MSI presented several laptops for gaming, productivity, and content creation during the latest edition of CES, but it still had a few surprises up its sleeve. We talked about its most attractive gaming equipment in the article where we have compiled the gaming laptops presented at this event that has most impressed us, but the proposal we are about to delve into goes in other directions.
The Creator Z17’s configuration should work wonders with any of the latest games (especially if you choose it with the most ambitious specifications available), but its purpose is above all to deal with content creation applications, which can also be extremely demanding on the hardware.
To solve this usage scenario MSI has opted to integrate the 12th generation Intel Core microprocessor with Alder Lake microarchitecture, DDR5-4800 memory, a graphics processor belonging to NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 30 family, and a secondary storage solution with PCI Express 4.0 interface. As you can see, on paper it looks really good. However, its best asset, what makes it attractive, is its irresistible display specifications.
MSI Creator Z17 Technical specifications
| MSI Creator Z17 | |
|---|---|
| Screen | 17-inch QHD+ (2560 x 1600 dots) IPS LCD with support for MSI Digital Pen, 16:10 aspect ratio, 10-bit, 1000 nits, 100% DCI-P3 color space coverage |
| Backlight | MiniLED |
| Processor | Up to 12th Gen Intel Core i9 |
| Main Memory | Up to 128GB DDR5-4800 |
| Graphics Processor | Up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti |
| Storage | 2 x PCI Express 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD |
| Operating System | Windows 11 Home or Pro |
| Connectivity | 1 x HDMI 2.1, 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2, 2 x USB-C (Thunderbolt 4), 1 x SD slot, and 1 x microphone/headphone combo |
| Wireless Connectivity | WiFi 6E Bluetooth 5.2 |
| Sound | Stereo / 4 speakers DTS Equalized by Dynaudio |
| Battery | 4 cells 90Whr |
| Sensors | Fingerprints and ambient light |
| Dimensions | 382 x 260 x 19mm |
| Weight | 2.49kg |
The latest from Intel and NVIDIA to ensure no shortage of power
This laptop will be available in several different configurations. We do not yet know the specifications of the most modest version, but we do have, as usual, the most powerful revision. And, as you can see in the table above, MSI has not given a stitch without thread.
The 12th generation Intel Core i9 CPU and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti GPU are the most eye-catching components of this machine, but it is worth not overlooking that it can incorporate up to 128 GB of DDR5-4800 main memory and two SSDs with PCI Express 4.0 interface. In addition, it will be available with both the Home version of Windows 11 and the Pro edition, although those who opt for the latter will certainly have to pay a little more for their laptop.
When it comes to connectivity this laptop is up to the task. The HDMI output implements the 2.1 standards, so we can use it to transport 2160p signals at 120 Hz to our TV. It also has two USB-C ports that implement the Thunderbolt 4 protocol (one of them acts as a charging port for other devices), an additional USB 3.2 Gen 2 port, and an SD card slot. When it comes to wireless connectivity we have nothing to complain about: it has Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2.
This QHD+ mini led display rocks and its stylus helps
As I mentioned in the first lines of this article, the component that is going to attract the attention of many users to this laptop is its screen. And it incorporates an IPS LCD panel with QHD+ resolution (2560 x 1600 dots), 17 inches, and a miniLED backlight.
MSI has not revealed how many independent local dimming zones this screen incorporates, but possibly it will have at least the 240 zones that the original version of this computer that hit stores in 2020 had.
However, this is not the end of the attractive features of this laptop’s display. As regards the precision with which it resolves colorimetry, which is an essential section in equipment dedicated to content creation, it proposes 100% coverage of the DCI-P3 color space, and also a factory calibration with Delta-E < 2 accuracies.
This last parameter simply means that on paper it should reproduce color with very high accuracy, which makes it interesting for photo retouching and video editing, among other usage scenarios.
In any case, this is not all. Its panel allows us to use MSI’s digital pen to act directly on it, a feature that reinforces its vocation as a content creation device. One more note: the pen is not included in the package with the laptop (it must be purchased separately).
Pricing and availability of the MSI Creator Z17
MSI has confirmed that this device will arrive in stores in early February, although we still don’t know its price. We will update this article to include this information as soon as we know it.
