MSI Crosshair A16 HX Power Adapter May Be Cutting It Close for Heavy Gaming
Choosing the right charger for a high-performance gaming laptop is more important than many buyers realize. A power adapter that is too weak can limit charging speed, increase heat, or leave little room for the system to operate comfortably under demanding workloads. That appears to be the case with the MSI Crosshair A16 HX, which ships with a 240 W AC adapter despite being capable of drawing slightly more power during intense gaming sessions.
In gaming tests, the MSI Crosshair A16 HX can consume close to 250 W on average. That is already above the rated output of the included 240 W charger, meaning the adapter has almost no extra power available when the laptop is pushed hard. For users playing demanding titles while also trying to recharge the battery, this can result in extremely slow charging.
The issue is not necessarily that the laptop cannot game properly with the included adapter, but rather that the power brick is operating very close to its limit. When a gaming laptop is equipped with power-hungry hardware like the AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX and Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070, it needs plenty of energy to maintain strong CPU and GPU performance. If the adapter is already maxed out, there is little remaining overhead for battery charging.
Heat is another noticeable side effect. During demanding gameplay, such as running Cyberpunk 2077, the 240 W AC adapter can become significantly warmer than expected. Surface temperatures have been measured at nearly 60°C, which is hotter than the typical 45°C to 50°C range seen from many gaming laptop power adapters under similar loads.
A more powerful 280 W charger would likely provide a better balance for this type of hardware. With the extra wattage, the laptop would have more room to maintain peak performance while also charging the battery at a healthier rate. It could also reduce stress on the adapter, potentially keeping temperatures more manageable during long gaming sessions.
However, there is a trade-off. A larger power adapter usually means more weight and less portability. For gamers who travel frequently or carry their laptop between work, school, and home, the smaller 240 W brick may be more convenient. It keeps the overall package lighter and easier to transport, which can matter just as much as raw performance for some users.
The MSI Crosshair A16 HX seems to sit in the middle of this compromise. The included 240 W adapter is compact enough for easier travel, but it may feel underpowered for users who expect full-performance gaming and faster charging at the same time. Those who mainly play while plugged in and do not need the battery to recharge quickly may not notice much of an issue. But performance-focused buyers should be aware that the charger has very little overhead when the system is under heavy load.
For a gaming laptop built around a Ryzen 9 processor and RTX 5070 graphics, power delivery matters. The MSI Crosshair A16 HX offers strong performance potential, but its 240 W AC adapter appears to be just barely enough for the job. A higher-capacity charger would have made the system more flexible for demanding users, even if it came at the cost of extra bulk.
