MSI X-Slim X430 gets an Athlon Neo CPU, Windows 7 and Blu-ray
By Darren Murph 
posted November 25th 2009 9:16PM
posted November 25th 2009 9:16PM
AMD spoiled MSI's surprise a bit by snagging an X-Slim X430 early for its VISION gala back in September, but now that Windows 7 is out and about, MSI has decided to officialize its latest thin-and-light. Unlike most of its rivals, this one shuns Intel's CULV lineup and instead relies on a dual-core AMD Athlon Neo X2 CPU, and with Win7 Home Premium at the helm, performance shouldn't be too much of an issue when it comes to handling basic tasks. There's also a 14-inch display (1,366 x 768), 2GB of RAM, a 1.3 megapixel webcam, gigabit Ethernet, 802.11b/g/n WiFi, HDMI / VGA sockets, an SD card slot, a 320GB or 500GB HDD and even an optional Blu-ray drive (albeit an external one). 4 and 8-cell batteries will also be available, and at 3.3 pounds, we're guessing you won't need to bulk up before slapping this in your knapsack.
So...what's handling the graphics?
@Maurizio
That's what I want to know... probably 3200HD
DAMN!! I SHOULD HAVE SAID:
"First of all...whats handling the graphics?"
I may never forgive myself.
@Maurizio
The machine!
@Maurizio
ATi Mobility Radeon HD3200, so it'll be better than your standard intel gma chipsets...
Second...what's with no SSD?
ATi Mobility Radeon HD3200
Website says thats the graphics card
Thank you AMD for doing what intel wont...
Dual core netbook processors.
@(Unverified)
Architecture and performance wise, the Neo X2 chips are more like the dual core Intel CULV chips than the Atom. The only thing they have in common with the Atom chips is price.
@(Unverified)
Umm no, pretty sure the CULV are more expensive than atom processors...
@Peytral Let me clarify - The only thing the _Neo X2_ has in common with the Atom is price.
As in, the Neo X2 isn't a "netbook" processor like the Atom. It is an underclocked and downvolted version of a regular mobile chip, just like CULV. Clock-for-clock, the Neo X2 and CULV chips perform the same as their Athlon X2 and Core 2 Duo counterparts. In other words, about double the performance of an Atom 330.
Despite this, the Neo X2 is priced more like the Atom. Intel puts a ridiculous price premium on its CULV chips. AMD was smart and priced it's Neo X2 much more reasonably.
@(Unverified)
Agreed 100% completely.. AMD is making some smart choices right now. Intel GMA Graphics will NEVER suffice my apatite!
Except this isn't a netbook. It has a 14" screen.
price?
MSI look like they make some nice laptops and I would buy one but the should improve they distribution because at least here in the UK you wont find them in the shops. I sick of seeing run of the mill Acers and Dells everywhere.
Is there a picture of it? I don't see a picture of it in the article, all I see is a faint "MSI" logo.
:P
They do make a pretty netbook.
level of want to be reassessed and likely increased
What's the point of having blu-ray when the screen can't natively show it off?
If it will be true that the weight is only 3,3 lb (for an 14-incher, the ohters are 3,75 at best) than it probably will be a shaky thing. The X320 unfortunately showed the way with its superflexible lid and mushy keyboard.
if the blu-ray drive is external you can't really say it has a blu-ray drive
Isn't the msi Wind U230 a better choice, given how close the specs are (I mean for the price)? I realize that one's 14" and one's 12", but all things being equal, which they're close to being, the Wind is much better value, I'd think.
This is awesome to have this kind of value and graphics power in an affordable thin and light. But If I remember correctly [I could be wrong] The Athlon Neos are still 65nm, since the 45nm aren't coming for another few months. I can imagine this hampering battery life to around 4-5 hours max. And the previous MSI thin&lights, most specifically the X340, had some battery life problems with the more efficient Intel CULV. A lot of reviews complained of a flexy mushy keyboard, and a less than stellar trackpad. Hopefully MSI has fixed some of these issues.
Pretty impressive notebook, the x-slim series keeps getting better and better. I'm glad windows 7 is standard, xp is a massive headache. Also awesome how they include a blu ray drive albeit it is external, blu ray is better than no blu ray =) Now we just have to wait for the price and see what the keyboard is like. Overall i think its a pretty nice series and competes well with the macbook air.