MSI’s Vector 16 HX AI was already a solid option if you wanted incredible gaming performance without going broke, but now, you get to pocket a boatload of savings thanks to Amazon’s Black Friday 2025 week. This powerhouse of a machine is currently kitted with an RTX 5070 Ti and is going for $1,419.99 on the online retailer, making it the lowest price that we have seen right now. The price reduction means you get to save $380 from the total, and what could be better than that?
Amazon has also listed another MSI Vector 16 HX AI gaming laptop with a QHD+ panel, provided you’re willing to pay a premium
The Vector 16 HX AI’s design has remained the same as the previous-generation one, with the internals getting treated to a change. Underneath the hood, you get a 20-core Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX, 16GB of DDR5 RAM, the 12GB GDDR7 RTX 5070 Ti, a 512GB PCIe NVMe Gen 4 SSD, Wi-Fi 6E, all packed into a machine that sports a 16-inch 144Hz IPS LCD with a 1,920 x 1,200 panel. The majority of buyers will definitely complain about the low resolution screen, but you have two options.
The money that you save can be re-invested to purchase an external monitor with a QHD resolution, or you can jump straight to another Vector 16 HX AI gaming laptop that features the exact same GPU, but with a slightly powerful 24-core Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX, a QHD+ 240Hz IPS LCD, a 1TB PCIe NVMe Gen 4 SSD, Wi-Fi 7 and more. As for the price, this specific model is going for $1,659.99, or $440 off on Amazon.
Given the powerful hardware, gaming laptops always tend to get hot, and both MSI Vector 16 HX AI models will reach temperatures that are uncomfortable for your eyes. So, if you wish to keep those thermals low, we have provided some extremely useful tips below so you don’t have to issue a return to Amazon just because you weren’t informed in the first place that gaming laptops get toasty.
Tips to follow to keep gaming laptop temperatures low, and routine maintenance
Intel processors are notorious for running hot, which is why you should immediately undervolt them as early as possible. Depending on which gaming laptop you intend to purchase or currently own, you have to head into the BIOS, enable or disable a few settings, and you’ll be off to the races. Since every gaming laptop has a different BIOS and configuration, we cannot mention all the settings that need to be enabled or disabled, but a quick Google search will provide you with the answers you’re looking for.
As for why you need to enter the BIOS to adjust some settings, by default, undervolting is locked on gaming laptops, so this is the only way to open that gate. Next, you will want to download and install Throttlestop, which is a free-to-use application where you can tweak the voltages and clock speeds of Intel processors to reduce the input voltage and temperatures.
There will be a ton of painful ‘trial and error’ sessions that you must endure through countless tutorials before finding the best settings, so it is vital that you don’t lose hope if something doesn’t initially go your way. Now that we’re done with the CPU, let us move to the GPU.
For undervolting the graphics processor, download and install MSI Afterburner, and just like Throttlestop, you’ll have to educate yourself on how to mix and match the best settings to obtain the lowest possible temperatures while experiencing the best performance. Assuming you’re bold enough to perform some routine maintenance on your gaming laptop by disassembling it, here are a few pointers to follow that will make your life easier.
- Use iFixit’s Pro Tech Toolkit, which is available for $74.95 on Amazon. It might be expensive, but that’s only because it features high-quality accessories and bits that are necessary to open up your laptop without causing irreparable damage.
- Clean the vents and fans with a portable blower (hold the fan’s fins so they don’t spin while you’re blowing the air) as these can get clogged very quickly, preventing adequate airflow and raising temperatures.
- When disassembling the gaming laptop’s heatsink, examine all the screws and gently remove the cooler by using your fingers or pry tools present in iFixit’s Pro Tech Toolkit.
- Apply some PTM7950 on both the CPU and GPU. This solution is more effective and safer to use than liquid metal, with a large 80mm x 80mm pad going for $20.79 on Amazon.
- As for the VRAM chips, VRMs, MOSFETs, and other components covered by the heatsink, thoroughly research if the manufacturer used thermal putty or thermal pads. If thermal pads are used, ensure they are the correct thickness (0.5mm, 1mm, 1.5mm, or even 2mm). Thermal putty can be compressed when the heatsink is put back in its original position, so there’s no size requirement. For the best thermal performance, we recommend getting the Upsiren Ultra thermal putty, with the 20g pack available for $24.99 on Amazon.
The aforementioned tips will come in real handy if a gaming laptop’s longevity matters to you. As for the MSI Vector 16 HX AI, consider it the best ‘price to performance’ machine listed on Amazon for your AAA gaming experience, so take advantage of this deal immediately.
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