MSI Vector A18 HX A9WIG-223US / ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 18 (2024) G834JZR

MSI Vector A18 HX A9WIG-223US: Vector A18 HX A9WIG-223US: Ryzen 9 9955HX, RTX 5080 Laptop GPU 16 GB, 32 GB DDR5, 1 TB SSD, 18-inch QHD+ 240 Hz, Cosmo Gray. The A9WIG-076US comes with 64 GB / 2 TB and Windows 11 Pro; the RTX 5070 Ti A9WHG and other display options are separate SKUs.

ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 18 (2024) G834JZR: G834JZR-BS91-CB: Intel Core i9-14900HX, GeForce RTX 4080 Laptop GPU 12 GB, 32 GB DDR5 (2 × 16 GB), 1 TB SSD, 18-inch 2560 × 1600 Mini LED 240 Hz display. The RTX 4090 G834JYR, the 2025 SCAR 18 and the 16-inch SCAR 16 are separate models.

SpecificationMSI Vector A18 HX A9WIG-223USASUS ROG Strix SCAR 18 (2024) G834JZR
Release year20252024
ProcessorAMD Ryzen 9 9955HX; 16 cores / 32 threads, 2.5–5.4 GHz

This is the Zen 5 version with 64 MB of L3 cache; the 9955HX3D with 128 MB of cache is a separate processor. AMD gives a 55 W default TDP with a 55–75 W configurable range.

MSI		Intel Core i9-14900HX; 24 cores, 32 threads, 2.2 GHz, up to 5.8 GHz, 36 MB cache

The HX series is Intel’s high-power family that brings near-desktop core counts to laptops.

ASUS
GraphicsNVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop GPU, 16 GB GDDR7; up to 175 W with Dynamic Boost; boost up to 2287 MHz

The laptop RTX 5080 is a different chip from the desktop RTX 5080. 175 W is the top power limit for this GPU; with MSI OverBoost Ultra the combined CPU and GPU power reaches 260 W. The GPU is soldered and cannot be replaced.

MSI		NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Laptop GPU, 12 GB GDDR6; ROG Boost 2330 MHz at 175 W (150 W + 25 W Dynamic Boost)

ASUS adds a 50 MHz overclock to the 2280 MHz boost clock. Dynamic Boost shifts 25 W from the CPU to the GPU depending on load. The GPU is soldered and cannot be replaced.

ASUS
Display18-inch 16:10 QHD+ (2560 × 1600), 240 Hz, IPS-level panel, 100% DCI-P3

The same family also has SKUs with FHD+ 144/165 Hz, UHD+ 220 Hz and UHD+ Mini LED 120 Hz panels. 240 Hz shows motion more smoothly in fast games, provided the game reaches high frame rates.

MSI		18-inch 2.5K (2560 × 1600, WQXGA) 16:10 Mini LED; 240 Hz, 3 ms, DCI-P3 100%, G-Sync, anti-glare; ROG Nebula HDR Display, Pantone Validated

Mini LED backlighting dims thousands of small LEDs in zones for higher brightness and contrast in HDR; slight halos may be visible around bright objects. ASUS states the display works with a MUX switch and NVIDIA Advanced Optimus.

ASUS
Memory32 GB (2 × 16 GB) DDR5-5600

There are two SO-DIMM slots; MSI supports up to 96 GB. Actual speed depends on the memory combination and the processor.

MSI		32 GB DDR5-5600 SO-DIMM (2 × 16 GB); 2 slots, up to 64 GB, dual channel

Both slots come filled; upgrading means replacing the modules. ASUS notes memory speed can vary by CPU.

ASUS
Storage1 TB NVMe SSD (PCIe Gen4 x4)

Of the two M.2 slots one is PCIe Gen4 and the other PCIe Gen5 compatible; a second SSD can be added.

MSI		1 TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD; 2 × M.2 PCIe slots

The second M.2 slot allows an additional SSD.

ASUS
Ports2 × USB4 Type-C (DisplayPort, Power Delivery 3.1); 3 × USB-A; HDMI 2.1; RJ45 2.5 GbE; SD card reader; headphone/mic jack

MSI describes the USB-C ports as Thunderbolt 4 compatible. HDMI 2.1 outputs 8K at 60 Hz or 4K at 120 Hz. The USB-A generation differs between MSI documents, so it is not given here.

MSI		1 × Thunderbolt 4 (DisplayPort, G-SYNC, 40 Gbps), 1 × USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C (DisplayPort, power delivery, G-SYNC, 10 Gbps), 2 × USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A (10 Gbps), 1 × HDMI 2.1 FRL, 1 × 2.5G LAN, 1 × 3.5 mm audio

No card reader is listed. ASUS notes the LAN port does not support Power over Ethernet (PoE).

ASUS
WirelessMediaTek Wi-Fi 7; Bluetooth 5.4 MSIWi‑Fi 6E (802.11ax, tri-band) 2 × 2; Bluetooth 5.2

Wi‑Fi 6E can use the less crowded 6 GHz band with compatible routers.

ASUS
Keyboard and cameraSteelSeries 26-zone RGB keyboard (99 keys, with number pad); IR FHD camera with privacy shutter

The IR camera enables Windows Hello face sign-in.

MSI		—
Audio4 × 2 W speakers; array microphone MSI—
Battery and adapter4-cell 99.9 Wh lithium-ion; 400 W adapter

Gaming performance is available on the adapter; power limits drop on battery.

MSI		—
Size and weight404 × 307.5 × 24–32.05 mm; 3.6 kg MSI39.9 × 29.4 × 2.31–3.08 cm; 3.10 kg ASUS
Operating system and warrantyWindows 11 Home; 1-year limited warranty (including 1-year global coverage) MSI—
Battery and power—90 Wh, 4-cell lithium-ion; 330 W adapter (ø6.0 mm, 20 V 16.5 A)

ASUS notes that whether the adapter is included varies by country and model. The adapter must be connected for full GPU power.

ASUS
Keyboard and lighting—Per-key RGB backlit chiclet keyboard; Aura Sync rear glow, logo and light bar ASUS
Audio and camera—4 speakers with Smart Amp, Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res certification for headphones, AI noise cancellation, array microphone; 720p HD camera

Windows Hello face recognition is not listed for the camera.

ASUS
Operating system and security—Windows 11 Home; firmware TPM, BIOS password ASUS