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MSI Katana 17 Series

2022 - 2024 Models

Processor:

Graphics:

Cosmetic Condition:

Functionality:

Charger Included?

The MSI Katana 17 is MSI's 17.3-inch mainstream gaming line, built around a black brushed-finish chassis with rear thermal exhaust, a full number-pad keyboard and Cooler Boost cooling. It has run through five distinct hardware generations since 2022: the Katana 17 B11UCX (2022), the Katana 17 B12UX and B12VX (2022–2023), the Katana 17 B13UX and B13VX (2023–2024), the AMD-powered Katana A17 AI B8VX (2024), and the Katana 17 HX B14WX (2025). They look nearly identical from across a room, but the internals diverge sharply — DDR4 versus DDR5 memory, one M.2 drive slot versus two, a 150W, 200W or 240W power brick, and graphics spanning the RTX 2050 all the way to the RTX 5070. Because the graphics chip and processor tier drive almost all of the resale value on a gaming laptop, identifying your exact generation is the single most important step. If you are upgrading and want the old one gone without listing it anywhere, our trade-in service buys it outright for cash. Select your processor and graphics above to see an instant offer.

Which Katana 17 generation do you have?

Close the lid and flip the laptop over. MSI prints the full model name on the label on the bottom cover — look for Katana 17 or Katana A17 AI followed by a code such as B13VFK or B8VG. The same label carries a part number beginning with 9S7-. If the sticker has worn away, press the Windows key, type msinfo32, press Enter, and read the System Model line. The MSI Center app, if it is still installed, shows the same information on its System Info page. You do not need to open the laptop for any of this.

Katana 17 B11UCX — 2022

  • 11th Gen Intel Core i7 processor, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2050 (4GB GDDR6)
  • DDR4-3200 memory, single M.2 PCIe Gen3 drive slot
  • 150W power adapter
  • Quickest tell: this is the only Katana 17 with a single-color red backlit keyboard instead of 4-zone RGB. If your keys only glow red, you have a B11UCX

Katana 17 B12UX / B12VX — 2022–2023

  • 12th Gen Intel Core i7-12650H processor
  • B12UX: RTX 3050. B12VEK: RTX 4050. B12VFK: RTX 4060. B12VGK: RTX 4070
  • DDR5-4800 memory, two M.2 PCIe Gen4 drive slots
  • Quickest tell: 4-zone RGB keyboard, 200W adapter, and a MUX switch for discrete graphics mode

Katana 17 B13UX / B13VX — 2023–2024

  • 13th Gen Intel Core i7-13620H processor
  • B13UX: RTX 3050. B13VEK: RTX 4050. B13VFK: RTX 4060. B13VGK: RTX 4070
  • DDR5-5200 memory, two M.2 PCIe Gen4 drive slots
  • Quickest tell: externally identical to the B12 generation — the model label on the bottom is the only reliable way to separate them

Katana A17 AI B8VX — 2024

  • AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS or Ryzen 7 8845HS processor with a built-in NPU
  • B8VE: RTX 4050. B8VF: RTX 4060. B8VG: RTX 4070
  • DDR5-5600 memory, Wi-Fi 6E, 200W adapter
  • Quickest tell: the model name on the label reads Katana A17 AI, with an A. This is also the first Katana 17 offered with a QHD 240Hz screen

Katana 17 HX B14WX — 2025

  • 14th Gen Intel Core HX processors, up to Core i9-14900HX (24 cores)
  • B14WEK: RTX 5050. B14WFK: RTX 5060. B14WGK: RTX 5070 — all 8GB GDDR7
  • DDR5-5600 memory, larger 75Wh battery, 240W adapter
  • Quickest tell: the model name includes HX, the keyboard has a dedicated Copilot key, and there are three USB-A ports rather than two plus a slower USB 2.0 port

Still unsure? Our guide to finding your laptop's model number and our guide to finding your processor type both walk through it in plain language, with no technical background needed. For the graphics chip specifically, press the Windows key, type dxdiag, press Enter, and open the Display tab — the RTX model is listed under Name.

Core hardware configurations

Processor (CPU)

  • 11th Gen Intel Core i7 — B11UCX generation
  • Intel Core i7-12650H — 10 cores, 16 threads, 12th Gen, B12 generation
  • Intel Core i7-13620H — 10 cores, 16 threads, 13th Gen, B13 generation
  • AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS — 8 cores, 16 threads, up to 5.1 GHz, Katana A17 AI
  • AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS — 8 cores, 16 threads, up to 5.2 GHz, Katana A17 AI
  • Intel Core i5-14450HX, i7-14650HX and i9-14900HX — up to 24 cores and 32 threads, Katana 17 HX B14WX
  • The HX-series chips in the B14WX generation are desktop-derived and carry far more cores than any earlier Katana 17. That gap shows up directly in resale value.

Graphics (GPU)

  • NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2050 — 4GB GDDR6 (B11UCX only)
  • NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 — B12UX and B13UX
  • NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 — 6GB GDDR6, up to 105W
  • NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 — 8GB GDDR6, up to 105W
  • NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 — 8GB GDDR6, up to 105W
  • NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050, 5060 and 5070 — 8GB GDDR7, up to 115W, Blackwell architecture (B14WX only)
  • Every generation from B12 onward includes a MUX switch (discrete graphics mode) that routes the display directly to the NVIDIA GPU. The B11UCX does not.

Memory (RAM)

  • B11UCX: DDR4-3200, two SO-DIMM slots, up to 64GB
  • B12 generation: DDR5-4800, two SO-DIMM slots, up to 64GB
  • B13 generation: DDR5-5200, two SO-DIMM slots, up to 64GB
  • Katana A17 AI and Katana 17 HX B14WX: DDR5-5600, two slots, up to 96GB on the B14WX
  • Unlike most thin laptops, memory here sits in real removable slots and is user-upgradable. If a previous owner added RAM, report the capacity currently installed — not what was on the original box.

Storage

  • B11UCX: one M.2 slot, NVMe PCIe Gen3
  • B12, B13 and Katana A17 AI: two M.2 slots, NVMe PCIe Gen4, allowing a second drive
  • Katana 17 HX B14WX: one M.2 slot, NVMe PCIe Gen4
  • Common shipping capacities were 512GB, 1TB and 2TB
  • There is no 2.5-inch hard drive bay in any Katana 17. All storage is M.2.

Display & audio

Display

Every Katana 17 uses a 17.3-inch 16:9 IPS-level panel with a thin bezel. The B11UCX, B12 and B13 generations all shipped with a single option: FHD (1920 × 1080) at 144Hz. The Katana A17 AI added faster panels — FHD at 240Hz and QHD (2560 × 1440) at 240Hz with 100% DCI-P3 coverage and a 3ms response time. The Katana 17 HX B14WX offers FHD at 144Hz or QHD at 240Hz. There is no OLED option and no touchscreen option anywhere in this line.

Audio

Two 2W stereo speakers with High-Resolution Audio support, plus a single 3.5mm microphone and headphone combo jack. There is no separate microphone input and no subwoofer on the 17-inch chassis.

Webcam

A 720p HD webcam at 30fps is fitted to every generation, including the 2025 B14WX. There is no 1080p camera option, no infrared camera and no Windows Hello face unlock on any Katana 17.

Keyboard & lighting

The B11UCX uses a single-color red backlit keyboard. Every later generation uses a 99-key 4-zone RGB gaming keyboard with highlighted WASD keys, anti-ghosting, 1.7mm key travel and a full numeric keypad, controlled through MSI Center. The B14WX generation adds a dedicated Copilot key.

Ports & connectivity

All Katana 17 models include a wired Gigabit Ethernet port, which is unusual on modern laptops and useful for competitive play. Charging is done through a barrel-style DC jack on every generation; the 2025 B14WX additionally supports 100W USB-C Power Delivery charging.

B11UCX, B12, B13 & Katana A17 AI
  • 1× RJ-45 Gigabit Ethernet
  • 1× USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 1 (with DisplayPort output; this port does not charge the laptop)
  • 2× USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 1
  • 1× USB Type-A 2.0 (the slow legacy port — fine for a mouse, not for an external drive)
  • 1× HDMI 2.1 (8K at 60Hz / 4K at 120Hz; the B11UCX is limited to 4K at 60Hz)
  • 1× 3.5mm combo audio jack · 1× DC power input
Katana 17 HX B14WX & what is missing
  • 1× RJ-45 Gigabit Ethernet
  • 1× USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2 (DisplayPort output plus 100W Power Delivery charging)
  • 3× USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 2 (the USB 2.0 port is gone — all three are full speed)
  • 1× HDMI 2.1 · 1× 3.5mm combo audio jack · 1× DC power input
  • Not fitted on any Katana 17: Thunderbolt, SD or microSD card reader, fingerprint reader, optical drive, or a second video output beyond HDMI and USB-C

Wi-Fi 6 (B11UCX, B12, B13) Wi-Fi 6E (Katana A17 AI, B14WX) Bluetooth 5.2 Bluetooth 5.3 Gigabit Ethernet Firmware TPM 2.0

Battery, build & more

Battery & charging

The B11UCX, B12, B13 and Katana A17 AI all use a 3-cell 53.5Wh battery. The B11UCX ships with a 150W adapter; the B12, B13 and Katana A17 AI use a 200W adapter. The 2025 Katana 17 HX B14WX steps up to a 4-cell 75Wh battery with a 240W adapter. Battery life on all of them is modest by design — these are plug-in gaming machines, and a battery that no longer holds a charge is common and does not disqualify a trade-in.

Cooling

MSI Cooler Boost 5 with two fans and multiple heat pipes venting out the rear and sides. The B14WX generation adds a shared heat pipe running across both the CPU and GPU. Fan noise under load is high on every generation; grinding or rattling fans usually means dust or a worn bearing.

Weight

B11UCX, B12, B13: ≈ 2.6 kg (5.73 lb) · Katana A17 AI: ≈ 2.7 kg (5.95 lb) · Katana 17 HX B14WX: ≈ 2.7 kg (5.95 lb). Add roughly another pound for the power brick.

Dimensions

B11UCX, B12, B13: 398 × 273 × 25.2 mm (15.67" × 10.75" × 0.99"). Katana A17 AI: 398 × 273 mm with a slightly thicker base at approximately 1.11". Katana 17 HX B14WX: 398 × 275.6 × 27.8 mm (15.67" × 10.85" × 1.09").

Chassis & color

Every Katana 17 ships in black with red accent detailing on the hinge shelf and vents. Chipped corners, a flexing lid and scuffed palm rests are the usual wear points on a 17-inch plastic gaming chassis and are handled by the cosmetic grading above.

Operating system & security

Windows 11 Home or Windows 11 Pro, with firmware TPM 2.0 on all generations. There is no fingerprint reader and no facial recognition, so sign-in is by password or PIN only.

Frequently asked questions

01 How do I find my exact Katana 17 model and graphics card?
Two easy steps, no tools required.

For the model: turn the laptop upside down and read the label on the bottom cover. You are looking for something like Katana 17 B13VFK or Katana A17 AI B8VG. If the label is gone, press the Windows key, type msinfo32, press Enter, and read the System Model line. Your processor is listed two lines below it.

For the graphics card: press the Windows key, type dxdiag, press Enter, then click the Display tab. The Name field will read something like "NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU." That is the value to select above.

A shortcut worth knowing: the last letter of the model code tells you the graphics tier within a generation. E is the entry card, F is the middle card, and G is the top card. So a B13VGK carries the RTX 4070 and a B13VEK carries the RTX 4050. Our model number guide covers this in more detail.
02 My MSI looks like this but the model number does not match — is this the right page?
Go by the model label, not the shape of the laptop. This page covers Katana 17 B11UCX, Katana 17 B12UX and B12VX, Katana 17 B13UX and B13VX, Katana A17 AI B8VX, and Katana 17 HX B14WX.

Two points that trip people up. First, the number in the model name is the screen size, so a label reading Katana 15 or Katana A15 belongs on a different page even though the chassis design is nearly the same. Measure the screen corner to corner if you are unsure — a 17.3-inch panel is noticeably wider than a 15.6-inch one and has more space around the number pad. Second, a label reading Katana GF76 is the older name MSI used before the line was renamed to Katana 17; send that one through our custom quote form instead.
03 Will you buy it with a cracked screen, dead battery, loud fans, or upgraded parts?
Yes to all of it. Gaming laptops take more abuse than most machines and we buy them in every state: cracked or dead panel, a battery that has swollen or stopped charging, fans that grind or rattle, keys that no longer register, a hinge that has pulled away from the lid, thermal shutdowns under load, or a unit that will not power on at all. Mark the matching boxes under Functionality and Check issues that apply above.

Upgrades are a real factor on this line, because unlike most laptops the Katana 17 has genuine removable memory slots and, on the B12, B13 and Katana A17 AI generations, a second M.2 drive slot. If a previous owner added RAM or a second SSD, that hardware counts toward your offer — report what is physically installed now. Just be aware that swapped parts sometimes read as defective if they were installed incorrectly, so if the machine is behaving oddly after an upgrade, grade it honestly rather than guessing.
04 What is a trade-in service, and what actually raises my Katana 17 payout?
Most people looking to sell a gaming laptop assume there are only two options: list it on a marketplace and deal with lowballers and scam attempts, or take a store gift card worth a fraction of its value. A lot of sellers do not realize a third option exists. Gadget Salvation is a direct buyback service — we have been buying used electronics for cash since 2008. You get a firm quote online, a free prepaid and insured shipping label, and real money after inspection: no listing fees, no seller fees, no shipping cost, no strangers at your door, and no chargeback risk weeks after the sale.

On value, the graphics card is far and away the biggest factor on a Katana 17 — a unit with an RTX 4070 or an RTX 5070 is worth multiples of an otherwise identical RTX 2050 or RTX 3050 machine. After that, in rough order: the processor generation (the 14th Gen HX chips lead by a wide margin), a QHD 240Hz screen over the standard FHD 144Hz panel, 32GB of memory, 1TB or 2TB of storage, and including the original power brick. That last one matters more here than on most laptops: these use 150W, 200W or 240W adapters that are expensive to replace and are not interchangeable with a generic USB-C charger. If you are weighing your options first, our guides on whether to trade in, resell or donate and selling a laptop for the first time lay out the trade-offs plainly. We also buy gaming laptops of every brand and handle bulk buybacks if you are clearing out more than one.
05 How do I wipe my data and game library, and when do I get paid?
Back up anything you want to keep first — screenshots, recordings, local save files and config folders that do not sync to the cloud. Then sign out of and deauthorize your game platforms (Steam, Epic, Battle.net, EA and Ubisoft accounts all have a device or authorization list worth clearing), sign out of your Microsoft account, and run Settings → System → Recovery → Reset this PC → Remove everything.

Do not pull the SSD out yourself. Every drive that reaches us goes through certified erasure regardless of what you did on your end — you can read exactly how on our data erasure protocols page. If you added a second M.2 drive on a B12, B13 or Katana A17 AI, leave it installed; it counts toward your offer and gets wiped along with the primary drive.

Once your laptop arrives and passes inspection, payment is approved within two business days by PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, Cash App or a paper check. Shipping to us is free and fully insured. Because this is a heavy 17-inch machine with a large power brick, take a minute with our packing instructions — proper padding around the lid corners is what prevents damage in transit. The full process from quote to payment is laid out on how it works, and every unit we take in is resold or responsibly recycled, which is the whole point of what we do.