
MSI Stealth 15M GeForce RTX Laptop Review: Faster Graphics than the Dell XPS 15, HP Spectre x360, or Asus ZenBook
Intel Core i7-1185G7 | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 Max-Q | 15.60" | 1.7 kg
The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 with Max-Q design is the power saving variant of the mobile GeForce RTX 2060. Therefore it is a high end gaming graphics card for thin laptops. It is based on the same chip as the RTX 2060 but with reduced clock speeds and a lower power consumption. It was released in 2020 with the Zephyrus G14 gaming laptop.
With the refresh, Nvidia also reworked the Max-Q technologies for more efficiency. Low Voltage GDDR6 (lower clocked but more headroom for the GPU) and improved regulator efficiency should improve the performance per Watt. Two new optional features can also be implemented by the OEM. Max-Q Dynamic Boost is able to shift power from the CPU to the GPU on a per frame basis to increase overall performance. Furthermore, the laptop manufacturer can also implement Advanced Optimus with a dynamic display switch (hardware) to enable Optimus, G-SYNC and high refresh rate displays (up to 4K 120 Hz).
The clock is not the only difference compared to the regular GTX 2060 though. The drivers for the Max-Q version were optimized for efficiency (and not performance; only for Max-Q models), there are optimized voltage converters for 1V operation, high-end cooling methods, and a 40 dB limit for the fan noise (with clock adjustments to ensure this at all times).
The performance should be only slightly below the normal RTX 2060 due to the decreased clock rates. It should be most suited for 1080p gaming at maximum detail level. Raytracing features however may reduce framerates a lot, so using raytracing will be limited to some games.
The chip is specified at a TGP of around 65 Watt and therefore clearly lower than the 80 - 90 Watt of the regular RTX 2060 Mobile.
GeForce RTX 2000 Series
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Codename | N18E-G1 MAX-Q TU106 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Architecture | Turing | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pipelines | 1920 - unified | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Core Speed | 975 - 1185 (Boost) MHz | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Memory Speed | 11000 MHz | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Memory Bus Width | 192 Bit | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Memory Type | GDDR6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Max. Amount of Memory | 6 GB | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shared Memory | no | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
API | DirectX 12_1, OpenGL 4.6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Power Consumption | 65 Watt | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
technology | 12 nm | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Features | DLSS, Raytraycing, VR Ready, G-SYNC, Vulkan, Multi Monitor | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Notebook Size | large | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Date of Announcement | 06.01.2019 |
The following benchmarks stem from our benchmarks of review laptops. The performance depends on the used graphics memory, clock rate, processor, system settings, drivers, and operating systems. So the results don't have to be representative for all laptops with this GPU. For detailed information on the benchmark results, click on the fps number.
low | med. | high | ultra | QHD | 4K | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Gears Tactics | 257.9 | 120.4 | 76.4 | 56.9 | 18.9 | |
Doom Eternal | 176.1 | 108.7 | 95.7 | 93.3 | ||
Hunt Showdown | 194.2 | 96.3 | 75.7 | |||
Escape from Tarkov | 78.5 | 68.5 | 68.2 | 85.3 | ||
Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order | 92.9 | 88 | 77.8 | |||
Need for Speed Heat | 103.2 | 88.7 | 82.2 | 79 | ||
GRID 2019 | 157.4 | 109.4 | 103.4 | 73.5 | 33.1 | |
Ghost Recon Breakpoint | 123 | 82 | 75 | 55 | ||
Borderlands 3 | 117 | 89.5 | 61.9 | 48.3 | ||
Control | 183.7 | 67.1 | 50.4 | |||
F1 2019 | 196 | 137 | 116 | 101 | ||
Total War: Three Kingdoms | 201.1 | 103.3 | 69.2 | 50.7 | ||
Anno 1800 | 81.5 | 81.6 | 61.4 | 36.5 | ||
The Division 2 | 154 | 92 | 74 | 56 | ||
Dirt Rally 2.0 | 276.7 | 125.3 | 105.3 | 60.5 | 24.4 | |
Far Cry New Dawn | 105 | 75 | 70 | 63 | ||
Metro Exodus | 129.6 | 72.7 | 55.2 | 43.8 | ||
Apex Legends | 143.6 | 142.8 | 126.2 | 116.6 | ||
Assassin´s Creed Odyssey | 97 | 79 | 65 | 45 | ||
Shadow of the Tomb Raider | 118 | 87 | 80 | 70 | 20 | |
Strange Brigade | 276 | 130 | 106 | 93.1 | ||
Monster Hunter World | 104.5 | 94.2 | 75.6 | 63.6 | ||
X-Plane 11.11 | 103 | 90 | 76 | 62 | ||
Final Fantasy XV Benchmark | 135 | 79 | 60 | 43.6 | 24.9 | |
Fortnite | 124 | 110.2 | 107.4 | 81.2 | ||
Middle-earth: Shadow of War | 155 | 123 | 97 | 76 | ||
Rocket League | 246.9 | 249.7 | 219.3 | |||
Overwatch | 299.9 | 299.7 | 229.7 | 146.9 | ||
Doom | 125 | 125 | 118.2 | 111.5 | ||
Ashes of the Singularity | 100.4 | 72.8 | 66.8 | |||
Metal Gear Solid V | 60 | 60 | 60 | 59.2 | ||
Dota 2 Reborn | 139 | 129 | 119 | 114 | 79 | |
The Witcher 3 | 266 | 175 | 104 | 57 | 35 | |
GTA V | 173 | 164 | 119 | 68.2 | ||
BioShock Infinite | 278.3 | 252.3 | 229.5 | 126.2 | ||
Guild Wars 2 | 130.3 | 67.3 | 67.4 | |||
low | med. | high | ultra | QHD | 4K | < 30 fps < 60 fps < 120 fps ≥ 120 fps | 11 24 | 22 13 | 2 30 4 | 10 18 2 | 1 | 4 2 2 |
For more games that might be playable and a list of all games and graphics cards visit our Gaming List
Asus ROG Zephyrus G15 GA502IV-PH96: AMD Ryzen 9 4900HS, 15.60", 2.1 kg
External Review » Asus ROG Zephyrus G15 GA502IV-PH96
HP Pavilion Gaming 16-a0043ns: Intel Core i7-10750H, 16.10", 2.4 kg
External Review » HP Pavilion Gaming 16-a0043ns
HP Envy 15-ep0041ur: Intel Core i7-10750H, 15.60", 2.1 kg
External Review » HP Envy 15-ep0041ur
HP Envy 15-ep0175nd: Intel Core i7-10750H, 15.60", 2.1 kg
External Review » HP Envy 15-ep0175nd
Asus ROG Zephyrus G15 GA502IV-HN042: AMD Ryzen 9 4900HS, 15.60", 2.1 kg
External Review » Asus ROG Zephyrus G15 GA502IV-HN042
HP Pavilion Gaming 16-a0042ns: Intel Core i5-10300H, 16.10", 2.4 kg
External Review » HP Pavilion Gaming 16-a0042ns
HP Pavilion Gaming 16-a0033ns: Intel Core i7-10750H, 16.10"
External Review » HP Pavilion Gaming 16-a0033ns
HP Envy 15-ep008n: Intel Core i7-10750H, 15.60", 2.2 kg
External Review » HP Envy 15-ep008n
HP Envy 15-ep0016tx: Intel Core i7-10750H, 15.60", 2.2 kg
External Review » HP Envy 15-ep0016tx
HP Envy 15-ep0015nl: Intel Core i7-10750H, 15.60", 2.2 kg
External Review » HP Envy 15-ep0015nl
HP Pavilion Gaming 16-A0029NS: Intel Core i7-10750H, 16.10", 2.4 kg
External Review » HP Pavilion Gaming 16-A0029NS
HP Envy 15-ep0190nd: Intel Core i9-10885H, 15.60", 2.2 kg
External Review » HP Envy 15-ep0190nd
Asus Zephyrus G14 GA401IVC-HA275T (ACRNM RMT01): AMD Ryzen 9 4900HS, 15.60", 1.7 kg
External Review » Asus Zephyrus G14 GA401IVC-HA275T (ACRNM RMT01)
HP Gaming Pavilion 15-dk1064tx: Intel Core i5-10300H, 15.60", 2.2 kg
External Review » HP Gaming Pavilion 15-dk1064tx
Dell XPS 17 9700-C9T5T: Intel Core i9-10885H, 17.30", 2.5 kg
External Review » Dell XPS 17 9700-C9T5T
HP Envy 15-ep0098nr: Intel Core i7-10750H, 15.60", 2 kg
External Review » HP Envy 15-ep0098nr
HP Gaming Pavilion 15-dk1003ns: Intel Core i7-10750H, 15.60", 2.2 kg
External Review » HP Gaming Pavilion 15-dk1003ns
Dell XPS 17 9700 Core i7 RTX 2060 Max-Q: Intel Core i7-10875H, 17.00", 2.5 kg
External Review » Dell XPS 17 9700 Core i7 RTX 2060 Max-Q
Asus ROG Zephyrus G15 GA502IV-HN020: AMD Ryzen 7 4800HS, 15.60", 2.1 kg
External Review » Asus Zephyrus G15 GA502IV-HN020
Asus Zephyrus G14 GA401IV-HE003T: AMD Ryzen 7 4800HS, 14.00", 1.6 kg
External Review » Asus Zephyrus G14 GA401IV-HE003T
Asus Zephyrus G14 GA401IV-HE253T: AMD Ryzen 7 4800HS, 14.00", 1.7 kg
External Review » Asus Zephyrus G14 GA401IV-HE253T
Asus Zephyrus G14 GA401IV-HA116T: AMD Ryzen 9 4900HS, 14.00", 1.7 kg
External Review » Asus Zephyrus G14 GA401IV-HA116T
Asus Zephyrus G14 GA401IV-HE022: AMD Ryzen 7 4800HS, 14.00", 1.6 kg
External Review » Asus Zephyrus G14 GA401IV-HE022
Razer Blade 15 Base Model 2020, i7-10750H, RTX 2060 Max-Q: Intel Core i7-10750H, 15.60", 2.1 kg
External Review » Razer Blade 15 Base Model 2020, i7-10750H, RTX 2060 Max-Q
Asus ProArt StudioBook 17 H700GV RTX 2060, Xeon E-2276M: Intel Xeon E-2276M, 17.00", 2.4 kg
External Review » Asus ProArt StudioBook 17 H700GV RTX 2060, Xeon E-2276M
Asus Zephyrus G14 GA401IV: AMD Ryzen 9 4900HS, 14.00", 1.6 kg
External Review » Asus Zephyrus G14 GA401IV
Lenovo Legion Y540-15IRH-81SX00CKSP: Intel Core i7-9750H, 15.60", 2.3 kg
External Review » Lenovo Legion Y540-15IRH-81SX00CKSP
MSI Stealth 15M A11SEK: Intel Core i7-1185G7, 15.60", 1.7 kg
» The MSI Stealth 15M is proof that gaming laptops with 15 W to 25 W Tiger Lake Core U CPUs can work
Dell XPS 17 9700 Core i7 RTX 2060 Max-Q: Intel Core i7-10875H, 17.00", 2.5 kg
» Dell XPS 17 battery drain issue fixed on latest production batches
HP Envy 15-ep0098nr: Intel Core i7-10750H, 15.60", 2 kg
» New HP Envy 15 makes for a better gaming laptop than the Omen 15
Dell XPS 17 9700 Core i7 RTX 2060 Max-Q: Intel Core i7-10875H, 17.00", 2.5 kg
» Dell finally addresses XPS 17 9700 and Precision 5750 charging woes, but the solution isn't as simple as you may think
» Here are 5 super simple ways we would improve the Dell XPS 17
Asus Zephyrus G14 GA401IV: AMD Ryzen 9 4900HS, 14.00", 1.6 kg
» Seven simple ways we would make the Asus Zephyrus G14 even better
» Comparison of GPUs
Detailed list of all laptop GPUs sorted by class and performance.
» Benchmark List
Sort and restrict laptop GPUs based on performance in synthetic benchmarks.
» Notebook Gaming List
Playable games for each graphics card and their average FPS results.
* Approximate position of the graphics adapter
Top 10 Laptops
Multimedia, Budget Multimedia, Gaming, Budget Gaming, Lightweight Gaming, Business, Budget Office, Workstation, Subnotebooks, Ultrabooks, Chromebooks
under 300 USD/Euros, under 500 USD/Euros, 1,000 USD/Euros, for University Students, Best Displays
Top 10 Smartphones
Smartphones, Phablets, ≤6-inch, Camera Smartphones