Is the MSI Thin 15 i5-13420H Worth It for Gaming?
I’ve been eyeing the MSI Thin 15 with the i5-13420H for a while now, mainly because I want a lightweight gaming laptop that’s portable but still performs well. I read some reviews, but most seem to focus on either design or gaming benchmarks separately. After buying one recently, I ran into a few issues that surprised me. The battery life isn’t as good as I expected, and I’ve noticed some thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions.
Should I stick with this model or look for alternatives? Has anyone here used this laptop extensively for gaming? Would love to hear real-world experiences or advice before I decide if it’s worth keeping or returning.
Discussion
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I’ve used a similar MSI model with the i5-13420H. During long gaming sessions, I did notice some slowdown, but it wasn’t too bad if you keep the fans clean.
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Are you using any cooling pads? I think better airflow can help with thermal issues.
Mine runs hot too, but I’ve found that undervolting the CPU helps a lot. Also, updating BIOS and drivers made a difference.
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David, does undervolting affect performance? I’m worried it might limit gaming capabilities.
I own a similar MSI Thin, and honestly, for portability, it’s great. But the thermals are a compromise. If you’re gaming a lot, maybe look into models with better cooling.
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I’m debating between this MSI and a Dell G15. Any thoughts on which handles gaming and portability better?
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In my experience, MSI tends to have better build quality for the price, but thermal management can vary.
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Does anyone know if the screen on the MSI Thin 15 is good for gaming? I care about color accuracy and refresh rate.
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Rachel, I have the same model. The display is decent, but if you’re into competitive gaming, you might want a higher refresh rate.
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It’s a 144Hz panel, which is decent for gaming, but not the best out there. Colors are okay but not as vibrant as higher-end gaming laptops.
Interesting:
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Battery life isn’t great, especially during gaming. Do you guys think a power bank could help extend playtime?
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Power banks aren’t really practical for gaming laptops. Better to keep plugged in if possible.
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How’s the keyboard and trackpad? I’ve heard some MSI models have inconsistent keyboard quality.
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Mine’s pretty good, keys are responsive. The trackpad could be better, but I mainly use a mouse.
Any tips on optimizing gaming performance on this laptop? Should I tweak settings or leave it stock?
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Reducing background processes and updating drivers helped me improve performance.
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Michelle, do you overclock or just keep it standard? I’m wary of overheating.
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I’ve overclocked mine slightly, but only during short gaming sessions. It helps but watch temps.
Would you recommend this for someone who wants a portable gaming setup, or is it better for casual gaming?
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It’s decent for casual gaming, but if you’re serious about competitive or very demanding titles, maybe look for a laptop with a dedicated GPU.
Does anyone know if newer BIOS updates have improved thermal issues? I’m thinking of updating mine.
Sam, I updated mine and it did help slightly, but it’s still not perfect. Cooling pads still recommended.
I’ve had mine for about 2 months. The performance is solid for the price, but I agree about the battery. It drains pretty fast when gaming.
John, does the thermal throttling affect your gameplay significantly? Or is it just a minor thing?