MSI 17.3" Barebone Notebook - Core i5, Core i7 Support - Black

Introducing the MSI 17.3" Barebone Notebook in a sleek black chassis, designed for enthusiasts who crave a highly customizable platform that can be tuned to their exact needs. This 17.3-inch barebone is built to deliver a strong foundation for gaming, content creation, and demanding multitasking, while giving you the freedom to choose the CPU, memory, and storage that fit your budget and preferences. With a vivid Full HD display, a capable NVIDIA GeForce GTX970M discrete GPU, and a substantial 32 GB of installed memory, this barebone notebook stands out as a flexible upgrade canvas. Its robust build, practical cooling approach, and accessible upgrade paths make it an appealing choice for hobbyists and professionals who want a portable workstation that can scale as their requirements evolve. The black finish gives it a timeless, professional look that blends in with any workspace, dorm room, or office setup. In short, this MSI barebone chassis is more than a shell—it’s a launchpad for your perfect laptop configuration, ready to house your CPU choice from Core i5 to Core i7, your preferred RAM mix, and the storage you rely on every day.

• 17.3" Full HD display with a crisp 1920 x 1080 resolution, delivering sharp text, vibrant colors, and immersive visuals for gaming and multimedia work.
• Dedicated NVIDIA GeForce GTX970M graphics provide solid performance for modern titles at medium-to-high settings and GPU-accelerated tasks, helping you stay productive and entertained on the go.
• 32 GB of installed memory to support heavy multitasking, large datasets, and memory-intensive applications, with room to grow as your workloads intensify.
• Serial ATA (SATA) controller enables flexible storage options, accommodating 2.5" SSDs or HDDs for fast boot times and ample storage capacity, ideal for projects, games, and media libraries.
• Core i5 and Core i7 processor compatibility, offering a versatile upgrade path in a barebone chassis; CPU is not included in the base unit, allowing you to tailor performance and price to your needs.

Technical Details of MSI 17.3" Barebone Notebook - Core i5, Core i7 Support - Black

• Display: 17.3-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080) LCD with clear, bright visuals and wide viewing angles for gaming, editing, and multimedia.
• Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970M discrete GPU, providing capable gaming performance and GPU-accelerated tasks within the notebook chassis.
• Memory: 32 GB installed RAM, designed to handle heavy multitasking, large-scale applications, and parallel workloads with ease.
• Storage Interface: Serial ATA (SATA) controller supporting 2.5" drives, enabling flexible storage configurations with SSDs or HDDs to suit performance and capacity needs.
• CPU Compatibility: Supports Intel Core i5 and Core i7 processors; CPU, memory modules, and storage drives may be added or upgraded according to user requirements (CPU not included).
• Chassis and Finish: Black barebone notebook enclosure optimized for upgradeability, cooling efficiency, and a streamlined aesthetic suitable for travel and mobile use.

how to install MSI 17.3" Barebone Notebook

• Prepare your parts: choose a compatible Intel Core i5 or Core i7 processor, decide on memory configuration (up to 32 GB appears pre-installed in this unit), and select a 2.5" SATA SSD or HDD for storage. Ensure you have the motherboard manual and thermal paste if required for your CPU choice.
• Open the chassis: follow the MSI barebone manual to access the motherboard area, RAM slots, and storage bay. Use proper electrostatic discharge precautions to protect sensitive components.
• Install the CPU: insert the chosen Core i5/i7 processor into the CPU socket, apply the correct amount of thermal paste if your cooler requires it, and secure the heatsink or cooling block as instructed by the motherboard documentation.
• Install RAM and storage: seat the 32 GB RAM modules (or adjust to your desired configuration) into the DIMM slots until they click into place. Mount a 2.5" SATA SSD or HDD into the drive bay and connect the SATA data and power cables to the motherboard and PSU or backplane as directed by the chassis layout.
• Power up and configure: reassemble the chassis, connect the power adapter, and boot into the BIOS/UEFI to verify CPU, RAM, and storage recognition. Install your preferred operating system, then install chipset, graphics, and other drivers from MSI or Intel to optimize performance and stability.

Frequently asked questions

• Q: Is this a complete laptop out of the box, or is it a barebone that requires additional components?

  A: This unit is a barebone notebook designed to be customized with your own CPU (Core i5 or i7), RAM, and storage. It ships with 32 GB of RAM installed, but the CPU and any additional drives or OS may need to be added by the user or a technician to complete the build.

• Q: Does it come with an operating system pre-installed?

  A: Operating system inclusion is not specified for this barebone configuration. Most barebones do not include an OS by default, so you would typically install your preferred OS after configuring the hardware.

• Q: Can I upgrade the memory beyond 32 GB?

  A: The description indicates 32 GB installed, with the system designed to support Core i5/i7 configurations and standard barebone upgrade paths. For exact maximum RAM capacity and supported memory speeds, refer to the motherboard specifications in the MSI manual for this chassis model.

• Q: Is the GTX 970M suitable for current games at 1080p?

  A: The GTX 970M is a discrete mobile GPU capable of delivering solid 1080p gaming experiences at medium-to-high settings on many titles from its era, and it remains capable for a broad library of games with settings adjusted. Performance will depend on your CPU choice, RAM configuration, and thermals managed in the final build.

• Q: What kind of storage options are supported?

  A: The unit includes a Serial ATA (SATA) controller that supports 2.5" drives, enabling you to install SSDs or HDDs. This gives you the flexibility to prioritize speed with an SSD or maximize capacity with a hard drive, or combine multiple drives if the chassis layout allows.