A gaming notebook which features the new NVIDIA GTX 960M and Intel’s Core i7-4720HQ. Should this notebook be on your short-list?
Product on Review GE72 2QD Apache
Manufacturer & Sponsor: MSI
Street Price: £1000 GBP/ $1400 USD
Gaming on-the-go is an ever increasing leisure activity and while some desktop computers are easy to transport to events the notebook still retains a stronghold on portable gaming. In order to match, or even better a desktop computer, it’s essential for a gaming notebook to feature the very best hardware. Many brands fail to update their notebooks with the very latest technology, but one company which are keen to keep up with current trends and technologies are MSI.
MSI has used the launch of NVIDIA’s new GTX 960M to unveil their GE72 2QD Apache. As well as featuring this new GPU, GE72 also utilises Intel’s Core i7-4720HQ and a whole host of innovative hardware and features.
About MSI
Micro-Star International Co., Ltd (MSI) was established in August 1986 in Jhonghe, Taipei by 5 founders, one of the world’s largest information technology manufacturers with more than 12,700 employees, including those in Taipei headquarters, Baoan Plant (Shenzhen), Kunshan Plant and sales staff around the world.
MSI started from the motherboard and graphics card industries and extended into consumer and commerical electronics including notebooks, All-in-One PCs, servers, workstations, industrial PCs, household appliances, car infotainment products, barebone systems, multimedia, communication devices, and others.
MSI started from the motherboard and graphics card industries and extended into consumer and commerical electronics including notebooks, All-in-One PCs, servers, workstations, industrial PCs, household appliances, car infotainment products, barebone systems, multimedia, communication devices, and others.
Technical Specifcations
– OS: Windows 8.1
– CPU: Sharkbay Core i7-4720HQ (2.6GHz – 3.6GHz)
– Display: 17.3″ FHD, Anti-Glare (1920*1080) eDP Wide View angle
– Memory Supplied: 8GB
– Memory Type: DDR3L
– Memory Speed: 1600
– Max Memory Support: 16GB
– Graphics Chipset: NVIDIA GeForce GTX960M
– Graphics Memory: GDDR5 2GB
– Storage: 1 x 128GB M.2 SSD + 1TB 7200RPM
– Keyboard Type: SteelSeries FULL back lit keyboard with SteelSeries Engine
– USB3.0 Ports: 3
– USB 2.0 port: 1
– HDMI Port(s): 1(v1.4b), Support 4Kx2K Output
– Mini Display port(s): 1, Support FHD 120HZ, 4K 60Hz
– LAN Port(s): 1
– Microphone Jack(s): 1
– Headphone Jack(s) (SPDIF): 1
– Line-in: 1
– Super Multi (9.5mm)
– Card Reader: SD (XC/HC)
– Audio: – Audio Sound by Dynaudio, Support 7.1 channel SPDIF output, Exclusive Audio Boost technology, Nahimic sound
– LAN: Killer™ E2200 Game Networking LAN
– Wireless: 802.1ac
– Bluetooth: V4.1
– Webcam: HD type (30fps@720p)
– Security: Kensington Lock
– Battery: 6-Cell Li-Polymer(60Wh)
– Dimension: 383 x 260 x 27mm
– Weight: 2.4kg(w/ battery)
– Warranty : 2 YR’s Collect & Return (1 YR Global)
– CPU: Sharkbay Core i7-4720HQ (2.6GHz – 3.6GHz)
– Display: 17.3″ FHD, Anti-Glare (1920*1080) eDP Wide View angle
– Memory Supplied: 8GB
– Memory Type: DDR3L
– Memory Speed: 1600
– Max Memory Support: 16GB
– Graphics Chipset: NVIDIA GeForce GTX960M
– Graphics Memory: GDDR5 2GB
– Storage: 1 x 128GB M.2 SSD + 1TB 7200RPM
– Keyboard Type: SteelSeries FULL back lit keyboard with SteelSeries Engine
– USB3.0 Ports: 3
– USB 2.0 port: 1
– HDMI Port(s): 1(v1.4b), Support 4Kx2K Output
– Mini Display port(s): 1, Support FHD 120HZ, 4K 60Hz
– LAN Port(s): 1
– Microphone Jack(s): 1
– Headphone Jack(s) (SPDIF): 1
– Line-in: 1
– Super Multi (9.5mm)
– Card Reader: SD (XC/HC)
– Audio: – Audio Sound by Dynaudio, Support 7.1 channel SPDIF output, Exclusive Audio Boost technology, Nahimic sound
– LAN: Killer™ E2200 Game Networking LAN
– Wireless: 802.1ac
– Bluetooth: V4.1
– Webcam: HD type (30fps@720p)
– Security: Kensington Lock
– Battery: 6-Cell Li-Polymer(60Wh)
– Dimension: 383 x 260 x 27mm
– Weight: 2.4kg(w/ battery)
– Warranty : 2 YR’s Collect & Return (1 YR Global)
Packaging & Bundle
GE72 is presented in a stylish and well-designed box which has a convenient carry handle for transportation. As you would expect, all of the associated technologies and features are listed on the box and we’re reminded by the dragon emblem that this particular notebook is from MSI’s gaming range.
Inside the box MSI has carefully concealed GE72 in a fabric sleeve for additional protection during transit and each of the bundled accessories has been sectioned off into cardboard compartments. It’s nice to see MSI taking extra care with the packaging.
Opening the box up, the bundle consists of just a few items which include the following:
• Documentation – Quick Start Guide, Warranty Book, Hot Key, Registration
• DC Charging Unit with plug
• Driver/Utilities CD
Closer Look
Following in the footsteps of previous notebook models, the GE72 adopts a professional looking brushed aluminium lid which really makes the notebook stand out. Rather than attaching a flat lid, MSI has engineered two accents on either side to create a sleek concave. In the centre there is an MSI gaming emblem which lights up when the notebook is powered on.
From the above pictures it’s evident how aesthetically pleasing this notebook is. MSI has placed the build quality and styling at the top of priorities.
Flipping GE72 over, we have five rubber feet to prevent the unit from sliding on smooth surfaces. There are various areas which feature ventilation cut-outs for the internal components to have an outlet for heat dissipation.
The reverse also features the serial number and technical details in case you need to contact MSI for support.
Over on the left edge of the notebook there is a wide selection of functionality. From left to right we have:
• Kensington lock support
• Ethernet Gigabit LAN port (w/ Killer E2200)
• 1x USB 3.0 port
• HDMI port
• Mini DisplayPort
• 2x USB 3.0 ports
• Gold plated headphone/microphone jacks
It’s great to see MSI completely replacing the USB 2.0 ports on this side with the 10x faster USB 3.0 ports and it’s also pleasing to see the option to output to external displays (4K resolutions) via HDMI or Mini DisplayPort.
While on the alternate side there are just a few features.
There is a Bluray drive, a single USB 2.0 port, an SD card reader (supporting SC/XC) and the AC power port which working in conjunction with the supplied power pack.
On the next page we’ll be continuing our exploration of GE72.
Closer Look (Continued)
Opening the lid we have a large 17.3″ FHD, Anti-Glare screen which provides a maximum resolution of 1920×1080. At the very top of this screen MSI has included a 1080p webcam which is handy if you’re on-the-go and need to engage in any Skype conference calls.
The luxurious brushed aluminium styling continues to the area around the keyboard which incidentally consists of a collaboration with SteelSeries. GE72 features a full-back lit keyboard which takes advantage of SteelSeries Engine.
MSI and SteelSeries have worked together in the past and the relationship works well. The eagle eyed among you will also notice that GE72 also uses Dynaudio to enhance the sound output on this notebook.
In the past we’ve criticised the way in which MSI has engineered their touchpads but we’re pleased to see GE72 uses an improved design which oozes quality and precision.
GE72’s hardware specification
Inside GE72 we have the following core components:
• CPU Intel Core i7-4720HQ (2.6GHz – 3.6GHz)
• Memory 8GBGB 1600MHZ DDR3
• GPU NVIDIA GTX 960M 2GB GDDR5
• HDDs 128GB M.2 SSD + 1TB 7200RPM
As you can see, GE72 features a whole host of impressive hardware, including the newly released NVIDIA GTX 960M. The M.2 SSD has been configured to be the OS drive whilst the larger capacity can be used for main storage.
Overall, we’re impressed by what MSI has brought to the table in the GE72 but we need to benchmark this notebook before reaching a verdict. On the subsequent pages we’ll be putting GE72 through its paces to establish whether this notebook is a true champion!
Benchmarks: Temperatures, Boot Time & Battery Uptime
For our first benchmark tests we observe the max. CPU/GPU temperatures of the system during 3DMark and THIEF. We also monitor how quickly the notebook boots into Windows 8.1 using a digital stopwatch. Battery uptime is another aspect which is observed… in its idle state (not performing any tasks) – uptime will be affected when the notebook is used, so expect less than the recorded result below.
Benchmarks: Cinebench R15
CINEBENCH can measure systems with up to 64 processor threads. This test scene contains approximately 2,000 objects which in turn contain more than 300,000 polygons in total, and uses sharp and blurred reflections, area lights, shadows, procedural shaders, antialiasing, and much more. The result is displayed in points (pts). The higher the number, the faster your processor is.
Benchmarks: X264 HD
Simply put, this test measures how fast your machine can encode a short, DVD quality MPEG-2 video clip into a high-quality x264 video clip. What’s x264, you ask? It’s more or less the next-generation Xvid/DivX codec. We think it’s ideal for a benchmark because the application (x264.exe) reports fairly accurate compression results (in frames per second) for each pass of the video encoding process and it uses multi-core processors very efficiently.
Benchmarks: PCMark 8
PCMark 8 combines performance benchmarking with battery life measurement and includes tests based on popular Adobe and Microsoft applications. Whether you are looking for long battery life, or maximum power, PCMark 8 will help you find the devices that offer the perfect combination of efficiency and performance for your needs. It’s the complete PC performance benchmark for home and business.
Benchmarks: 3DMark & Heaven 4.0
The new 3DMark includes everything you need to benchmark your hardware. With three all new tests you can bench everything from smartphones and tablets, to notebooks and home PCs, to the latest high-end, multi-GPU gaming desktops. And it’s not just for Windows. With 3DMark you can compare your scores with Android and iOS devices too. It’s the most powerful and flexible 3DMark we’ve ever created.
Benchmarks: Far Cry 4, Assassin’s Creed Unity, BF4, THIEF
Our MSI GE72 uses GTX 960M for graphics delivery. To test how effective the 3D capabilities are, we use the benchmarking tool within THIEF and FRAPS in Far Cry 4, AC Unity and BF4 to obtain average framerate
Conclusion
As we’ve found previously, MSI is not only serious about their notebook product lines but they are passionate also. The GE72 typifies this; both with the luxurious and classy build quality and the comprehensive partner technologies and features.
GE72 supplies a generous amount of ports to access data and to output to larger displays. MSI has partnered with SteelSeries again for their new lineup of notebooks and the option to have a backlit keyboard is always a nice perk, especially when the SteelSeries Engine provides the ability to fine-tune and tweak the keys.
The Dynaudio 4.1 configuration that MSI has included with GE72 is extraordinary. To fully understand just how impressive the audio quality is, it’s necessary to actually experience it but we can certainly verify that is enhances all types of media such as music, movies and games.
There are a number of supplementary features included with GE72 which some users may not use but nevertheless it’s great to see them included. For those who are serious about gaming, MSI include an extensive software suite which includes XSplit Gamecaster and Miracast. Super Raid is also integral to this notebook – though we only have a single SSD under this configuration, there is always the possibility to take advantage of Super Raid by expanding the storage solutions and installing another.
From a performance standpoint, although the GTX 960M demonstrates minor improvements over its predecessor GPU, GE72 can handle all of the current gaming titles at high detail. For a mid-range GPU it offers decent performance.
In the past some have noted on our MSI notebook videos that temperatures have been concerning on previous editions but the GE72, as demonstrated in our benchmarks, causes no such concern. Under extreme load the notebook remains within the realms of safe temperatures and the battery life is quite reasonable too.
GE72 is currently priced at £1000 GBP/ $1400 USD and just as we’ve mentioned before, prices are likely to be higher at launch. In the coming weeks we expect GE72 to dip just below the £1000 mark. But even so, considering all the hardware, software and performance that this notebook delivers, the price is quite good.
MSI’s GE72 is another jam-packed notebook. It features the very latest technologies and makes use of a whole host of innovative features. If you’re after a capable mid-range notebook, this is an excellent choice!
VIDEO REVIEW – VORTEZ TV
Pros
+ Impressive design
+ Brilliant build quality
+ Great performance results
+ Can handle most games at high detail
+ Plenty of useful ports
+ Impressive audio quality
+ LED backlit keyboard
Cons
– None!
+ Impressive design
+ Brilliant build quality
+ Great performance results
+ Can handle most games at high detail
+ Plenty of useful ports
+ Impressive audio quality
+ LED backlit keyboard
Cons
– None!
Click here for an explanation of our awards at Vortez.net.
