MSI outs X-Slim X420 Ultraportable

Abe Olandres Editor-in-chief January 20, 2010 · 1 min read

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A new model in MSI’s X-Slim series has been announced. The MSI X-Slim X420 is a 14″ ultraportable notebook that packs some nice specs.

All the other previous models came in black or white and this one looks like mocha or light brown.

MSI X-Slim X420
14.1″ @ 1366×768 pixel resolution
Intel Core 2 Duo SU7300 or SU4100 1.3GHz
ATI Radeon HD 5430 (1GB DDR3 VRAM)
up to 4GB DDR3 RAM
250GB, 320GB or 500GB SATA HDD
HDMI port
2 x USB 2.0 and e-SATA (USB combo)
WiFi 802.11n Intel Shirley Peak
Bluetooth V2.1
1.3MP webcam
2-in-1 card reader
Windows 7 Home Premium

The unit weighs at 1.88kg (4.136lbs) with the standard 4-cell battery but has an option for a higher-capacity 8-cell battery. MSI claims up to 9 hours battery life but that involves using the integrated graphics.

There’s a 3D Boost feature that allows you to switch between the discreet ATI Radeon graphics and the integrated graphics when you want either a longer battery life or just more processing power. What I’m actually waiting is an 11″ or 12″ version of this and has the same specs as the U200, even if it’s priced a little higher.

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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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37 Comments

zed · 16 years ago

how much poh?

lolipown · 16 years ago

@PK – The only sanest answer I can give to your plethora of questions is that this is a niche product.

Personally, yes the 5430 is what you call an overkill addition to the CULV processor but I’m a mac guy :D.

I can’t give you an exact scenario on how the CULV + 5430 combo will be useful since it’s not my needs… Better point those questions to people who expressed interest in the product (sylv3rblade and Abe himself)

Pusang Kulog · 16 years ago

@lolipown – I think your right on using the Intel GPU and not the Radeon 5430.

So what’s the point of having the ATI Radeon HD5430 when you don’t need it for light development tasks and when the ATI Radeon 3200 can easily play HDMI?

Is there any specific task wherein a 1.3 Ghz CULV processor is enough but at the same time would demand the power of a 1gb ATI Radeon HD 5430 graphics chipset?

I guess I’m at a lost here as I couldn’t understand why MSI would combine the two… Not that I don’t like MSI. Infact I have an MSI EX460 that I totally love.

Anyway, thanks for the effort on your replies… God bless you.

lolipown · 16 years ago

@PK – ah but when you’re on development mode, you’ll be using the Intel GPU and not the 5430 yes?

Pusang Kulog · 16 years ago

@lolipown – Don’t you think that the ATI Radeon HD 5430 with 1 Gigabyte DD3 RAM is a bit of an overkill for that kind of “light” development?

Thanks for the reply…

Abe Olandres Editor-in-chief · 16 years ago

@calvin – my definition of ultraportable is more about the weight than the size. I’d say a 1-kilo 17-inch laptop can still be called ultraportable.

lolipown · 16 years ago

Web development comes into mind.

Running any scripting server (rails, PHP, python), a text editor and a browser would be all that someone into “light” development needs.

Pusang Kulog · 16 years ago

@lolipown – I do agree with your second note… I’m just wondering as to what kind of “light” development would this unit fill?

lolipown · 16 years ago

@Pusang Kulog
In the same manner, a core2duo with a 3200 GPU ends with bottlenecks.

It’s a niche product and suits people with “light” development in mind.

Calvin · 16 years ago

abe, i wouldn’t really call a 14-incher ultraportable. hehehe.

laptoplover · 16 years ago

hope it only hits P40k. i definitely would buy this if this lappie falls within that price range.

Pusang Kulog · 16 years ago

I think the processor’s speed and the discrete graphics chipset are a mismatch. Most of the applications that demands power like the Radeon HD 5430 have are games. And most of this games needs a processor that’s clocked at 2.2Ghz or more.

On the other hand, a 1.3Ghz processor will probably deliver a good HDMI experience. But the ATI Radeon HD 3200 will be more than sufficient for the said purpose.

Plus, what in the world is a CULV processor doing on a 14″ laptop? Aren’t they supposed to be on 12″ and below units?

Am I missing something from the picture or what?

lolipown · 16 years ago

Judging from the current list of upcoming CULV equipped laptops (from an earlier YugaTech post)
, this looks like a pretty good option. Too bad we still have no idea on the price.

Best bet is upwards of 60K.

sylv3rblade · 16 years ago

^
People won’t be buying the X420 as a desktop replacement o_O. It’s a cut above other notebooks packing CULVs and Intel GPUs.

Solidad Romero · 16 years ago

please remember that the Mobile versions of discrete graphics are not as powerful as their desktop counter parts.

Looking at the weight. It seems appears to be light. But actually dense, thus its heavy when handled.

Leojay · 16 years ago

Nice specs, but how much?

daddy joey · 16 years ago

how muchie?

sylv3rblade · 16 years ago

I’m also interested in a small package for this unit.. ATI Radeon HD 5430 WOW! That GPU packs quite a punch considering ATI’s current 5xxx line are top notch in performance and price.