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The 12th-generation Intel Core i7 CPU in the MSI Katana GF76 makes it a good choice for a cheap 17-inch game laptop. Plus, its Japanese-style body gives it a lot of style. But some gamers may be disappointed by how well the 3050 Ti GPU works on the laptop.
On the one hand, it’s cheap and lets you play games with cinematic ray-tracing graphics, but on the other, it’s not very powerful, even when the speed sliders in MSI Center are all the way to the right. So, it depends on the person whether or not they want to recommend this laptop. The MSI GF76 is a good choice if you don’t mind some later games running slowly. On the other hand, if you need super fast framerates, you might want to consider a model with an RTX 3060 or RTX 3070 GPU.
MSI Katana GF76 Specifications
Specifications | Details |
---|---|
Display | 17.3-inch Full HD IPS |
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 pixels |
Processor | 11th Gen Intel Core i7 |
Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 30 Series |
RAM | Up to 64GB |
Storage | Up to 2TB SSD |
Keyboard | SteelSeries Per-Key RGB Backlit |
Cooling | Cooler Boost 5 Technology |
Design and Build

Those who have seen the 2021 GF76 Katana will notice that the 2022 version doesn’t look much different. The GF76 Katana still looks like a samurai weapon or a well-made piece of armor from Japan in the Middle Ages. It has a unique all-black chassis, red-lit keys, and curved ends that are raised. We’ve been told that Japanese illustrator Tsuyoshi Nagano came up with this idea. Nagano is known for his work as the original cover artist for the Romance of the Three Kingdoms games, for which he has won some awards. You can buy this laptop from its official website
MSI Katana GF76: Display
The MSI Katana GF76 has a 1080p screen, which is something you should know. If you want to play games on the go in QHD or 4K, you’ll have to look somewhere else. But the screen has a high update rate of 144 Hz, which means that many games can be played at that speed. Depending on how big your game area is, you might not even need a separate monitor if you have a 17-inch screen. In terms of specs, the Katana GF76’s screen is brighter than the Razer Blade 15 Advanced’s (244 nits) or the Alienware m15 R4’s (361 nits).
Keyboard and Touchpad

Even though it took me a little while to get used to the keyboard and mouse, we liked them. The keys didn’t feel too soft or slow to type on, and there was enough key travel for them to answer quickly when we hit them. The trackpad was also good. It picked up clicks right away and seemed to respond pretty well to my finger movements.
The keyboard and trackpad are basically in the same place as they were last year. But one thing that is different is that some keys that used to only have symbols on them now have words on them. This should make them look better and be easy to find.
Software and Warranty
Unlike other MSI gaming laptops, the MSI Katana GF76’s primary app is the MSI Center. The system resources (CPU, GPU, disk, and memory) utilization is analyzed. In addition to the useful performance settings and Windows configuration options, there is also a location to check for and install the latest drivers for the laptop. There are no more well-known programs included with MSI. The Katana GF76 has a one-year warranty from the manufacturer.
MSI Katana GF76: Performance
Performance-wise, the MSI Katana GF76 doesn’t disappoint in the real world. On the other hand, its performance in our benchmarks was not particularly spectacular. Because of this, you won’t be able to turn all of the settings up to their maximum on the newest and best games, and the system’s performance can suffer if you choose to connect it to a higher-resolution display instead of the one it came with. Let’s begin with a comparison of the numbers involved. At 1080p and Ultra settings, we timed the games mentioned below to see how many frames per second they produced:
MSI Katana GF76: Battery life
Since you’ll need to keep the MSI Katana GF76 plugged in almost all the time, it’s good that you can’t use it on your lap. When playing games, the system only lasts for an hour, but when it’s not being used for games, it can last for up to two hours and 30 minutes. That’s long enough for short runs away from a power outlet, but you won’t be able to do much work or play without being plugged in.
Price and Availability
Micro Center charges $1,500 for the MSI Katana GF76 11UE. This model has an Intel Core i7-11800H CPU, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 GPU, 16 GB RAM, 1 TB SSD storage, and a 1080p, 144 Hz screen.
The MSI Katana GF76 11UD and the MSI Katana GF76 11UC are also available. The GeForce RTX 3050 Ti GPU from Nvidia is in the 11UD, and the GeForce RTX 3050 GPU from Nvidia is in the 11UC.
Final Words
The MSI GF76 Katana is a cheap game laptop with a 17-inch screen and a good CPU. The RTX 3050 Ti GPU isn’t quite powerful enough for the latest AAA games, but you can still enjoy RTX graphics at a fraction of the price of a more expensive laptop. Even though we thought it would be better for games, this laptop is still worth looking into, especially if you have a fixed budget.
MSI Katana GF76 review: The good and The bad
The Good
- Reasonable price
- Good components
The Bad
- Uninspired design
FAQS
The MSI Katana GF76 won’t shock or amaze you, but it will run your games just fine and won’t break the bank in the process. The MSI Katana GF76 is “okay” because it has an RTX 3050 Ti GPU, an i7 CPU from the 12th generation, and a shell that isn’t too bad.
MSI’s Katana GF66 12UD is a budget to mid-range game laptop that is about as average as you can get. It’s fast enough to play most modern games at 30 to 60 frames per second, especially if you’re ready to give up some detail settings. It also has a processor that works well.