[ PC Gaming ]

MSI CR420 and CX420 Laptops on Core i3

Abe Olandres Editor-in-chief April 2, 2010 · 2 min read

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We got 3 brand new laptops from MSI this week to test out and the first two were 14-inch laptops running on an Intel Core i3 processor — the MSI CR420 and the MSI CX420.

The two are almost twins, only separated at birth with the one having a more powerful discreet graphics card while the other uses the integrated graphics from Intel.

MSI CX420x – i33+
Intel Core i3-330M @ 2.13GHz
14.1″ LCD display @ 1366×768
ATi Mobility Radeon HD5470 1GB DDR3
2GB DDR3 RAM (max 4GB)
320GB SATA HDD
Super-Multi DVD+RW
WiFi 802.11 b/g/n
Bluetooth (optional)
1.3-megapixel webcam
4-in-1 card reader
D-Sub, HDMI port
3 x USB 2.0 ports
6-cell Li-Ion battery

MSI CR420
Intel Core i3-330M @ 2.13GHz
14.1″ LCD display @ 1366×768
Intel HD Graphics
2GB DDR3 RAM (max 4GB)
320GB SATA HDD
Super-Multi DVD+RW
WiFi 802.11 b/g/n
Bluetooth 2.1 (optional)
1.3-megapixel webcam
4-in-1 card reader
D-Sub, HDMI port
3 x USB 2.0 ports
6-cell Li-Ion battery

Both laptops come pre-installed with Windows 7 Home Premium. The CX420 comes with a 1GB DDR3 ATI Radeon HD5470 that should suffice your needs for gaming. That rig has a suggested retail price of Php35,995.

However, if you’re on a budget and don’t want a discreet graphics card but still looking to get a Core i3 laptop, the MSI CR420 is a more affordable option at only Php31,999. That’s about a 4 grand difference just for the Radeon HD5470.

Both units weight in at 2.2 kilograms (4.8lbs) so they’re not really that light to lug around. They’re more of a desktop replacement, IMO.

So far, there 2 models are among the cheapest in the Core i3 category (see our list of Core i3 laptops here) and should pose as a huge challenge to the competitors. More on this when we get the benchmark results for the Core i3 processor.

What are the main differences between the MSI CR420 and CX420?

The CX420 has a 1GB DDR3 ATI Radeon HD5470 discrete graphics card, while the CR420 uses Intel HD Graphics.

What is the price difference between the two laptops?

The CX420 costs Php35,995 and the CR420 costs Php31,999, a difference of about Php4,000.

How much does each laptop weigh?

Both laptops weigh 2.2 kilograms (4.8 pounds).

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Abe Olandres

Editor-in-chief

Abe is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of YugaTech with over 20 years of experience in the technology industry. He is one of the pioneers of blogging in the country and is considered by many as the Father of Tech Blogging in the Philippines.

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316 Comments

Bim · 16 years ago

I got my CX420 i5, and I am loving the hell out of it. I’m having trouble configuring the bluetooth, as well. It’s as if it didn’t come with it because the device can’t be found.

The keyboard has a Bluetooth logo on the F9 key, though. I downloaded the necessary Bluetooth drivers, I think.

What gives?

Mark Beltran · 16 years ago

Pwede po ba to ipa upgade ung graphics card? kasi po bibili nalang sana ako nga bagong GC at palitan ko to kasi di ko type GC nya eh?? Pwede po pa?

naldooh · 16 years ago

i’ve just bought this notebook msicx420 and i find it superior in price, specs, and the actual performance.. 2 tumbs up ako dito!… I mean, msicx420 is not a notebook but a portable workstation a total replacement of desktop pc…. check out the graphics superior talaga!….

Dean Calleja · 16 years ago

I just downloaded the XP drivers for CX420 from the MSI website. Will try installing XP on this baby tonight.

vanilla · 16 years ago

just a followup on my post my windows 7 and xp are both 64bit and @karen i think you need a bios update for your machine to work on windows xp. some msi laptops are just like that. my 3 year old msi s430 was having problem before the bios update with vista from xp. just a word of advice dont do bios update by yourself return it where you bought it and let them do the bios update for you.

vanilla · 16 years ago

got my cx420 at 3299SAR here at saudi but i got the i5 processor with 4gb ram and 620gb hdd with windows 7 home premium although :) i upgraded it to professional so i can use the virtualization feature to run windows xp (drivers got from msi global website) inside windows 7 and works really fine no issues and yeah the webcam is a little crappy.

Wanderer · 16 years ago

@karen, When cx420 was released, it was only compatible with windows 7(drivers included). But recently, MSI just released new BIOS and firmware updates that will support windowsxp plus the compatible drivers. You just need to update your BIOS/firmware to the latest version.

karen · 16 years ago

does CX420 core i3 is working with win xp? di ko kasi sya ma lagyan ng XP, laging blue screen, is it true that this laptop is only for win7? pls. reply.. TIA

xeon · 16 years ago

got mine for 32K!
cx420 yung merong bluetooth.

Waybine · 16 years ago

Got my MSi CX420-i5 for 38k and so far it’s working well. Cheers!

hopelezz_techy_gurl · 16 years ago

I bought MSI CX420x and it’s working great… i haven’t gotten any problems yet…. The only problem is the battery. It comes with 6-cell battery for now, w/c will give you max 3 hours [if you are not using any apps that will consume a lot of power like photoshop or running games]. There is an option for 9 cell battery if you would like to have a much longer hours after charging. Yes i agree it has a button to switch from dedicated to onboard graphics.

Rowell · 16 years ago

un cx420 q rin ayaw gumana ng bluetooth pkitulungan po q…. d q po xure kung built in ang bluetooth n2 or not…tnx

Mike · 16 years ago

May issue pa sa Graphics.. Naghang ang laptop ko kpag nag install me ng Ati Graphics Driver.. But i think soon mareresolve n rin 2 ng community.. Im using Lucid Lynx.. Gud day!!

New User · 16 years ago

@Mike

Tanong lang Sir, ubuntu main OS mo? Gumagana pa ba yung switchable graphics or yung ATI na lang? Thanks in advance!

harvs · 16 years ago

optional nga tlga ung bluetooth?
kc ayaw gumana ng bluetooth ko, so ung pag bili ko pla ng laptop na to msi cr420, hindi kasama ung bluetooth pero meron ako hotkey ng bluetooth sa f9 at meron din light dpat na kulay blue sa baba ng touch

Paul · 16 years ago

hi im planning to buy my first laptop..and i like this cx420x…im still a noob when it comes to specs of a laptop but for sure a built in mic is there in the cx420x right?im comparing cx420x from acer aspire 4725z and im still confused what to buy…can you guys pls help me out?

Mike · 16 years ago

I’ve installed Street Fighter IV!! It is playable with cx420!!! Yeah!!

Mike · 16 years ago

My battery is working fine! Im very satisfied.. (“,)

cypher · 16 years ago

i’m not satisfied w/ cx420 battery life & GPU..2 hours battery life?

Mushie · 16 years ago

Hi would you know if the cx420 will play the sims 3? or i would be able to play this game even with a lower video card?

what laptop would you recommend for this game? im not really a gamer but i just would like a laptop that would play the sims decently.

Thanks!!!

Mike · 16 years ago

Sa SM Megamall ako bumili sa Cyberzone.. Hanapin mo ung mismong MSI na store..

Gud day!!!

Arrez · 16 years ago

Try nyo ito guys site na ito may pricelist sila laptops dun dami ka pagpipilian PCCORNER.com.ph ayaw ko bumili sa mall masyado mahal ang patong eh hope nakahelp me sa inyo guys ^_^ GO MSI!!!! hehehe

Arrez · 16 years ago

Guys meron sa PC CORNER i think mas mura siya CX420 dun 31,000 or 32,000 not sure pero naglalaro lang sa price na ganun try nyo sa Gilmore dami dun lappies ^_^, I’m Also planning to buy CX420 ganda kasi Specs and Designs pasok sakin kaso issue lang daw is plastic yun case is it true ba na nagbebend and plastic nya or case nun sa palm malapit sa sticker? please need advice thanks

Jose Farrugia · 16 years ago

Of course it works with Windows XP. There are drivers on the official MSI Website.

jaredillinger · 16 years ago

oh yeah the Asus has a cheesier name but what stopped me from buying it is that it has no mic in meaning you always have to use the built in mic at the screen when talking online..camera quality on the asus is crappy,only 0.3 mp..truly not ideal for common travellers like me,that’s why i chose this one.

ivan · 16 years ago

mike san mo binili yung cx420 mo? im planning to buy one, where can i get the cheapest one? without OS. thanks

Mike · 16 years ago

Hello Ook,

Ang bili ko sa laptop ko ay 32k without OS sya.. Im using Ubuntu and win7 inside vbox..

Maybe ung sau ay through card kya 36k.. Cash kc ung sa kin..

Good day!!

ook · 16 years ago

Hi Mike,

How much did you get yours for? Did it come pre-installed with Windows 7. I got mine for 36k but with no OS.

Wanderer · 16 years ago

Ok ang MSI CX420, I’ve been using mine for a month now and so far no problem, I played l4d2 and works fine with mid settings.

Yup drivers are only for windows7 32/64 bit, medyo hindi lang ako comfortable sa keyboard design, other than that wala na talaga issues, bang for the buck talaga!

I heard they just recently released here the i5 variant of cx420.

Mike · 16 years ago

Gamit ko MSI cx420, Ok sya kc sa tulad ko na heavy user ndi sya nagkkproblem..

vinz_esleyer · 16 years ago

i’m thinking about samsung r480 core i3 and msi cx620 core i3 din both have same specspero mas mura ang msi…sir bk8 dito sa saudi ehh stripe ang design ng msi laptop cx620? kaya po ba nito ang games na crysis at iba pang 3d games??? salamat po.. pls reply coz im planning to buy one…

cortez · 16 years ago

got mine for 31k. i have some issues with the location of the usb ports etc, but the performance is above average. best buy

Jim · 16 years ago

so NO win xp for this laptop…

i just hope that when windows decides to release another new OS version it will truly be backward compatible with all previous software.

thanks.

Mike · 16 years ago

I’m using cx420.. I love it!.. Just an advice, don’t be fooled by the Brandnames.. Ask what’s under the hood not the design of the laptop.. For me what matters is the specs under the hood.

My MSI cx420 is great!.. Never had experienced any problems since day one..

Unfortunately it is only designed for windows7. i’ve tried it with ubuntu and it failed.. Hopefully Ubuntu 10.04 will solve this issue.

Thanks.

Jim · 16 years ago

can it run win xp? instead of vista or windows 7?

Kyle · 16 years ago

This article totally disregards the fact that the CX420 has SWITCHABLE GRAPHICS. You can switch between the HD 5470 and Intel GMA HD at the desktop on the press of a button (the ‘3D boost’ button beside the power button). This practically gives it twice as much battery life as the competing products, namely the ASUS K42F-JR and the Lenovo G460.

mcv · 16 years ago

I’m not a fan of MSI’s quality… I’ve used their gaming series laptops (GX series) and the keyboard has horrible flex…

The price-performance ratio of these will attract lots of interested buyers though.

And I don’t think they’re desktop replacements! DTRs start out at around 6 lbs. And DTRs don’t have low-end graphics. The 5470 is NOT a very good gaming card. It’s more like, for YouTube HD and other non-gaming video-intensive stuff…

daddy joey · 16 years ago

two of the best lappies by msi :)

Andrew · 16 years ago

I got my Asus K42JR last week and i have been choosing on this MSI unit or the ASUS. Funny how similar the specs are and specialy identical price of both.

It all boils down to the form factor choice. IMO Asus is more elegant look and feel than MSI.

Deng · 16 years ago

wow very nice. :)

vance · 16 years ago

To be honest, the Asus K42JR has the same specs, except for the camera, for almost the same price as this.

as a desktop replacement pwede, if your not into gaming. The Ati 5470 is not the best gaming video card in the market, it is actually a low end video card. It will play some games at a low to mid settings.. It is good for playing hd movies though..

CarloBlogg Online 3.0 · 16 years ago

yup I agree, pang desktop replacement nga ito, considering the size and weight. :D Good specs by the way, sana Msi na pla pinili ko dati pa haha :D

Nolixxx · 16 years ago

i just bought cx420 last week at SM North it didnt come with an OS an additional 6500 for Windows 7 Home Premium. I just installed Assassin Creed 2 and Battlefield Bad Company a bit jerky but playable

nonieblau68 · 16 years ago

Sir…maitanong ko lang…out na ba ito in the market…pati na rin itong mga 5 brand na laptops having the i3 processor? hope you could shed a light. thanks….God bless.

ProjectManager2 · 16 years ago

Sir Yuga? How about the battery life of these new MSI i3 powered laptops. Looks kewl. =)

jer · 16 years ago

These would be cheaper if they use linux os.

Jon · 16 years ago

Nice and very cheap! If I would need a full-sized laptop, I’d surely be buying this.

vance · 16 years ago

The specs is good but the processor is a little slower than the asus K42Jr.. Secondly, In my own opinion, the build quality of MSI’s midrange system feels like plasticy. the palm rest design is not for everyone and it feels like a sticker that might peel off anytime..