MSI Crosshair 18 HX AI A2 RTX 5070 (2025) vs MSI Vector A18 HX A9W RTX 5080 (2025)
What Crosshair 18 HX AI A2 RTX 5070 (2025) does better (7) and where Vector A18 HX A9W RTX 5080 (2025) wins (13) — every spec side by side.
vs
4.2Graphics8.5
5.7Overall performance6.8
5.4Display4.7
8.0Memory & storage3.4
5.5Battery & portability3.5
2.1Features & cooling5.7
Dimensions
Size comparison
Crosshair 18 HX AI A2 RTX 5070 (2025)Vector A18 HX A9W RTX 5080 (2025)
| Crosshair 18 HX AI A2 RTX 5070 (2025) | Vector A18 HX A9W RTX 5080 (2025) | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Depth | 280 mm | 308 mm | −28 mm |
| Width | 404 mm | 404 mm | = |
| Thickness | 30 mm | 32 mm | −2 mm |
| Weight | 3.1 kg | 3.6 kg | −0.5 kg |
Drawn to the same scale from the official dimensions (front and side).
Why is Crosshair 18 HX AI A2 RTX 5070 (2025) better than Vector A18 HX A9W RTX 5080 (2025)?
- RAM (up to)96 GB vs 32 GB3×
- SSD (up to)8,000 GB vs 1,000 GB8×
- Weight3.1 kg vs 3.6 kg+16%
- CPU cores24 vs 16+50%
- Advanced OptimusYes · Vector A18 HX A9W RTX 5080 (2025): No
- Thickness30 mm vs 32 mm+7%
- Pixel density168 ppi vs 126 ppi+33%
Why is Vector A18 HX A9W RTX 5080 (2025) better than Crosshair 18 HX AI A2 RTX 5070 (2025)?
- GPU power (TGP)115 W vs 175 W+52%
- Video memory8 GB vs 32 GB4×
- 3DMark Steel Nomad Light15,580 vs 26,825+72%
- GPU compute (FP32)26.2 TFLOPS vs 42 TFLOPS+60%
- Battery capacity90 Wh vs 99 Wh+10%
- GPU shader cores4,608 vs 7,680+67%
- Ethernet1 Gbit/s vs 5 Gbit/s5×
- USB-C ports1 vs 22×
- SD card readerNo · Crosshair 18 HX AI A2 RTX 5070 (2025): Yes
- IR camera (face login)No · Crosshair 18 HX AI A2 RTX 5070 (2025): Yes
- Wi-Fi standardWi-Fi 6E vs Wi-Fi 7+8%
- Webcam720p vs 1,080p+50%
Specifications
Side by side
| Graphics | ||
| Graphics card | GeForce RTX 5070 Laptop | GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop |
| GPU maker | NVIDIA | NVIDIA |
| GPU power (TGP) | 115 W | 175 W |
| Video memory | 8 GB | 32 GB |
| Video memory type | GDDR7 | GDDR7 |
| GPU shader cores | 4,608 | 7,680 |
| GPU compute (FP32) | 26.2 TFLOPS | 42 TFLOPS |
| 3DMark Steel Nomad Light | 15,580 | 26,825 |
| Processor | ||
| Processor | Core Ultra 9 275HX | Ryzen 9 9955HX |
| CPU maker | Intel | AMD |
| CPU cores | 24 | 16 |
| CPU threads | 24 | — |
| Max CPU clock | 5.4 GHz | 5.4 GHz |
| Processor options | Core Ultra 9 275HX | Ryzen 9 9850HX, Ryzen 9 9955HX |
| Geekbench 6 multi-core | 21,832 | — |
| Geekbench 6 single-core | 3,163 | — |
| Cinebench 2024 multi-core | 2,086 | — |
| Display | ||
| Screen size | 18″ | 18″ |
| Resolution | 2560 × 1600 | 2560 × 1600 |
| Resolution class | QHD (1440p/1600p) | QHD (1440p/1600p) |
| Refresh rate | 240 Hz | 240 Hz |
| Panel type | IPS | IPS |
| Brightness | 500 nits | — |
| sRGB coverage | 100% | — |
| Response time | 3 ms | — |
| DCI-P3 coverage | 98% | — |
| Pixel density | 168 ppi | 126 ppi |
| Aspect ratio | 16:10 | 16:10 |
| G-Sync / FreeSync | No | No |
| Advanced Optimus | Yes | No |
| MUX switch | Yes | Yes |
| HDR | No | No |
| Touchscreen | No | No |
| Memory & storage | ||
| RAM (up to) | 96 GB | 32 GB |
| RAM (base) | 32 GB | 32 GB |
| RAM type | DDR5 | DDR5 |
| RAM speed | 5,600 MHz | 5,600 MHz |
| Max. supported RAM | 96 GB | 96 GB |
| RAM slots | 2 | 2 |
| Upgradable RAM | Yes | Yes |
| SSD (up to) | 8,000 GB | 1,000 GB |
| SSD (base) | 1,000 GB | 1,000 GB |
| M.2 SSD slots | 2 | 2 |
| SSD interface | PCIe 5.0 x4 | PCIe 5.0 x4 |
| Battery & power | ||
| Battery capacity | 90 Wh | 99 Wh |
| Power adapter | 240 W | 400 W |
| USB-C charging (Power Delivery) | Yes | Yes |
| USB-C charging power | 100 W | 140 W |
| Design & cooling | ||
| Weight | 3.1 kg | 3.6 kg |
| Thickness | 30 mm | 32 mm |
| Width | 404 mm | 404 mm |
| Depth | 280 mm | 308 mm |
| Body material | Plastic | Aluminium, Plastic |
| Colours | Black | Black |
| Cooling fans | 2 | 2 |
| Vapor chamber cooling | No | No |
| Liquid metal (CPU) | No | No |
| Fan noise (max. load) | 58.6 dB | — |
| Ports & wireless | ||
| Thunderbolt / USB4 | Thunderbolt 4 | Thunderbolt 4 |
| Thunderbolt or USB4 | Yes | Yes |
| USB-C ports | 1 | 2 |
| USB-A ports | 3 | 3 |
| HDMI | HDMI 2.1 | HDMI 2.1 |
| HDMI 2.1 | Yes | Yes |
| (Mini) DisplayPort | No | No |
| Ethernet | 1 Gbit/s | 5 Gbit/s |
| Ethernet port | Yes | Yes |
| SD card reader | No | Yes |
| 3.5 mm audio jack | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi standard | Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 7 |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.4 |
| Keyboard & camera | ||
| Keyboard backlight | Zone RGB | — |
| Per-key RGB | No | — |
| Backlit keyboard | Yes | Yes |
| Numeric keypad | Yes | Yes |
| Webcam | 720p | 1,080p |
| IR camera (face login) | No | Yes |
| Fingerprint reader | No | No |
| Audio | ||
| Speakers | 2 speakers | 6 speakers |
| Dolby Atmos | No | No |
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