MSI GE72 6QF Apache Pro Notebook Review
For the original German review, see here.
The generation change from Haswell to Skylake is well underway. MSI has taken the opportunity to revamp its gaming notebook line-up. In the following article, we will scrutinize the new GE 72 "Apache Pro". We have the 6QF8H11 model under review, which is an upgrade of the already reviewed MSI GE72 2QD. While the exterior remained the same, its performance is significantly better than its predecessor (i7-4720HQ, TN, GTX 960M) thanks to its Core i7-6700HQ, IPS display from LG and GeForce GTX 970M.
Our comparison will show whether the GE72 Pro can take the "Desktop Replacements" crown. The closest competitor stems from the same manufacturer: The MSI GS70 6QE Stealth Pro features the same CPU GPU combination and also a 17.3-inch display. The Schenker XMG A706 comes with the same display size and CPU, but uses the well-tried GTX 960M. The 17-inch Medion Erazer X7615 is powered by a Haswell quad-core and comes with a GeForce GTX 965M. The outrageously expensive Schenker XMG U726 has to prove how far the performance can be pushed if price does not matter. Finally, the comparison with the "old" GE72 will show whether a 250-Euro (~$269) higher price is fair in view of the performance gain.
Case
The case hardly changed since the previous generation. In consideration of the elegant design and the high-end build quality, this is definitely not a reason to complain. Quite the contrary: The "Ferrari look" goes well with the claim of the system and makes it appear slightly less bulky than you might expect in view of almost 3 kg. However, the light construction is at the expense of low torsional stiffness.
Connectivity
Interfaces
There is only a small change here, which makes the GE72 Pro more future-proof: one of the three USB 3.0 ports was updated to USB 3.1 type C. This not only means less frustration when connecting a USB stick (reversible plug) but also double the performance compared to USB 3.0.
Communication
Replacing Intel's Wireless-AC 3160 with Wireless-AC 3165 makes as much difference as the names imply - it is almost zero in everyday Wi-Fi usage. In the 2.4 and the 5 GHz bands, Intel's Wi-Fi module works well in the GE72 Pro, too. However, the upgrade also brings a change from Bluetooth 4.0 to Bluetooth 4.2. This could be more important in practice due to higher transfer rates, lower energy demand and higher data security (according to the developer consortium). A GBit Ethernet chip from Qualcomm's Killer series is responsible for wired networking.
Accessories
Apart from a quick-start guide and a few warranty sheets, there is no more information included. The only highlight is a black fabric bag, which should protect the notebook from dirt.
Operating System
Our GE72 Pro test model came with preinstalled Windows 10 64-bit (Home Edition). A recovery DVD is not included. You have to create one with a system tool instead. While it was still possible to order recovery media in MSI's online shop for the Windows 8.1 predecessor, this option is currently not available for Windows 10 systems. However, this appears to be acceptable in consideration of a charge of just under 50 Euros (~$53).
Warranty
By default MSI includes a 2-year warranty (pickup and return), which is granted after online registration of the device. A few dealers offer an upgrade by 12 months for about 100 Euros (~$107). Currently, MSI does not directly offer such to consumers.
Maintenance
You have to loosen many screws to get to the innards of the GE72 Pro. The complete underside and then the optical drive have to be removed before you'll finally reach the fans, RAM and M.2 slots as well as the SATA drive slot. This is relatively easy. After having taken out the optical drive and loosened all screws on the underside, the underside can be removed with a thin spatula or putty knife.
Input Devices
Please refer to our review of the predecessor here – layout, haptics and functionality hint on no changes at all. Not much could have been improved anyway: Most gamers might be satisfied with the input devices of the GE72 Pro. The multi-touch capable pad is comfortable to the touch. Furthermore, the colored LED backlight looks simply great.
Display
While display size and resolution remained unchanged with 17.3-inches and 1920x1080 pixels, MSI now uses modern IPS technology in a display from LG Philips. The average brightness of 296 cd/m² is significantly higher than the TN panel's of the predecessor (246 cd/m²). The brightness distribution of 88% is quite even. While the black value of 0.3 cd/m² is slightly higher, the contrast fell to 1050:1 (the "old" GE72 achieved 1275:1). While IPS competitors like the Schenker XMG A706 might perform slightly better in brightness and contrast, the GE72 Pro's display appeared to be very good in practice.
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Brightness Distribution: 88 %
Center on Battery: 315 cd/m²
Contrast: 1050:1 (Black: 0.3 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 4.34 | 0.5-29.43 Ø4.86
ΔE Greyscale 2.87 | 0.5-98 Ø5.1
85% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
56% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
62.5% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
85.5% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
67.2% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.46
While the test model seemed to be interesting for image editing and video professionals in view of its performance (video rendering is fast at low energy demand), the display, unfortunately, proves to be the limiting factor here. Its color coverage of sRGB and AdobeRGB is not sufficient with 85% and 56%, respectively. Those who require more, have to spend more money. For example, the 17-inch 4K panel of the Schenker XMG U726 covers sRGB completely and 88% of AdobeRGB. However, you have to spend a hefty 4000 Euros (~$4306) for this (as well as a GeForce GTX 980).
| MSI GE72-6QF8H11 LG Phillips LP173WF4-SPF1 | MSI GS70-6QE16H21 Chi Mei N173HGE-E11 (CMN1735) | SCHENKER XMG A706 LG Philips LP173WF4-SPD1 | Medion Erazer X7615-MD99293 CMN N173HGE-E11 (CMN1735) | MSI GE72-2QDi716H11 Chi Mei N173HGE-E11 | SCHENKER XMG U726 AU B173ZAN01.0 (AUO109B) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 7% | -2% | 7% | 5% | 35% | |
| Display P3 Coverage | 67.2 | 67 0% | 66.4 -1% | 66.7 -1% | 65.1 -3% | 87 29% |
| sRGB Coverage | 85.5 | 97.3 14% | 83.8 -2% | 95.7 12% | 94.2 10% | 100 17% |
| AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage | 62.5 | 67.6 8% | 61.3 -2% | 68.5 10% | 67.1 7% | 98.9 58% |
| Response Times | ||||||
| PWM Frequency | ||||||
| Screen | -3% | -7% | -58% | -41% | 5% | |
| Brightness middle | 315 | 172 -45% | 344 9% | 263 -17% | 255 -19% | 330 5% |
| Brightness | 297 | 161 -46% | 322 8% | 244 -18% | 246 -17% | 327 10% |
| Brightness Distribution | 88 | 85 -3% | 88 0% | 83 -6% | 80 -9% | 86 -2% |
| Black Level * | 0.3 | 0.26 13% | 0.3 -0% | 0.27 10% | 0.2 33% | 0.38 -27% |
| Contrast | 1050 | 662 -37% | 1147 9% | 974 -7% | 1275 21% | 868 -17% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 4.34 | 2.06 53% | 4.8 -11% | 12.24 -182% | 10.01 -131% | 3 31% |
| Greyscale dE 2000 * | 2.87 | 2.42 16% | 4.91 -71% | 12.17 -324% | 10.5 -266% | 3.81 -33% |
| Gamma | 2.46 89% | 2.45 90% | 2.37 93% | 3.55 62% | 2.25 98% | 2.52 87% |
| CCT | 6969 93% | 6855 95% | 6796 96% | 15589 42% | 12631 51% | 6306 103% |
| Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998) | 56 | 62 11% | 55 -2% | 62 11% | 62 11% | 88 57% |
| Color Space (Percent of sRGB) | 85 | 97 14% | 84 -1% | 96 13% | 94 11% | 100 18% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 5.3 | |||||
| Total Average (Program / Settings) | 2% /
-0% | -5% /
-5% | -26% /
-42% | -18% /
-29% | 20% /
12% |
* ... smaller is better
By the way, MSI offers a handy, small app called True Color: It allows quickly switching from neutral to more vivid, yet slightly distorted colors for good-looking videos and games. We recorded our results with the preset "sRGB".
Furthermore, we were pleased by the color deviation, which is already decent out-of-the-box. Average values of 2.87 for the gray levels and 4.34 for the colors delight the eyes. But, it can still be improved: After calibration the average DeltaE is 0.88 (gray levels) and 2.91 (colors), respectively. Values smaller than three can be called good.
Viewing-angle stability is a big advantage of IPS displays compared to TN panels. The GE72 can completely convince here. As long as there are no light reflections caused by direct sunlight, the legibility is great even from the sides. Regarding outdoor capability, the device even performs well under the open sky.
Performance
Desktop performance on-the-move. Alike in the predecessor, MSI created a balanced bundle to make gamers happy. The up-to-date Skylake CPU and Nvidia's GeForce GTX 970M run even demanding games smoothly. The combination of M.2 SSD and 1 TB HDD make working without delays possible.
Processor
The GE72 Pro houses a Core i7-6700HQ. The quad-core CPU supports Hyper-Threading and works at a base clock of 2.6 GHz (max. 3.5 GHz in single-core use with Turbo). Alike the popular i7-4720HQ, which works in the predecessor, the processor has a very good price-performance ratio. As our tests prove, migrating from Haswell to Skylake brings hardly any performance gain. Thus, the sticker on the display attributing a performance gain of 20% compared to the i7-4720HQ is questionable. However, the 14 nm process probably means lower energy demand with the same performance. We will show whether at least this promise is delivered.
| Cinebench R15 | |
| CPU Multi 64Bit (sort by value) | |
| MSI GE72-6QF8H11 | |
| MSI GS70-6QE16H21 | |
| SCHENKER XMG A706 | |
| Medion Erazer X7615-MD99293 | |
| MSI GE72-2QDi716H11 | |
| SCHENKER XMG U726 | |
| CPU Single 64Bit (sort by value) | |
| MSI GE72-6QF8H11 | |
| MSI GS70-6QE16H21 | |
| SCHENKER XMG A706 | |
| Medion Erazer X7615-MD99293 | |
| MSI GE72-2QDi716H11 | |
| SCHENKER XMG U726 | |
| Cinebench R11.5 | |
| CPU Multi 64Bit (sort by value) | |
| MSI GE72-6QF8H11 | |
| MSI GS70-6QE16H21 | |
| SCHENKER XMG A706 | |
| Medion Erazer X7615-MD99293 | |
| MSI GE72-2QDi716H11 | |
| SCHENKER XMG U726 | |
| CPU Single 64Bit (sort by value) | |
| MSI GE72-6QF8H11 | |
| MSI GS70-6QE16H21 | |
| SCHENKER XMG A706 | |
| Medion Erazer X7615-MD99293 | |
| MSI GE72-2QDi716H11 | |
| SCHENKER XMG U726 | |
| Cinebench R10 | |
| Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit (sort by value) | |
| MSI GE72-6QF8H11 | |
| MSI GS70-6QE16H21 | |
| SCHENKER XMG A706 | |
| MSI GE72-2QDi716H11 | |
| SCHENKER XMG U726 | |
| Rendering Single 32Bit (sort by value) | |
| MSI GE72-6QF8H11 | |
| MSI GS70-6QE16H21 | |
| SCHENKER XMG A706 | |
| MSI GE72-2QDi716H11 | |
| SCHENKER XMG U726 | |
| Geekbench 3 | |
| 64 Bit Multi-Core Score (sort by value) | |
| MSI GE72-6QF8H11 | |
| SCHENKER XMG U726 | |
| 64 Bit Single-Core Score (sort by value) | |
| MSI GE72-6QF8H11 | |
| SCHENKER XMG U726 | |
| 32 Bit Multi-Core Score (sort by value) | |
| MSI GE72-6QF8H11 | |
| MSI GS70-6QE16H21 | |
| SCHENKER XMG A706 | |
| MSI GE72-2QDi716H11 | |
| SCHENKER XMG U726 | |
| 32 Bit Single-Core Score (sort by value) | |
| MSI GE72-6QF8H11 | |
| MSI GS70-6QE16H21 | |
| SCHENKER XMG A706 | |
| MSI GE72-2QDi716H11 | |
| SCHENKER XMG U726 | |
| Sunspider - 1.0 Total Score (sort by value) | |
| MSI GE72-6QF8H11 | |
| MSI GS70-6QE16H21 | |
| SCHENKER XMG A706 | |
| MSI GE72-2QDi716H11 | |
| SCHENKER XMG U726 | |
| Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total (sort by value) | |
| MSI GE72-6QF8H11 | |
| MSI GS70-6QE16H21 | |
| SCHENKER XMG A706 | |
| MSI GE72-2QDi716H11 | |
| SCHENKER XMG U726 | |
| Octane V2 - Total Score (sort by value) | |
| MSI GE72-6QF8H11 | |
| MSI GS70-6QE16H21 | |
| SCHENKER XMG A706 | |
| MSI GE72-2QDi716H11 | |
| SCHENKER XMG U726 | |
| Peacekeeper - --- (sort by value) | |
| MSI GE72-6QF8H11 | |
| MSI GS70-6QE16H21 | |
| SCHENKER XMG A706 | |
| MSI GE72-2QDi716H11 | |
| SCHENKER XMG U726 | |
* ... smaller is better
System Performance
Overall, the GE72 Pro left a very good impression. Although some results are slightly below average compared to the competition, this is likely due to the RAM configuration. Our test model comes with a single 8 GB module and therefore does not have the small performance advantage of dual-channel operation. In the medium term, an upgrade to 16 GB appears recommendable and can be easily done by the user.
| PCMark 7 Score | 5431 points | |
| PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2 | 3633 points | |
| PCMark 8 Creative Score Accelerated v2 | 4371 points | |
| PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2 | 5009 points | |
Help | ||
| PCMark 7 - Score (sort by value) | |
| MSI GE72-6QF8H11 | |
| MSI GS70-6QE16H21 | |
| SCHENKER XMG A706 | |
| Medion Erazer X7615-MD99293 | |
| MSI GE72-2QDi716H11 | |
| SCHENKER XMG U726 | |
| PCMark 8 | |
| Home Score Accelerated v2 (sort by value) | |
| MSI GE72-6QF8H11 | |
| MSI GS70-6QE16H21 | |
| SCHENKER XMG A706 | |
| MSI GE72-2QDi716H11 | |
| SCHENKER XMG U726 | |
| Creative Score Accelerated v2 (sort by value) | |
| MSI GE72-6QF8H11 | |
| MSI GS70-6QE16H21 | |
| SCHENKER XMG A706 | |
| MSI GE72-2QDi716H11 | |
| SCHENKER XMG U726 | |
| Work Score Accelerated v2 (sort by value) | |
| MSI GE72-6QF8H11 | |
| MSI GS70-6QE16H21 | |
| SCHENKER XMG A706 | |
| MSI GE72-2QDi716H11 | |
| SCHENKER XMG U726 | |
Storage Devices
The GE72 Pro uses the combination typical in the high-end segment: a Solid State Drive as system drive and a conventional HDD for data are under the hood. The SSD is a 128 GB M.2 model from Toshiba, which performs very well in the AS SSD benchmark. The 2.5-inch hard drive (also from Toshiba) rotates at 7200 rpm and is a good compromise between capacity and performance: Above 130 MB/s in sequential reading and writing (recorded with CrystalDiskMark) is decent for a mechanical 1 TB drive.
Graphics Card
For gamers, the GTX 970M might be most interesting. As an upper-class model, the chip with a core clock of 924-1038 MHz and 3072 MB VRAM promises high 3D performance. Actually, the GTX 970M in our test model performs more or less significantly better than its smaller siblings. In this respect, the upgrade to the more powerful graphics solution makes sense. You have to pay much more for even more frames per second: the GTX 980 in the Schenker XMG U726 brings a further significant performance gain, albeit for a worse fps per Euro ratio.
As usual for mobile Nvidia graphics solutions, the GTX 970M system uses the Optimus technology. It uses the HD Graphics 530 integrated in the CPU for solid, energy-saving performance in everyday tasks, while the dedicated graphics card automatically runs demanding tasks.
| 3DMark 11 Performance | 8533 points | |
| 3DMark Ice Storm Standard Score | 66314 points | |
| 3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score | 20172 points | |
| 3DMark Fire Strike Score | 6487 points | |
Help | ||
| 3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance (sort by value) | |
| MSI GE72-6QF8H11 | |
| MSI GS70-6QE16H21 | |
| SCHENKER XMG A706 | |
| Medion Erazer X7615-MD99293 | |
| MSI GE72-2QDi716H11 | |
| SCHENKER XMG U726 | |
| 3DMark | |
| 1920x1080 Fire Strike Score (sort by value) | |
| MSI GE72-6QF8H11 | |
| MSI GS70-6QE16H21 | |
| SCHENKER XMG A706 | |
| Medion Erazer X7615-MD99293 | |
| MSI GE72-2QDi716H11 | |
| SCHENKER XMG U726 | |
| 1280x720 Sky Diver Score (sort by value) | |
| MSI GS70-6QE16H21 | |
| SCHENKER XMG A706 | |
| Medion Erazer X7615-MD99293 | |
| MSI GE72-2QDi716H11 | |
| SCHENKER XMG U726 | |
| 1280x720 Cloud Gate Standard Score (sort by value) | |
| MSI GE72-6QF8H11 | |
| MSI GS70-6QE16H21 | |
| SCHENKER XMG A706 | |
| Medion Erazer X7615-MD99293 | |
| MSI GE72-2QDi716H11 | |
| SCHENKER XMG U726 | |
| 1280x720 Ice Storm Standard Score (sort by value) | |
| MSI GE72-6QF8H11 | |
| MSI GS70-6QE16H21 | |
| SCHENKER XMG A706 | |
| Medion Erazer X7615-MD99293 | |
| MSI GE72-2QDi716H11 | |
| SCHENKER XMG U726 | |
Gaming Performance
Benchmark results are an aspect, but the performance in practice is more important to users. The GE72 Pro shows its best side here: Current titles like Metal Gear Solid V or Battlefield Hardline remain playable up to ultra settings in native resolution. Thus, the test model appears to be future-proof overall. Even upcoming games might run with medium details at least. However, 8 GB of RAM might turn out to be a bottleneck, but this cannot be experienced yet. Anyway, the performance gain compared to the predecessor is mostly significant. The GE72 Pro is about on par with the GS70 with the same GPU and CPU.
| low | med. | high | ultra | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomb Raider (2013) | 306 | 262 | 182 | 87.8 |
| GRID: Autosport (2014) | 183.2 | 124.2 | 99.2 | 71.5 |
| Battlefield Hardline (2015) | 171.6 | 138.3 | 83.5 | 58.7 |
| The Witcher 3 (2015) | 98.4 | 86.2 | 45.2 | 26.2 |
| Metal Gear Solid V (2015) | 60 | 60 | 60 | 59.9 |
| GRID: Autosport | |
| 1920x1080 High Preset (sort by value) | |
| MSI GE72-6QF8H11 | |
| MSI GS70-6QE16H21 | |
| SCHENKER XMG A706 | |
| Medion Erazer X7615-MD99293 | |
| MSI GE72-2QDi716H11 | |
| Clevo P870DM | |
| 1920x1080 Ultra Preset AA:4x MS (sort by value) | |
| MSI GE72-6QF8H11 | |
| MSI GS70-6QE16H21 | |
| SCHENKER XMG A706 | |
| Medion Erazer X7615-MD99293 | |
| MSI GE72-2QDi716H11 | |
| Clevo P870DM | |
| Tomb Raider | |
| 1366x768 High Preset AA:FX AF:8x (sort by value) | |
| MSI GE72-6QF8H11 | |
| MSI GS70-6QE16H21 | |
| SCHENKER XMG A706 | |
| MSI GE72-2QDi716H11 | |
| Clevo P870DM | |
| 1920x1080 Ultra Preset AA:FX AF:16x (sort by value) | |
| MSI GE72-6QF8H11 | |
| MSI GS70-6QE16H21 | |
| SCHENKER XMG A706 | |
| MSI GE72-2QDi716H11 | |
| Clevo P870DM | |
| The Witcher 3 | |
| 1920x1080 High Graphics & Postprocessing (Nvidia HairWorks Off) (sort by value) | |
| MSI GE72-6QF8H11 | |
| MSI GS70-6QE16H21 | |
| Medion Erazer X7615-MD99293 | |
| MSI GE72-2QDi716H11 | |
| Clevo P870DM | |
| 1920x1080 Ultra Graphics & Postprocessing (HBAO+) (sort by value) | |
| MSI GE72-6QF8H11 | |
| MSI GS70-6QE16H21 | |
| Medion Erazer X7615-MD99293 | |
| MSI GE72-2QDi716H11 | |
| Clevo P870DM | |
| Metal Gear Solid V | |
| 1920x1080 High / On (sort by value) | |
| MSI GE72-6QF8H11 | |
| MSI GS70-6QE16H21 | |
| SCHENKER XMG A706 | |
| Clevo P870DM | |
| 1920x1080 Extra High / On (sort by value) | |
| MSI GE72-6QF8H11 | |
| MSI GS70-6QE16H21 | |
| SCHENKER XMG A706 | |
| Clevo P870DM | |
| Battlefield Hardline | |
| 1920x1080 High Graphics Quality (DX11) (sort by value) | |
| MSI GE72-6QF8H11 | |
| Medion Erazer X7615-MD99293 | |
| MSI GE72-2QDi716H11 | |
| Clevo P870DM | |
| 1920x1080 Ultra Graphics Quality (DX11) AA:4x MS (sort by value) | |
| MSI GE72-6QF8H11 | |
| Medion Erazer X7615-MD99293 | |
| MSI GE72-2QDi716H11 | |
| Clevo P870DM | |
Emissions
System Noise
Chassis and cooling solution remained the same despite a better GPU. Thus, it is slightly surprising that the GE72 Pro works quieter than its predecessor: We measure about 3 dB less while idle and it is at least 1 dB less under load. The test model also proves to be a rather quiet gaming notebook compared to the competition.
Noise Level
| Idle |
| 30 / 30.2 / 33 dB(A) |
| HDD |
| 30.2 dB(A) |
| Load |
| 40.4 / 46.2 dB(A) |
 | ||
30 dB silent 40 dB(A) audible 50 dB(A) loud |
||
min:  , med:  , max:  Voltcraft sl-320 (15 cm distance) | ||
| MSI GE72-6QF8H11 6700HQ, GeForce GTX 970M | MSI GS70-6QE16H21 6700HQ, GeForce GTX 970M | SCHENKER XMG A706 6700HQ, GeForce GTX 960M | Medion Erazer X7615-MD99293 4720HQ, GeForce GTX 965M | MSI GE72-2QDi716H11 4720HQ, GeForce GTX 960M | SCHENKER XMG U726 6700, GeForce GTX 980 (Laptop) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Noise | -7% | -0% | -12% | -6% | -7% | |
| Idle Minimum * | 30 | 30.8 -3% | 29.2 3% | 29.5 2% | 29.4 2% | 33 -10% |
| Idle Average * | 30.2 | 31.2 -3% | 30.4 -1% | 31 -3% | 34 -13% | 34 -13% |
| Idle Maximum * | 33 | 36.6 -11% | 37.3 -13% | 40.8 -24% | 36 -9% | 35 -6% |
| Load Average * | 40.4 | 41.8 -3% | 39.8 1% | 47.6 -18% | 44.4 -10% | 42 -4% |
| Load Maximum * | 46.2 | 53 -15% | 42.2 9% | 54.4 -18% | 47 -2% | 46 -0% |
* ... smaller is better
Temperature
MSI also slightly improved the temperature emissions. Nevertheless, the case still dissipates a large portion of the temperature. Under load it reaches just under 50 °C at some spots. Although these results stem from our unrealistic stress scenario (Prime95 and Furmark for one hour), we cannot exclude that the WASD part might get uncomfortably hot during longer gaming sessions. However, the GE72 is on par with its competition overall.
(-) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 50.3 °C / 123 F, compared to the average of 40.4 °C / 105 F, ranging from 21.2 to 68.8 °C for the class Gaming.
(-) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 49.9 °C / 122 F, compared to the average of 43.3 °C / 110 F
(±) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 36.8 °C / 98 F, compared to the device average of 33.9 °C / 93 F.
(-) The palmrests and touchpad can get very hot to the touch with a maximum of 44.9 °C / 112.8 F.
(-) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.9 °C / 84 F (-16 °C / -28.8 F).
| MSI GE72-6QF8H11 6700HQ, GeForce GTX 970M | MSI GS70-6QE16H21 6700HQ, GeForce GTX 970M | SCHENKER XMG A706 6700HQ, GeForce GTX 960M | Medion Erazer X7615-MD99293 4720HQ, GeForce GTX 965M | MSI GE72-2QDi716H11 4720HQ, GeForce GTX 960M | SCHENKER XMG U726 6700, GeForce GTX 980 (Laptop) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heat | -3% | -1% | -7% | 1% | 0% | |
| Maximum Upper Side * | 50.3 | 53.8 -7% | 53.7 -7% | 58.8 -17% | 56 -11% | 46.9 7% |
| Maximum Bottom * | 49.9 | 65.4 -31% | 61.1 -22% | 69.2 -39% | 46.8 6% | 61 -22% |
| Idle Upper Side * | 40.9 | 36.3 11% | 37.5 8% | 35.2 14% | 38.3 6% | 36.3 11% |
| Idle Bottom * | 42.8 | 36.3 15% | 35.5 17% | 36.5 15% | 41.1 4% | 40.8 5% |
* ... smaller is better
Speakers
The speakers remained the same, too. The 2.1 system of the GE72 ensures an acceptable, yet by no means extraordinary sound. It appears justified to point the latter out, since MSI emphasizes the speaker quality a lot in its advertisement. In view of the sound, the separate "subwoofer" on the underside appears to be a normal speaker with a slight bass boost, which otherwise produces the complete frequency range. It hardly adds more.
Energy Management
Power Consumption
The GE72 Pro is very power-hungry, but it does not demand much more than the GS70-6QE16H21 with the same CPU GPU combination. Under full load, the power consumption is above 140 Watt despite light CPU throttling and reaches the limits of the 150 Watt power adapter. Unfortunately, the battery also bleeds out in mains operation. This not only happens in artificial extreme scenarios but also during demanding games (but a bit less pronounced). The charge falls by about 10% per "gaming" hour, which periodically forces enthusiastic gamers to take a break of 90 minutes (=time it takes for fully charging the battery).
| Off / Standby | 0.1 / 0.2 Watt |
| Idle | 16.7 / 23 / 31.7 Watt |
| Load |
97.4 / 141.4 Watt |
   
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Key:
min: ,
med: ,
max: Voltcraft VC 940 | |
| MSI GE72-6QF8H11 6700HQ, GeForce GTX 970M | MSI GS70-6QE16H21 6700HQ, GeForce GTX 970M | SCHENKER XMG A706 6700HQ, GeForce GTX 960M | Medion Erazer X7615-MD99293 4720HQ, GeForce GTX 965M | MSI GE72-2QDi716H11 4720HQ, GeForce GTX 960M | SCHENKER XMG U726 6700, GeForce GTX 980 (Laptop) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Consumption | 3% | 38% | 17% | 6% | -88% | |
| Idle Minimum * | 16.7 | 16.5 1% | 5.4 68% | 9 46% | 16 4% | 36 -116% |
| Idle Average * | 23 | 23.1 -0% | 11 52% | 15.2 34% | 21.8 5% | 45 -96% |
| Idle Maximum * | 31.7 | 26.1 18% | 16.5 48% | 26.6 16% | 28.5 10% | 53 -67% |
| Load Average * | 97.4 | 95.8 2% | 77.8 20% | 99 -2% | 102 -5% | 139 -43% |
| Load Maximum * | 141.4 | 146.4 -4% | 137.7 3% | 155.8 -10% | 118 17% | 306 -116% |
* ... smaller is better
Battery Life
The results of our battery runtime tests are somewhat surprising. It was to be expected that the battery life is slightly lower than the "old" GE72's under load because of the more powerful and more power-hungry GTX 970M (both devices come with a fixed 51 Wh battery). However, the difference is also significant while idle and without use of the dedicated GPU. This might hint on the fact that the more frugal CPU cannot compensate for the higher energy demand of the new display. The results of the battery runtime tests confirm that the GE72 Pro has not been made for primary mobile use. Those requiring such should probably consider the long-lasting XMG A706 from Schenker.
| MSI GE72-6QF8H11 6700HQ, GeForce GTX 970M | MSI GS70-6QE16H21 6700HQ, GeForce GTX 970M | SCHENKER XMG A706 6700HQ, GeForce GTX 960M | Medion Erazer X7615-MD99293 4720HQ, GeForce GTX 965M | MSI GE72-2QDi716H11 4720HQ, GeForce GTX 960M | SCHENKER XMG U726 6700, GeForce GTX 980 (Laptop) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Runtime | 5% | 107% | 11% | 28% | 17% | |
| Reader / Idle | 403 | 238 -41% | 709 76% | 339 -16% | 498 24% | 170 -58% |
| H.264 | 139 | 154 11% | 281 102% | 172 24% | ||
| WiFi v1.3 | 154 | 180 17% | 327 112% | 198 29% | 210 36% | |
| Load | 49 | 64 31% | 116 137% | 59 20% | 62 27% | 94 92% |
Pros
Cons
Verdict
Regarding its core disciplines, the GE72 Pro is a well-made update. Thanks to the GTX 970M, gamers can appreciate significantly higher frame rates. Notable performance gains are in particular possible with a native resolution of 1920x1080 pixels and high settings. In addition, the new IPS panel delivers more precise colors than the TN display of the predecessor.
The migration from Haswell to Skylake does not bring big advantages - neither in performance nor in energy efficiency. In this regard, the GE72 Pro performs even partly worse than its predecessor. The battery life is anything but overwhelming and even more classifies the test model as desktop replacement.
The sum of all costs for an equally fast PC plus peripherals (display, keyboard, mouse, speaker, etc.) is almost 1700 Euros (~$1831), which is also due for our GE72 Pro configuration. Furthermore, the competition also does not offer significantly cheaper mobile 17-inch solutions.
Overall, the GE72 Pro brings a significant added value compared to its cheaper predecessor. Those who are looking for a powerful gaming system and do not consider mobility very important, will find an attractive bundle in it. By adding a second RAM module and/or a PCIe or NVMe-SSD, the performance can be further increased.
MSI GE72-6QF8H11
- 02/23/2016 v5 (old)
Oliver Moebel
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