MSI Raider GE63VR 7RE 120Hz Gaming Laptop Review

1. Introduction2. MSI GE63VR 7RE - Packaging, Accessories, Design and Build3. MSI GE63VR 7RE – Connectivity and Usability4. MSI GE63VR 7RE – Software5. MSI GE63VR 7RE – Screen and True Color6. MSI GE63VR 7RE – Speakers and Acoustics7. MSI GE63VR 7RE – Thermals, Power Consumption and Battery Life8. MSI GE63VR 7RE – System and Storage Performance: Benchmarks9. MSI GE63VR 7RE – Gaming Performance10. Closing Thoughts11. View All Pages

MSI GE63VR 7RE – Thermal Performance
Our trusty Prime 95 and FurMark combo pushed temperature on this Raider’s Intel Core i7-7700HQ up to a rather worrying 95°C, nearing the 100°C thermal limit of the chip. Thankfully this kind of load is unlikely in most real-life use, but we would recommend keeping an eye on this if you’re going to be stressing it out.

In a sensible move for a gaming machine, MSI seems to have focused most of the power of its Cooler Boost 5 solution on the GPU, which never reached higher than 74°C. Interestingly, activating the aforementioned maximum cooling switch (or the maximum noise switch, as we prefer to call it) took those temps down to 94°C /70°C, with the fans for both running between 4200-4800rpm.

Unlike its internal bits, most of the laptop’s base remained fairly cool meaning it should be comfortable on the lap. Do note that heat gets exhausted from four different main grills: one to the left, two to the rear, and one to the right, so the only heat-free area is the laptop’s front. We used a laser IR thermometer to measure the main chassis’ temperature at six points on the top and bottom. Below are the results rounded to the nearest degree Celsius.

	BOTTOM
29	25	27
42	29	27
	TOP
34	39	33
26	25	38

Temperature guide:
<30°C – Comfortable for long periods
<40°C – Noticeable heat but comfortable depending on other factors
<50°C – Uncomfortable heat, prolonged exposure may be painful
>50°C – Likely be highly uncomfortable or painful

MSI GE63VR 7RE – Power Consumption
At idle, the GE63VR 7RE draws an average of between 29-65W. Average under load was around 178W, while the highest we measured from the wall was 184W. This is with the screen at maximum brightness and GPU/CPU under full load.

MSI GE63VR 7RE – Battery Life
MSI has fitted its Raider laptop with an own-brand non-removable 53Wh lithium ion battery with a chargeable capacity of around 46300mWh/4289mAh. This is not a huge offering for what’s being driven here and, concomitantly, battery life isn’t stellar. To be fair that’s the case for the vast majority of ‘proper’ gaming laptops, but we must admit the results here are below even that unimpressive average.

With screen brightness set to 120cd/m² the battery only lasted 129 minutes in the Reader test, which reflects light usage. Running an intensive test to simulate gaming with the screen at maximum brightness, the GE63VR 7RE managed just 43 minutes, so this may not be the best machine if you’re looking for something that will last you for long train or plane journeys without a power outlet.

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