Notebookcheck Logo

MSI PE70 6QE Prestige iBuyPower Edition Notebook Review

business-class gaming. We take our second look at the PE70 to see how well the Prestige series is branching off from its gaming G series roots. Unfortunately, not much has changed.

The PE70 6QE is largely an internal update to last year's PE70 2QE in much the same vain as the PE60 6QE is to the PE60 2QE. Thus, we recommend checking out our previous review page on the PE70 2QE for more details and images since the latest refresh shares the same chassis and characteristics.

What users will get instead with the PE70 6QE are upgraded internals including Skylake, DDR4, USB Type-C, a different display panel, and other minor changes. Its chassis is based almost entirely on the existing GE72 series except with a new coat of silver paint. Otherwise, the MSI is quite similar in core specifications to other 15- and 17-inch gaming systems with its Core i7-6700HQ CPU and GTX 960M GPU. The system currently retails for just over $1100 USD through iBuyPower.

MSI Prestige PE70 6QE-055XUS
Processor
Intel Core i7-6700HQ 4 x 2.6 - 3.5 GHz (Intel Core i7)
Graphics adapter
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M - 2048 MB VRAM, Core: 1097 MHz, Memory: 5010 MHz, GDDR5, 353.96
Memory
16 GB 
, PC4-17000, DDR4, 15-15-15-36, Dual-Channel
Display
17.30 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel 127 PPI, Name: CMN N173HGE-E11, ID: CMN1735, glossy: no
Mainboard
Intel HM170 (Skylake PCH-H)
Storage
Intel SSD 535 SSDSCKJW120H6, 120 GB 
, Secondary: 1 TB HGST HTS721010A9E630
Soundcard
Intel Skylake PCH-H High Definition Audio Controller
Connections
1 USB 2.0, 2 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 USB 3.1 Gen2, 1 HDMI, 1 DisplayPort, 1 Kensington Lock, Audio Connections: 3.5 mm earphones, 3.5 mm microphone, Card Reader: SD (XC/HC), Sensors: Ambient light sensor
Networking
Atheros AR8161/8165 PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet Controller (10/100/1000MBit/s), Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165 (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 4.0
Optical drive
HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GUB0N
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 29 x 419 x 280 ( = 1.14 x 16.5 x 11.02 in)
Battery
42 Wh, 6-cell
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 Home 64 Bit
Camera
Primary Camera: 1.3 MPix Video up to 30 FPS
Additional features
Speakers: Quad speakers w/ subwoofer, Keyboard: Chiclet, Keyboard Light: yes, Windows 10 reinstallation DVD, Drivers and Utilities DVD, Warranty card, Quick Start guide, 12 Months Warranty
Weight
2.357 kg ( = 83.14 oz / 5.2 pounds), Power Supply: 609 g ( = 21.48 oz / 1.34 pounds)
Price
1200 USD
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case

Two of the biggest advantages of the PE70 lie in its size and weight. The notebook is both smaller and lighter than many other 17.3-inch gaming or multimedia notebooks including the Acer Aspire V Nitro and especially the Lenovo Y700. This makes the MSI more attractive to users who are constantly on the go. The brushed aluminum lid and silver base also make for a more acceptable appearance in office environments compared to the red and black GE72.

A notable downsides to the chassis is its weak lid. This is a problem on many 17-inch notebooks as the larger surface area makes it very easy to depress down the center and twist from side to side. The base is otherwise rigid and with a thick impression despite the largely plastic skeleton. Slight warping is still possible on the center of the keyboard and directly above the optical drive where the surface is at its weakest.

428 mm / 16.9 inch 294 mm / 11.6 inch 48 mm / 1.89 inch 3.8 kg8.38 lbs423 mm / 16.7 inch 322 mm / 12.7 inch 40 mm / 1.575 inch 4.1 kg9.04 lbs420 mm / 16.5 inch 287 mm / 11.3 inch 37 mm / 1.457 inch 2.8 kg6.17 lbs423 mm / 16.7 inch 305 mm / 12 inch 27.95 mm / 1.1 inch 3.6 kg7.91 lbs419 mm / 16.5 inch 280 mm / 11 inch 29 mm / 1.142 inch 2.4 kg5.2 lbs423 mm / 16.7 inch 296 mm / 11.7 inch 25 mm / 0.984 inch 3.1 kg6.75 lbs421 mm / 16.6 inch 290 mm / 11.4 inch 25 mm / 0.984 inch 3.2 kg6.97 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs

Connectivity

Available interfaces are identical to the PE70 2QE save for the addition of a USB Type-C Gen. 2 port in place of one of the USB 3.0 Type-A ports. Unlike the costlier MSI GS or GT models, the USB Type-C port here does not support Thunderbolt 3. All ports are easy to reach since none are on the rear, but the edges can become quite crowded as a result.

Front: No connectivity
Front: No connectivity
Left: Kensington lock, RJ45, 2x USB 3.0, HDMI, Mini-DP, USB 3.1 Type-C Gen. 2, microphone, headphones
Left: Kensington lock, RJ45, 2x USB 3.0, HDMI, Mini-DP, USB 3.1 Type-C Gen. 2, microphone, headphones
Rear: No connectivity
Rear: No connectivity
Right: DVD burner, USB 2.0, SD reader, AC adapter
Right: DVD burner, USB 2.0, SD reader, AC adapter

Communication

WLAN is provided by the entry-level 1x1 Intel 3165 M.2 module for up to 802.11ac connectivity and 433 Mbps transfer rates. Bluetooth 4.2 and WiDi are integrated with no options for WWAN or GPS. We experienced no connectivity or dropout issues when connected to our Linksys EA8500 test router.

Accessories

Included extras are a Windows 10 reinstallation disc, Drivers and Utilities disc, Warranty card, and Quick Start guide. There are no proprietary accessories as the system lacks a docking port.

Maintenance

Serviceability is relatively easy and requires only a Philips screwdriver to remove the bottom panel. The motherboard and its components are nearly identical to the smaller PE60, so users are not getting additional expansion bays if moving from the 15-inch PE60 to the larger 17-inch PE70. Both the CPU and GPU are soldered and not upgradeable.

Warranty

The standard one-year limited coverage applies to new purchases. Reseller iBuyPower will also cover shipping charges during the warranty period for an additional $10 USD.

Input Devices

Keyboard

Like the PE60 6QE, the keys here have been updated superficially with translucent white edges for a more even backlight. The feel of the SteelSeries keyboard is otherwise the same as on the older PE70 2QE, which is great considering that the keys are quiet with little clatter and with adequate travel. Feedback is a tad on the soft side, however, so it can feel like typing on an Ultrabook. The center of the keyboard can also warp with applied pressure. Fortunately, this has little impact on the typing experience.

Touchpad

The touchpad (10.8 x 6.1 cm) is not only identical to the outgoing PE70 2QE, but is also exactly the same as the one on the 15-inch PE60 in both size and tactility. Anyone hoping for an increase in surface area to accommodate the larger display size will be disappointed. Functionally, the touchpad works perfectly with its smooth glide, reliable response, and no cursor jitters. Its two dedicated mouse keys are both firm with tight feedback and auditory clicks. The force required to input a click is lighter than on most other notebooks, so we find it to be comfortable for long-term use if an external mouse is not available. Interestingly, the left and right keys have different and distinctive auditory clicks from one another.

Display

The matte 1080p panel in use is the sole option available for the PE70 6QE whereas the older PE70 2QE is equipped with an IPS panel for wider viewing angles. The TN panel in this case offers a wider color gamut as shown in the next section. While contrast is good, the backlight is weak at just below 200 nits on average compared to 300 nits or more on the WT72 or Lenovo Y700 17ISK. Backlight bleeding is noticeable near the bottom edge of the screen when under darkened conditions or viewing movies with black bars. Subjectively, color temperature is too cool with a distracting blue tone.

Moderate backlight bleeding
Moderate backlight bleeding
Subpixel array (127 PPI)
Subpixel array (127 PPI)
208.5
cd/m²
192.6
cd/m²
174
cd/m²
191.2
cd/m²
206.7
cd/m²
164.8
cd/m²
222.5
cd/m²
211
cd/m²
192
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
Name: CMN N173HGE-E11, ID: CMN1735 tested with X-Rite i1Pro Basic 2
Maximum: 222.5 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 195.9 cd/m² Minimum: 10.2 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 74 %
Center on Battery: 206.7 cd/m²
Contrast: 827:1 (Black: 0.25 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 11.15 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 11.03 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
93.4% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
59.2% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
64.6% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
93.6% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
63.9% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.29
MSI Prestige PE70 6QE-055XUS
17.30, 1920x1080
MSI PE70-2QEi581
17.30, 1920x1080
MSI WT72-6QM
17.30, 1920x1080
MSI GL72 6QF
17.30, 1920x1080
Lenovo Ideapad Y700 17ISK 80Q0
17.30, 1920x1080
Display
-3%
-2%
3%
-3%
Display P3 Coverage
63.9
66.6
4%
67.3
5%
65.9
3%
67.4
5%
sRGB Coverage
93.6
84.6
-10%
85.4
-9%
95.6
2%
84.8
-9%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
64.6
61.9
-4%
62.5
-3%
66.7
3%
62
-4%
Response Times
-34%
-7%
-36%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
41.2 ?(22, 19.2)
42 ?(13, 29)
-2%
45.6 ?(23.6, 22)
-11%
51.6 ?(20, 31.6)
-25%
Response Time Black / White *
23.6 ?(7.6, 16)
26 ?(7, 19)
-10%
25.6 ?(8.4, 17.2)
-8%
34.4 ?(5.2, 29.2)
-46%
PWM Frequency
1000 ?(99)
86 ?(10, 15)
-91%
980 ?(99)
-2%
Screen
8%
12%
-1%
35%
Brightness middle
206.7
305
48%
303
47%
194.7
-6%
349.7
69%
Brightness
196
265
35%
298
52%
183
-7%
332
69%
Brightness Distribution
74
79
7%
94
27%
79
7%
90
22%
Black Level *
0.25
0.5
-100%
0.46
-84%
0.247
1%
0.304
-22%
Contrast
827
610
-26%
659
-20%
788
-5%
1150
39%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
11.15
4.83
57%
5.77
48%
11.44
-3%
3.99
64%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
18.21
18.78
-3%
8.74
52%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
11.03
3.29
70%
4.87
56%
11.36
-3%
3.34
70%
Gamma
2.29 96%
2.39 92%
1.99 111%
2.12 104%
2.23 99%
CCT
12972 50%
7080 92%
7363 88%
12948 50%
6111 106%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
59.2
56
-5%
56.04
-5%
60.8
3%
55.8
-6%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
93.4
84
-10%
85.27
-9%
95.3
2%
84.8
-9%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
3% / 6%
-8% / 0%
-2% / -2%
-1% / 18%

* ... smaller is better

Color coverage is about 93 percent of the sRGB standard or just slightly wider than on the MSI WT72 workstation and older PE70 2QE. The gamut here also essentially identical to our measurements on the MSI GL72 6QF since both use the same Chi Mei N173HGE-E11 panel. The deeper colors shouldn't be a major factor for gamers while digital artists will appreciate the more accurate colors.

vs. AdobeRGB
vs. AdobeRGB
vs. sRGB
vs. sRGB
vs. MSI PE70 2QE
vs. MSI PE70 2QE
vs. MSI WT72
vs. MSI WT72

Measurements with an X-Rite spectrophotometer reveal very inaccurate colors and an overly cool temperature, which seems to be a trend with the latest MSI Prestige models like the PE60 and PX60. A calibration is highly recommended to dramatically improve grayscale and colors across the board. The panel sports a very high sRGB coverage, so the display here has potential to be much more accurate than most panels found on consumer Ultrabooks or cheaper multimedia notebooks.

Grayscale before calibration
Grayscale before calibration
Saturation Sweeps before calibration
Saturation Sweeps before calibration
ColorChecker before calibration
ColorChecker before calibration
Grayscale after calibration
Grayscale after calibration
Saturation Sweeps after calibration
Saturation Sweeps after calibration
ColorChecker after calibration
ColorChecker after calibration

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
23.6 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 7.6 ms rise
↘ 16 ms fall
The screen shows good response rates in our tests, but may be too slow for competitive gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 47 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is similar to the average of all tested devices (21.6 ms).
       Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
41.2 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 22 ms rise
↘ 19.2 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. » 61 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than 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 detected 1000 Hz ≤ 99 % brightness setting

The display backlight flickers at 1000 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) Flickering detected at a brightness setting of 99 % and below. There should be no flickering or PWM above this brightness setting.

The frequency of 1000 Hz is quite high, so most users sensitive to PWM should not notice any flickering.

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.

Outdoor usability is below average due to the TN panel and dim display backlight. The matte panel may be effective at reducing reflections, but ambient light from an overcast day is enough to wash out the screen. The wide 170-degree hinges do little to help since the narrower viewing angles offset this advantage.

Limited TN viewing angles
Limited TN viewing angles
Very limited outdoor visibility
Very limited outdoor visibility

Performance

Turbo Boost up to 3.5 GHz
Turbo Boost up to 3.5 GHz

The quad-core Core i7-6700HQ and GTX 960M are a common find on high-end multimedia notebooks in this size and price range. The current PE70 6QE configuration offers no other choices and its limiting 120 W PSU suggests that the manufacturer isn't planning on offering more powerful SKUs anytime soon, either. Optimus is included for graphics switching to the integrated HD Graphics 530. Unfortunately, this provides little to no benefit in regards to battery life or system noise for this particular test unit.

System RAM is provided by two G.Skill DDR4 SODIMM modules for a total of 16 GB. Memory is expandable up to 32 GB across the two accessible SODIMM slots.

Processor

CPU performance from the i7-6700HQ is not unlike the previous generation i7-5700HQ or even the older i7-4700MQ. Thus, users expecting significant boosts in raw performance will be disappointed. The pricier i7-6820HQ will only give a boost of just 5 to 10 percent depending on the workload according to CineBench. The much more demanding desktop class Core i7-6700K can give a 20 to 30 percent boost over the i7-6700HQ.

See our dedicated CPU page on the Core i7-6700HQ for more benchmarks and comparisons.

CineBench R10 32-bit
CineBench R10 32-bit
CineBench R11.5 64-bit
CineBench R11.5 64-bit
CineBench R15
CineBench R15
Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit (sort by value)
MSI Prestige PE70 6QE-055XUS
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Intel SSD 535 SSDSCKJW120H6
138 Points
DogHouse Systems Mobius SS
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700K, Samsung SSD 850 EVO 1TB
166 Points +20%
MSI GE62 2QC-468XPL
GeForce GTX 960M, 5700HQ, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP
144 Points +4%
Lenovo ThinkPad P70
Quadro M3000M, 6820HQ, Samsung SSD PM871 MZNLN512HCJH
153 Points +11%
Clevo P150SM-A
GeForce GTX 870M, 4700MQ, Crucial MX100 256 GB
135 Points -2%
CPU Multi 64Bit (sort by value)
MSI Prestige PE70 6QE-055XUS
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Intel SSD 535 SSDSCKJW120H6
678 Points
DogHouse Systems Mobius SS
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700K, Samsung SSD 850 EVO 1TB
865 Points +28%
MSI GE62 2QC-468XPL
GeForce GTX 960M, 5700HQ, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP
719 Points +6%
Lenovo ThinkPad P70
Quadro M3000M, 6820HQ, Samsung SSD PM871 MZNLN512HCJH
699 Points +3%
Clevo P150SM-A
GeForce GTX 870M, 4700MQ, Crucial MX100 256 GB
644 Points -5%
Cinebench R11.5
CPU Single 64Bit (sort by value)
MSI Prestige PE70 6QE-055XUS
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Intel SSD 535 SSDSCKJW120H6
1.64 Points
DogHouse Systems Mobius SS
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700K, Samsung SSD 850 EVO 1TB
1.91 Points +16%
MSI GE62 2QC-468XPL
GeForce GTX 960M, 5700HQ, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP
1.68 Points +2%
Lenovo ThinkPad P70
Quadro M3000M, 6820HQ, Samsung SSD PM871 MZNLN512HCJH
1.7 Points +4%
Clevo P150SM-A
GeForce GTX 870M, 4700MQ, Crucial MX100 256 GB
1.5 Points -9%
CPU Multi 64Bit (sort by value)
MSI Prestige PE70 6QE-055XUS
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Intel SSD 535 SSDSCKJW120H6
7.45 Points
DogHouse Systems Mobius SS
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700K, Samsung SSD 850 EVO 1TB
9.56 Points +28%
MSI GE62 2QC-468XPL
GeForce GTX 960M, 5700HQ, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP
7.96 Points +7%
Lenovo ThinkPad P70
Quadro M3000M, 6820HQ, Samsung SSD PM871 MZNLN512HCJH
7.63 Points +2%
Clevo P150SM-A
GeForce GTX 870M, 4700MQ, Crucial MX100 256 GB
6.99 Points -6%
Cinebench R10
Rendering Single 32Bit (sort by value)
MSI Prestige PE70 6QE-055XUS
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Intel SSD 535 SSDSCKJW120H6
5510 Points
DogHouse Systems Mobius SS
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700K, Samsung SSD 850 EVO 1TB
6487 Points +18%
MSI GE62 2QC-468XPL
GeForce GTX 960M, 5700HQ, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP
5567 Points +1%
Lenovo ThinkPad P70
Quadro M3000M, 6820HQ, Samsung SSD PM871 MZNLN512HCJH
5429 Points -1%
Clevo P150SM-A
GeForce GTX 870M, 4700MQ, Crucial MX100 256 GB
5007 Points -9%
Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit (sort by value)
MSI Prestige PE70 6QE-055XUS
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Intel SSD 535 SSDSCKJW120H6
20471 Points
DogHouse Systems Mobius SS
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700K, Samsung SSD 850 EVO 1TB
26150 Points +28%
MSI GE62 2QC-468XPL
GeForce GTX 960M, 5700HQ, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP
21681 Points +6%
Lenovo ThinkPad P70
Quadro M3000M, 6820HQ, Samsung SSD PM871 MZNLN512HCJH
20682 Points +1%
Clevo P150SM-A
GeForce GTX 870M, 4700MQ, Crucial MX100 256 GB
19019 Points -7%
wPrime 2.10 - 1024m (sort by value)
MSI Prestige PE70 6QE-055XUS
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Intel SSD 535 SSDSCKJW120H6
229.4 s *
DogHouse Systems Mobius SS
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700K, Samsung SSD 850 EVO 1TB
178.5 s * +22%
MSI GE62 2QC-468XPL
GeForce GTX 960M, 5700HQ, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP
206.3 s * +10%
Lenovo ThinkPad P70
Quadro M3000M, 6820HQ, Samsung SSD PM871 MZNLN512HCJH
230.8 s * -1%
Clevo P150SM-A
GeForce GTX 870M, 4700MQ, Crucial MX100 256 GB
240.1 s * -5%
Super Pi Mod 1.5 XS 32M - 32M (sort by value)
MSI Prestige PE70 6QE-055XUS
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Intel SSD 535 SSDSCKJW120H6
561 s *
DogHouse Systems Mobius SS
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700K, Samsung SSD 850 EVO 1TB
498.3 s * +11%
MSI GE62 2QC-468XPL
GeForce GTX 960M, 5700HQ, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP
574 s * -2%
Lenovo ThinkPad P70
Quadro M3000M, 6820HQ, Samsung SSD PM871 MZNLN512HCJH
561 s * -0%
Clevo P150SM-A
GeForce GTX 870M, 4700MQ, Crucial MX100 256 GB
565 s * -1%

* ... smaller is better

Cinebench R10 Shading 32Bit
6810
Cinebench R10 Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
20471
Cinebench R10 Rendering Single 32Bit
5510
Cinebench R11.5 OpenGL 64Bit
47.64 fps
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64Bit
7.45 Points
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Single 64Bit
1.64 Points
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
99.6 %
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
48.52 fps
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
678 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
138 Points
Help

System Performance

PCMark 8 ranks our PE70 6QE ahead of the older PE70 2QE and essentially in the same ballpark as the similarly equipped MSI GE62 6QD. Subjectively, we experienced no hardware or software issues specific to our test unit.

PCMark 8 Home Accelerated
PCMark 8 Home Accelerated
PCMark 8 Creative Accelerated
PCMark 8 Creative Accelerated
PCMark 8 Work Accelerated
PCMark 8 Work Accelerated
PCMark 8
Home Score Accelerated v2 (sort by value)
MSI Prestige PE70 6QE-055XUS
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Intel SSD 535 SSDSCKJW120H6
3854 Points
DogHouse Systems Mobius SS
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700K, Samsung SSD 850 EVO 1TB
5260 Points +36%
MSI GE62-6QD16H11
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 850 EVO M.2 250 GB
3703 Points -4%
Lenovo ThinkPad P70
Quadro M3000M, 6820HQ, Samsung SSD PM871 MZNLN512HCJH
3345 Points -13%
MSI PE70-2QEi581
GeForce GTX 960M, 4210H, Toshiba HG5d THNSNH256GMCT
3194 Points -17%
Work Score Accelerated v2 (sort by value)
MSI Prestige PE70 6QE-055XUS
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Intel SSD 535 SSDSCKJW120H6
4945 Points
DogHouse Systems Mobius SS
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700K, Samsung SSD 850 EVO 1TB
5633 Points +14%
MSI GE62-6QD16H11
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 850 EVO M.2 250 GB
4797 Points -3%
Lenovo ThinkPad P70
Quadro M3000M, 6820HQ, Samsung SSD PM871 MZNLN512HCJH
4411 Points -11%
MSI PE70-2QEi581
GeForce GTX 960M, 4210H, Toshiba HG5d THNSNH256GMCT
4407 Points -11%
Creative Score Accelerated v2 (sort by value)
MSI Prestige PE70 6QE-055XUS
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Intel SSD 535 SSDSCKJW120H6
4834 Points
DogHouse Systems Mobius SS
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700K, Samsung SSD 850 EVO 1TB
7212 Points +49%
MSI GE62-6QD16H11
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 850 EVO M.2 250 GB
4610 Points -5%
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
3854 points
PCMark 8 Creative Score Accelerated v2
4834 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2
4945 points
Help

Storage Devices

Internal storage options are limited to an M.2 slot and secondary 2.5-inch SATA III bay. While this is acceptable for the 15-inch PE60, we would have liked more options here on the larger PE70 to be more competitive against pricier models like the Asus G752 series.

Transfer rates from our primary Intel SSD 535 are typical of a SATA III SSD if not slightly below average. Its sequential write rate in particular is slow at just 217 MB/s compared to 490 MB/s and 458 MB/s on the MSI WT72 and Lenovo ThinkPad P70, respectively. Systems with NVMe SSDs run laps around the PE70, though they also tend to be a bit more expensive. The 7200 RPM secondary HGST HDD returns an excellent average transfer rate of just over 105 MB/s according to HD Tune. Both 7 mm and 9.5 mm drives are supported on the PE70.

See our growing list of HDDs and SSDs for more benchmarks and comparisons.

AS SSD (Primary SSD)
AS SSD (Primary SSD)
CDM (Primary SSD)
CDM (Primary SSD)
CDM (Secondary HDD)
CDM (Secondary HDD)
HD Tune (Secondary HDD)
HD Tune (Secondary HDD)
PCMark 8 Storage
PCMark 8 Storage
 
MSI Prestige PE70 6QE-055XUS
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Intel SSD 535 SSDSCKJW120H6
MSI WT72-6QJ
Quadro M2000M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 850 PRO 512GB
MSI GL72 6QF
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 950 Pro 256GB m.2 NVMe
Lenovo ThinkPad P70
Quadro M3000M, 6820HQ, Samsung SSD PM871 MZNLN512HCJH
Lenovo Ideapad Y700 17ISK 80Q0
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Samsung MZNLN128HCGR-000L2
AS SSD
78%
248%
53%
26%
Copy Game MB/s
351.8
1140
224%
355.4
1%
232.6
-34%
Copy Program MB/s
210.1
491.1
134%
246.2
17%
164.9
-22%
Copy ISO MB/s
317.6
1520
379%
389
22%
255.9
-19%
Score Total
568
1092
92%
2340
312%
1012
78%
842
48%
Score Write
292
426
46%
501
72%
384
32%
222
-24%
Score Read
185
434
135%
1248
575%
412
123%
414
124%
Access Time Write *
0.2
0.037
81%
0.032
84%
0.056
72%
0.043
78%
Access Time Read *
0.145
0.07
52%
0.04
72%
0.069
52%
0.09
38%
4K-64 Write
184.9
288.8
56%
296.4
60%
255.5
38%
123.6
-33%
4K-64 Read
116.3
347.4
199%
998
758%
341.7
194%
329.3
183%
4K Write
85.2
88.6
4%
115.2
35%
82.7
-3%
83.8
-2%
4K Read
22.51
34.15
52%
46.38
106%
22.61
0%
34.03
51%
Seq Write
217.2
490.6
126%
897
313%
458.1
111%
146.3
-33%
Seq Read
458.6
520
13%
2039
345%
477.8
4%
503
10%

* ... smaller is better

Intel SSD 535 SSDSCKJW120H6
Sequential Read: 445.9 MB/s
Sequential Write: 180.1 MB/s
512K Read: 388 MB/s
512K Write: 172.8 MB/s
4K Read: 25.34 MB/s
4K Write: 108.8 MB/s
4K QD32 Read: 121.8 MB/s
4K QD32 Write: 172.4 MB/s

GPU Performance

The GTX 960M is one of the most popular choices for on-the-go gaming and has been heavily benchmarked in our database. Its performance in our MSI test unit is exactly where we expect the average GTX 960M to perform according to 3DMark benchmarks, so there are no imposed throttling limits that may artificially reduce graphics performance.

See our dedicated page on the GTX 960M and full review on the Nvidia GPU for more benchmarks and comparisons.

Ice Storm Unlimited
Ice Storm Unlimited
Ice Storm Extreme
Ice Storm Extreme
3DMark 11
3DMark 11
Cloud Gate
Cloud Gate
Fire Strike
Fire Strike
Fire Strike Extreme
Fire Strike Extreme
3DMark 11
1280x720 Performance GPU (sort by value)
MSI Prestige PE70 6QE-055XUS
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Intel SSD 535 SSDSCKJW120H6
5184 Points
Aorus X5S v5
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ, Samsung SM951 MZVPV256 m.2
12197 Points +135%
Gigabyte P55W v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SM951 MZVPV128 NVMe
9910 Points +91%
MSI PE60 6QE-056XUS
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Intel SSD 535 SSDSCKJW120H6
5463 Points +5%
MSI PE60 2QD
GeForce GTX 950M, 6700HQ, HGST Travelstar 7K1000 HTS721010A9E630
4258 Points -18%
Lenovo Ideapad 500s-14ISK
GeForce 940M, 6500U, Samsung PM871 MZYLN256HCHP
2366 Points -54%
1280x720 Performance Combined (sort by value)
MSI Prestige PE70 6QE-055XUS
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Intel SSD 535 SSDSCKJW120H6
5487 Points
Aorus X5S v5
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ, Samsung SM951 MZVPV256 m.2
5960 Points +9%
Gigabyte P55W v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SM951 MZVPV128 NVMe
6759 Points +23%
MSI PE60 6QE-056XUS
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Intel SSD 535 SSDSCKJW120H6
5477 Points 0%
MSI PE60 2QD
GeForce GTX 950M, 6700HQ, HGST Travelstar 7K1000 HTS721010A9E630
4507 Points -18%
Lenovo Ideapad 500s-14ISK
GeForce 940M, 6500U, Samsung PM871 MZYLN256HCHP
1801 Points -67%
3DMark
1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics (sort by value)
MSI Prestige PE70 6QE-055XUS
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Intel SSD 535 SSDSCKJW120H6
3971 Points
Aorus X5S v5
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ, Samsung SM951 MZVPV256 m.2
9441 Points +138%
Gigabyte P55W v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SM951 MZVPV128 NVMe
7450 Points +88%
MSI PE60 6QE-056XUS
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Intel SSD 535 SSDSCKJW120H6
4417 Points +11%
MSI PE60 2QD
GeForce GTX 950M, 6700HQ, HGST Travelstar 7K1000 HTS721010A9E630
3591 Points -10%
Lenovo Ideapad 500s-14ISK
GeForce 940M, 6500U, Samsung PM871 MZYLN256HCHP
1589 Points -60%
1920x1080 Fire Strike Combined (sort by value)
MSI Prestige PE70 6QE-055XUS
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Intel SSD 535 SSDSCKJW120H6
1568 Points
Aorus X5S v5
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ, Samsung SM951 MZVPV256 m.2
3675 Points +134%
Gigabyte P55W v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SM951 MZVPV128 NVMe
2774 Points +77%
MSI PE60 6QE-056XUS
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Intel SSD 535 SSDSCKJW120H6
1679 Points +7%
MSI PE60 2QD
GeForce GTX 950M, 6700HQ, HGST Travelstar 7K1000 HTS721010A9E630
1447 Points -8%
Lenovo Ideapad 500s-14ISK
GeForce 940M, 6500U, Samsung PM871 MZYLN256HCHP
462 Points -71%
Fire Strike Extreme Graphics (sort by value)
MSI Prestige PE70 6QE-055XUS
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Intel SSD 535 SSDSCKJW120H6
1834 Points
Aorus X5S v5
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ, Samsung SM951 MZVPV256 m.2
4426 Points +141%
MSI PE60 6QE-056XUS
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Intel SSD 535 SSDSCKJW120H6
2069 Points +13%
Fire Strike Extreme Combined (sort by value)
MSI Prestige PE70 6QE-055XUS
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Intel SSD 535 SSDSCKJW120H6
813 Points
Aorus X5S v5
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ, Samsung SM951 MZVPV256 m.2
1987 Points +144%
MSI PE60 6QE-056XUS
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Intel SSD 535 SSDSCKJW120H6
903 Points +11%
3DMark 11 Performance
5538 points
3DMark Ice Storm Standard Score
77859 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
10872 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
3557 points
3DMark Fire Strike Extreme Score
1786 points
Help

Gaming Performance

Performance in games is excellent as the GTX 960M pairs very well with a native 1080p display. Newer and more demanding titles are beginning to really stress the GPU at higher graphical settings, so users expecting 60 FPS experiences on High to Ultra settings may want to look into systems with the GTX 970M or even 980M.

BioShock Infinite
1366x768 High Preset (sort by value)
MSI Prestige PE70 6QE-055XUS
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Intel SSD 535 SSDSCKJW120H6
119.9 fps
DogHouse Systems Mobius SS
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700K, Samsung SSD 850 EVO 1TB
205.5 fps +71%
Aorus X3 Plus v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL m.2 PCI-e
146.8 fps +22%
MSI PE60 6QE-056XUS
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Intel SSD 535 SSDSCKJW120H6
117.4 fps -2%
MSI GP62-2QEi781FD
GeForce GTX 950M, 5700HQ, Micron M600 MTFDDAV512MBF M.2
89.8 fps -25%
1920x1080 Ultra Preset, DX11 (DDOF) (sort by value)
MSI Prestige PE70 6QE-055XUS
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Intel SSD 535 SSDSCKJW120H6
46.2 fps
DogHouse Systems Mobius SS
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700K, Samsung SSD 850 EVO 1TB
92.4 fps +100%
Aorus X3 Plus v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL m.2 PCI-e
71.8 fps +55%
MSI PE60 6QE-056XUS
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Intel SSD 535 SSDSCKJW120H6
45.8 fps -1%
MSI GP62-2QEi781FD
GeForce GTX 950M, 5700HQ, Micron M600 MTFDDAV512MBF M.2
29.6 fps -36%
Batman: Arkham Knight - 1920x1080 High / On (Interactive Smoke & Paper Debris Off) AA:SM AF:8x (sort by value)
MSI Prestige PE70 6QE-055XUS
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Intel SSD 535 SSDSCKJW120H6
42 fps
DogHouse Systems Mobius SS
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700K, Samsung SSD 850 EVO 1TB
76 fps +81%
Aorus X3 Plus v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL m.2 PCI-e
59 fps +40%
MSI PE60 6QE-056XUS
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Intel SSD 535 SSDSCKJW120H6
32 fps -24%
MSI GP62-2QEi781FD
GeForce GTX 950M, 5700HQ, Micron M600 MTFDDAV512MBF M.2
22 fps -48%
Rise of the Tomb Raider
1920x1080 High Preset AA:FX AF:4x (sort by value)
MSI Prestige PE70 6QE-055XUS
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Intel SSD 535 SSDSCKJW120H6
29.4 fps
DogHouse Systems Mobius SS
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700K, Samsung SSD 850 EVO 1TB
60.4 fps +105%
MSI PE60 6QE-056XUS
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Intel SSD 535 SSDSCKJW120H6
30.3 fps +3%
1920x1080 Very High Preset AA:FX AF:16x (sort by value)
MSI Prestige PE70 6QE-055XUS
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Intel SSD 535 SSDSCKJW120H6
24.4 fps
DogHouse Systems Mobius SS
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700K, Samsung SSD 850 EVO 1TB
51.6 fps +111%
MSI PE60 6QE-056XUS
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Intel SSD 535 SSDSCKJW120H6
23 fps -6%
Thief
1366x768 High Preset AA:FXAA & Low SS AF:4x (sort by value)
MSI Prestige PE70 6QE-055XUS
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Intel SSD 535 SSDSCKJW120H6
55.9 fps
DogHouse Systems Mobius SS
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700K, Samsung SSD 850 EVO 1TB
114.7 fps +105%
Aorus X3 Plus v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL m.2 PCI-e
73 fps +31%
MSI PE60 6QE-056XUS
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Intel SSD 535 SSDSCKJW120H6
55.3 fps -1%
MSI GP62-2QEi781FD
GeForce GTX 950M, 5700HQ, Micron M600 MTFDDAV512MBF M.2
43.8 fps -22%
1920x1080 Very High Preset AA:FXAA & High SS AF:8x (sort by value)
MSI Prestige PE70 6QE-055XUS
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Intel SSD 535 SSDSCKJW120H6
27.8 fps
DogHouse Systems Mobius SS
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700K, Samsung SSD 850 EVO 1TB
65.4 fps +135%
Aorus X3 Plus v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL m.2 PCI-e
46.5 fps +67%
MSI PE60 6QE-056XUS
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Intel SSD 535 SSDSCKJW120H6
27.9 fps 0%
MSI GP62-2QEi781FD
GeForce GTX 950M, 5700HQ, Micron M600 MTFDDAV512MBF M.2
20.6 fps -26%
Metro: Last Light
1366x768 High (DX11) AF:16x (sort by value)
MSI Prestige PE70 6QE-055XUS
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Intel SSD 535 SSDSCKJW120H6
59.2 fps
DogHouse Systems Mobius SS
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700K, Samsung SSD 850 EVO 1TB
125.8 fps +113%
Aorus X3 Plus v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL m.2 PCI-e
93.8 fps +58%
MSI PE60 6QE-056XUS
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Intel SSD 535 SSDSCKJW120H6
59.9 fps +1%
MSI GP62-2QEi781FD
GeForce GTX 950M, 5700HQ, Micron M600 MTFDDAV512MBF M.2
45.5 fps -23%
1920x1080 Very High (DX11) AF:16x (sort by value)
MSI Prestige PE70 6QE-055XUS
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Intel SSD 535 SSDSCKJW120H6
31.9 fps
DogHouse Systems Mobius SS
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700K, Samsung SSD 850 EVO 1TB
70.6 fps +121%
Aorus X3 Plus v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL m.2 PCI-e
53.6 fps +68%
MSI PE60 6QE-056XUS
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Intel SSD 535 SSDSCKJW120H6
31.7 fps -1%
MSI GP62-2QEi781FD
GeForce GTX 950M, 5700HQ, Micron M600 MTFDDAV512MBF M.2
22.9 fps -28%
Sleeping Dogs
1366x768 High Preset AA:High (sort by value)
MSI Prestige PE70 6QE-055XUS
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Intel SSD 535 SSDSCKJW120H6
94.2 fps
DogHouse Systems Mobius SS
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700K, Samsung SSD 850 EVO 1TB
176.6 fps +87%
Aorus X3 Plus v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL m.2 PCI-e
123.5 fps +31%
MSI GP62-2QEi781FD
GeForce GTX 950M, 5700HQ, Micron M600 MTFDDAV512MBF M.2
63.9 fps -32%
1920x1080 Extreme Preset AA:Extreme (sort by value)
MSI Prestige PE70 6QE-055XUS
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Intel SSD 535 SSDSCKJW120H6
24.7 fps
DogHouse Systems Mobius SS
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700K, Samsung SSD 850 EVO 1TB
59.7 fps +142%
Aorus X3 Plus v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL m.2 PCI-e
45 fps +82%
MSI GP62-2QEi781FD
GeForce GTX 950M, 5700HQ, Micron M600 MTFDDAV512MBF M.2
15.7 fps -36%
Fallout 4
1920x1080 High Preset AA:T AF:16x (sort by value)
MSI Prestige PE70 6QE-055XUS
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Intel SSD 535 SSDSCKJW120H6
31.8 fps
DogHouse Systems Mobius SS
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700K, Samsung SSD 850 EVO 1TB
73.8 fps +132%
Aorus X3 Plus v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL m.2 PCI-e
52.9 fps +66%
MSI PE60 6QE-056XUS
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Intel SSD 535 SSDSCKJW120H6
31.6 fps -1%
1920x1080 Ultra Preset AA:T AF:16x (sort by value)
MSI Prestige PE70 6QE-055XUS
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Intel SSD 535 SSDSCKJW120H6
25.6 fps
DogHouse Systems Mobius SS
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700K, Samsung SSD 850 EVO 1TB
59.7 fps +133%
Aorus X3 Plus v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL m.2 PCI-e
42.4 fps +66%
MSI PE60 6QE-056XUS
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Intel SSD 535 SSDSCKJW120H6
24.9 fps -3%
Metal Gear Solid V
1920x1080 High / On (sort by value)
MSI Prestige PE70 6QE-055XUS
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Intel SSD 535 SSDSCKJW120H6
58 fps
DogHouse Systems Mobius SS
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700K, Samsung SSD 850 EVO 1TB
60 fps +3%
Aorus X3 Plus v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL m.2 PCI-e
59.9 fps +3%
MSI PE60 6QE-056XUS
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Intel SSD 535 SSDSCKJW120H6
58 fps 0%
1920x1080 Extra High / On (sort by value)
MSI Prestige PE70 6QE-055XUS
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Intel SSD 535 SSDSCKJW120H6
38 fps
DogHouse Systems Mobius SS
GeForce GTX 980M, 6700K, Samsung SSD 850 EVO 1TB
60 fps +58%
Aorus X3 Plus v5
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Samsung SM951 MZVPV512HDGL m.2 PCI-e
59.1 fps +56%
MSI PE60 6QE-056XUS
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Intel SSD 535 SSDSCKJW120H6
39.1 fps +3%
low med. high ultra
Sleeping Dogs (2012) 94.2 24.7
BioShock Infinite (2013) 119.9 46.2
Metro: Last Light (2013) 59.2 31.9
Thief (2014) 55.9 27.8
Batman: Arkham Knight (2015) 42
Metal Gear Solid V (2015) 58 38
Fallout 4 (2015) 31.8 25.6
Rise of the Tomb Raider (2016) 29.4 24.4

Stress Test

We stress the notebook with benchmarks to identify for any throttling or stability issues. When running Prime95, core clock rate stabilizes at 2.8 GHz or 300 MHz slower than the rated maximum for a Core i7-6700HQ. Core temperature plateaus at a relatively low 73 C, but we are disappointed that the CPU cannot maintain its maximum Turbo Boost when under Prime95 load.

Meanwhile, the GPU will stabilize at 1137 MHz and a core temperature of just under 70 C when running FurMark. Running both Prime95 and FurMark simultaneously will throttle the CPU just slightly to 2.5 GHz while the GPU maintains its 1137 MHz clock rate. Temperatures for both processors plateau at about 80 C.

Running Unigine Heaven is more representative of gaming loads. The CPU runs at a wide range up to its maximum Turbo Boost depending on the onscreen load while the GPU is constant at its Boost clock rate of 1202 MHz. Core temperatures remain relatively low for a notebook at the 50 C to 60 C range.

Running on battery power will limit GPU and CPU performances. A 3DMark 11 run on mains resulted in Graphics and Physics scores of 5538 and 8492 points, respectively, compared to 4357 and 6875 points on battery.

Prime95 stress
Prime95 stress
FurMark stress
FurMark stress
Prime95+FurMark stress
Prime95+FurMark stress
Unigine Heaven stress
Unigine Heaven stress

CPU Clock (GHz) GPU Clock (MHz) Average CPU Temperature (C) Average GPU Temperature (C)

Prime95 Stress

2.8 -- ~73 --

FurMark Stress

-- 1137 -- ~69

Prime95 + FurMark Stress

2.5 1137 ~80 ~79

Unigine Heaven Stress

0.9+ 1202 ~56 ~64

Emissions

System Noise

Fan noise (White: Background, Red: System idle, Blue: Unigine Heaven, Green: Prime95+FurMark)
Fan noise (White: Background, Red: System idle, Blue: Unigine Heaven, Green: Prime95+FurMark)

The dual 50 mm fans are always active no matter the onscreen activity or Power setting. Furthermore, they tend to pulsate during low to medium loads quite frequently. This combination makes the PE70 noisier and more noticeable during everyday use compared to competing 17-inch multimedia notebooks. The Asus GL752, for example, is much quieter and less sensitive to onscreen activity while carrying the same CPU and GPU as our MSI.

While the system is loud during low to medium loads, fan noise is about average for a notebook this size when under gaming loads at around 44 to 45 dB(A).

MSI Prestige PE70 6QE-055XUS
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Intel SSD 535 SSDSCKJW120H6
MSI PE70-2QEi581
GeForce GTX 960M, 4210H, Toshiba HG5d THNSNH256GMCT
Asus GL752VW-T4168T
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Micron M600 MTFDDAV256MBF mSATA
MSI GL72 6QF
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 950 Pro 256GB m.2 NVMe
Lenovo Ideapad Y700 17ISK 80Q0
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Samsung MZNLN128HCGR-000L2
Noise
-2%
0%
-3%
5%
off / environment *
28.7
30.5
-6%
29.3
-2%
Idle Minimum *
33.3
33
1%
32
4%
35.3
-6%
28
16%
Idle Average *
34.6
34
2%
32
8%
35.4
-2%
28.1
19%
Idle Maximum *
34.7
36.2
-4%
32
8%
35.4
-2%
31.5
9%
Load Average *
38
39.1
-3%
43.8
-15%
40.9
-8%
40.6
-7%
Load Maximum *
45.2
48.1
-6%
44
3%
45
-0%
51
-13%

* ... smaller is better

Noise Level

Idle
33.3 / 34.6 / 34.7 dB(A)
DVD
40.4 / dB(A)
Load
38 / 45.2 dB(A)
  red to green bar
 
 
30 dB
silent
40 dB(A)
audible
50 dB(A)
loud
 
min: dark, med: mid, max: light   BK Precision 732A (15 cm distance)   environment noise: 28.7 dB(A)

Temperature

Temperature development on the PE70 is very similar to the PE60 since the internals are largely the same. The touchpad becomes much warmer than on most other notebooks while the bottom is warmer near the heat pipes and secondary HDD. It's worth noting that most of the bottom surface is actually quite cool since the pipes are not directly touching the bottom panel while the large number of ventilation grilles allow for better airflow. The disadvantage, of course, is a thicker chassis. At worst, we were able to record temperatures as high as 54 C on the rear of the notebook on a very isolated spot.

Maximum load (Top)
Maximum load (Top)
Maximum load (Bottom)
Maximum load (Bottom)
Max. Load
 38.4 °C
101 F
48.2 °C
119 F
33.2 °C
92 F
 
 32.4 °C
90 F
39.2 °C
103 F
27.6 °C
82 F
 
 29.4 °C
85 F
36.4 °C
98 F
26 °C
79 F
 
Maximum: 48.2 °C = 119 F
Average: 34.5 °C = 94 F
45.8 °C
114 F
47 °C
117 F
54 °C
129 F
26.6 °C
80 F
43 °C
109 F
35 °C
95 F
27 °C
81 F
28.6 °C
83 F
34.4 °C
94 F
Maximum: 54 °C = 129 F
Average: 37.9 °C = 100 F
Power Supply (max.)  49 °C = 120 F | Room Temperature 20 °C = 68 F | Fluke 62 Mini IR Thermometer
(±) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 34.5 °C / 94 F, compared to the average of 31.2 °C / 88 F for the devices in the class Multimedia.
(-) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 48.2 °C / 119 F, compared to the average of 36.9 °C / 98 F, ranging from 21.1 to 71 °C for the class Multimedia.
(-) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 54 °C / 129 F, compared to the average of 39.1 °C / 102 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 23.9 °C / 75 F, compared to the device average of 31.2 °C / 88 F.
(±) The palmrests and touchpad can get very hot to the touch with a maximum of 36.4 °C / 97.5 F.
(-) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.8 °C / 83.8 F (-7.6 °C / -13.7 F).

Speakers

The speaker setup is similar to the smaller PE60 with four speakers up against the front edge and a subwoofer near the bottom rear. This time, however, the subwoofer is slightly larger for deeper bass and improved sound quality. Our microphone measurements show that lower frequencies are slightly more represented on the PE70. Maximum volume is loud and will vibrate the entire base of the notebook during music or media playback. Balance is not perfect at higher volume settings with a bit of distortion present, but we can otherwise notice no static. We recommend tuning the speakers with the Nahimic software as needed.

Relatively large subwoofer
Relatively large subwoofer
(Pink: Pink noise, Gray: White noise)
(Pink: Pink noise, Gray: White noise)

Energy Management

Power Consumption

The PE70 6QE is generally more energy efficient than the PE70 2QE when under low to medium loads, though this appears to have very little effect on battery life as shown in the next section. The similarly equipped Lenovo Y700 uses substantially less power when not gaming.

The power adapter is rated for 120 W while our own measurements show a power draw of just over 130 W when running both Prime95 and FurMark simultaneously. A slightly larger and more capable power adapter will be necessary should MSI decide to install more powerful components in the future.

MSI Prestige PE70 6QE-055XUS
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Intel SSD 535 SSDSCKJW120H6
MSI PE70-2QEi581
GeForce GTX 960M, 4210H, Toshiba HG5d THNSNH256GMCT
Asus GL752VW-T4168T
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Micron M600 MTFDDAV256MBF mSATA
MSI GL72 6QF
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 950 Pro 256GB m.2 NVMe
Lenovo Ideapad Y700-17 80QK7709PB
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 850 EVO 500GB
Power Consumption
-10%
14%
-19%
18%
Idle Minimum *
16.7
19.1
-14%
14.5
13%
22.1
-32%
4.3
74%
Idle Average *
22.4
24.3
-8%
19.3
14%
28.3
-26%
13.8
38%
Idle Maximum *
22.9
29.2
-28%
19.5
15%
29.8
-30%
19.8
14%
Load Average *
81.6
88.6
-9%
78
4%
87
-7%
115.9
-42%
Load Maximum *
130.9
122
7%
100
24%
134.1
-2%
123.5
6%

* ... smaller is better

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.55 / 1.08 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 16.7 / 22.4 / 22.9 Watt
Load midlight 81.6 / 130.9 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.

Battery Life

Runtimes are not significantly different from the older PE70 2QE. Thus, users can expect runtimes of just over 2.5 hours of constant WLAN use or 4.5 hours when sitting idle on the desktop at minimum display brightness. These results are poor even for a 17-inch gaming or multimedia notebook. The Lenovo Y700, for example, includes a much larger battery pack with battery life well over 5 hours under similar WLAN conditions.

Maximum runtime (Reader's Test)
Maximum runtime (Reader's Test)
Minimum runtime (Classic Test)
Minimum runtime (Classic Test)
WLAN runtime
WLAN runtime
MSI Prestige PE70 6QE-055XUS
42 Wh
MSI PE70-2QEi581
42 Wh
Asus GL752VW-T4168T
48 Wh
MSI GL72 6QF
43 Wh
Lenovo Ideapad Y700 17ISK 80Q0
60 Wh
Battery Runtime
7%
9%
-16%
102%
Reader / Idle
273
345
26%
305
12%
238
-13%
688
152%
WiFi v1.3
159
158
-1%
182
14%
107
-33%
334
110%
Load
63
61
-3%
64
2%
61
-3%
91
44%
Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
4h 33min
WiFi Websurfing
2h 39min
Load (maximum brightness)
1h 03min

Pros

+ lightweight and small for a 17.3-inch multimedia notebook
+ relatively low core temperatures under stress
+ comfortable touchpad and keyboard
+ high sRGB coverage (>90 percent)
+ USB Type-C Gen. 2 port
+ good speaker quality
+ easy serviceability

Cons

- unable to maintain maximum CPU Turbo Boost
- loud system noise; fans tend to pulsate
- light-moderate backlight bleeding
- relatively short battery life
- few expandability options
- dim display backlight
- no NVMe upgrade
- weak display lid

Verdict

In review: MSI Prestige PE70 6QE. Test model provided by iBuyPower.com
In review: MSI Prestige PE70 6QE. Test model provided by iBuyPower.com

Like its smaller PE60 and PX60 siblings, the PE70 Prestige will need to offer more than just a quick paint job to separate itself from the already established GE62 and GE72 series. At its current state, the Prestige series feels unnecessary unless if users are willing to calibrate the display or simply prefer the silver exterior over the black GE models. The lighter weight may help for traveling, but its dim backlight and short battery life are two more steps backwards.

As a multimedia notebook, quieter, longer-lasting, and overall better options exist in the form of the Lenovo Y700, Acer Aspire Nitro, or Asus GL771. These models may be heavier than the MSI, but their advantages in most every other category make them easier to recommend than the PE70 6QE.

MSI Prestige PE70 6QE-055XUS - 05/16/2016 v5.1(old)
Allen Ngo

Chassis
78 / 98 → 79%
Keyboard
83%
Pointing Device
72%
Connectivity
59 / 81 → 73%
Weight
61 / 20-67 → 87%
Battery
67%
Display
76%
Games Performance
81 / 85 → 95%
Application Performance
86 / 92 → 94%
Temperature
88%
Noise
77 / 95 → 81%
Audio
86%
Camera
31 / 85 → 37%
Average
73%
80%
Multimedia - Weighted Average

Pricecompare

static version load dynamic
Loading Comments
Comment on this article
Please share our article, every link counts!
> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > MSI PE70 6QE Prestige iBuyPower Edition Notebook Review
Allen Ngo, 2016-05-16 (Update: 2020-06- 8)