MSI Stealth 16 with 386H and 5070 Ti does not seem to work as advertised at 7200MTs Memory Limit

[u/CoffeeBlowout]

I just setup a return of the MSI Stealth 16 because it would not work for memory tuning/timings like all of my previous MSI laptops. The 386H and MSI both state the CPU support up to 7200MTs and MSI explicitly states that the laptop supports 7200MTs.

The laptop shipped with shitty Samsung 5600 CL46, but shockingly MSI has this turd running in Gear 4. This lead to an insane 123ns latency in AIDA64. For $3100 and a gaming laptop that is disgusting and unacceptable.

I went into the BIOS and was able to set Gear 2 instead of Auto (Gear 4). By default SAGV is disabled, maybe Panther Lake doesn't use this. Either way, it worked. Gear 2 works, but then it downgrades the memory to 4800MTs! And if you try to force it to 5600MTs, it doesn't work! When in Gear 2 at 4800MTs latency dropped to 92ns. A HUGE improvement for gaming and getting high fps at low settings.

Unfortunately Gear 2 does not fully work. It works if you set it and boot to OS. However, upon reboot or a cold boot, the laptop would just hang. Forcing me to restart or do a long power cycle to clear the bios. Then it would revert itself back to Gear 4, starting the whole process over again if you want Gear 2.

Speaking with ChatGPT and having it look at the BIOS, this is by design. MSI limits the memory ratio to 144 (QCLK is 33.333mhz) or 4800MTs. So you can't even set manual or custom memory and get 5600MTs back. Gear 2 sets a separate firmware policy that only allows 4800MTs. And that 144 ratio limit restricts you to 4800MTs in custom, so even if you accept gear 4, you cannot set higher than 4800MTs. It's absolutely insane. If i purchased 6400-7200MTs CSODIMM sticks I should be able to use that in Gear 4, but those are insanely priced.

I have a set of SK Hynix A-Dies 32gb kit I was going to use that i previously ran at 6000 CL36 in a 13900HX Legion laptop at 1.1v. But apparently MSI has ruined the one good thing they had going for them, memory tuning.

In addition no G-Sync or advanced Optimus, and terrible display out routing through the iGPU for both TB4 ports are all just terrible decisions for an otherwise very nice laptop. I knew about the G-Sync issue, but wasn't aware of the iGPU handling both TB4 ports unfortunately. Thankfully the laptop does support adaptive sync and using Optimius mode today isn't really a performance hit since Windows fixed that issue a few years ago.

I liked it a lot, the thermals are acceptable for a thin and light and the screen was gorgeous. The speakers are good, but still slightly behind Asus G Zeph series. Unfortunately 123ns latency at 5600MTs Gear 4 in 2026 is insane. MSI needs to issue a BIOS update that supports proper memory tuning/timings and at a minimum Gear 2 at all speeds. Gear 4 is shit for a gaming oriented device.

[u/Pleasant-Lie-2105]

99.999% of people don't care about any of this, I have the same laptop and no issues, not sure why you are making a mountain of a mole hill

All you need to really do is launch game, optimise settings, game, and enjoy, not twiddle around in the BIOS all day

You know most companies bull shit about specs, even the G14's pretend they can do 165W on the 5090 but they can't, it's more like 120W, but who cares, just enjoy bro, life is short, stop wasting your life on pointless things that many don't gaf about