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The Windows Experience Index doesn't offer the most detailed analysis, however it is useful to get a basic overview of the system performance. The system is held back by the hard drive, which isn't surprising as MSI aren't using a Solid State in this unit.
MSI haven't polluted the system with a plethora of unnecessary software, although we would de-install some of the software such as Norton Online Backup.
The system has 8GB of Nanya Technologies DDR3 memory installed which runs at 1,600mhz with 11-11-12-28 timings.
The GX60 is built around the latest Trinity 32nm AMD A10-4600M APU, which incorporates HD7660G graphics.
MSI are using the HD7970M 2GB discrete graphics solution to improve the gaming performance, although GPUz wouldn't run on this system without hardlocking the computer. We know that the HD7970M is fully Direct X11 compliant, with 1280 pixel shaders. The core clock runs at 850mhz and the memory at 1200mhz connected via a 256 bit memory interface.
The GX60 uses AMD's switchable graphics technology in Catalyst Control Center to offer either increased battery life with the onboard 7660G graphics, or enhanced performance from the HD7970m discrete graphics.
This GX60 system doesn't include a Solid State Drive which had a general, negative impact on overall system performance. The single large, mechanical drive is partitioned into two sections, as shown above.
Comparison Systems (for specific synthetic test compares):
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon (featuring Core i5 3427U)
Lenovo ThinkPad Edge S430 (featuring Core i5 3210M)
PC Specialist Vortex III HD72 (featuring Core i7 3610QM).
Asus G74SX-91013Z (featuring Core i7 2360QM).
Dell XPS 14z (featuring Core i7 2640M).
AlienWare M18X (featuring Core i7 2960XM Extreme Edition).
MSI CX640 (featuring Core i5 2410M).
Intel Core i7 2600k desktop processor.
Intel Core i5 2500k desktop processor.
Software:
3DMark Vantage
3DMark 11
PCMark 7
Cinebench 11.5 64 bit
FRAPS Professional
Unigine Heaven Benchmark
CrystalDiskMark
Cyberlink PowerDVD Ultra 11
Cyberlink MediaEspresso
HQV Benchmark V2.
Total War: Shogun 2
Dirt ShowDown
Max Payne 3
Sleeping Dogs
Technical Monitoring and Test Equipment:
Asus USB BluRay Drive
Lacie 730 Monitor (Image Quality testing)
Thermal Diodes
Raytek Laser Temp Gun 3i LSRC/MT4 Mini Temp
Extech digital sound level meter & SkyTronic DSL 2 Digital Sound Level Meter
Nikon D3X with R1C1 Kit (4 flashes), Nikon 24-70MM lens.
Game descriptions are taken with courtesy from Wikipedia.
the price is good, however i would opt for the same machine with Core i7 in it, probably £300 more, but well worth it IMO. No need for the A10, as 7970 is in this machine and it seems that AMDs switchable graphics system causes some problems. read about that on forums as well last week. not isolated to this machine.
I thought it was only me who didnt like keyboards with single height return keys. good review. nice machine. good price too
I was actually looking at this machine during the week, seems a very good price for what you get. shame they didnt use a smallish SSD instead however. thats the killer.
As an owner of this machine i can only say that this review is quite well balanced. I have got a SSD in mine now (optional extra) and its so so fast.
The keyboard keys are quite a change from my alienware laptop and need pressing quite hard to get a response – no light touch here. I assume its to protection the keys for the keyboard mashers out there.
The graphics switching is actually OK. When you first start an application / game it will some time default to the wrong GPU, but upon exiting the application it does prompt you to check the settings.
I have the 12.9 beta drivers installed and they are a lot better than the 12.7’s installed onto the machine by default.
It would appear the 12.11 drivers are going to give it yet more boosts against nvidia gaming laptops
http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/374799-15-catalyst-drivers-great-performance-gains
Hey Zardon and others. I am in need of some help from owners of this machine, as I personally bought one over the weekend. Now the problem is whatever I do, my rig just can’t seem to pick up the 7970M.
My MSi Kombustor numbers, and the MSi Afterburner all seem to pick up only the 7660G as the GPU. Worse still after being initially prompted to pick profiles for apps, that screen just doesn’t pop up anymore to select High Performance in the Power menu. Do you have any solutions? All help will be greatly appreciated. – A grumpy gamer
PS – While every single driver is current, I haven’t yet reinstalled them clean.
Did you run a 3dMark 11 score to see if the 7970 is active and if CCC is selecting the ‘performance’ mode? Did you buy the same machine as our review model or another variation?
EDIT: Ok you say it seems to have vanished. What did you do just before the panel stopped working? Did you install a new driver on the system?
Hey Zardon,
Thanks for the super quick reply. I forgot to say this in the last post, but great and comprehensive review, made even better by all the screenshots and practical images.
Now back to the issue – I think I might have done a driver install after. The way things stand Afterburner gives me this info (http://forum.notebookreview.com/attachments/msi/86163d1350819074-offical-msi-gx60-owners-lounge-pic1.jpg) and the AMD Vision Engine Center Power has only these options )http://imageshack.us/f/854/pic2rt.jpg/). I am currently on the Catalyst 12-9.
At no point have I actually seen the 7970 detected with every detection software recognizing only the 7660G. I can’t run 3D Mark right now as it’s down. But won’t be surprised to see it do the same.
Ya, just ran the 3D Mark 11 Basic Test and as thought it gives me the lower results (http://www.3dmark.com/3dm11/4724952)
Hi Varun,
Have you tried recovering the unit to it’s out of the box settings? press F3 at POST.
As I found during some testing, there are a numbe of driver packages available that are not meant to be installed onto a unit with switchable graphics. Installing these will mess with or even remove the switchable graphics function completely.
Hey ScottiB
Thanks for the tip. I will try that reset this evening, but I really doubt it’d work. I have already asked it for a recollection. This is a great machine (when not unlucky) so hopefully other gamers out there, find the joy I did not.
Cheers,
Varun
Hey guys
I think this is a very good machine for this price and perfect for somebody who wants to play everywhere… Do somebody know where can I buy it in US?
Cheers,
Chongee
how many ram slots are there 2 or 4
The MSI website mentions the possibility of a RAID solution with 2 SSDs. isnt it possible than to have both the 750 Gb drive with an SSD drive?
Nice Review, so Msi GX60 come out on mid october.. 21, same day i order my M14xR2.. (i73630QM, Gt650M,purchase with Dell coupon£960.04 11%discount) wow GX60 like the Radeon7970… dislike CPU on GX60… but still i Envy those owner of this GX60.. 🙂 got good deal under£1000.00, if i did my full research on gaming notebook extended to other brands.. i may be owner of this GX60.. too bad.. haha but hey Msi Superb HardwarE for gamer..:)
Do we know that the HD7970 was being used in all of the benches??? Even the CPU related ones, if everything is using the HD7970, the APU can allocate more TDP to the CPU with the 7660G at idle. Additionally, newer BIOS updates for the HP systems seems to enable better turbo mode from the CPU, so it actually hits 3.2Ghz more often and longer.
The one thing I dont understand is why you stopped the comparisons? How do the gaming scores compare to those machines you had compared to earlier?
Hi guys I wanted to ask (particularly Phillip Brown) how to install the extra SSD because even by detaching the screw I still can take off the base protection as if it was somehow sticked. How did you manage to add you ssd ? Is there any specific movement to make to take off the plastic back ?