This Windows laptop is meant for gaming, but it tackles creative work like a pro

• MSI's new Raider 18 HX is on sale now, starting at $3,139.
• This is, without a doubt, the most powerful laptop I've tested in 2025, due to its Intel Core Ultra 9 CPU and GeForce RTX 5080 GPU.
• As you can imagine, it is quite expensive and rather heavy.

2025 has been a big year for mega nerds like me with the launch of Nvidia's RTX 50-series graphics cards. These cards have had a big impact on gaming, and I've been dying to try one out. Recently I got that opportunity with MSI's new Raider 18 HX AI, a gaming laptop that is a behemoth in every sense. 

Also: The best laptops for graphic designers in 2025: Expert tested and reviewed

There are not enough words in the English language to adequately describe the Raider 18's impressive performance, but I'm going to ...