XMG NEO 17 with Core i9-14900HX and graphics up to GeForce RTX 4090

XMG NEO 17 with Core i9-14900HX and graphics up to GeForce RTX 4090

Leipzig, January 9, 2024 – At CES in Las Vegas, XMG unveils the new XMG NEO 17 and provides a preview of additional upcoming laptop innovations. The 17.0-inch top-of-the-range model with graphics cards up to a GeForce RTX 4090 not only receives an update to Intel’s Core i9-14900HX, but also comes with further improvements such as a modified routing of the water pipe in the interior for the XMG OASIS external laptop water cooling system to get even more performance out of the high-end device. Additional features such as a 240Hz WQXGA display, an optional mechanical keyboard with CHERRY MX ULP Tactile switches, a 99 Wh battery, CPU undervolting and RAM overclocking remain.

XMG NEO 17 with upgrade to Core i9-14900HX

Featuring Intel’s Core i9-14900HX, the XMG NEO 17 (E24) is ready to assert its place among the uncompromisingly fastest gaming laptops of the latest generation. On the graphics card side, the selection of the fastest available laptop graphics cards up to the RTX 4080 and 4090 remains – with maximum specified graphics performance of up to 175 watts (150 watts plus 25 watts Dynamic Boost) and liquid metal (Thermal Grizzly Conductonaut) for cooling the CPU and GPU. Additionally, XMG’s top-of-the-range model is available in configurations with an RTX 4070 or RTX 4060 using phase-changing Honeywell PTM7958 thermal compound to cool the processor and graphics card.

Powerful air cooling system and optimisations for optional laptop water cooling

Not only the processor upgrade enhances the NEO 17’s performance, which is outfitted with a very powerful air cooling system to operate the components at the maximum power limits without temperature-related throttling. Compared to the 2023 version, the modified routing of the water pipe on the heat pipes now also covers the CPU area in addition to the GPU in order to dissipate the excess heat from Intel’s latest flagship processor more efficiently.

This applies solely to laptops with an RTX 4090 or 4080: The XMG NEO 17 (E24) with an RTX 4070 or 4060 does not feature the option of connecting an external liquid cooling unit and has a slightly smaller air cooling system with four instead of five heat pipes. Anyone looking for a NEO 17 with RTX 4060 or 4070 and OASIS support should therefore continue to opt for the E23 version with an Intel Core 13th gen processor, which will remain available in the medium term.

The pre-production model of the XMG NEO 17 (E24) with air cooling scores 21,565 (Total Score), 22,812 (Graphics Score), and 16,467 (CPU Score) points in 3DMark Time Spy and 5,917 points in 3DMark SpeedWay. When combined with the optional XMG OASIS water cooling system, the CPU score rises to 17,937 points (+9%) – and surpasses the result of the predecessor model XMG NEO 17 (E23) with Core i9-13900HX and OASIS by 14% (CPU score: 15,731). The benchmarks show how Raptor Lake Refresh performs particularly well in gaming-typical, mixed CPU workloads.

RAM tuning options and CPU undervolting

The NEO 17’s BIOS features extensive options for tuning the RAM. Not only does it support XMP profiles, but it also allows for manual adjustments to the clock rate, timings, and voltages. Achieving certain values cannot be guaranteed, but XMG collects overclocking results from its own community in a publicly accessible document.

In addition, the BIOS enables CPU undervolting. Thanks to manual fine-tuning, the Core i9-14900HX reaches its predefined temperature limits later and operates at a higher clock frequency for longer.

The central hub for all other tuning options remains the comprehensive XMG Control Center, which not only provides predefined performance profiles, but also allows the creation of customised profiles – including the power limits, CPU temp target and fan curves.

Additional charging option via USB-C, WQXGA display in 16:10, 99 Wh battery and optional keyboard with CHERRY MX switches

The chassis of the NEO 17 (E24), measuring 381.7 x 272.8 x 27mm and weighing 2.8kg, remains identical to that of the 2023 model. The display lid and bottom shell are made of aluminium and the laptop integrates two RGB lighting strips on the rear air outlets, two M.2 SSD slots with PCIe 4.0 connection and a 99 Wh battery. Depending on the configuration, a 330-watt (with RTX 4090/80) or 280-watt (with RTX 4070/60) power supply unit with barrel plug is available. Compared to the 2023 model, however, the 280-watt power supply is more compact (160 x 69 x 25 mm) and lighter (682 / 861g without or with C14 cable).

In addition to a 240Hz fast 16:10 IPS panel with 2,560 x 1. 600 pixels, G-SYNC, 380 nits, 99% sRGB colour space coverage and the option to switch the display via Advanced Optimus (automatic) or a MUX switch (manual), the NEO 17 offers a choice of two keyboards: a silent membrane keyboard with four-zone RGB backlighting or a mechanical keyboard with CHERRY MX Ultra Low Profile Tactile switches and RGB per-key backlighting. Both options feature N-key rollover, anti-ghosting, a dedicated numeric keypad, and large arrow keys. The 150 x 95 mm glass touchpad complies with the Microsoft Precision standard.

New connectivity features include the option to charge the laptop on the go at 100 watts through its Thunderbolt 4 port, whose DisplayPort stream is directly connected to the NVIDIA dGPU and supports external G-SYNC monitors – as does the HDMI 2.1 port. In addition, there are three USB-A 3.2 ports, a card reader for full-size SD cards, separate audio jacks for microphone and headphones (compatible with combo plug headsets), 2.5 Gigabit LAN and Wi-Fi 6E. XMG provides an overview of the upcoming Wi-Fi 7 standard in a separate news article on xmg.gg.

XMG NEO 16 (E24) and XMG FUSION 15 (E24) coming soon

At CES, XMG is exhibiting additional gaming laptops that will be officially launched during the first and second quarter of 2024.

These include the XMG NEO 16 (E24) with a completely new all-aluminium chassis (display lid, top and bottom shell). In addition to the improvements of the NEO 17 (E24) including the upgrade to an Intel Core i9-14900HX, the 16-inch model features a 500 nits bright and 240Hz fast 16:10 display, an additional USB-C port, an improved connector for the XMG OASIS with guide pins for an even better support on the laptop, a larger touchpad and an optimised keyboard layout (numeric keypad with 4 lines, large Enter key, offset arrow keys).

XMG is also showing its first 15.3-inch laptop in 16:10 format: the XMG FUSION 15 (E24). With the 21.9 mm thin and around 2.0 kg light laptop, the first two models L19 and M22, which were developed in cooperation with Intel at the time, finally get a successor – this time featuring an all-aluminium instead of a magnesium chassis. The keyboard is designed as a full-size keyboard with membrane switches, comes with an optimised layout as in the NEO 16 and is almost flush with the chassis frame so as not to compromise on functionality despite the compact chassis. The XMG FUSION 15 also employs a 500 nits bright IPS display with 240Hz and 2,560 x 1,600 pixels.

Both the XMG NEO 16 and the XMG FUSION 15 share numerous features of the XMG NEO 17 – including the option to charge the laptop on the go via a USB-C power supply at 100 watts as well as RAM tuning and CPU undervolting.

More refreshes and laptops are already being planned according to the 2024 XMG roadmap. At CES, the company is giving a preview of a yet unnamed thin and light model featuring an Intel Core Ultra processor, which will be XMG’s first laptop to do without a dedicated graphics card and instead opts for the powerful, integrated graphics unit of Meteor Lake.

In a recent and very detailed news article, XMG also discusses the current state of development and possible stumbling blocks when it comes to AI functions in laptops – a topic that could become increasingly important in view of current developments.

Freely configure and buy XMG NEO 17

The base configuration of the XMG NEO 17 (E24), which can be freely configured on bestware.com, includes Intel’s Core i9-14900HX, an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060, 16 (2×8) GB DDR5-5600 RAM, a 500 GB SSD, a 240Hz WQXGA IPS display and a silent membrane keyboard. The starting price including 19% VAT is € 1,949.

Upgrades such as to the RTX 4070 (€ 295), RTX 4080 (€ 975), RTX 4090 (€ 1,597) or a mechanical keyboard with CHERRY MX ULP Tactile switches are available for an additional charge. The XMG OASIS (Mk2) continues to be priced at €199 when selected as an optional accessory in the laptop configurator while ordering an XMG NEO 17. Shipping is expected to start from early February (with RTX 4090 and 4080) and from end of March (with RTX 4070 and 4060).