The MSI GT76 has an insane number of heat pipes for a laptop

One of the biggest challenges to designing a gaming laptop is the cooling solution. Having a super sleek design like the MSI GS65 or GS75 often comes at the price of noise, heat, or both. Some laptops like the Razer Blade Pro 17 or Asus ROG G752VY have resorted to vapor chamber cooling for better cooling per unit volume, but such an approach adds significant weight to the overall unit.

We recently checked out the new MSI GT76 and popped open the bottom panel to see what upgrades would be available only to find the longest network of copper heat pipes we've seen on a 17.3-inch laptop. Together, the CPU and GPU have a total of eleven heat pipes in addition to the large dual fans toward the rear. In comparison, competing laptops like the Alienware 17 have just three copper heat pipes in all for significantly warmer core temperatures when under load as detailed on our review on the system here.

We also commend MSI for separating the CPU and GPU in terms of cooling so they do not share any of the same heat pipes. This approach is common on Clevo designs as well, but it's a rare sight on consumer laptops. For enthusiasts, the independent cooling between the processors means the CPU or GPU can be overclocked without impacting the temperature of the other — much like on a proper desktop PC.

Still, the GT76 is one of the louder 17.3-inch gaming laptops we've tested despite its massive cooling solution. Running Witcher 3 induces a fan noise of 57 dB(A) to be louder than the competing Alienware Area-51m. There's definitely room for improvement in this regard.