Released this Wednesday, MSI brings three new laptops to US shores. The trio incorporates second-generation Intel Core processors, better graphic cards and enhanced audio capabilities, the company says.
First off is the FX420, a 14in (1,366x768px) laptop chiming in from $749.99. It features either a Core i3 or Core i5 processor backed by up to 6GB of RAM. Graphics come by way of a discrete AMD Radeon HD 6470M card, while storage is taken care of by mechanical hard drives up to 750GB in capacity.
There's room for an optical drive - DVD writer or Blu-ray - and there's the usual connectivity options in the form of Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11 WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1. Rounding off the specifications, a 720p-capable webcam, multi-card reader and a couple of USB 3.0 ports are all expected and welcomed.
Juice is supplied by a six-cell battery, though no mAH rating is given. Meanwhile, it's a fairly light piece of kit, tipping the scales at 2.2kg.
Two larger-screen models are also being made available, and the FR720 and FX720 both have 17.3in (1,600x900px) screens. Available from $709.99 for the FR720 and $849.99 for a higher-spec FX720, they either have a Core i5 or Core i7 processor. Backing up the laptops is hard drive capacities of up to 750GB.
The main difference between these two laptops rests with the quality of graphics. The FR720 is powered by the Intel chip's on-board video - HD 3000 - while the more-expensive FX720 gets some NVIDIA love, with a GeForce GTX 520M providing the oomph.
Both larger-screen models have the usual array of connectivity and options - Gigabit Ethernet, Bluetooth 2.1, 802.11n WiFi, 720p-recording webcam, 4-in-1 card reader, two USB 3.0 ports, a HDMI output and a 6-cell battery - and, like the FX420, feature either a Blu-ray or DVD drive.
FR720's claimed 2.7kg weight is good for a large-screen laptop, while the FX720 is a touch heavier at a manageable 2.8kg.
