MSI GS65 6 CORE Laptop 2018 Engineering Sample FIRST LOOK!

MSI has launched its new GS65 laptop to take full advantage of Intel’s new 6-core mobile 8th Gen. Coffee lake CPU. Quad core mobile CPUs have ruled the laptop roost since the launch of Intel Clarksfield in 2009 (yes, we had to look that up) so the leap forward to 6-cores was big news when the desktop Coffee Lakes launched in October 2017. The big question was when we would see these six-core CPUs in mobile form and the answer, finally, is ‘now’.

In addition to the new CPU, MSI has worked hard on the chassis and we highlight a number of the new features in our preview where KitGuru talks to Natalie McMorrow from MSI UK.

Features:
15.6-inch screen in a 14-inch chassis
Ultra narrow 4.9mm display bezel
144Hz IPS-level display with 7ms response
17.7mm slim design
8 hour battery life
82Whr battery capacity
Aluminium alloy with sandblasted finish

Specification:
CPU: Intel 8th Gen. Core i7-8750H, 6 cores with HT, 2.2GHz base clock, boost to 3.9GHz, 45W TDP
Cooler: Cooler Boost Trinity 2x 47 blade fans, 1x 37 blade fan, 0.2mm fan blade thickness, 4 heat pipes
Screen: 15.6-inch, 1,920×1,080 resolution, IPS level, 144Hz refresh, 7ms response
Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q or GTX 1060
Memory: up to 32GB of DDR4-2666MHz
Storage: 2x PCIe Gen3 x4 M.2 slots
Audio: 2x 2W Dynaudio speakers
Ethernet: Killer E2500
Wi-Fi: Killer AC 1550i for GTX 1070 models or Intel AC 9560 Wireless for GTX 1060 models
I/O ports:
3x USB 3.1 Type-A
1x Thunderbolt USB 3.1 Type-C
1x HDMI 2.0
1x Mini DisplayPort 1.2
Headphone jack

Battery: 82Wh, 180W adapter
Dimensions: 358.5mm x 247.7mm x 17.7mm
Weight: 1.8kg
Software: Dragon Centre 2.0New Gaming Mode on enabled games such as PUBG and DOTA 2 will automatically enable 4 functions: make SSE3 with preset keyboard backlit to fit the type of the game, “Free up memory” to keep highest performance, turn “True Colour” to gaming mode, and turn Nahimic 3 to gaming mode. When you quit the game, these will return to previous settings.

The new black and gold colour scheme is quite a departure from MSI’s traditional black and red look and highlights the radical approach MSI has taken with the GS65. In particular the use of a slender 4.9mm bezel has meant they are able to pack a 15.6-inch display into a chassis that looks as though it should house a 14-inch screen. We were impressed by the svelte chassis as it looks really slender yet inside you will find a 6-core 8th Gen. Intel Core i7 CPU and Nvidia GTX 1070 Max-Q graphics. That’s a potent package and we have to think the triple fan Cooler Boost Trinity system is working hard to keep it all under control.

This preview has whetted our appetite for the new GS65 and we look forward to running a full review in the very near future.

Closing Thoughts.

Intel Mobile Coffee Lake has arrived and we can expect to see a procession of 6-core CPUs in laptops for the next few months. The very first example to arrive at KitGuru is the GS65 and we have to say we are really disappointed that we were not permitted to run benchmark tests on this engineering sample.

Rest assured we shall run a full review just as soon as possible.

KitGuru says: This preview of MSI GS65 has made us keen to run a full review as soon as possible.

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