MSI Claw A1M Core Ultra 7 Handheld Gaming Device 512GB Bundle $699 + Delivery ($0 MEL C&C) @ PC Case Gear

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MSI Claw A1M Core Ultra 7 Handheld Gaming Device 512GB Bundle $699 + Delivery ($0 MEL C&C) @ PC Case Gear
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goldiep on 22/12/2024 - 11:52 pccasegear.com (1977 clicks)
Last edited 22/12/2024 - 12:20 by 1 other user

The last deal seems popular, however this looks like a great deal for MSI Claw A1M Core Ultra 7 512gb handheld Gaming Device AND all the included accessories, including:

1) MSI Claw Accessories Kit
https://www.pccasegear.com/products/66188/msi-claw-accessory…

2) MSI Claw Nest Docking Station
https://www.pccasegear.com/products/66189/msi-claw-nest-dock…

3) MSI Claw 100W PD Type-C AC Adaptor
https://www.pccasegear.com/products/67549/msi-claw-100w-pd-t…

**Before you ask: **
- Yes, these had a problematic launch;
- Reviews say current generation of Ryzen handhelds offer slightly better performance for less power;
- There has been significant improvements of the performance of the devices with the myraid of bios and driver updates since launch;
- Yes, you can wait for next generation next year, with baseline process likely to reflect ~$1500 AUD
- End user experience can seem somewhat subjective - some love these devices, others say stay clear.

For $699 fully kitted, I figure it's not too bad to see for myself as a Christmas present, and worst case, can use as a mini PC.

Comments, praises, arguments for not buying are welcome! Would love to hear feedback from those that grabbed the Centrecom deal ( I ended up cancelling my order as I accidentally ordered the U5).

The MSI Claw A1M Core Ultra 7 Handheld Gaming Device bundle offers a powerful portable gaming experience, equipped with everything you need to game on the go. This bundle includes the MSI Claw A1M with a 512GB storage capacity, allowing for a vast game library. Paired with the MSI Claw Accessory Kit, gamers get added protection and convenience through a durable travel case, a 7-inch tempered glass screen protector, a stylish lanyard, and keychain. The 100W PD Type-C AC Adaptor provides fast, reliable charging, while the MSI Claw Nest Docking Station ensures easy connectivity for a versatile, seamless gaming setup at home or on the move.

Computing Computer Game Console Handheld Computer MSI

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Comments

  • Jaduqimon on 22/12/2024 - 11:55
    +9

    Needs to be sub 500 to be considered.

    • kaikor on 22/12/2024 - 11:58
      +2

      Yep, if $499 including all these packs I will bite !!!

      • Jaduqimon on 22/12/2024 - 12:04
        +1

        Yep hard to swallow 699 when rog ally was 722 ATL…

        • goldiep on 22/12/2024 - 12:28
          +1

          I played the Ally, but it felt super cheap and the ergonomics were horrible. Could get past this if the performance was mild ahead I guess.

  • kaikor on 22/12/2024 - 11:56

    Wish they can just offset the accessory packs prices onto the Claw itself will be wonderful, looks like they must be sh|t load of these accessories piling up no one buying too!
    Does it really need that 100W charger at all? The 65W comes with it not good enough?

    • GUYANDSON on 22/12/2024 - 11:59

      Note: the MAX charging speed of MSI Claw is 65W

      lol so no. The docking station is neat but that's about it by the looks.

      • kaikor on 22/12/2024 - 12:01

        What a joke that 100W charger RRP is $149 ! No wonder they need to give it away !

    • goldiep on 22/12/2024 - 12:25

      Would be nice!

  • Butt Scratcher on 22/12/2024 - 12:15

    Comments, praises, arguments for not buying are welcome! Would love to hear feedback from those that grabbed the Centrecom deal ( I ended up cancelling my order as I accidentally ordered the U5).

    It's been great for me so far.

    For context on why I bought it

    Initially I had bought a ~$100 gamsir g8+ controller to play on my phone (mostly to play ZZZ). Bought the U5 version instead for an extra $450 (sold off the g8+), saves some phone space + you can do a bunch of other stuff like emulation. I was planning to use an old phone for emulation, but I'm just going to sell it now

    I mainly play ZZZ on it so far + tested some emulation. Kinda glad I got this instead of playing on my phone, the quality of mobile games (on max settings) on a phone is heavily downgraded, even compared to low settings on PC.

    Everything has performed about expected, they also dropped a new bios patch a few days ago, which noticeably helped with stutter. I used to play on the 30w mode for the stutters to go away during fights on ZZZ, now the 20w mode is just as stutter free as the 30w mode.

    Buttons feel great, quite comparable to PS4/PS5 controller imo

    • goldiep on 22/12/2024 - 12:26

      I've played a bit in store - I really liked the LEGION Go, but the ergonomics and quality of the claw were the best of all the handheld devices, except maybe the Rog X (which was $1500).

      • Butt Scratcher on 22/12/2024 - 12:37

        Were you able to compare the speakers too?

        I don't know if its typical, but the speakers on the claw are crazy good IMO. Easily the best I've heard on a mobile device (laptops included). It's sometimes a bit distracting when the sound vibrates through the device though.

        I usually prefer headphones, but find myself preferring to use the speakers instead. I turn down the fan/performance mode, just to hear it better

        • goldiep on 22/12/2024 - 13:03

          Yes - everyone raves about the speakers, but in my household (with all the family shenanigans and people/kids sleeping at different times) I imagine it will be mostly headphones, lol!

      • kaikor on 22/12/2024 - 12:55

        Yeah same, saw Claw & Go side by side, maybe my old eyes, immediately I would prefer the Go instead becoz of the bigger screen …

        • goldiep on 22/12/2024 - 13:02

          That's the allure, lol. And the detachable controllers (which might be a bit gimmicky, but perhaps could be good for a Switch like experience)?

          • azukay on 22/12/2024 - 14:15
            +1

            @goldiep: One thing I like about the Legion Go is if you are using an external controller you don't have to goto the controller settings to change primary controller. You just toggle the FPS mode switch and then your external controller becomes the primary. I do that when the Go is docked and using an external screen.

    • CyberMurning on 22/12/2024 - 14:11

      What is ZZZ?

      • Twisty on 22/12/2024 - 15:22

        I think playing in bed

  • DrScavenger on 22/12/2024 - 12:18

    Pretty good deal imo

  • fastnet on 22/12/2024 - 12:48
    +4

    I’ve got the Core Ultra 7 1TB model. After updating all the drivers and installing the latest Intel ARC driver from Intel’s website, I did some testing.

    Given all the negative comments online, I was ready to be disappointed, but it’s actually better than expected. I played Doom Eternal on 1080p Nightmare settings, and it ran super smoothly at over 60 fps with no stutter. I also tried Control, which had some stutter at 1080p low, but dropping the resolution a bit made it very playable.

    The ergonomics are excellent. I’ve used the Steam Deck before, and this feels much better in hand. The screen is sharp and vibrant. Battery life while gaming is around 2 hours. It's not perfect, but nowhere near as bad as people make it out to be. At this price point it’s a solid buy.

    That said, since this is basically a Windows laptop in a handheld form factor, you get the usual Windows quirks. e.g.,

    • Windows Update overwrote the latest Intel ARC driver with an older version.
    • I tried booting into Safe Mode to use DDU and got locked out with a “Something happened and your PIN isn’t available” error. I had to use CMD to remove the Safe Boot option from the boot configuration to get back in.

    To me, this is a device for enthusiasts who enjoy tinkering. It takes some work to mess with Windows, get everything set up, and deal with potential issues (like a Windows Update breaking things again). I’ve paused Windows Update for now so I can just enjoy using it.

    And don’t forget - if you plug this into a USB-C monitor or dock, it’s an instant PC! Perfect for doing all your computer things.

    • goldiep on 22/12/2024 - 13:00

      Thanks for the feedback! Great to hear your experience - when, and from who did you buy?

      Is there much of a community for these devices? I'm wondering what habits MSI have with updates, given the new claw is in the horizon.

      • fastnet on 22/12/2024 - 13:15
        +1

        I got it from the Centre Com (or is it Con? lol) deal that was posted here a while ago.

        The r/MSIClaw subreddit has some great tips and tricks including BIOS tweaks and more. The MSI support site and forums are also solid resources. They’re constantly updating drivers and putting in a lot of effort to make it work.

        • goldiep on 22/12/2024 - 17:45
          +1

          Good to know!

          Thanks for all the information and taking the time to respond - greatly appreciated 🙂👍

      • User7699 on 22/12/2024 - 20:52

        The device is basically a mini laptop with controller attach to it instead of keyboard.

        Software wise, with the exception of controller/light, it just standard laptop/pc hardware. You can do a fresh install of windows or whatever OS (assuming they have upated their driver support). So you really need to rely on Msi for the controller/light. I would expect other will provide alternative instead of the MSI one in the future. The software agreement for them is sickening that I refused to use MSI software.

        Windows 11 installation usb doesn't have driver support to access the nvme & wifi, so you will need to source drive for them. Afterward windows download the driver for the rest.

        To get into advance/hidden bios, hold down the four keys while in the bios, "left control", "left shift", "right alt" and F2.

    • CyberMurning on 22/12/2024 - 15:22

      you plug this into a USB-C monitor or dock, it’s an instant PC!

      Comparable to what? Intel 9th gen laptop with igpu, or better?

      • fastnet on 22/12/2024 - 19:13

        This essentially has Intel 14th Gen Meteor Lake (Core Ultra series 1) laptop components. The GPU is an Intel ARC based iGPU, which is a big step up from Intel’s older iGPUs. It’s comparable to newer AMD APUs in performance - sometimes better, sometimes slightly worse, depending on the game.

    • FujinShu on 22/12/2024 - 16:10
      +2

      Have you heard of the handheld PC gamers' lord and saviour, Bazzite, perchance?

      Seriously, if you want more of a "set it and forget it" gaming experience on a handheld PC, wipe/backup your Windows installation and install Bazzite instead.

      • MayhemVC on 23/12/2024 - 01:14
        +1

        Bazzite is super smooth on AMD GPUs. It can be hit and miss on Intel Arc GPUs. I have 2 AMD based gaming PCs and I put Bazzite on my NUC12 Enthusiast but ended up putting Windows back on and turning it into a work PC (does a great job!).

  • xyron on 22/12/2024 - 12:57
    +3

    I still reckon the $599 deal from JW is the way to go. No discernible difference in gaming performance between the u5 and u7 models and the JW variant comes with 1tb (yes they're upgradable but it also looks like a pain in the ass to do).

    • kaikor on 22/12/2024 - 12:59

      Aren't you just can stick another 512gb micro sd card in it will do?

      • xyron on 22/12/2024 - 13:10

        You could, but even the fastest micro Sd cards are slower than nvme storage. And you'll have still spent more on this deal.

        Grab a $10 case and $3 screen protector from Aliexpress and job done.

    • goldiep on 22/12/2024 - 13:06

      Thanks for the feedback. I couldn't t over the mental hurdle for the $799 package just for an extra 512gb. $699 was the sweet spot for me - will manage the future requirements at some point with an upgrade!

      • xyron on 22/12/2024 - 13:11

        But the JW deal is $599, not $799…the math ain't mathing here.

        • kaikor on 22/12/2024 - 13:25

          $599 includes no bonus accessories packs …

          • xyron on 22/12/2024 - 16:03

            @kaikor: … Which aren't worth another $100.

      • CyberMurning on 22/12/2024 - 14:17

        Yeah i rather get another 512gb than all these included accessories

    • MayhemVC on 23/12/2024 - 01:15

      Yeah the U5 seems to outperform the U7 in some instances. May have changed since the driver updates.

  • Guybrush57 on 22/12/2024 - 13:10
    +2

    I feel absolutely shit paying full price for the unit, the accessory kit, and the docking station at launch which was only 6-9 months ago. I wish there was a recourse.

    • goldiep on 22/12/2024 - 13:16
      +1

      Feel for you mate.

      • Guybrush57 on 22/12/2024 - 13:23

        <3

        • CyberMurning on 22/12/2024 - 14:18
          +2

          Just brush it off Guy, guybrush.
          Any personal review on the unit for us?

          • misterpotatomato on 22/12/2024 - 16:22
            +1

            @CyberMurning: I find it hilarious that not only is he in the hole for how much extra paid for it, but for the free time you want him to invest in reviewing it

          • Guybrush57 on 22/12/2024 - 19:28
            +2

            @CyberMurning: Reviews:

            • The bundle in this deal for $2000+ earlier this year: Terrible :(
            • The bundle in this deal for $799 now: Great :)
    • fastnet on 22/12/2024 - 13:20

      You win some, you lose some! If you're looking for recourse, maybe just face the wall and cry in the corner for a bit lol But hey, at least you got to enjoy it for a few months right?

    • kaikor on 22/12/2024 - 13:26

      oops that really hurts, sorry to hear that …

    • User7699 on 22/12/2024 - 13:29
      +1

      Put it this way. You paid the premium for the 6-9 months of usage. Most new tech tend to devalue as a function of time.

      If you have waited, under what condition would the wait be over? The wait can be endless since there's a better condition around the corner.

      You can look at the glass being half empty, or half full. Be happy with the time you had the device while other look at you in envy.

      • Guybrush57 on 22/12/2024 - 13:36

        Whilst it's true I've had the device for a while, it was not ready for launch with poor performance and bugs galore. It has only become somewhat stable now. I guess I won't be buying the MSI Claw A8+ or whatever it's called until it is a third of the price too. If that never happens then no more Claws for me after being burnt by their first attempt.

        • CyberMurning on 22/12/2024 - 14:20
          +2

          Yeah first edition rarely a good buy. Look at zfold 1, oculus 1, probably iphone 1, wife no 1… and so on…

          • User7699 on 22/12/2024 - 20:17
            +1

            @CyberMurning: Yes, but for those not in the know, they will be green with envy.

            Was trying to comfort guybrush you know….

            Anyway Msi claw with all the update isn't that bad at current price imho. Not like what happen with the initial rog ally and the killer micro sd… don't think a software update could fix that.

    • The Value on 22/12/2024 - 18:59

      But why?

      The reviews were all so negative.

      • Guybrush57 on 22/12/2024 - 19:30
        +1

        Bought before launch. There were no reviews.

    • MayhemVC on 23/12/2024 - 01:17

      I paid $1250 for my OLED Steam Deck. Now available locally for $850. Can't say I regret it though.

  • CyberMurning on 22/12/2024 - 14:23

    I hope the second hand price can be $400 and i will bite one….

  • UserNotaBotIPromise on 22/12/2024 - 14:26
    -1

    I wouldn't recommend the claw, personally. I bought it on the JW sale and it isn't that much better than a phone. It can't run a lot of games and the games it does run have a constant stutter, even when you're getting 60fps.

    • kaikor on 22/12/2024 - 14:55

      Thanks for letting us know, really hate the feel of stuttering.

    • Twisty on 22/12/2024 - 15:26

      I watched a video of someone playing Fortnite and it looked smooth

    • Miata9 on 22/12/2024 - 16:04

      thanks for saving me from stutters, almost pulled the trigger

    • Freestyle on 24/12/2024 - 03:55
      +1

      what games are you talking about? A phone cant run my steam library

      • 11112007 on 27/12/2024 - 08:41

        Exactly. What a stupid comment right?

  • Twisty on 22/12/2024 - 17:21
    +2

    Under $500 for the Ultra 7 and I’m all over it

    • 11112007 on 27/12/2024 - 08:40

      $529 for the Ultra 5 at Costco. There's no graphical difference between Ultra 5 and 7. The only difference is the addition 2 CPU cores which people on reddit have been disabling via the hidden BIOS haha…..

  • Freestyle on 23/12/2024 - 06:02
    +1

    i'll pull the trigger if it ever reaches 499 ish

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