The launch of MSI’s brand new gaming laptop stole everyone’s attention mainly because of it’s processing unit: a 4h generation Intel i7-4720HQ, which ranks in the top 25 best laptop CPU’s you can get at the time this article was written, according to cpubenchmark.com, and because of its calibration technology (True Color Technology), which sets the image output mode very close to 100% of sRGB.
October 2019 Update:
This laptop has been discontinued. If you’re searching for a similar model, check out the MSI PS63 Modern-096. Read our full review or see it on Amazon.
Although those are fair points to be excited about, let’s not forget about the copious amounts of RAM this laptop comes equipped with: 12 GB DDR3 @ 1600 MHz, which is more than enough for any game or hardware intensive task you may throw at it, except maybe for high end rendering jobs.
Also, the graphics processor is decent enough to play most games at high resolutions and detail setting, but may fall short with the newest of games, requiring lower details. The nVIDIA GTX 950M is a mid-to-high end laptop GPU launched earlier in this year which comes in two variants: a cheaper, but slightly higher clocked version equipped with DDR3 memory and a more expensive and technical superior version with DDR5 memory. The MSI PE60 2QD-060US is fitted with the latter, ensuring a better return on investment for future resale value and keeping up with the technological advancements.
The display is a standard anti-glare, full HD, 15.6 inches across. It outputs 1920 x 1080 pixels on the fitted monitor, but the laptop can be connected to an additional two displays with 4K output (3840 x 2160 and a frame rate cap @ 60Hz) through the Mini Display Port. The two monitors can be set up to act as an extension to the laptop’s standard monitor. Additionally, the MSI comes factory calibrated and has 6 color profiles you can change depending on what you do with it at the time (“Anti-Blue” for night time usage, “sRGB” for the truest of colors, “Designer”, “Office”, “Movie” and “Gamer”).
The MSI Prestige PE60 features a relatively sturdy metallic cover and white illuminated keyboard. Don’t be fooled, there aren’t any high-end aluminum pieces, but this small detail at least makes it feel like something more than the host of plastic laptops it competes with. What I found interesting and very useful is the way this device manages heat dissipation. They call it “Cooler Boost 3” and it’s 3 dedicated heat pipes for the graphics card and one pipe for the processor which send heat away from its innards towards the dual fan setup placed at the back of the laptop. This design will help prevent it from overheating for extended periods of time.
The major drawbacks this model has are the lack of an SSD unit and the battery life. It’s blazing fast all across the board, but comes equipped with a rather disappointing 1TB SATA HDD. The best thing to do after buying the MSI PE60 2QD-060US is to go and buy an SSD for it. It will change for the better.
You can check the prices and storage capacities of Solid State Drives units by clicking this link. It would be a shame to let this laptop not reach its true potential.
The battery life is reported by some users to be substandard considering the expectations. The producer doesn’t specify any details about the capacity or maximum battery life anywhere on their site or in any brochures, so that makes us wonder if they do know this aspect is a flop and are trying to cover it or just forgot about it.
Technical Specifications
| CPU | Intel Core i7-4720HQ 4 cores, 2.6 GHz, 6MB cache |
| RAM | 12GB DDR3-1600, max 16GB |
| Storage | 1TB HDD |
| Display | 15.6″ FHD anti-glare LCD |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950M |
| Interface | 3 x USB 3.0 1 x USB 2.0 1 x HDMI v1.4 1 x Mini-Displayport 1 x Microphone-in/Headphone-out |
| Connectivity | Gigabit LAN (RJ-45) 802.11 ac Wi-Fi Bluetooth 4.0 |
| OS | Windows 8.1 |
| Battery | 6-cell Li-Ion |
| Weight | 5.7 lbs. |
Conclusion
If battery life is of no importance to you, this laptop is a real steal. It’s perfect for mid-range workstation replacement or as a gaming laptop since it’s too heavy and impractical to carry around with you when you travel. Put it in a house or inside an office and it will absolutely shine.
The pros:
- Fantastic specs across the board
- Good build quality
- Great extra features (screen calibration, backlit keyboard)
- Rather cheap for what it offers
The cons:
- Lack of an SSD
- Seems to have poor battery life