An unexpected and clever guest arrived at the editorial office — the MSI Crosshair 15 gaming laptop, this time in a Rainbow Six Extraction themed edition. The device stood out immediately thanks to its unusual design, since special edition laptops are not everyday sights. Here is a deeper look in our review.
The Crosshair 15 R6E B12UEZ packs a 14-core Intel Core i7-12700H and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 with 6GB of video memory. While this combination may not top the charts for raw performance, it remains a solid choice for modern gaming laptops that aim to balance power and portability.
More about the model
Appearance
The collaboration between MSI and Ubisoft results in one of the most vibrant laptops on the market. The edition’s design diverges sharply from the base Crosshair 15, which arrives in a restrained titanium gray. This unit sports a bold mix of yellow and green accents and carries references to Rainbow Six Extraction. Fans of the shooter will recognize REACT emblems and inscriptions tied to a group tasked with fighting the Chimera parasite.
The packaging mirrors the laptop’s aesthetic, and the included mouse and pad echo the same motif. The overall presentation on a desk becomes instantly striking — bright devices stand out, and purists of gray or black gear may find them visually striking against the crowd.
For those who aren’t fans of Rainbow Six Extraction, the look might feel bold at first glance. Yet the designers integrated industrial design cues reminiscent of Cyberpunk 2077, making the laptop appealing beyond the game’s fans. The top cover uses a black metal surface, while the center displays an illuminated yellow REACT logo in place of the usual MSI mark.
The main chassis features a yellow-green gradient with a distinct insert in the lower right corner bearing the game’s logo. The keyboard is backlit, and the WASD block is crafted from a transparent material to emphasize the familiar gaming keys.
On the left edge are the USB 3.2 port, USB 2.0 port, and the power jack. A grille nearby reveals the airflow that cools the interior. On the right are a combo 3.5mm jack, USB 3.2, USB Type-C, HDMI, and Ethernet. The notebook supports Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2.
Rear view shows only cooling grilles and honeycomb-shaped air intakes at the bottom. The cooling system — Cooler Boost 5 with copper tubes — is visible through the air inlets. The battery capacity is 53.5 Wh, and the kit includes a 240 W Chicony power supply.
Specifications
- Display: 15.6 inches, 1920×1080, IPS, 144Hz
- Processor: Intel Core i7-12700H, TDP 45W
- Memory: 16GB (2x8GB) DDR4-3200
- Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 6GB GDDR6, 80W TDP
- Disk Subsystem: 512 GB M.2 PCIe SSD
- Sound: 3.5mm combo jack
- Connectivity: LAN 1 Gbps, Wi-Fi 6 802.11ax, Bluetooth v5.2
- Ports: Type-C USB 3.2 Gen1, Type-A USB 2.0, 2x Type-A USB 3.2 Gen1, HDMI
- Battery: 53.5 Wh, 3-cell
- Dimensions: 359 (W) × 259 (D) × 26.99 (H) mm
- Weight: 2.3 kg
- Prices: available via the link
Performance. Synthetic Testing
The laptop was evaluated in synthetic benchmarks including Cinebench R23, CPU-Z, and CrystalDiskMark, with screenshots captured to illustrate results.
Power was also tested in 3DMark, covering Time Spy, Time Spy Extreme, Fire Strike Extreme, Fire Strike Ultra, Port Royal, CPU Profile, and Storage Benchmark to gauge SSD loading speeds.
Performance. Game Tests
All game tests were conducted in the maximum performance mode set via MSI Center. Processor temperature reached around 90 degrees, yet the keyboard area remained comfortable to touch. Left-handed users may feel warm air from the left rear exhaust. The GPU temperature rarely exceeded 80 degrees.
Cyberpunk 2077, CD Projekt RED’s long-running title, received a 1.6 patch in September with fixes and optimizations. The laptop was pushed to its limits to explore the patch’s impact.
The game struggled to maintain a stable 60 FPS at ultra with ray tracing enabled. With ray tracing off, Cyberpunk 2077 delivered a smooth 70–80 FPS range.
Metro Exodus was tested with ultra settings, delivering an average of 58 FPS with tracing and DLSS active. The overall experience remained smooth, and the title often maintained well above 100 FPS in the internal benchmarks.
Rainbow Six Extraction, the network shooter released earlier this year, is not overly demanding for this system. On ultra settings, the game reached about 130–140 FPS, and on high settings around 150 FPS, fully utilizing the display’s 144 Hz refresh rate. While the numbers may not surprise, they demonstrate stable performance for this edition tied to Ubisoft’s project.
Results and prices
The MSI Crosshair 15 R6E B12UEZ may not outpace competing laptops in raw performance, but its design draws attention. The model serves as a dependable workhorse that can handle ray tracing and deliver smooth play in less demanding titles.
Yes, the latest, more demanding games will require some setting adjustments, but online shooters will run at high frame rates, enabling full immersion in gameplay.
Is it possible to work on such a laptop? The answer is yes. It invites comments from people who encounter this distinctive, eye-catching device for the first time, and it left a strong impression.
View prices
KRASIVO. First of all, it’s beautiful. Truly, when was the last time such a design appeared on a laptop?
Awesome. The Crosshair 15 R6E B12UEZ performs well in Rainbow Six Extraction, delivering smooth, clear visuals. The combination of strong gaming performance and a bold, unmistakable design makes it stand out in a crowded market.
Source removed