MSI Alpha 15chat_bubble_outlineFrom real comments

Multiple users report recurring blue screens tied to atikmdag.sys errors, occurring during gaming or multitasking, with some unresolved even after full driver and BIOS updates.

@stssundr2807

Even i update to lastest bios vbios firmware lastest driver from amd or msi both . The 😩 Blue screen still happens with same old error code 0006x (idont remember) when i use office word , listen music on youtube , and switch screen to play game like gta 5 at the same times ... And then i t happen again .... Msi With Amd So Bad why dont Msi official fix this definitelylaunch

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January 6, 2021

@MrX-X-X

My one has horrible wifi speed (unless I sit right next to the router. And no I have two other laptops at home and they work fine so its clearly an issue with the Alpha 15). And I get a graphic card driver error saying I need to update my driver and well I've seen the reviews on how updating the graphics driver causes bluescreens. I'm taking this piece of shit back and exchanging it for a different brand. Just wow...launch

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May 19, 2020

@АндрейАнатольевич-в5е

Purchased this laptop, pulls the game OK, but there is one but....... myun constantly gets a blue screen with the error code 0xA0000006 this error is associated with atikmdag.sys the system file responsible for the video card itself, you have the same video card and laptop, and I also found a site where people who purchased this laptop face the same problem, do you not have it? Your answer is very important to me. I want to play it calmly but I can't (launch

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May 6, 2020

@amigahonda4597

You'd better used the MSI drivers for the laptop only, this is your mistake raising blue screen.\nNow the Alpha15 R7 under 1000€, no one laptop is able to provide on market such a wonderful screen, freesync2, 144Hz, gold headphone port, RGB keyboard, 16Gb Ram, 512G SSD.  Ok you may have 1660ti or 2060, but nothing else than power .. not enough, at all.launch

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March 14, 2020

Users report temps in the 75-85°C range, a keyboard that gets uncomfortably hot, weakening airflow over time, and a bottom panel with vents not aligned under the fans, undermining the cooling boost feature.

@DG-ks5wn

Bought the Laptop mid 2021. Specs are pretty good for newer Games. The only downside is the thermals.\n\nCPU or GPU (i dont know anymore which one) gets pretty hot in newer Games (both high and medium graphics settings). I dont know how good the thermal paste is at all that msi uses.\n\nIts about max Temperatures like 75-80 degrees celsius.\n\nBut that should be normal for Laptops?\n\nThat both the CPU and GPU are from AMD is working great with using Linux. So i didnt checked the temps when i used Windows but it got really hot so that the keyboard was at least warm.\n\nWith Linux i didnt checked the Keyboard temps because i used a external Keyboard but with the Linux Sensors Software i got ingame temps Like 70-75 degrees celsius.\n\nI know that the Power Limit or CPU / GPU Limit can be changed in Windows but i didnt found that Option in Linux.\n\nIn the BIOS there arent much settings to play with (lowering Power usage for example to lower the tenperatures).\n\nAlso, in my case, the internals of the laptop are pretty much like glued down with sticky tape, so its not so easy to change thermal paste and therefore l detaching the Cooper cooling thing and the coolers.\n\nIn my case the cooler booster cooled the CPU or GPU down at least 3-4 degrees celsius but it is soo loud without a headset.\n\nAlso one of the screw at the back of the laptop has a factory seal. So i think a replacement of the nvme isnt possible without breaking the warranty. Thats funny because the laptop has one spare nvme slot empty and if someone wants to get a second nvme in the laptop also the warranty is gone.\n\nMaybe all laptops have that but that was my first gaming laptop and i didnt saw that on normal Laptops.launch

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January 21, 2024

@setzer-j6s

You forgot the blocked vents of this MSI. You can see when the reviewer shows the bottom panel there's no vents directly below the fans. Meaning less air getting sucked. \n\nSo that cooler boost 5 or whatever MSI calls it is bogus. Thanks MSI, you're the only company still blocking vents. Even asus stopped it.launch

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July 8, 2022

@coffeedata7107

I have this laptop and to be honest it heats up heavily after the first 1-2 months. The fan starts throwing less and less air and the average temperature is ~80ºC. I usually play Elite Dangerous, which is not really a pretty heavy game, but still, my Alpha 15 just keeps heating up. I can barely touch the keyboard after 1h of play becouse of the god damn heat.launch

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May 30, 2021

@AnandMishere

The design is the pretty much the same as my MSI GE75 Raider 9SG - 17inch. But mine is BEAST when it comes to features. I’m a bit disappointed with the built quality. Assuming even this one will also be the same. though my predator 300 is a budget one but its way better than my MSI’s overall sturdiness.launch

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March 21, 2020

Several commenters felt the laptop was overpriced relative to competitors like the Helios 300, arguing it should have cost $800-900 instead of $1000-1100+.

@bfish9700

I do feel like they missed the mark on this with pricing. This should have been in the $8-900 range. I bought the predator helios 300 after this came out because I didnt feel like paying the same $$ but compromising on performance we worth it. Maybe if they upgrade the new Ryzen mobile CPU's and come out with a 5700M it'll be worth it.launch

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December 6, 2019

@carterdavis2793

If this was $850 then it might actually pack some value. At this price its a definite passlaunch

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November 8, 2019

@andres5823

Loved your review. This seems like a clear miss due to poor performance. It performs similarly to an i5 with a 1650 gpu and is priced like an i7 with a 1660ti. There are just so many options that are cheaper and better in every way, namely the Helios 300. Even the i5 with a 1650 for around 600-700 dls seems like a much better option. What do you think?launch

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November 6, 2019

@iraklimgeladze5223

This laptop cost 1100$ and Acer helios 300 with 6 core cpu and gtx 1660ti cost same. This laptop price should be 900$launch

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November 6, 2019

Users criticize the design as ugly with a gamer-cliché aesthetic, wasted space on the right side near the ports, and build quality that feels less sturdy than competitors like the Predator Helios 300.

@gezab.6040

Bought this laptop, had 3 dead pixels, returned it, got a new one, and had one dead pixel. Decided to live with it, but because of that I'm convinced the screen isn't of the best build quality.launch

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June 14, 2022

@AnandMishere

The design is the pretty much the same as my MSI GE75 Raider 9SG - 17inch. But mine is BEAST when it comes to features. I’m a bit disappointed with the built quality. Assuming even this one will also be the same. though my predator 300 is a budget one but its way better than my MSI’s overall sturdiness.launch

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March 21, 2020

@jwolfe12777

I'd love this laptop, because of the all AMD combo.\n\n\nBut goddamn if this isn't the ugliest laptop I've ever seen. It's like they intentionally made this thing ugly as hell. \n\nGive me a simple, clean laptop with this combo. The 0MG 3L1T3 G4MER aesthetic is fucking stupidlaunch

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December 23, 2019

@adityapandey7798

I Was sitting on my money really tight to buy this laptop but now I am not so sure, The deal breaker for me is the poor design, specially the wasted space on right side of the unit. Now I will wait for some other company to use 5500m. Thanks for the review it really helped.launch

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November 6, 2019

Multiple users blame MSI's Dragon Center software for causing GPU driver conflicts and recommend removing or avoiding it entirely for better performance and fewer crashes.

@dnakatomiuk

Bought this in August 2022 for my girlfriend as a gaming laptop, the hardware inside it's fantastic if your not bothered about screen size and to be honest she loves it.\n\nThe 5700h, 6600m, 16GB DDR4 RAM is more than enough for gaming, the 512GB NVMe isn't the best sometimes powering up the laptop it does show a black screen for a little bit. Unfortunately it came with Windows 11 when listed Windows 10 but I am looking into downgrading when I get a Samsung 1TB NVMe drive for it and use the 512GB as spare storage until I can make that 1TB.\n\nSound isn't the best the speakers are rather rubbish but she uses Corsair VOID 7.1 Headphone all the time. The mouse touchpad she hates and uses a HyperX wireless mouse, fan noise kicks in a lot but again she used headphones and it drowned it out, battery life isn't brilliant but for gaming always plugged in for surfing battery is ok when on balanced mode.\n\nTip remove the MSI Dragon Center or disabled it because we used to get a serious GPU driver issue where it would install a driver that isn't for the 6600M and causes the driver to fail. This you having to remove it and install the correct one all the time, it could also be Windows update which I also disabled..\n\nNot that many I/O ports especially USB personal preference, Got it for £800 as well proper bargainlaunch

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March 24, 2023

@xswkevin

It's a 4gb card its will have better frame rate at medium to low setting like cmon 4gb, it's not a 6gb or anything less ram usage on the rx 5500m will smooth out the performance, this is a mid range laptop it's a very good experience and if you want more better performance, I suggest hard reset to get rid of msi dragon center is pretty bad so get rid of dragon center it's no good better performance with out itlaunch

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April 21, 2020

@serhiybondarenko1502

Hi Gonna watch your review although, I already bought the laptop 😅, Can you tell me if you had any issues with the Dragon Center and if you recommend it and any other MSI Soft pls, because this laptop was a hole mess the first days and I feel that the RX 5500 isn't always working when I play games 🤷‍♂️ and the official drivers uff...launch

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December 6, 2019

A detailed complaint alleges MSI's 'giant speaker' and 'huge soundstage' marketing is misleading, with the actual internals being tiny, low-quality speakers; another buyer independently called the speakers rubbish.

@dnakatomiuk

Bought this in August 2022 for my girlfriend as a gaming laptop, the hardware inside it's fantastic if your not bothered about screen size and to be honest she loves it.\n\nThe 5700h, 6600m, 16GB DDR4 RAM is more than enough for gaming, the 512GB NVMe isn't the best sometimes powering up the laptop it does show a black screen for a little bit. Unfortunately it came with Windows 11 when listed Windows 10 but I am looking into downgrading when I get a Samsung 1TB NVMe drive for it and use the 512GB as spare storage until I can make that 1TB.\n\nSound isn't the best the speakers are rather rubbish but she uses Corsair VOID 7.1 Headphone all the time. The mouse touchpad she hates and uses a HyperX wireless mouse, fan noise kicks in a lot but again she used headphones and it drowned it out, battery life isn't brilliant but for gaming always plugged in for surfing battery is ok when on balanced mode.\n\nTip remove the MSI Dragon Center or disabled it because we used to get a serious GPU driver issue where it would install a driver that isn't for the 6600M and causes the driver to fail. This you having to remove it and install the correct one all the time, it could also be Windows update which I also disabled..\n\nNot that many I/O ports especially USB personal preference, Got it for £800 as well proper bargainlaunch

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March 24, 2023

@azenyr

I love MSI Marketing (not). They say they have \"HUGE SOUND STAGE, POWERFUL BASS\" and on the sticker on the laptop they even say \"GIANT SPEAKER\" and it has big holes underneath for the \"giant speakers\" , but when you open it up, the bigger grill is a fake speaker, and it has TINY speakers at the side of the fake \"giant speaker\". And... the sound quality of MSI laptops are CONSTANTLY TRASH. I'm from Portugal and here in Europe the MSI fake marketing is the same: I have had some MSI gaming laptops, and some of them actually premium-priced, and besides their claims of \"incredible sound quality\", it was always trash. Oh and... their displays are always TNs, I have never seen an MSI with an IPS. All of their displays are \"Wide-View\" or \"IPS-Level\", but never true IPS. I don't even know if they are doing illegal fake marketing by stating GIANT SPEAKER and having giant grills, but the speakers inside are fake. Is MSI playing the same \"aliexpress\" style of fake and full of lies, illegal marketing? How can they get away with this, literally in the whole world?\nI actually like MSI hardware, specially their desktop components, but their gaming laptop specs are like 50% fake or confusing marketing to make end users think their components are actually good when they are not, it's just surreal...launch

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January 4, 2020

One user reports poor Wi-Fi speed unique to this laptop compared to others at home, and another describes receiving units with multiple dead pixels, raising doubts about screen build quality.

@gezab.6040

Bought this laptop, had 3 dead pixels, returned it, got a new one, and had one dead pixel. Decided to live with it, but because of that I'm convinced the screen isn't of the best build quality.launch

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June 14, 2022

@MrX-X-X

My one has horrible wifi speed (unless I sit right next to the router. And no I have two other laptops at home and they work fine so its clearly an issue with the Alpha 15). And I get a graphic card driver error saying I need to update my driver and well I've seen the reviews on how updating the graphics driver causes bluescreens. I'm taking this piece of shit back and exchanging it for a different brand. Just wow...launch

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May 19, 2020

One detailed report describes the laptop becoming unusable after Windows updates, with reboots occurring even during reinstall attempts, requiring a full drive wipe to stop.

@Hubwood

00:00 Intro \r\n00:30 Hardware Specs & Pricing \r\n01:38 Screen\r\n01:51 Size, Weight & Look\r\n02:21 Keyboard and Touchpad \r\n02:44 Connections\r\n03:16 Camera and Speakers\r\n03:38 Upgrades & Battery\r\n04:38 Fan Modes & Temperature\r\n06:56 SSD\r\n07:29 Performance \r\n08:34 Gaming Footage and Benchmarks\r\n12:22 Conclusion\n\nWARNING BEFORE YOU BUY: (Edit at the end)\n\nAfter 2 Weeks of using the MSI ALpha 15 (B5EEK) with R5 5600H and RX 6600m I was suddenly having very severe issues after installing the newest Windows Updates.\nThe PC would randomly reboot after beeing 1-2 minutes inside of windows.\n\nI've tried to deinstall the updates. Didn't work. The pc would reboot before the deinstallation is complete.\nI've tried to reset windows. Didn't work. The pc would reboot before the deinstallation is complete.\nUsing the \"Safe mode\" was of no help as you cant reset windows in that state nor deinstall updates.\n\nSo I used my Windows 10 installation stick to reinstall windows.\nBut that didn't work aswell. The PC rebooted as soon as the installation was complete and the laptop was trying to boot for the first time. Resulted in a corrupted installation.\nThe Laptop WON'T reboot if the harddrive is formatted and no windows is installed at all.\nI can boot into Command Promt and perform format c:\n\nNow this seems like a very severy issue which renders the Laptop completely useless.\nI want to inform you about this before you buy. \nThis could be a specific problem with MY unit. \nI didn't find any solutions to this YET. (Oct. 9th. 2021) \nThere are no BIOS updates YET. (Oct. 9th. 2021)\n\nThis also means I wasn't able to record more games for my dedicated gaming video and will have to use the 14 games I was able to record so far... Sorry!\nAnd this is also very dissapointing after the problems I've had with the OLD Msi Alpha 15 from 2019.\nMaybe it's just me? 😒\n\nP. S. Installing Linux didn't work aswell after that incident. It rebooted while installing. So maybe it's \"just\" a broken ssd. \n\nP. P. S. \nI will get another unit next week for more games though and will test if the same problem occurs again after installing all updates!\nWill keep you updated. \n\nP.P.P.S \nThe second unit did NOT have this issue after installing the latest updates.launch

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October 9, 2021