MSI Megabook V Series
Processor: AMD Athlon 64 X2 TK-57, AMD Athlon X2 QL-62, Intel Celeron M 430, Intel Core 2 Duo T5800, Intel Pentium Dual Core T2330, Intel Pentium Dual Core T3200Graphics Adapter: ATI Radeon Xpress X1200, Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) 4500MHD, Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) 950, Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) X3100, NVIDIA GeForce 9100M G, NVIDIA GeForce 9400M (G) / ION (LE)
Display: 12.1 inch, 15.4 inch, 16.0 inch, 17.0 inch, 17.1 inch
Weight: 1.8kg, 1.9kg, 2.5kg, 2.6kg, 2.7kg, 3.5kg
Price: 500, 600, 700, 750 euro
Average of 19 scores (from 23 reviews)
mobility: 47%, workmanship: 53%, ergonomy: 62%, emissions: 67%
MSI Megabook VR600
Specifications
Notebook: MSI Megabook VR600Processor: Intel Celeron M 430
Graphics Adapter: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) 950 128 MB
Display: 15.4 inch, 16:10, 1280x800 pixels
Weight: 2.5kg
Links: MSI homepage MSI notebook section
Average Score:
Average of 5 scores (from 6 reviews)
Source: Chip.de - 2/08
Comparison, , Very Short, Date: 01/31/2008
Rating: Total score: 63% price: 90% performance: 49% features: 79% display: 74% mobility: 49% ergonomy: 81%
Source: c't - 25/07
Comparison, , Long, Date: 11/16/2007
Rating: performance: 40% display: 50% mobility: 40% ergonomy: 40% emissions: 90%
Source: Computerbild
DE→ENSingle Review, , Length Unknown, Date: 06/05/2007
Rating: Total score: 85% price: 90% display: 50%
Source: Notebookjournal
DE→ENSingle Review, online available, Short, Date: 04/24/2007
Rating: Total score: 70% price: 80% performance: 50% features: 50% display: 50% mobility: 30% workmanship: 40%
Source: PC Magazin
DE→ENSingle Review, , Length Unknown, Date: 04/20/2007
Rating: Total score: 64% price: 80%
Source: PCM
NL→ENSingle Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 01/03/2008
Rating: Total score: 80%
MSI Megabook VR601
Specifications
Notebook: MSI Megabook VR601Processor: Intel Pentium Dual Core T2330
Graphics Adapter: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) X3100
Display: 15.4 inch, 16:10, 1280x800 pixels
Weight: 2.6kg
Price: 600 euro
Links: MSI homepage MSI notebook section Megabook VR601 (Model)
Average Score:
Average of 2 scores (from 3 reviews)
Source: e-media - 9/08
Comparison, , Medium, Date: 03/15/2008
Rating: price: 70%
Source: Computerbild - 8/08
Comparison, , Medium, Date: 03/14/2008
Rating: Total score: 87% price: 90% performance: 60%
Source: Notebookjournal
DE→ENSingle Review, online available, Long, Date: 11/26/2007
Rating: Total score: 70% price: 80% performance: 50% features: 30% display: 50% mobility: 50% workmanship: 70% ergonomy: 70%
MSI Megabook VR700
Specifications
Notebook: MSI Megabook VR700Processor: Intel Celeron M 430
Graphics Adapter: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) 950 128 MB
Display: 17.1 inch, 16:10, 1440x900 pixels
Weight: 3.5kg
Price: 700 euro
Links: MSI homepage MSI notebook section Megabook VR700 (Model)
Source: c't - 25/07
Comparison, , Long, Date: 11/16/2007
Rating: performance: 40% display: 50% mobility: 30% ergonomy: 40% emissions: 80%
MSI Megabook VR610
Specifications
Notebook: MSI Megabook VR610Processor: AMD Athlon 64 X2 TK-57
Graphics Adapter: ATI Radeon Xpress X1200
Display: 15.4 inch, 16:10, 1280x800 pixels
Weight: 2.5kg
Price: 500 euro
Links: MSI homepage MSI notebook section
Average Score:
Average of 2 scores (from 3 reviews)
Source: c't - 16/08
Comparison, , Long, Date: 08/15/2008
Rating: performance: 50% features: 70% display: 70% mobility: 40% ergonomy: 70% emissions: 30%
Source: Chip.de - 06/08
Single Review, , Short, Date: 06/01/2008
Rating: Total score: 60% price: 90% mobility: 40%
Source: Computerbild - 8/08
Comparison, , Medium, Date: 03/15/2008
Rating: Total score: 86% price: 90% performance: 60%
MSI Megabook VR201
Specifications
Notebook: MSI Megabook VR201Processor: Intel Pentium Dual Core T2330
Graphics Adapter: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) X3100
Display: 12.1 inch, 16:10, 1280x800 pixels
Weight: 1.9kg
Price: 600 euro
Links: MSI homepage MSI notebook section Megabook VR201 (Model)
Average Score:
Average of 1 scores (from 1 reviews)
Source: Notebookjournal
DE→ENSingle Review, online available, Long, Date: 06/12/2008
Rating: Total score: 70% price: 70% performance: 30% display: 50% mobility: 80% workmanship: 50% ergonomy: 50%
MSI Megabook VR220YA
Specifications
Notebook: MSI Megabook VR220YAProcessor: Intel Pentium Dual Core T3200
Graphics Adapter: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) 4500MHD
Display: 12.1 inch, 16:10, 1280x800 pixels
Weight: 1.8kg
Price: 700 euro
Links: MSI homepage MSI notebook section Megabook VR220YA (Model)
Average Score:
Average of 4 scores (from 4 reviews)
Source: Laptop Mag
Instead of putting a mini-notebook’s insides into a larger case (as with Dell’s Inspiron Mini 12), MSI took the guts of a budget mainstream notebook and crammed them into a 12-inch chassis to create the VR220. And as with most budget systems, you have to expect budget performance. While it costs nearly half as much as more traditional 12-inch notebooks, such as the Lenovo ThinkPad X200, it’s not nearly as light, nor does it have the endurance of those systems. But those machines are meant for road warriors with expense accounts. The MSI VR220 is intended for students who need something relatively light and inexpensive for day-to-day tasks. As long as you can live with its subpar keyboard and relatively large size, MSI’s netbook alternative is worth a look.
3 von 5, Preis gut, Leistung gut, Mobilität mäßig
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 12/15/2008
Rating: Total score: 60% price: 80% performance: 80% mobility: 60%
Source: Com! - 5/09
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 04/15/2009
Rating: Total score: 85% price: 80% performance: 40% features: 80% ergonomy: 80%
Source: Notebook / Organizer / Handy - 3-4/09
Single Review, , Length Unknown, Date: 02/01/2009
Rating: Total score: 80% price: 80% performance: 80% mobility: 80%
Source: mobile Zeit - 2/09
Comparison, online available, Length Unknown, Date: 01/01/2009
Rating: Total score: 68% price: 90%
MSI Megabook VR705
Specifications
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo T5800
Graphics Adapter: NVIDIA GeForce 9400M (G) / ION (LE)
Display: 17.0 inch, 16:10, 1440x900 pixels
Weight: 3.5kg
Price: 750 euro
Links: MSI homepage MSI notebook section
Average Score:
Average of 4 scores (from 4 reviews)
Source: Techradar
MSI have delivered a big screen laptop, but does it offer big performance? The MSI VR705-045UK (£549 inc. VAT) is one of the larger laptops around and its dedicated graphics card makes it an ideal desktop replacement system. With impressive performance and a large screen, the MSI is worth a look if you don't mind sacrificing style or quality. It's not perfect, however, and is worth trying before you buy.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 08/24/2009
Rating: Total score: 60%
Source: Techradar
MSI's 17" has powerful multimedia credentials, but lacks the quality of its rivals. Overall, it's impossible to recommend the MSI VR705 over some of the other laptops around. The large screen and good multimedia performance will appeal to some, but it's severely let down by the poor quality materials and the worst keyboard we have used in some time.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 05/20/2009
Rating: Total score: 50%
Source: Comp Reviews
Those looking for a higher performance laptop for under $700 and are not as concerned about the size of the laptop should look into the MSI VR705. Sure, the 17-inch screen makes it larger and heavier than most budget laptops but it also allows for it to have a higher resolution and fit a numeric keypad. With its 4GB of fast DDR2 memory and the NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics, performance certainly won't be an issue either.
80, Leistung 80, Mobilität 40
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 04/16/2009
Rating: Total score: 80% performance: 80% mobility: 40%
Source: PCM
NL→ENSingle Review, online available, Short, Date: 08/17/2009
Rating: Total score: 80%
MSI Megabook VR630
Specifications
Notebook: MSI Megabook VR630Processor: AMD Athlon X2 QL-62
Graphics Adapter: NVIDIA GeForce 9100M G
Display: 16.0 inch, 16:9, 1366x768 pixels
Weight: 2.7kg
Price: 500 euro
Links: MSI homepage MSI notebook section
Average Score:
Average of 1 scores (from 1 reviews)
Source: c't - 8/09
Comparison, , Long, Date: 07/01/2009
Rating: Total score: 69% price: 80% performance: 68% features: 100% display: 100% mobility: 24% ergonomy: 64%
Comment
MSI: Micro-Star International (MSI), is a Taiwan based computer hardware manufacturer since 1986 best known for desktop computer motherboards. MSI also designs and manufactures graphics cards, barebone PCs, notebook computers, networking products, servers, multimedia, consumer electronics, and storage devices. MSI, as most Taiwanese computer manufacturers, sells products on OEM/ODM basis. It also sells products worldwide based on its own brand name "MSI". The market share of laptops with the MSI brand is rather low.
Only some 3D games with very low demands are playable with these cards.
Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) 950: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 is an integrated (onboard) graphic chip on Mobile Intel 945GM chipset. It is a faster clocked version of the GMA 900 and supports no hardware T&L (Transform & Lightning) accelleration (which is required for some games).
Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) 4500MHD: Onboard (shared Memory) GPU built in the GM45, GE45 and GS45 chipset (Montevina). Because of two more shaders and a higher core clock, much faster than the old GMA X3100. Still not advisable for gamers (DirectX 10 games not playable or only with very low settings). The integrated video processor is able to help decode HD videos (AVC/VC-2/MPEG2) , e.g., for a fluent Blu-Ray playback with slow CPUs.
NVIDIA GeForce 9400M (G) / ION (LE): Integrated (shared Memory) graphics adapter. Built in in current MacBook, MacBook Pro, and MacBook Air laptops and also used in the ION (LE) platform for netbooks. Also called GeForce 9400M G. Fastest available motherboard GPU (in 2009). Integrated PureVideo HD (VP3) video processor to decode HD videos with the GPU.
NVIDIA GeForce 9100M G: The GeForce 9100M G is an onboard graphics card that is based on the 9200M core (but without dedicated memory). Therefore, it supports PureVideo HD (VP3) to decode HD videos. In conjunction with dedicated 9x00M graphic cards the 9100M G supports GeForceBoost to enhance the performance. The combination with 9200M GS / 9300M GS is called GeForce 9400M.
These graphics cards are not suited for Windows 3D games. Office and Internet surfing however is possible.
Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) X3100: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) X3100 is an integrated (onboard) graphic chip on a Mobile Intel 965GM chipset. It is the successor of GMA 950 and features a fully programmable pipeline (supports Aero Glass fully and DirectX 10 with newest drivers). The peformance of the X3100 is clearly better than the GMA 950, still demanding modern games won't run fluently.
ATI Radeon Xpress X1200: This is an onboard video chip and according AMD optimized for a good price/value. It is based on a X700 design but with less pixel- and vertex-pipelines. ATI Radeon Xpress X1200 is hardly apt for gamers. The graphic chip supports Windows Vista Aero surface and all 3D effects run fluently. Sometimes also called Radeon X1200.
» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Graphics Cards and the corresponding Benchmark List.
Intel Celeron M: It is a Pentium M with halved level 2 Cache and limited on FSB 400. The characteristic of this processor is the speed, which is hardly slower than an equivalent Pentium M. However it can change the speed not dynamically like the Pentium M and therefore needs without load more current.
It is also available as Low Voltage Version with very small current consumption.
Intel Pentium Dual Core: The return of the name Pentium, though it is a Yonah core. In fact, it is a double Core processor with a very good relation of performance to current consumption.
T3200: Entry-level dual core processor with a slow performance due to the old Merom core and a small level 2 cache.
AMD Athlon 64 X2:
Intel Core 2 Duo: This is the Core Duo and Core Solo successor with a longer pipeline and 5-20% more speed without more power consumption. As an addition to the Core Duo design there exists a fourth decoder, an amplified SSE-unit and an additional arithmetical logical unit (ALU).
The Core 2 Duo for laptops is identical to the desktop Core 2 Duo processors but the notebook-processors work with lower voltages (0.95 to 1188 Volt) and a lower Frontside bus clock (1066 vs 667 MHz). The performance of equally clocked notebooks is 20-25% lower than Desktop PCs because of the lower Frontside bus clock and the slower hard disks.
T5800: Entry level dual core processor based on the Merom core without Virtualization support and a low maximum temperature.
AMD Athlon X2:
QL-62:
Similar to the Turion X2 CPU, but with reduced power saving functions (no deep sleep, only 2 instead of 3 P-states). Compareable to a 1.3-1.9 GHz Core 2 Duo (depending on the application).
12.1: This is a common display format for subnotebooks. Most netbooks have a tinier display. The advantage is, that the subnotebook can be small dimensioned and can be carried easily. Further the small display needs few energy, which improves the battery runtime and in consequence the mobility. The disadvantage is that the reading of texts is a bit exhausting for the eyes, especially with high resolutions.
15.4: 15 inch display-variants are the standard and are used for more than the half of all notebooks. 15.4 inch display with 16:10 are the standard for notebook displays. Nowadays, more and more 16:9 displays with 15.6 inch appear. The reason why so many people like displays with medium size is, that this size is not exhausting for the eyes, does not need too much energy and the laptops can be kept quite compact.
16.0: 16 inch display-variants exist since 2008 and partially got the market share of 15 inch notebooks. The reason why so many people like displays with medium size is, that this size is not exhausting for the eyes, does not need too much energy and the laptops can be kept quite compact.
17.0: Meanwhile the 17 inch display size is a more frequently offered standard format for desktop-replacements. The DTR-laptops can't be carried easily, need much energy but on the other side texts can be read easily and high resolutions are no problem. DTR mainly are intended for stationary usage on desks, where the weight and the energy need are unimportant.
17.1: Meanwhile the 17 inch display size is a more frequently offered standard format for desktop-replacements. The DTR-laptops can't be carried easily, need much energy but on the other side texts can be read easily and high resolutions are no problem. DTR mainly are intended for stationary usage on desks, where the weight and the energy need are unimportant.
» To find out how fine a display is, see our DPI List.
1.8 kg:
These sub-notebooks weight less than the average of all notebooks, but represent a heavier class of weight among the sub-notebooks. 12 inch displays are normal for this class of weight.
3.5 kg:
This laptop is heavy below average, compared with the average of notebooks. Therefore especially desktop replacements fit in this class of weight.
71.95%: This rating is bad. Most notebooks are better rated. This is not a recommendation for purchase.
» Further information can be found in our Notebook Purchase Guide.
