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Review MSI GS70-65M21621 Notebook

Thin gamer. Imagine the MSI GE70, slightly tweak the case, use the identical hardware and you will get the GS70 Stealth. The new gaming notebook is especially interesting for mobile gaming because the manufacturer reduced both the weight and the dimensions. But was the diet successful?
MSI GS70

For the original German review, see here.

The thin gaming notebook MSI GS70 Stealth was already an eye-catcher back at Gamescom 2013 where we could see and try it at the booth of Caseking. Our review unit is from the online shop Notebooksbilliger. You will like the MSI GS70 Stealth if gaming notebooks are usually too big and heavy for you. It is based on Intel's latest Haswell architecture and is equipped with an Nvidia GPU and a fast mSATA-RAID system. 

Contrary to the MSI GE70, there is only one configuration of the GS70 Stealth at the time of this review. MSI combines an Intel Core i7-4700HQ processor with a high-end GeForce GTX 765M GPU. It is a common combination that can be found in many gaming notebooks. The highlight however is certainly the two 128 GB mSATA SSDs with incredibly high performance in a RAID-0 system. This hardware equipment is accompanied by a matte Full HD display, a backlit chiclet keyboard and an extensive port variety for a price of around 1,700 Euros (~$2296).

Case

A matte case? We did not really expect that from MSI but the result is actually convincing. Even though the GS70 Stealth is a high-end gaming notebook, the new barebones does not have any similarities with its thicker siblings. The display cover is now simpler and more distinguished with its black color and a brushed aluminum look. The familiar MSI branding is accompanied by a red Gaming-Series branding with a dragon.

The display frame of the GS70 is matte black and does not reflect any light even under direct sunlight. The surface of the base unit is also matte black and fits perfectly into the new design. One criticism of the predecessors was always the susceptibility to fingerprints, which is not the case with the GS70. Contrary to the GT70, not only the palm rest but also the keyboard bezel is made of aluminum. Only the bottom cover, which is also the maintenance cover at the same time, is made of plastic. We got a retail unit so we could not open the device (warranty sticker).

Unfortunately, the GS70 only has two memory slots instead of four because of the limited space. The gaming notebook is already well equipped with 16 GB ex-works, which is also the maximum amount of memory. The fans of the GS70 Stealth are in the upper corners and dissipate the heat from the GPU and CPU separately to the outside

You can easily close the cover thanks to some rubberized elements at the display. The large display hinge, which is fixed by pins on both sides, is very stiff and keeps the display well in position. You do not have to hold the base unit down when you open the display. The quality of the new case is very good, but the stability is limited by the slim profile and cannot quite keep up with other gaming notebooks. 

Very thin case with a large palm rest.
Very thin case with a large palm rest.
The bottom cover is also the maintenance cover.
The bottom cover is also the maintenance cover.

Connectivity

The MSI GS70 Stealth is the right choice if you are looking for many ports. Four USB 3.0 ports, two mini DisplayPorts, HDMI, 5.1 audio, card reader and a Gbit Ethernet port are an excellent port selection. Unfortunately, the two USB 3.0 ports on the right side are very far toward the front, so there might be some problems with attached peripherals. A few centimeters behind them is the power connector. Similar to ultrabooks there is no DVD or Blu-ray drive. This is not because of the thin profile but rather the hardware and the cooling solution occupy a lot of space. There are no ports at the front or at the back. 

No ports at the back
No ports at the back
No ports at the front
No ports at the front
Left side, Ethernet, HDMI, 2x mini DisplayPort, 2x USB 3.0, 7.1 surround sound
Left side, Ethernet, HDMI, 2x mini DisplayPort, 2x USB 3.0, 7.1 surround sound
Right side: 2x USB 3.0, SD card reader, power, Kensington Lock
Right side: 2x USB 3.0, SD card reader, power, Kensington Lock

Communication

MSI integrated a Qualcomm Killer 1202 Wireless-LAN network card for wireless networks. The performance of the WLAN module is average and we cannot see any advantages compared to other modules. 2-3 bars at a distance of 8-10 meters (~26-33 feet) from the router are a normal result for the GS70 and we determined download rates between 500-700 KB/s with a 32 Mbit/s connection. There is no signal with a distance of 15-20 meters (~49-66 feet); other modules (for example Atheros AR5BWB222) are better in this regard.

Gaming enthusiasts will be happy about the additional Qualcomm Killer 2200 Gigabit Ethernet card. You can optimize the latency and download speed with the preinstalled software. You can, for instance, assign priorities for certain applications. This should stabilize or optimize latency and the response time. Video calls are handled by the integrated HD webcam that records videos with 30 fps at 720p according to MSI.

Accessories

The time of extensive accessories and goodies is unfortunately gone, so we were really surprised when we found a nice notebook bag in the box of the GS70 Stealth. It is very thin and made of fabric, which is not very high-end but functional. Similar to the display cover we found a Gaming-Series branding on the bag. The bag itself is gray on the outside and black on the inside. Besides this bag, there is only a user guide, a driver DVD and a quick start guide with first steps.

Software

Music and video enthusiasts get a very extensive software package from Magix preinstalled on the GS70. You can edit videos and add effects with Magix Video SE and manage your music collection or create your own songs with Music Maker Silver. Besides the Magix software there is also a 30-day trial of Microsoft Office 365. You will have to buy the software if you want to use it after that period.

Warranty

Similar to other MSI notebooks the warranty period is 24 months, which can be extended to 36 months for 139 Euros (~$188).

Input Devices

Keyboard

Many gamers do not only know SteelSeries as a manufacturer of high-quality gaming peripherals but also from current MSI notebooks. The GS70 Stealth is also equipped with a SteelSeries keyboard, and is branded so below the Ctrl key. Chiclet keyboards from MSI are notorious for their unusual layout. 

We had a problem with the GE70 that we did not always hit the right key and the whole typing experience was not very precise. The Windows button is not on the left but on the right side of the Space bar. Another aspect concerns fans of racing games because the arrow keys are very close to each other and they are not really separated between the standard keyboard and the numeric keypad. However, the convenient background illumination helps separate them from the rest of the keys. We also want to praise the low noise development and the soft stroke. Key travel is rather limited so long typing sessions should not be a problem.

The surface of the keys is made of plastic and is not rubberized but they still have some grip and slipping is no problem. We really like the three-zone illumination that gives the GS70 a kind of disco look. You can choose if you want to split the LED illumination or use one or all three zones, your imagination is the limit. The standard color gradient starts with red over yellow and green up to a blue numeric keypad. It is very convenient that you can choose different modes in the preinstalled software.

Touchpad

The touchpad of the GS70 Stealth is very similar to the GE70 but cannot quite keep up with the i547W7H. Despite a slightly textured surface, the mouse replacement is very smooth and can become very sticky on warm summer days. There are no separate mouse buttons; they are integrated into the touchpad (= ClickPad). Considering the Full HD display we would have liked a higher sensitivity since the cursor is somewhat sluggish. The touch functionality is automatically deactivated as soon as you attach a USB mouse. The smart pad supports several multi-touch gestures like zooming or scrolling. 

Keyboard
Keyboard
Touchpad
Touchpad

Display

MSI GS70 vs. AdobeRGB (grid)
MSI GS70 vs. AdobeRGB (grid)
MSI GS70 vs. sRGB (grid)
MSI GS70 vs. sRGB (grid)

MSI uses the popular and frequently used Chi Mei N173HGE-L11 panel for the GS70 Stealth. This model is known for its high luminance and very good contrast ratio. The same applies for the GS70 Stealth with an average brightness of 330 cd/m². The luminance does not drop below 300 cd/m² in any of the nine measurement areas, which is an excellent result

333
cd/m²
335
cd/m²
338
cd/m²
317
cd/m²
340
cd/m²
305
cd/m²
339
cd/m²
347
cd/m²
321
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
Chi Mei N173HGE-L11 tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 347 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 330.6 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 88 %
Contrast: 971:1 (Black: 0.35 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 10.57 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 10.67 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
57.6% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
62.5% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
85.4% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
61.8% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.85

The available color space of the GS70 is quite good with 84% sRGB and around 58% AdobeRGB and clearly stands out from cheaper panels. However, even the GS70 is not suited for professional picture editing since the determined AdobeRGB coverage is clearly below the ideal value.

Because of the suboptimal color temperature (~7,300K), you can see a slight blue cast with very bright and white backgrounds; the determined gamma value also deviates from the ideal value (2.85 vs. 2.2).

Gaming enthusiasts will like the contrast ratio of 970:1; colors are rich and crisp. Pictures and movies also benefit from this; a black value of 0.35 cd/m² results in dark blacks and not some washed-out gray.

CalMAN Color Management
CalMAN Color Management
CalMAN Saturation Sweeps
CalMAN Saturation Sweeps
CalMAN ColorChecker
CalMAN ColorChecker

The GS70 is finally a gaming notebook that can also be used on the road. The high luminance of the display and the high contrast ratio enable working and gaming outdoors and you can recognize the desktop content under direct sunlight. The situation is even better with indirect light, where you can even see very dark areas.

It is quite hard but you can actually see the display content under direct sunlight.
It is quite hard but you can actually see the display content under direct sunlight.
The situation is much better with light from the side.
The situation is much better with light from the side.

You can also use the GS70 for a movie night with multiple persons because the picture is very stable from the side. The screen content is still natural even though the colors get a bit pale with vertical angles. Only IPS displays offer better viewing angle stability.

Viewing angles MSI GS70
Viewing angles MSI GS70

Performance

After the display, we get to the most interesting part for gaming enthusiasts: The performance. The heart of the MSI GS70 Stealth is Intel's Core i7-4700HQ processor, which is based on the new Haswell architecture. The CPU has four physical cores and can execute up to eight threads simultaneously thanks to the Hyperthreading technology.

MSI equips the GS70 with an Nvidia GeForce GTX 765M GPU, which is one of the smallest models of Nvidia’s high-end GTX-series. The notebook automatically switches to the integrated Intel HD Graphics 4600 for light workloads via Optimus technology. A real highlight is the RAID-0 system of two mSATA SSDs, which are accompanied by a 1,000 GB hard drive and 16 GB DDR3 RAM clocked at 1,600 MHz.

CPU-Z
CPU-Z
CPU-Z
CPU-Z
CPU-Z
DPC LatencyChecker
GPU-Z Intel
GPU-Z Nvidia
HWiNFO
Nvidia driver
System information MSI GS70-65M21621

Processor

The CPU does not use the Turbo Boost on battery power.
The CPU does not use the Turbo Boost on battery power.

Intel’s Core i7-4700HQ is the successor of the Core i7-3630QM and has been significantly improved. Both processors have the same Turbo and nominal clock but the whole architecture of the Core i7-4700HQ has been optimized.

Cinebench R11.5 shows a score of 6.65 points, which results in a 4% advantage over the older 3630QM (6.39 points @ HP dv7-7202eg). Compared to the Asus G750JH (6.96 points) we can see a deficit of around 5%. The situation is similar in the Single Core Test of Cinebench R11.5, where the GS70 is around 6% faster than the Lenovo IdeaPad Y500 with a Core i7-3610QM (1.49 vs. 1.41 points).

We have already criticized the MSI GE70 for being unable to use its Turbo Boost on battery power and the same applies for the GS70 Stealth. The processor maintains its nominal clock of 2.4 GHz and only gets a score of 4.46 points in Cinebench R11.5 (-33%).

Cinebench R10 32-bit
Cinebench R10 32-bit
Cinebench R10 64-bit
Cinebench R10 64-bit
Cinebench R11.5 64-bit
Cinebench R11.5 64-bit
Cinebench R11.5 - CPU Multi 64Bit (sort by value)
MSI GS70-65M21621
GeForce GTX 765M, 4700HQ, 2x Intel SSD 510 Series SSDSC2MH250A2 (RAID 0)
6.65 Points
Asus G750JW
GeForce GTX 765M, 4700HQ, Seagate Momentus SpinPoint M8 ST1000LM024 HN-M101MBB
6.97 Points +5%
MSI GE70-i765M287
GeForce GTX 765M, 4700MQ, Hitachi Travelstar 7K750 HTS727575A9E
6.63 Points 0%
Cinebench R10 Shading 32Bit
6847
Cinebench R10 Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
17063
Cinebench R10 Rendering Single 32Bit
4829
Cinebench R10 Shading 64Bit
6810 Points
Cinebench R10 Rendering Multiple CPUs 64Bit
21986 Points
Cinebench R10 Rendering Single CPUs 64Bit
6456 Points
Cinebench R11.5 OpenGL 64Bit
60.2 fps
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64Bit
6.65 Points
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Single 64Bit
1.49 Points
Help

System Performance

Such a fast PCMark run is quite rare in our editorial office. The reason for this is the RAID-0 system with two Intel SSDs that improve the system performance significantly. The GS70 Stealth manages eighth place in PCMark 7 with 6,076 points and the top spot in the PCMark 8 Storage benchmark list with 4,966 points.

The subjective impression confirms these results. Not only working is very fast and responsive but also booting Windows. Gamers will be happy about short application starts and reduced loading times.

» No benchmarks for this notebook found!

PCMark Vantage Result
22141 points
PCMark 7 Score
6076 points
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated
3713 points
PCMark 8 Creative Score Accelerated
4322 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated
4785 points
Help

Storage Devices

CrystalDiskBenchmark of the mechanical hard drive
CrystalDiskBenchmark of the mechanical hard drive

Besides the very fast RAID system of 2x 128 GB storage there is also a mechanical hard drive from Western Digital. The measurement results of the hard drive are in the upper performance area and are quite convincing. CrystalDiskMark determines transfer rates of 117 MB/s (sequential reading) and 116 MB/s (sequential writing). However, the real highlights are definitely the gigantic transfer rates of the RAID system with 965 MB/s (reading) and 820 MB/s (writing), respectively.

2x Intel SSD 510 Series SSDSC2MH250A2 (RAID 0)
Sequential Read: 965 MB/s
Sequential Write: 820 MB/s
512K Read: 714 MB/s
512K Write: 495.5 MB/s
4K Read: 19.5 MB/s
4K Write: 29.1 MB/s
4K QD32 Read: 417.6 MB/s
4K QD32 Write: 217.3 MB/s

Graphics

The Intel Core i7-4700HQ has its own integrated GPU, the HD Graphics 4600. It can be used for light workloads. The system automatically switches to the more powerful dedicated GeForce GTX 765M for more complex applications or games via Optimus. 

Because of the DirectX support, you can actually use the HD Graphics for older or current games with reduced details. According to our benchmarks, the application performance of the HD 4600 is good and also very energy efficient. 

You will have to use the GeForce GTX 765M if you want to see the full performance of the GS70. The slightly higher clocks result in more frames compared to the GTX 760M and the GPU can even use a Turbo mode to overclock itself. Our stress test with FurMark and Prime95 showed that the GeForce GTX 765M was able to maintain a clock of around 900 MHz.

The 3DMark 11 performance is on the same level with the bulkier GE70 that uses the same graphics card. 4,044 points is a good result for the MSI GS70 Stealth and it can even beat the Asus G75VX-T4020H with a combination of a Core i7-3630QM and a GeForce GTX 670MX by around 7% (3,768 points).

3DMark Vantage P Result
14525 points
3DMark 11 Performance
4044 points
3DMark Ice Storm Standard Score
86957 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
12170 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
2191 points
3DMark Fire Strike Extreme Score
1065 points
Help

Gaming Performance

We saw that the MSI GE70 had some problems using the full potential of the GPU/CPU combination and the GS70 Stealth cannot beat the similarly equipped competition, either. Bioshock: Infinite clearly suggests that the Turbo Boost is not working properly. 64.2 fps with high details and a resolution of 1366x768 pixels is decent but not overwhelming by any means. The One K33-3E manages 78.9 fps (+23%) despite the similar hardware equipment. 

The difference is a bit smaller in Company of Heroes 2 because of the lower frame rates. 23.7 frames per second (1366x768, High) are not bad for the GS70 but it is still behind similarly equipped notebooks. MSI's own GE70 is around 7% faster (25.4 fps). However, both notebooks are almost identical in Metro: Last Light. Asus' G750JW has an advantage of almost 14% over the MSI GS70 Stealth (32.4 vs. 37 fps @ 1366x768, High) because of the newer GPU driver. 

BioShock Infinite - 1366x768 High Preset (sort by value)
MSI GS70-65M21621
GeForce GTX 765M, 4700HQ, 2x Intel SSD 510 Series SSDSC2MH250A2 (RAID 0)
64.2 fps
Asus G750JW
GeForce GTX 765M, 4700HQ, Seagate Momentus SpinPoint M8 ST1000LM024 HN-M101MBB
76 fps +18%
Metro: Last Light - 1366x768 High (DX11) AF:16x (sort by value)
MSI GS70-65M21621
GeForce GTX 765M, 4700HQ, 2x Intel SSD 510 Series SSDSC2MH250A2 (RAID 0)
32.4 fps
Asus G750JW
GeForce GTX 765M, 4700HQ, Seagate Momentus SpinPoint M8 ST1000LM024 HN-M101MBB
37 fps +14%
MSI GE70-i765M287
GeForce GTX 765M, 4700MQ, Hitachi Travelstar 7K750 HTS727575A9E
33 fps +2%
Company of Heroes 2 - 1366x768 High AA:Medium (sort by value)
MSI GS70-65M21621
GeForce GTX 765M, 4700HQ, 2x Intel SSD 510 Series SSDSC2MH250A2 (RAID 0)
23.7 fps
MSI GE70-i765M287
GeForce GTX 765M, 4700MQ, Hitachi Travelstar 7K750 HTS727575A9E
25.4 fps +7%
Alienware 14
GeForce GTX 765M, 4700MQ, Liteonit LMT-256M6M
25.2 fps +6%
low med. high ultra
BioShock Infinite (2013) 81.9 68.2 64.2 21
Metro: Last Light (2013) 60.1 51.5 32.4 17.4
Company of Heroes 2 (2013) 37.9 30.7 23.7 10.6

Emissions

System Noise

The MSI GS70 is definitely not a silent notebook. It is even working quite hard to transport the high temperatures out of the thin case during idle; it is always perceptible with 34-35 dB(A).

During our stress test with Prime95 and FurMark results reached up to 49 dB(A), which is comparable to other gaming notebooks. This result is quite high for the combination of Core i7-4700HQ and GeForce GTX 765M but still reasonable if you consider the size of the chassis. 

Noise Level

Idle
34.3 / 34.6 / 35 dB(A)
Load
44.1 / 48.7 dB(A)
  red to green bar
 
 
30 dB
silent
40 dB(A)
audible
50 dB(A)
loud
 
min: dark, med: mid, max: light   Voltcraft sl-320 (15 cm distance)

Temperature

GS70 stress test
GS70 stress test

We can also see the consequences of the thin case when we have a look at the temperatures. The cooling solution consists of two fans, one for the CPU and one for the GPU at the upper left and right corner, that transport the heat out of the case. In other words, this means that they work individually. Both parts are in the center of the case and the heat pipes warm up a large area of the notebook. 

We determined a maximum surface temperature of 48 °C (118.4 °F) at the top of the case. The palm rest warms up to a maximum of 40 °C (104 °F), which is not inconvenient but certainly noticeable. The situation can be more critical at the bottom where we can see temperatures of up to 59 °C (138.2 °F). The idle results are never problematic with 30 °C (86 °F) since the fans are always spinning. 

CPU and GPU temperatures are not that great. 90-100 °C (194-212 °F) in our stress test are almost at the thermal limit of the components.

Max. Load
 47.2 °C
117 F
47.5 °C
118 F
46.7 °C
116 F
 
 42.6 °C
109 F
47.6 °C
118 F
44.1 °C
111 F
 
 38.8 °C
102 F
40.2 °C
104 F
39.1 °C
102 F
 
Maximum: 47.6 °C = 118 F
Average: 43.8 °C = 111 F
55.9 °C
133 F
58.8 °C
138 F
58.4 °C
137 F
52.9 °C
127 F
55.1 °C
131 F
52.3 °C
126 F
42.9 °C
109 F
45.6 °C
114 F
44.3 °C
112 F
Maximum: 58.8 °C = 138 F
Average: 51.8 °C = 125 F
Power Supply (max.)  56.2 °C = 133 F | Room Temperature 22 °C = 72 F | Voltcraft IR-550
(-) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 43.8 °C / 111 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 47.6 °C / 118 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 58.8 °C / 138 F, compared to the average of 43.2 °C / 110 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 25.2 °C / 77 F, compared to the device average of 33.8 °C / 93 F.
(-) The palmrests and touchpad can get very hot to the touch with a maximum of 40.2 °C / 104.4 F.
(-) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.9 °C / 84 F (-11.3 °C / -20.4 F).

Speakers

Sound Blaster Cinema
Sound Blaster Cinema

The speakers of the GS70 are only at the top of the chassis and the sound experience was adjusted to the chassis size

Deep tones are okay and result in a bass that is typical for notebooks. Medium and high tones could be better; there is some background noise during music playback.

We already know Creative's Sound Blaster Control Center from other MSI notebooks and you can also select different sound profiles for the GS70 with this software. 

Energy Management

Power Consumption

We check the energy consumption with activated keyboard illumination. The GS70 Stealth consumes at least 9.2 Watts during idle, which is comparable to the GE70. The situation is similar with maximum display brightness and activated WLAN at around 28 Watts

Our stress test with FurMark and Prime 95 shows that the notebook actually consumes slightly more than the 120-Watt power supply unit can provide. Our simulated gaming scenario with 3DMark 06 results in an average consumption of around 98 Watts (GE70: 97 Watts). 

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.1 / 0.3 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 9.2 / 16.2 / 27.7 Watt
Load midlight 97.7 / 124.9 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Voltcraft VC 940
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 Runtime

Battery Eater Reader's Test
Battery Eater Reader's Test
Battery Eater Classic Test
Battery Eater Classic Test

A gaming notebook with these dimensions is definitely an interesting device for use on the road. The GS70 manages a runtime of 6:13 hours with activated energy-saving mode, minimum display brightness and deactivated wireless connection. If you just want to browse the web you can squeeze around 3:30 hours out of the battery with an adjusted brightness and activated WLAN. A movie night lasts for 2:30 hours and a mobile gaming session is finished after one hour

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
6h 13min
WiFi Surfing
3h 36min
DVD
2h 36min
Load (maximum brightness)
1h 03min

Verdict

The GS70 Stealth is an attractive and powerful device for gaming enthusiasts who want to use the 17.3-inch notebook on the road. The build quality is good, the design is appealing and the weight is not much higher than a standard multimedia notebook. All of this is combined with a high-contrast and bright display that is well suited for gaming and movie playback. 

Even though the 3D performance of the GS70 Stealth cannot always keep up with the competition, it is still very good if you consider the size of the notebook. 

MSI keeps using SteelSeries keyboards with their individual layout. It takes some time getting used to but the multi-zone illumination with different colors is very convenient.

One of the biggest drawbacks is the temperature development, but that is not really surprising with the thin case. Despite the slim profile, the GS70 is actually cooler than the GE70 in many situations. 

Fans of LAN parties and mobile gaming will be happy with the MSI GS70 Stealth and we can recommend the notebook for these users. 

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In Review: MSI GS70-65M21621. Courtesy of:
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Specifications

MSI GS70-65M21621 (GS70 Series)
Processor
Intel Core i7-4700HQ 4 x 2.4 - 3.4 GHz (Intel Core i7)
Graphics adapter
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 765M - 2048 MB VRAM, Core: 850 MHz, Memory: 1000 MHz, DirectX 11, GDDR5, 311.70, Optimus
Memory
16 GB 
, DDR3 1600 MHz (dual channel), 2 of 2 slots, up to 16GB
Display
17.30 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel, Chi Mei N173HGE-L11, TN LED, Full HD, glossy: no
Mainboard
Intel HM87 (Lynx Point)
Storage
2x Intel SSD 510 Series SSDSC2MH250A2 (RAID 0), 250 GB 
, 1x WDC WD10JPVX-22JC3T0, 1000 GByte HDD, 5400 rpm
Soundcard
Realtek ALC892 @ Intel Lynx Point PCH - High Definition Audio Controller
Connections
4 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 HDMI, 2 DisplayPort, 1 Kensington Lock, Audio Connections: microphone in, headphones, audio out, Card Reader: SD/SDHC/SDXC
Networking
Qualcomm Killer e2200 PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet Controller (10/100/1000MBit/s), Qualcomm Atheros Killer Wireless-N 1202 (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/), Bluetooth 4.0
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 27 x 419 x 287 ( = 1.06 x 16.5 x 11.3 in)
Battery
75 Wh Lithium-Polymer, 5400 mAh, 6-cell
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 8 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: HD (30 fps @ 720p)
Additional features
Speakers: 2.1 (Sound Blaster Cinema), Keyboard: Chiclet, Keyboard Light: yes, Power supply unit: 120 Watts, notebook bag, Microsoft Office 365 (1 month trial), System Control Manager, BurnRecovery and Keyboard LED Manager, 24 Months Warranty
Weight
2.72 kg ( = 95.95 oz / 6 pounds), Power Supply: 442 g ( = 15.59 oz / 0.97 pounds)
Price
1700 Euro

 

The warm air can dissipate through the side.
The warm air can dissipate through the side.
Once again a SteelSeries keyboard.
Once again a SteelSeries keyboard.
The speakers are hidden behind a cover.
The speakers are hidden behind a cover.
Gaming-Series branding.
Gaming-Series branding.
Standard PSU...
Standard PSU...
...with 120 Watts.
...with 120 Watts.
The stress test brings the PSU to its limit.
The stress test brings the PSU to its limit.
Some special functions can be used via arrow keys and numeric keypad.
Some special functions can be used via arrow keys and numeric keypad.
The power button indicates the currently activated GPU.
The power button indicates the currently activated GPU.
MSI GS70 Stealth for gaming on the road.
MSI GS70 Stealth for gaming on the road.
Ports for surround sound.
Ports for surround sound.
Status LEDs indicate the load and the status of the notebook.
Status LEDs indicate the load and the status of the notebook.
Flat and quiet chiclet keyboard.
Flat and quiet chiclet keyboard.
Different colors transform the GS70 into a disco notebook.
Different colors transform the GS70 into a disco notebook.
Generously sized keyboard and palm rest.
Generously sized keyboard and palm rest.
We already know the Windows button on the right side from other manufacturers.
We already know the Windows button on the right side from other manufacturers.
The touchpad has integrated buttons and is large and easy to use.
The touchpad has integrated buttons and is large and easy to use.
There is no separate maintenance cover.
There is no separate maintenance cover.
The GS70 is well equipped with four USB 3.0 ports.
The GS70 is well equipped with four USB 3.0 ports.
Many ports are at the left side of the case.
Many ports are at the left side of the case.

Similar Devices

Similar devices from a different Manufacturer

Devices from a different Manufacturer and/or with a different CPU

Review MSI GE70-i765M287 Notebook
GeForce GTX 765M, Core i7 4700MQ

Devices with the same GPU and/or Screen Size

Review Asus G750JW Notebook
GeForce GTX 765M, Core i7 4700HQ, 4.5 kg

Devices with the same GPU

Review Schenker XMG A503 (Clevo W355STQ) Notebook
GeForce GTX 765M, Core i5 4300M, 15.60", 2.67 kg
Review One K33-3E (Clevo W230ST Barebones) Notebook
GeForce GTX 765M, Core i7 4702MQ, 13.30", 1.99 kg
Review MSI GE60H-i765M2811B Notebook
GeForce GTX 765M, Core i7 4700MQ, 15.60", 2.674 kg
Review Alienware 14 Notebook
GeForce GTX 765M, Core i7 4700MQ, 14.00", 2.94 kg

Links

Price Comparison

Pros

+Matte and bright display
+Full HD with high contrast ratio
+Colored keyboard illumination
+Good gaming performance
+Quite light for a gaming notebook
+Insanely fast SSD RAID system
 

Cons

-Very high temperatures
-High idle noise

Shortcut

What we like

Besides the keyboard illumination we are also convinced by the performance.

What we miss

Considering the high price, the build quality could be better.

What surprises us

The GS70 is very light for a gaming notebook and easy to transport.

The competition

Other 17-inch notebooks with a GeForce GTX 765M like the MSI GE70, the Asus G750JW or the Bullman C-Class 5.

Rating

MSI GS70-65M21621 - 03/17/2014 v4(old)
Stephan Schünke

Chassis
78 / 98 → 80%
Keyboard
75%
Pointing Device
69%
Connectivity
78 / 81 → 96%
Weight
58 / 10-66 → 86%
Battery
76%
Display
80%
Games Performance
90%
Application Performance
96%
Temperature
60 / 95 → 63%
Noise
66 / 90 → 73%
Audio
60%
Average
74%
80%
Gaming - Weighted Average
Stephan Schünke, 2013-09-25 (Update: 2018-05-15)