MSI is preparing to release a gaming laptop based exclusively on AMD’s CPU and GPU mobile hardware. The Alpha 15 from MSI will be among the first notebooks to use AMD’s latest Radeon RX 5500M GPU.

As the name suggests, MSI’s Alpha 15 is a 15.6-inch class laptop that comes with a Full-HD IPS-class display featuring a 120 Hz, 144 Hz, or 240 Hz refresh rate as well as AMD FreeSync variable refresh, depending on the model. The Alpha 15 weighs 2.3 kilograms and features a 27.5 mm z-height, making it as portable as other gaming notebooks on the market.

MSI’s Alpha 15 notebooks - which the company calls world's first 7nm gaming laptop - will be based on AMD’s Ryzen 7 3000-series mobile CPU family up to four cores, and is accompanied by the Radeon RX 5500M GPU with 4 GB of GDDR6 memory. To cool down the CPU and the GPU, MSI uses a cooling system featuring seven heat pipes as well as two blowers. Depending on exact configuration, the Alpha 15 can be equipped with up to 64 GB of DDR4 memory, one M.2 SSD (with a PCIe 3.0 x4 or SATA interface), and one 2.5-inch SATA hard drive.

When it comes to connectivity, MSI’s Alpha 15 features Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.0, a gigabit Ethernet port (a Rivet Networks Killer controller is used in case of premium models), one USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C port, three USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A connectors, two display outputs (HDMI 2.0, mDP), a card reader (microSD or SD), and 3.5 mm audio connectors. In addition, the system comes with a 720p HD webcam, 2 W stereo speakers co-developed with Giant Speaker, and a backlit keyboard co-designed with Steelseries.

MSI’s Alpha 15 notebooks will come equipped with a 51 Wh battery and a 180 W power brick. The manufacturer does not disclose a proposed battery life.

General Specifications of MSI's Alpha 15 laptops
  Alpha 15 A3DDK Alpha 15 A3DD
LCD Diagonal 15.6-inch
Resolution 1920×1080
Type IPS
VRR AMD FreeSync
Refresh Rate 144 Hz
240 Hz
120 Hz
144 Hz
CPU up to AMD Ryzen 7 3750H
Graphics Integrated up to AMD Radeon RX Vega 10
Discrete AMD Radeon RX 5500M
RAM up to 64 GB DDR4 DRAM
Storage SSD 1 × M.2 SSD (SATA or PCIe)
HDD 1 × 2.5-inch
Card Reader MicroSD Card reader SD Card reader
Wireless Wi-Fi 5 + Bluetooth 5.0
USB 1 × USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C
3 × USB Gen 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A
Wired Ethernet GbE Killer GbE
Cameras Front 720p HD webcam
Other I/O Microphone, 2 stereo speakers, audio jack, microphone in, mDP, HDMI
Battery 51 Wh
Dimensions Width 357.7 mm
  Depth 248 mm
  Thickness 27.5 mm
Weight 2.3 kilograms
Launch Price ?

MSI’s Alpha 15 will be available in the near future. Pricing will depend on exact configurations.

Related Reading

Sources: MSI

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  • Valantar - Wednesday, October 9, 2019 - link

    No.
  • RavenRampkin - Wednesday, October 9, 2019 - link

    Switching graphics?

    (Also no :P because suddenly AMD cannot into Enduro anymore... or DOES it work in their current laptops?)
  • Cellar Door - Wednesday, October 9, 2019 - link

    "720p HD webcam"

    What year is this?!?! - someone please inform MSI its almost 2020
  • Valantar - Wednesday, October 9, 2019 - link

    Laptops routinely have 720p webcams due to the thinness of the screen. Even high-end ones.
  • NICOXIS - Wednesday, October 9, 2019 - link

    I disagree, it is just due to cost, this is just the absolute minimum spec for a laptop to claim it has a webcam. Much thinner and old cellphones, like the Moto Z at 5.1mm/0.2in thick, have a 5MP/1080p30 front-facing camera.
  • sonny73n - Wednesday, October 9, 2019 - link

    They call 1080p is full HD. 720p should be called half HD. Well, it’s not even half. Because 921,600 pixels is less than half of 2,073,600.

    “720p HD webcam” along with “7nm (not the CPU?) gaming laptop”. Deceiving much?!

    Now every time I buy MSI I must be careful with their deceitful ads and read the fine prints. Nah, I just skip MSI from now on.
  • neblogai - Friday, October 11, 2019 - link

    720p is HD. 1080p is FHD.
  • hanselltc - Thursday, October 10, 2019 - link

    Do we get a mux switch for switch graphics/direct dGPU output?

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