The newest mid-range gaming laptop from MSI is set to establish new standards in the ever growing industry of mobile gaming. With the latest technology advances, users will be able to immerse themselves in VR worlds, aside from playing the usual AAA games. Today we’re analyzing the MSI GL62M 7RE-407 gaming laptop.
Review
For starters, I really enjoy the way this laptop looks. It has this unassuming and quite bulky frame that’s sprinkled with small elements which give a glimpse of what you might expect to find underneath its chassis. It’s quiet, yet confident.
Although it looks like a military device, its performance and features are nothing short of amazing. Especially considering it’s sold for around $1000 (at the time of this review). It’s difficult to find a more coherent and potent gaming laptop in the $900 – $1100 range. With the MSI GL62M 7RE-407, every component seems to work in perfect harmony with the others. Let’s have a look:
Performance
First of all, the MSI GL62M 7RE-407 is powered by a 7th generation Intel Core i7-7700HQ processor. This quad core monster has been launched earlier this January and has a clock speed of 2.8GHz (with boost it rises to 3.8GHz) and a cache size of 6 megabytes. As far as mobile processors go, this is one of the best ones out there, especially for gaming and other intensive tasks – think 3D rendering, CAD software, VM software, and so on.
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Now, MSI have fitted this model with just 8 gigabytes of DDR4-2400MHz RAM. This amount, although plentiful for a wide range of games and programs, might not satisfy hardcore users. The factory-default system memory comes in the form of one module installed in one of the two available memory slots. If you want to upgrade, you should buy an additional 8GB DDR4-2400 module or a 2x16GB dual channel pack to unleash this notebook’s full power.
For storage space, the MSI gaming laptop has a 256-gigabyte Solid-State Drive installed. This should be a new generation M.2 PCIe Gen3x4 SSD, which equates to four times the speed of a SATA3 SSD. Take this information with a grain of salt, though. They haven’t specifically mentioned that this drive is available for the model I’m talking about. So, if this is a deciding factor in your purchase reasoning, you should perhaps contact MSI and ask about it.
Graphics and Display
The graphics department is well represented. With the MSI GL62M 7RE-407 you can expect solid performance while playing the newest released games. This model comes with a state of the art NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti dedicated graphics card. You can read a more in-depth review of this video card at pcgamer. Needless to say, its performance ratings rival desktop models, so you’d expect games to run on high or ultra settings. And you wouldn’t be wrong.
Also, the MSI GL62M 7RE-407 has a 15.6″ FHD 94% NTSC display. Thanks to IPS technology, you’ll enjoy wide viewing angles (that go up to 178 degrees). Plus, the NTSC panel offers a higher color range, higher contrast and an overall vivid experience.
Interface and networking options
Users will likely find the available assortment of ports satisfying. You can plug in up to 3 peripherals into its USB ports and connect two additional 4K monitors to extend your workspace. The I/O options are:
- 1 x USB-C
- 1 x USB 3.0
- 1 x USB 2.0
- 1 x HDMI
- 1 x Mini-Display
- 1 x RJ-45
- 1 x COMBO audio jack
- 1 x SD/XC/HC card reader
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Connectivity options are standard for a gaming laptop. Besides the usual 802.11ac + Bluetooth 4.0 combo, users will also have the option to connect via Ethernet through an RJ-45 port that’s been fitted on the GL62M 7RE-407.
Extra features
- VR Ready – Low latency, plug-and-play compatibility with the next-gen GeForce GTX video card.
- Matrix Display – You can multitask on 3 monitors: the laptop and two additional 4K monitors connected through the HDMI and Mini-Display ports.
- Backlit keyboard designed for gamers – It’s made by steelseries and provides better tactile feedback than traditional notebook keyboards.
- Dragon Center – An app for your smartphone with which you can view real-time system performance, control the LED settings on your keyboard, adjust fan speed and change SHIFT settings.
- Cooler Boost 4 – The MSI GL62M 7RE-407 features a specially designed cooling system which is comprised of two cooling fans and two dedicated GPU/CPU heat pipes.
Portability and battery life
As we would expect from a such a device, portability shouldn’t be a priority. Especially not with all those features which require extra cooling space and cooling components. Still, at 5.3 pounds, its weight doesn’t surpass classic mid-range notebooks by much. You won’t be happy should you find yourself needing to carry it all day long in your backpack, so I wouldn’t recommend it to folks who’d like to travel much. There are alternatives.
Battery life isn’t mentioned anywhere by the manufacturer, but I’d be willing to bet it’s nothing short of mediocre. And that’s OK, really. I don’t expect such a powerful and no-compromise device to also feature outstanding battery life.
Conclusion
All in all, the MSI GL62M 7RE-407 is a great gaming laptop. It’s not fantastic, nor is it average. I believe it offers good value for money if you’re into gaming, or if you’re a professional who needs a seriously powerful notebook on which to work.
