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MSI GT62VR 7RE Dominator Pro Notebook Review

A balanced gaming laptop. MSI also uses the GeForce GTX 1070 graphic card in the GT62VR 7RE. The processor is new: Kaby Lake is used now. The rest of the features is also alright: IPS display, SSD+HDD, and 16 GB of RAM.

For the original German review, see here.

The MSI GT62VR 7RE is the successor of the identically designed GT62VR 6RE Dominator Pro, which we had already under review. With the current model, MSI has replaced the Skylake processors with Kaby Lake processors. Competitors are devices such as the Alienware 15 R3, the Schenker XMG P507 PRO, and the Acer Predator 15.

Since the GT62VR 7RE and its predecessor share the same design, we will not cover case, connectivity, display, input devices, and speakers in detail here. Please refer to our GT62VR 6RE review for information about these.

MSI GT62VR 7RE-223 (GT62 Series)
Processor
Intel Core i7-7700HQ 4 x 2.8 - 3.8 GHz, Kaby Lake
Graphics adapter
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile - 8 GB VRAM, Core: 1443 MHz, Memory: 4000 MHz, GDDR5, 256-bit interface, ForceWare 378.49, no Optimus
Memory
16 GB 
, DDR4-2400, single-channel, four RAM slots (one slot used), max. 64 GB
Display
15.60 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel 141 PPI, LG Philips LP156WF6 (LGD046F), IPS, G-Sync, 60 Hz, Full HD, glossy: no
Mainboard
Intel HM175
Storage
Samsung SSD PM871a MZNLN256HMHQ, 256 GB 
, + HGST HTS721010A9E630 (1 TB HDD, 7200 rpm), Interfaces: 1x M.2 Typ 2280 (optional PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe) & 1x 2.5-inch
Soundcard
Realtek ALC899 @ High Definition Audio-Controller
Connections
1 USB 2.0, 3 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 USB 3.1 Gen2, 1 HDMI, 1 DisplayPort, 1 Kensington Lock, Audio Connections: headphones, microphone, S/PDIF, line-in/out (7.1 analog), Card Reader: SD,SDHC,SDXC, TPM 2.0
Networking
Killer E2500 Gigabit Ethernet Controller (10/100/1000MBit/s), Killer Wireless-n/a/ac 1435 Wireless Network Adapter (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 4.1
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 40 x 390 x 266 ( = 1.57 x 15.35 x 10.47 in)
Battery
75 Wh, 5225 mAh Lithium-Ion, 8 cells
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 Home 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: FHD
Additional features
Speakers: 2 speakers + subwoofer, Keyboard: Chiclet, Keyboard Light: yes, warranty information, quick start guide, recovery guide, 230 Watt power adapter, Norton Security (trial), MS Office 365 (trial), 24 Months Warranty
Weight
2.9 kg ( = 102.29 oz / 6.39 pounds), Power Supply: 776 g ( = 27.37 oz / 1.71 pounds)
Price
2100 Euro
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Size Comparison

390 mm / 15.4 inch 266 mm / 10.5 inch 40 mm / 1.575 inch 2.9 kg6.39 lbs390 mm / 15.4 inch 266 mm / 10.5 inch 40 mm / 1.575 inch 2.9 kg6.44 lbs391 mm / 15.4 inch 300 mm / 11.8 inch 39 mm / 1.535 inch 3.7 kg8.2 lbs389 mm / 15.3 inch 305 mm / 12 inch 25 mm / 0.984 inch 3.5 kg7.82 lbs385 mm / 15.2 inch 271 mm / 10.7 inch 29 mm / 1.142 inch 2.9 kg6.5 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs

SD card reader

SD Card Reader
average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs)
MSI GT62VR 7RE-223
 
153 MB/s
MSI GT62VR-6RE16H21
 
140 MB/s -8%
Acer Predator 15 G9-593-765Q
 
79 MB/s -48%
SCHENKER XMG P507 PRO
 
78 MB/s -49%
maximum AS SSD Seq Read Test (1GB)
MSI GT62VR 7RE-223
 
209 MB/s
MSI GT62VR-6RE16H21
 
190 MB/s -9%
Acer Predator 15 G9-593-765Q
 
89 MB/s -57%
SCHENKER XMG P507 PRO
 
88 MB/s -58%

Communication

Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Acer Predator 15 G9-593-765Q
Killer Wireless-n/a/ac 1535 Wireless Network Adapter
608 MBit/s +5%
MSI GT62VR 7RE-223
Killer Wireless-n/a/ac 1435 Wireless Network Adapter
579 MBit/s
Alienware 15 R3
Killer Wireless-n/a/ac 1435 Wireless Network Adapter
560 MBit/s -3%
SCHENKER XMG P507 PRO
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
513 MBit/s -11%
iperf3 receive AX12
Alienware 15 R3
Killer Wireless-n/a/ac 1435 Wireless Network Adapter
681 MBit/s +2%
SCHENKER XMG P507 PRO
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
674 MBit/s +1%
Acer Predator 15 G9-593-765Q
Killer Wireless-n/a/ac 1535 Wireless Network Adapter
670 MBit/s 0%
MSI GT62VR 7RE-223
Killer Wireless-n/a/ac 1435 Wireless Network Adapter
669 MBit/s

Display

Subpixel
Subpixel

The GT62VR 7RE uses the same contrast-rich and viewing-angle-stable Full HD IPS display as its predecessor. The measurement values are slightly different, but this is usual. Two identical displays are never absolutely the same.

The panel supports Nvidia's G-Sync technology, which dynamically adjusts the frame rates of display and GPU to each other. This is supposed to give as smooth an image as possible; especially in computer games.

 

 

286
cd/m²
295
cd/m²
306
cd/m²
307
cd/m²
310
cd/m²
329
cd/m²
315
cd/m²
316
cd/m²
336
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
LG Philips LP156WF6 (LGD046F) tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 336 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 311.1 cd/m² Minimum: 16 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 85 %
Center on Battery: 310 cd/m²
Contrast: 1033:1 (Black: 0.3 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 4.82 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 3.94 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
83% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
54% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
60.8% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
83.1% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
63.9% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.45
MSI GT62VR 7RE-223
LG Philips LP156WF6 (LGD046F), 1920x1080
MSI GT62VR-6RE16H21
LG Philips LP156WF6 (LGD046F), 1920x1080
Alienware 15 R3
HPJGK_B156HTN (AUO51ED), 1920x1080
SCHENKER XMG P507 PRO
AUO B156HTN05.2 (AUO52ED), 1920x1080
Acer Predator 15 G9-593-765Q
LG Philips LP156WF6-SPP1 (LGD04D5), 1920x1080
Display
2%
7%
6%
1%
Display P3 Coverage
63.9
64.6
1%
66
3%
66.4
4%
63.6
0%
sRGB Coverage
83.1
84.6
2%
90.5
9%
88.9
7%
83.9
1%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
60.8
61.8
2%
66.2
9%
65.1
7%
61.3
1%
Response Times
10%
42%
44%
3%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
37 ?(16, 21)
34 ?(14, 20)
8%
25 ?(12, 13)
32%
24 ?(12, 12)
35%
35 ?(14, 21)
5%
Response Time Black / White *
25 ?(4, 21)
22 ?(5, 17)
12%
12 ?(4, 8)
52%
12 ?(4, 8)
52%
25 ?(5, 20)
-0%
PWM Frequency
Screen
7%
-31%
-37%
4%
Brightness middle
310
273
-12%
386
25%
357
15%
273
-12%
Brightness
311
278
-11%
382
23%
365
17%
267
-14%
Brightness Distribution
85
88
4%
93
9%
85
0%
83
-2%
Black Level *
0.3
0.27
10%
0.39
-30%
0.5
-67%
0.27
10%
Contrast
1033
1011
-2%
990
-4%
714
-31%
1011
-2%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
4.82
3.67
24%
10.2
-112%
9.93
-106%
3.77
22%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
10.14
8.33
18%
15.81
-56%
14.87
-47%
10.64
-5%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
3.94
2.73
31%
11.28
-186%
10.32
-162%
2.48
37%
Gamma
2.45 90%
2.49 88%
2.23 99%
2.11 104%
2.37 93%
CCT
6877 95%
7029 92%
11383 57%
10096 64%
6854 95%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
54
55
2%
59
9%
58
7%
55
2%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
83
84
1%
90
8%
89
7%
84
1%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
6% / 6%
6% / -14%
4% / -17%
3% / 3%

* ... smaller is better

CalMAN: Gray scale
CalMAN: Gray scale
CalMAN: Gray scale (calibrated)
CalMAN: Gray scale (calibrated)
CalMAN: Saturation Sweeps
CalMAN: Saturation Sweeps
CalMAN: Saturation Sweeps (calibrated)
CalMAN: Saturation Sweeps (calibrated)
CalMAN: ColorChecker
CalMAN: ColorChecker
CalMAN: ColorChecker (calibrated)
CalMAN: ColorChecker (calibrated)
MSI GT62VR vs. sRGB (83 %)
MSI GT62VR vs. sRGB (83 %)
MSI GT62VR vs. AdobeRGB (54 %)
MSI GT62VR vs. AdobeRGB (54 %)

Display Response Times

Display response times show how fast the screen is able to change from one color to the next. Slow response times can lead to afterimages and can cause moving objects to appear blurry (ghosting). Gamers of fast-paced 3D titles should pay special attention to fast response times.
       Response Time Black to White
25 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 4 ms rise
↘ 21 ms fall
The screen shows relatively slow response rates in our tests and may be too slow for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 53 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (21.6 ms).
       Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
37 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 16 ms rise
↘ 21 ms fall
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 47 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is similar to the average of all tested devices (33.9 ms).

Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)

To dim the screen, some notebooks will simply cycle the backlight on and off in rapid succession - a method called Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) . This cycling frequency should ideally be undetectable to the human eye. If said frequency is too low, users with sensitive eyes may experience strain or headaches or even notice the flickering altogether.
Screen flickering / PWM not detected

In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 18110 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured.

Performance

With the GT62VR 7RE, MSI has a 15.6-inch gaming notebook in its line-up. The computer can smoothly run all current games. It also performs well in other fields of application such as video editing, and image editing. The device costs about 2100 Euros.

CPU-Z
CPU-Z
CPU-Z
CPU-Z
CPU-Z
GPU-Z
HWInfo

Processor

First and foremost, the GT62VR 7RE is a CPU upgrade. The Core i7-6700HQ (Skylake) of the predecessor was replaced by an Core i7-7700HQ (Kaby Lake). The latter features a base clock of 2.8 GHz. Thanks to Turbo, the clock rate can increase to 3.4 GHz (four cores), 3.6 GHz (two cores), and 3.8 GHz (once core). Thanks to its 200 to 300 MHz higher clock rates, the Core i7-7700HQ performs slightly better than its predecessor in our CPU tests. You will not really notice the small performance gain in everyday use. Primarily, it becomes apparent in the benchmarks. The CPU works at 3.4 to 3.8 GHz in single thread applications and clocks at 3.4 GHz in multi thread applications.

single core rendering
single core rendering
multi core rendering
multi core rendering
CPU and GPU load
CPU and GPU load
Cinebench R10 Shading 32Bit
6813
Cinebench R10 Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
22171
Cinebench R10 Rendering Single 32Bit
5906
Cinebench R11.5 OpenGL 64Bit
71.4 fps
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64Bit
8.15 Points
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Single 64Bit
1.81 Points
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
99.6 %
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
108 fps
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
731 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
160 Points
Help
Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit
SCHENKER XMG P507 PRO
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
161 Points +1%
Alienware 15 R3
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
160 Points 0%
MSI GT62VR 7RE-223
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
160 Points
MSI GT62VR-6RE16H21
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
143 Points -11%
Acer Predator 15 G9-593-765Q
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
143 Points -11%
CPU Multi 64Bit
SCHENKER XMG P507 PRO
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
742 Points +2%
Alienware 15 R3
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
737 Points +1%
MSI GT62VR 7RE-223
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
731 Points
MSI GT62VR-6RE16H21
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
673 Points -8%
Acer Predator 15 G9-593-765Q
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
661 Points -10%
Cinebench R11.5
CPU Multi 64Bit
SCHENKER XMG P507 PRO
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
8.16 Points 0%
Alienware 15 R3
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
8.16 Points 0%
MSI GT62VR 7RE-223
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
8.15 Points
MSI GT62VR-6RE16H21
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
7.41 Points -9%
Acer Predator 15 G9-593-765Q
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
7.29 Points -11%
CPU Single 64Bit
SCHENKER XMG P507 PRO
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
1.82 Points +1%
Alienware 15 R3
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
1.82 Points +1%
MSI GT62VR 7RE-223
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
1.81 Points
Acer Predator 15 G9-593-765Q
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
1.63 Points -10%
MSI GT62VR-6RE16H21
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
1.61 Points -11%
Cinebench R10
Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
MSI GT62VR 7RE-223
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
22171 Points
Rendering Single 32Bit
MSI GT62VR 7RE-223
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
5906 Points
Geekbench 4.0
64 Bit Single-Core Score
MSI GT62VR 7RE-223
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
4423 Points
64 Bit Multi-Core Score
MSI GT62VR 7RE-223
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
12553 Points
Geekbench 3
32 Bit Single-Core Score
MSI GT62VR 7RE-223
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
3492 Points
32 Bit Multi-Core Score
MSI GT62VR 7RE-223
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
13357 Points
JetStream 1.1 - Total Score
MSI GT62VR 7RE-223
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
268.7 Points
Octane V2 - Total Score
MSI GT62VR 7RE-223
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
40635 Points
Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total
MSI GT62VR 7RE-223
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
949 ms *

* ... smaller is better

System Performance

Thanks to a fast SSD, a powerful processor and a fast GPU, the MSI computer is not lacking in system performance. Hence, the GT62VR 7RE achieves excellent results in the PC Mark benchmarks and is suitable for all applications with high demands on performance. The performance could even be slightly improved by adding a second RAM module in order to enable dual channel mode.

PCMark 8
Home Score Accelerated v2
MSI GT62VR 7RE-223
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Samsung SSD PM871a MZNLN256HMHQ
5011 Points
Alienware 15 R3
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700HQ
4966 Points -1%
Acer Predator 15 G9-593-765Q
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, 6700HQ, LiteOn CV1-8B512
4692 Points -6%
MSI GT62VR-6RE16H21
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, 6700HQ, Toshiba HG6 THNSNJ256G8NY
4541 Points -9%
SCHENKER XMG P507 PRO
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Samsung SSD 960 Evo 500GB m.2 NVMe
4320 Points -14%
Work Score Accelerated v2
MSI GT62VR 7RE-223
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Samsung SSD PM871a MZNLN256HMHQ
5406 Points
Alienware 15 R3
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700HQ
5299 Points -2%
SCHENKER XMG P507 PRO
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Samsung SSD 960 Evo 500GB m.2 NVMe
5180 Points -4%
Acer Predator 15 G9-593-765Q
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, 6700HQ, LiteOn CV1-8B512
5088 Points -6%
MSI GT62VR-6RE16H21
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, 6700HQ, Toshiba HG6 THNSNJ256G8NY
4924 Points -9%
PCMark 7 - Score
Alienware 15 R3
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700HQ
6886 Points +1%
MSI GT62VR 7RE-223
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Samsung SSD PM871a MZNLN256HMHQ
6831 Points
Acer Predator 15 G9-593-765Q
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, 6700HQ, LiteOn CV1-8B512
6520 Points -5%
SCHENKER XMG P507 PRO
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Samsung SSD 960 Evo 500GB m.2 NVMe
6390 Points -6%
MSI GT62VR-6RE16H21
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, 6700HQ, Toshiba HG6 THNSNJ256G8NY
5926 Points -13%
PCMark 7 Score
6831 points
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
5011 points
PCMark 8 Creative Score Accelerated v2
7738 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2
5406 points
Help

Storage Devices

The GT62VR 7RE comes with an M.2 SSD from Samsung with a gross capacity of 256 GB. The transfer rates of the SATA III SSD are quite good. As an alternative, it is possible to use a significantly faster (and more expensive) PCIe/NVMe model in this M.2 slot. In addition, the computer has a conventional 2.5-inch hard drive (1 TB, 7200 rpm) on board.

Samsung SSD PM871a MZNLN256HMHQ
Sequential Read: 521 MB/s
Sequential Write: 422.8 MB/s
512K Read: 462 MB/s
512K Write: 286.9 MB/s
4K Read: 38.55 MB/s
4K Write: 122.8 MB/s
4K QD32 Read: 388.4 MB/s
4K QD32 Write: 257.9 MB/s
MSI GT62VR 7RE-223
Samsung SSD PM871a MZNLN256HMHQ
MSI GT62VR-6RE16H21
Toshiba HG6 THNSNJ256G8NY
Alienware 15 R3
 
SCHENKER XMG P507 PRO
Samsung SSD 960 Evo 500GB m.2 NVMe
Acer Predator 15 G9-593-765Q
LiteOn CV1-8B512
CrystalDiskMark 3.0
-4%
44%
152%
-7%
Read Seq
521
523
0%
1123
116%
1718
230%
517
-1%
Write Seq
422.8
485.5
15%
429.2
2%
1635
287%
449.7
6%
Read 512
462
444.7
-4%
833
80%
873
89%
355.3
-23%
Write 512
286.9
471.2
64%
428.1
49%
1216
324%
433.7
51%
Read 4k
38.55
21.86
-43%
37.8
-2%
59.1
53%
27.69
-28%
Write 4k
122.8
98.8
-20%
122.9
0%
177.5
45%
72.9
-41%
Read 4k QD32
388.4
350.3
-10%
542
40%
668
72%
290.9
-25%
Write 4k QD32
257.9
162.2
-37%
429.8
67%
546
112%
273.8
6%

Graphics Card

The integrate GPU (HD Graphics 630) is disabled and cannot be activated. The BIOS of the computer does not have such an option. As a result, Nvidia's GeForce GTX 1070 is used all the time. The Pascal chip supports DirectX 12 and reaches clock rates of up to 1873 MHz. However, this high clock rate cannot be maintained for a long time. In our test, the CPU clocks at 1550 MHz on average. The graphics card features 8192 GB of GDDR5 VRAM. The results of the 3DMark benchmarks are as expected and on a normal level for this GPU.

3DMark - 1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics
Alienware 15 R3
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile
17675 Points +1%
MSI GT62VR 7RE-223
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile
17477 Points
Acer Predator 15 G9-593-765Q
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile
17175 Points -2%
MSI GT62VR-6RE16H21
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile
17066 Points -2%
SCHENKER XMG P507 PRO
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile
16873 Points -3%
3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance GPU
Alienware 15 R3
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile
22810 Points 0%
MSI GT62VR 7RE-223
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile
22704 Points
Acer Predator 15 G9-593-765Q
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile
22246 Points -2%
MSI GT62VR-6RE16H21
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile
22195 Points -2%
SCHENKER XMG P507 PRO
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile
21922 Points -3%
3DMark 06 Standard Score
30759 points
3DMark 11 Performance
15359 points
3DMark Ice Storm Standard Score
123515 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
26786 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
13768 points
3DMark Fire Strike Extreme Score
7445 points
3DMark Time Spy Score
5114 points
Help

Gaming Performance

It should not come as a surprise that the MSI computer can smoothly run all current games. The native resolution of the display (1920 x 1080) can always be used. In terms of quality settings, it is possible to select high or maximum settings depending on the game. Many games can also be played in 4k resolution. However, this requires such a display. According to MSI's web site, the GT62VR 7RE is also available with UHD display. However, we could not find models using such a display.

BioShock Infinite - 1920x1080 Ultra Preset, DX11 (DDOF)
MSI GT62VR 7RE-223
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700HQ
130.6 fps
MSI GT62VR-6RE16H21
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, 6700HQ
124 fps -5%
Gigabyte P55W v6
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, 6700HQ
99.7 fps -24%
Battlefield 4 - 1920x1080 Ultra Preset AA:4x MS
MSI GT62VR 7RE-223
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700HQ
139.2 fps
MSI GT62VR-6RE16H21
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, 6700HQ
138 fps -1%
Battlefield 1 - 1920x1080 Ultra Preset AA:T
Alienware 15 R3
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700HQ
109 fps +4%
MSI GT62VR 7RE-223
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700HQ
104.5 fps
Deus Ex Mankind Divided - 1920x1080 Ultra Preset AA:2xMS AF:8x
MSI GT62VR 7RE-223
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700HQ
43.6 fps
Acer Predator 15 G9-593-765Q
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, 6700HQ
43.2 fps -1%
Gigabyte P55W v6
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, 6700HQ
28 fps -36%
Resident Evil 7 - 1920x1080 Very High / On AA:FXAA+T
MSI GT62VR 7RE-223
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700HQ
162.3 fps
Alienware 15 R3
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700HQ
130 fps -20%
low med. high ultra
Tomb Raider (2013) 413.3 372.6 361.6 206.2
BioShock Infinite (2013) 208.2 186.6 186.2 130.6
Battlefield 4 (2013) 194.4 184.7 181.9 139.2
Deus Ex Mankind Divided (2016) 97.6 92.2 75.3 43.6
Battlefield 1 (2016) 144.7 128.3 110.8 104.5
Civilization VI (2016) 70 57.2 49.7 49.5
Titanfall 2 (2016) 143.8 143.5 129.8 121
Resident Evil 7 (2017) 368.8 274.8 204.3 162.3

Emissions

System Noise

We measured a maximum noise level of 36 dB in idle mode, which is mediocre in view of the notebook's performance class. The fans are permanently active and do not run absolutely smoothly. They sound a bit like a propeller-driven plane flying at a distance. The automatic fan control, which we used during this test, is responsible for this. You can improve this: The pre-installed Dragon Center allows manually reducing the fan speed. The noise does not get too loud under load. During our stress test, the noise level increased to 46 dB - several other devices are louder. The noise level is between 36 and 43 dB during everyday gaming.

Noise Level in idle mode
Noise Level in idle mode
Noise Level under Load
Noise Level under Load
Sound characteristic of the speakers
Sound characteristic of the speakers

Noise Level

Idle
34 / 35 / 36 dB(A)
Load
40 / 46 dB(A)
  red to green bar
 
 
30 dB
silent
40 dB(A)
audible
50 dB(A)
loud
 
min: dark, med: mid, max: light   Audix TM1, Arta (15 cm distance)   environment noise: 30 dB(A)
MSI GT62VR 7RE-223
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile
MSI GT62VR-6RE16H21
6700HQ, GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile
Alienware 15 R3
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile
SCHENKER XMG P507 PRO
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile
Acer Predator 15 G9-593-765Q
6700HQ, GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile
Gigabyte P55W v6
6700HQ, GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
Noise
3%
-5%
-8%
-2%
-5%
off / environment *
30
30
-0%
30
-0%
31
-3%
30
-0%
31
-3%
Idle Minimum *
34
32
6%
31
9%
33
3%
31
9%
35
-3%
Idle Average *
35
33
6%
32
9%
34
3%
35
-0%
36
-3%
Idle Maximum *
36
34
6%
42
-17%
44
-22%
38
-6%
37
-3%
Load Average *
40
40
-0%
49
-23%
46
-15%
43
-8%
41
-3%
Load Maximum *
46
46
-0%
50
-9%
52
-13%
49
-7%
52
-13%

* ... smaller is better

Temperature

The GT62VR 7RE behaves differently in our stress test (Prime95 and Furmark run for at least one hour) in mains operation and on battery. In mains operation, the processor works at 2.7 to 3.4 GHz. The GPU clock fluctuates between 1200 and 1600 MHz. However, the clock rate is slightly lower than the base clock (1443 MHz) most of the time. On battery, the CPU works at 2.6 to 3 GHz and the GPU clocks at 1443 MHz. The computer does not get overly warm during the stress test. It only exceeds the 40 °C level in a few measurement segments. During everyday use, the temperature remains even lower.

Stress test
Stress test
Full load: top side (Optris PI 640)
Full load: top side (Optris PI 640)
Full load: underside (Optris PI 640)
Full load: underside (Optris PI 640)
Max. Load
 40.2 °C
104 F
35.4 °C
96 F
40.6 °C
105 F
 
 35.6 °C
96 F
36.8 °C
98 F
35.4 °C
96 F
 
 33.1 °C
92 F
34.7 °C
94 F
32.7 °C
91 F
 
Maximum: 40.6 °C = 105 F
Average: 36.1 °C = 97 F
41.4 °C
107 F
48.4 °C
119 F
44 °C
111 F
33.8 °C
93 F
39 °C
102 F
30.8 °C
87 F
29.7 °C
85 F
31.3 °C
88 F
27.2 °C
81 F
Maximum: 48.4 °C = 119 F
Average: 36.2 °C = 97 F
Power Supply (max.)  38.5 °C = 101 F | Room Temperature 20 °C = 68 F | Voltcraft IR-900
(±) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 36.1 °C / 97 F, compared to the average of 33.8 °C / 93 F for the devices in the class Gaming.
(±) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 40.6 °C / 105 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 48.4 °C / 119 F, compared to the average of 43.2 °C / 110 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 25 °C / 77 F, compared to the device average of 33.8 °C / 93 F.
(+) The palmrests and touchpad are reaching skin temperature as a maximum (34.7 °C / 94.5 F) and are therefore not hot.
(-) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.9 °C / 84 F (-5.8 °C / -10.5 F).
MSI GT62VR 7RE-223
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile
MSI GT62VR-6RE16H21
6700HQ, GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile
Alienware 15 R3
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile
SCHENKER XMG P507 PRO
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile
Acer Predator 15 G9-593-765Q
6700HQ, GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile
Gigabyte P55W v6
6700HQ, GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
Heat
-8%
-25%
-24%
4%
-17%
Maximum Upper Side *
40.6
44
-8%
46
-13%
49.2
-21%
40.5
-0%
47.7
-17%
Maximum Bottom *
48.4
53.1
-10%
51.8
-7%
62
-28%
42
13%
51.2
-6%
Idle Upper Side *
26.8
28.8
-7%
36.5
-36%
32.4
-21%
28.2
-5%
32.1
-20%
Idle Bottom *
26.4
28.2
-7%
38.2
-45%
33
-25%
24.3
8%
32.8
-24%

* ... smaller is better

Speakers

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2040.245.32536.239.93131.231.34035.136.65040.840.46331.140.68032.536.610031.938.712524.144.416021.947.320021.457.725020.859.131520.665.340019.464.250019.266.5630186980018.565.7100018.371.6125018.872.2160018.876.8200017.876.6250017.568.3315017.372.9400017.369.5500017.365.8630017.562.9800017.565.81000017.563.21250017.962.81600017.452.2SPL30.383.5N1.455.4median 18.3median 65.7Delta1.55.537.638.233.436.426.529.128.429.924.926.725.22625.527.123.131.12336.721.543.42150.121.353.318.955.619.359.218.662.119.366.419.672.418.275.218.372.618.870.817.774.317.470.91768.917.269.917.368.717.564.117.465.317.36217.455.317.549.730.282.51.452.3median 18.3median 64.11.68.9hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseMSI GT62VR 7RE-223Alienware 15 R3
MSI GT62VR 7RE-223 audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (83 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 13.6% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (10.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 5% higher than median
(+) | mids are linear (5.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 2.7% away from median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (8.6% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (15.6% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 33% of all tested devices in this class were better, 6% similar, 61% worse
» The best had a delta of 6%, average was 18%, worst was 132%
Compared to all devices tested
» 19% of all tested devices were better, 4% similar, 77% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Alienware 15 R3 audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (82 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 19.1% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (10.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 6.7% higher than median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (7.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3.6% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (5.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (21.6% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 75% of all tested devices in this class were better, 5% similar, 20% worse
» The best had a delta of 6%, average was 18%, worst was 132%
Compared to all devices tested
» 56% of all tested devices were better, 7% similar, 37% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Frequenzdiagramm im Vergleich (Checkboxen oben an-/abwählbar!)

Energy Management

Power Consumption

Since the integrated GPU is deactivated in the MSI, the energy demand is higher than necessary in idle mode. However, the same is true for many competitors. During the stress test, the power consumption increases to up to 193 Watt. Hence, the 230 Watt power adapter will not reach its limits. The energy demand is about 82 Watt (+/- 20 Watt) when playing games.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.8 / 1 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 20 / 24 / 29 Watt
Load midlight 82 / 193 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Metrahit Energy
Currently we use the Metrahit Energy, a professional single phase power quality and energy measurement digital multimeter, for our measurements. Find out more about it here. All of our test methods can be found here.
MSI GT62VR 7RE-223
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile
MSI GT62VR-6RE16H21
6700HQ, GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile
Alienware 15 R3
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile
SCHENKER XMG P507 PRO
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile
Acer Predator 15 G9-593-765Q
6700HQ, GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile
Gigabyte P55W v6
6700HQ, GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
Power Consumption
-9%
1%
12%
0%
35%
Idle Minimum *
20
20
-0%
19
5%
14
30%
18
10%
8
60%
Idle Average *
24
26
-8%
23
4%
18
25%
24
-0%
13
46%
Idle Maximum *
29
32
-10%
29
-0%
24
17%
29
-0%
17
41%
Load Average *
82
100
-22%
85
-4%
87
-6%
86
-5%
71
13%
Load Maximum *
193
202
-5%
192
1%
201
-4%
201
-4%
165
15%

* ... smaller is better

Battery Life

In our realistic WLAN test, we simulate web surfing. The profile "balanced" is active, the energy saving features are disabled, and the display brightness is set to about 150 cd/m². The GT62VR lasts 4:06 h. In our video test, the computer achieves about the same battery runtime: 4:12 h. In this test, the short film Big Buck Bunny (H.264 coding, 1920 x 1080 pixels) runs in a loop. The Wi-Fi modules and the energy saving features are disabled, and the display brightness is set to about 150 cd/m². The GT62VR 7RE and its predecessor are on par in terms of battery life. Only the Kaby Lake model's maximum battery life is slightly longer.

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
6h 17min
WiFi Websurfing (Edge 38)
4h 06min
Big Buck Bunny H.264 1080p
4h 12min
Load (maximum brightness)
1h 38min
MSI GT62VR 7RE-223
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, 75 Wh
MSI GT62VR-6RE16H21
6700HQ, GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, 75.24 Wh
Alienware 15 R3
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, 99 Wh
SCHENKER XMG P507 PRO
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, 60 Wh
Acer Predator 15 G9-593-765Q
6700HQ, GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile,  Wh
Gigabyte P55W v6
6700HQ, GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, 63 Wh
Battery Runtime
-7%
5%
-18%
17%
34%
Reader / Idle
377
300
-20%
382
1%
610
62%
H.264
252
266
6%
213
-15%
298
18%
338
34%
WiFi v1.3
246
246
0%
264
7%
195
-21%
285
16%
352
43%
Load
98
97
-1%
102
4%
114
16%
95
-3%

Pros

+ many maintenance options
+ backlit keyboard
+ good audio system
+ IPS screen
+ USB 3.1 Gen2
+ SSD + HDD

Cons

- only one M.2 slot
- base unit is quite thick
- no Thunderbolt 3

Verdict

In review: the MSI GT62VR 7RE-223 Dominator Pro. Test model provided by MSI Germany.
In review: the MSI GT62VR 7RE-223 Dominator Pro. Test model provided by MSI Germany.

The combination from Kaby Lake quad core processor and GeForce GTX 1070 can smoothly run all current games in Full HD resolution with high to maximum quality settings. Pro: Despite powerful hardware, the temperature increase is only moderate. The small performance gain primarily leads to slightly better benchmark results, but is subjectively not noticeable.

MSI delivers a generally well-made gaming notebook with the GT62VR 7RE.

A fast SATA III SSD ensures a responsive system. If the performance of the SSD is not sufficient for you, you can replace it by a significantly faster PCIe/NVMe model. It is also possible to replace the existing 2.5-inch hard drive. Since the computer lacks a maintenance hatch, you will need to remove the underside in both cases.

The matte Full HD IPS display works at a frequency of 60 Hz. It is bright, contrast-rich, and viewing-angle stable. Nvidia's G-Sync technology ensure smooth image sequences. 

MSI GT62VR 7RE-223 - 02/14/2017 v6(old)
Sascha Mölck

Chassis
78 / 98 → 79%
Keyboard
81%
Pointing Device
83%
Connectivity
63 / 81 → 77%
Weight
57 / 10-66 → 84%
Battery
75%
Display
87%
Games Performance
94%
Application Performance
95%
Temperature
90 / 95 → 95%
Noise
73 / 90 → 81%
Audio
75%
Average
79%
86%
Gaming - Weighted Average

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > MSI GT62VR 7RE Dominator Pro Notebook Review
Sascha Mölck, 2017-02-15 (Update: 2018-05-15)