MSI reintroduces DDR4 in gaming laptops to counter high memory costs
MSI's new Katana 15 HX C14 laptop supports both DDR4-3200 and DDR5 memory, with DDR4 kits costing roughly half as much as comparable DDR5 modules. The system can be configured with an Intel Core i9-14900HX and an RTX 5070 GPU, and includes dual SO-DIMM slots. This move aims to ease the financial strain of the ongoing DRAM shortage on budget-conscious gamers.
The Katana 15 HX C14 pairs Intel's 14th-gen Raptor Lake Refresh processors with a choice of memory standards, addressing a price gap where a 32GB DDR4-3200 SO-DIMM kit costs roughly $200 versus over $400 for comparable DDR5-6000 modules. Beyond memory flexibility, the system offers dual PCIe Gen 4x4 M.2 slots for dedicated game storage, a 15.6-inch IPS display with QHD 165Hz or FHD 144Hz options, and a cooling setup featuring dual fans, three heat pipes, and four exhaust outlets to sustain up to 170W of combined CPU and GPU power.
The chassis measures 22.9mm thick and weighs 4.62 pounds, with Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.4, a 4-Zone RGB keyboard with 1.7mm key travel, a 240W adapter, USB-C Power Delivery 3.0, and a 60Whr battery. MSI confirms global availability but has not yet disclosed pricing, leaving the laptop's final positioning against DDR5-only competitors uncertain.
This move could ease the financial burden on budget-conscious gamers who have faced steep laptop price increases during the ongoing DRAM shortage. By offering a DDR4 option at roughly half the memory cost, MSI may widen access to capable gaming hardware for students and entry-level buyers. Other manufacturers could follow suit, potentially slowing the industry-wide shift to DDR5 and reshaping consumer expectations about what constitutes an affordable gaming laptop in a constrained market.