70 °C (~158 °F) for The Witcher 3).

The Witcher 3
The Witcher 3
Stress test
Stress test
Full load - Top
Full load - Top
Full load - Bottom
Full load - Bottom

We were able to draw up to 48 °C (~118 °F) from the case's top side and up to 50 °C (~122 °F) from the bottom in the stress test. However, these temperatures primarily apply to the rear third of the laptop. In idle usage, the entire chassis stays pleasantly cool at around 24 °C (75 °F).

Max. Load
 48 °C
118 F
45 °C
113 F
46 °C
115 F
 
 41 °C
106 F
43 °C
109 F
41 °C
106 F
 
 33 °C
91 F
33 °C
91 F
31 °C
88 F
 
Maximum: 48 °C = 118 F
Average: 40.1 °C = 104 F
44 °C
111 F
50 °C
122 F
49 °C
120 F
42 °C
108 F
49 °C
120 F
36 °C
97 F
28 °C
82 F
29 °C
84 F
26 °C
79 F
Maximum: 50 °C = 122 F
Average: 39.2 °C = 103 F
Power Supply (max.)  49 °C = 120 F | Room Temperature 20 °C = 68 F | Fluke t3000FC (calibrated), Voltcraft IR-900
(-) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 40.1 °C / 104 F, compared to the average of 33.8 °C / 93 F for the devices in the class Gaming.
(-) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 48 °C / 118 F, compared to the average of 40.4 °C / 105 F, ranging from 21.2 to 68.8 °C for the class Gaming.
(-) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 50 °C / 122 F, compared to the average of 43.2 °C / 110 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 24 °C / 75 F, compared to the device average of 33.8 °C / 93 F.
(-) Playing The Witcher 3, the average temperature for the upper side is 40.3 °C / 105 F, compared to the device average of 33.8 °C / 93 F.
(+) The palmrests and touchpad are reaching skin temperature as a maximum (33 °C / 91.4 F) and are therefore not hot.
(-) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.9 °C / 84 F (-4.1 °C / -7.4 F).
MSI Bravo 17 A4DDR
R7 4800H, Radeon RX 5500M
MSI Alpha 15 A3DDK-034
R7 3750H, Radeon RX 5500M
MSI GF75 Thin 9SC
i7-9750H, GeForce GTX 1650 Mobile
Asus TUF FX705DT-AU068T
R5 3550H, GeForce GTX 1650 Mobile
Asus TUF A17 FA706IU-AS76
R7 4800H, GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Mobile
Lenovo Legion Y540-17IRH
i5-9300H, GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Mobile
Heat
-1%
-15%
-1%
-11%
-26%
Maximum Upper Side *
48
44
8%
47.8
-0%
41.6
13%
47.6
1%
48
-0%
Maximum Bottom *
50
49
2%
57
-14%
38
24%
50.8
-2%
56
-12%
Idle Upper Side *
25
26
-4%
30.2
-21%
31.7
-27%
33
-32%
36
-44%
Idle Bottom *
26
28
-8%
32
-23%
29.5
-13%
29
-12%
38
-46%

* ... smaller is better

Speakers

The 2.0 system integrated into the front area offers a good volume of maximum 84 dB and a decent sound pattern with the - other laptops send their regards - usual weaknesses in terms of bass. According to our audio analysis, the sound is better than with the thicker Alpha 15.

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2028.729.32529.730.23128.227.34032.731.25032.137.46327.832.28027.232.910025.332.9125243616025.442.320022.25225020.967.6315206740018.667.850018.367.463017.869.880017.672100017.569.7125017.874.7160017.674.3200017.972.8250018.274.2315017.972.8400017.869500017.764.4630017.767.8800017.669.51000017.869.31250017.666.91600017.563SPL30.183.7N1.459.7median 17.8median 67.8Delta1.44.829.74037.146.830.541.932.738.829.635.227.835.425.831.423.732.924.835.625.84822.249.22150.120.551.919.25918.957.817.670.317.177.117.185.417.981.517.576.517.377.617.374.317.178.61778.217.675.317.175.31779.117.279.51777.416.876.129.790.61.383.1median 17.5median 76.11.910.1hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseMSI Bravo 17 A4DDRMSI Alpha 15 A3DDK-034
Frequency diagram (checkboxes can be checked and unchecked to compare devices)
MSI Bravo 17 A4DDR audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (84 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 18.2% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (11.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 3.3% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (3.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 2.7% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (4.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(+) | overall sound is linear (14.8% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 26% of all tested devices in this class were better, 7% similar, 67% worse
» The best had a delta of 6%, average was 18%, worst was 132%
Compared to all devices tested
» 15% of all tested devices were better, 4% similar, 81% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

MSI Alpha 15 A3DDK-034 audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (91 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 31.4% lower than median
(+) | bass is linear (5.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | reduced mids - on average 7.4% lower than median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (9.9% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 2.1% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (3.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (19.5% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 64% of all tested devices in this class were better, 7% similar, 29% worse
» The best had a delta of 6%, average was 18%, worst was 132%
Compared to all devices tested
» 43% of all tested devices were better, 7% similar, 50% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Energy management

Energy consumption

In comparison to the last CPU generation, AMD seems to have noticeably optimized the energy management. Instead of the 14 to 32 watts that the Alpha 15 required in idle usage (Ryzen 7 3750H), the Bravo 17 only needs 9 to 13 watts. On the other hand, the consumption under load is similar at 69 to 214 watts - but the Ryzen 7 4800H also offers twice as many cores.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.5 / 0.8 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 9 / 10 / 13 Watt
Load midlight 69 / 214 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Metrahit Energy
Currently we use the Metrahit Energy, a professional single phase power quality and energy measurement digital multimeter, for our measurements. Find out more about it here. All of our test methods can be found here.
MSI Bravo 17 A4DDR
R7 4800H, Radeon RX 5500M
MSI Alpha 15 A3DDK-034
R7 3750H, Radeon RX 5500M
MSI GF75 Thin 9SC
i7-9750H, GeForce GTX 1650 Mobile
Asus TUF FX705DT-AU068T
R5 3550H, GeForce GTX 1650 Mobile
Asus TUF A17 FA706IU-AS76
R7 4800H, GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Mobile
Lenovo Legion Y540-17IRH
i5-9300H, GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Mobile
Power Consumption
-44%
-13%
29%
-9%
-63%
Idle Minimum *
9
14
-56%
6.1
32%
3.9
57%
7.4
18%
19
-111%
Idle Average *
10
18
-80%
11.2
-12%
9.6
4%
10.5
-5%
22
-120%
Idle Maximum *
13
32
-146%
24.5
-88%
12.2
6%
17
-31%
30
-131%
Load Average *
69
64
7%
94.7
-37%
59
14%
103.7
-50%
79
-14%
Witcher 3 ultra *
128
123
4%
105.8
17%
128.1
-0%
134
-5%
Load Maximum *
214
193
10%
192.2
10%
80
63%
183.2
14%
201
6%

* ... smaller is better

Battery life

With a capacity of 51 Wh, the battery is not designed for particularly long runtimes. Thanks to the graphics-switching solution and the 7 nm components, the Bravo 17 lasts at least 5 hours when surfing the Internet on WLAN (medium brightness). However, even under ideal conditions, it's almost impossible to squeeze more than 7 hours out from the battery.

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
7h 44min
WiFi Websurfing
5h 14min
Load (maximum brightness)
1h 15min
MSI Bravo 17 A4DDR
R7 4800H, Radeon RX 5500M, 51 Wh
MSI Alpha 15 A3DDK-034
R7 3750H, Radeon RX 5500M, 51 Wh
MSI GF75 Thin 9SC
i7-9750H, GeForce GTX 1650 Mobile, 51 Wh
Asus TUF FX705DT-AU068T
R5 3550H, GeForce GTX 1650 Mobile, 64 Wh
Asus TUF A17 FA706IU-AS76
R7 4800H, GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Mobile, 90 Wh
Lenovo Legion Y540-17IRH
i5-9300H, GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Mobile, 57 Wh
Battery Runtime
-27%
-10%
63%
80%
-24%
Reader / Idle
464
349
-25%
815
76%
543
17%
311
-33%
WiFi v1.3
314
245
-22%
284
-10%
469
49%
512
63%
220
-30%
Load
75
49
-35%
124
65%
196
161%
68
-9%
H.264
234
485
202

Pros

+ relatively compact and light for a 17-inch device
+ excellent CPU performance
+ metal surfaces

Cons

- display could be better (brightness, color space, response time)
- high noise emission in 3D applications
- poor port configuration

Verdict

MSI Bravo 17 A4DDR. Review device provided by MSI Germany.
MSI Bravo 17 A4DDR. Review device provided by MSI Germany.

AMD is back  and with a bang: Not necessarily on the GPU side but definitely on the CPU side.

The Ryzen 7 4800H impresses with a very high performance that puts the price-comparable Intel competition (e.g. the Core i7-9750H) in its place. Such an amount of CPU power was previously reserved for gaming laptops over 1,500 Euros (~$1,696).

With exception of the poor connectivity, the low-brightness display, and the high noise development under load, the rest of the Bravo 17 also makes a good impression. AMD fans, who have to/want to watch out for their budget, can pull the purchase trigger with confidence.

MSI Bravo 17 A4DDR - 07/02/2020 v7
Florian Glaser

Chassis
76 / 98 → 78%
Keyboard
77%
Pointing Device
81%
Connectivity
53 / 80 → 66%
Weight
61 / 10-66 → 92%
Battery
65 / 95 → 68%
Display
83%
Games Performance
89%
Application Performance
90%
Temperature
85 / 95 → 89%
Noise
72 / 90 → 80%
Audio
82%
Camera
35 / 85 → 41%
Average
73%
81%
Gaming - Weighted Average

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > MSI Bravo 17 laptop review: All-AMD gaming machine
Florian Glaser, 2020-07- 9 (Update: 2021-03-12)