MSI GS40 6QE Phantom Review

Rating: 8.5.

Gaming laptops have the reputation of being monstrous objects requiring specially constructed bags for carrying them between locations with the battery life span of electronic gnats. With the MSI GS40 6QE Phantom, however, at least size isn't an issue. Weighing in at 1.6kg, this is a notebook you could carry around all day. Yet it packs a serious punch inside.

There's a quad-core Intel Core i7-6700HQ processor, NVIDIA GeForce GTX970M graphics, up to 32GB of DDR4 memory, room for both a SSD and regular hard disk, and a 14.1in Full HD IPS screen. All of these make for a potentially very powerful gaming laptop, squeezed into a sleek chassis that is just 22.8mm thick at its widest point. Let's find out if this gaming portable lives up to its specification.

System Configuration:

• 2.6GHz Intel Core i7-6700HQ
• 16GB 2133MHz DDR4 Memory
• 3GB NVIDIA GTX970M Graphics
• 14.1in Full HD IPS + True Color TFT
• 256GB Samsung SM951 NVMe SSD
• 1TB Hitachi Deskstar 7K1000 7,200rpm HDD
• Red backlit keyboard
• ESS SABRE HiFi Hi-Res Audio DAC
• Killer Double Shot Pro with Killer Shield Networking
• 345 x 245 x 21.8-22.8mm (WxDxH)
• 1.6kg
• Windows 10 64 bit
• 1st year global collect and return, 2nd year local (UK) collect and return

Price for this system (at the time of writing): £1,399 (inc. VAT)

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