MSI Launches Heroes of the Storm Gaming Laptops

Posted on 16/11/2015 by Alexandru Chiuariu

MSI GT72 Heroes of the Storm Gaming Laptop

If HP is putting its money on Star Wars movies when designing gaming laptops, MSI prefers to stick to actual games, and the three newly launched Heroes of the Storm gaming laptops are proof of that.

It didn’t take long for the Heroes of the Storm video game, one of Blizzard Entertainment’s most recent creations, to get a considerable following. While the game itself doesn’t any any spectacular system requirements, that didn’t stop Taiwanese computer manufacturer MSI from releasing not one, but three incredibly-specced gaming laptops themed after Blizzard’s game. All three of them were unveiled at Singapore’s GamesStart convention.

I should start by saying that all three configurations are based on Intel processors and nVidia GPUs, so if you’re thinking that only AMD is capable of making the best CPUs or GPUs on the market, then maybe you should look for a different gaming notebook.

First of all, there is a skinned version of the GE62 Apache, a 15.6-inch gaming notebook powered by an Intel i7 6700HQ CPU and an NVIDIA GTX 960m, along with 8GB of RAM. This may be MSI’s entry level Heroes of the Storm gaming laptop, but it still costs $1,610, so it’s not exactly for gamers on a tight budget.

Next, there’s the MSI GT72 Dominator, which is an even more powerful beast. This one sports an Intel i7 6820HK CPU, along with a GTX980m GPU, 16GB of RAM, a 256GB SSD, and a 1TB combo drive. Unlike the GE62, which only has a wraparound skin of the game, the GT72 also features a laser engraved mural of the game on the back. As expected, this is also very expensive (maybe unjustifiably so?), and gamers wanting it will have to fork $3,230.

Not at last, there is the most futuristic-looking and future-proof laptop in MSI’s portfolio, the GT80. This flagship doesn’t only take the IPS display of the previous models to a whole different level, with its 18.4-inch screen, but it also packs a mechanical keyboard (which, if I’m not mistaken, is a feature available exclusively on this laptop), as well as two NVIDIA GTX 980m GPUs. It may be based on the same CPU as the GT72, but it includes 32GB of DDR4 RAM, and an even larger laser cut engraving on the back. MSI didn’t forget about decorating the inside of this laptop, so it placed a special skin just above the mechanical keyboard.

Now, claiming that any of these laptops would be complete overkill for the Heroes of the Storm video game would be a major understatement (yes, even the GE62 can run it at maxed out settings), but that’s not the point. Blizzard has other, more demanding games in its portfolio, and Heroes of the Storm can still be enjoyed on the side.

If you still haven’t played the Heroes of the Storm game, head over to Amazon and buy it. This might prove the best $15 you’ll ever spend on a game, considering it features characters from Diablo, Starcraft, and Warcraft.

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[via cnet]

MSI GS30 Gaming Dock Puts Alienware’s Graphics Amplifier to the Test

Posted on 06/01/2015 by Alexandru Chiuariu

Considering how much better desktop graphics cards are compared to their mobile counterparts, gaming notebook manufacturers are now focusing on creating GPU enclosures that deliver desktop performance on a mobile platform.

Just launched at CES, the MSI GS30 is a 13″ FHD gaming notebook, but judging a mobile device by its size is not relevant anymore, these days. Whereas a few years ago gamers thought that the bigger the laptop display, the better they can play, nowadays a 13 or 14-inch gaming notebook is more than they need. MSI’s latest is already a very capable device in its own right, packing an integrated Iris Pro 5200 graphics processor, a Core i7-4870HQ CPU, 16GB DDR3 RAM clocked at 1600Mhz, and a pair of 128GB SSDs in RAID 0 configuration. The gaming dock that’s bundled with it only makes it better.

The GPU enclosure made by MSI can host graphics cards of up to 14.3″ in length, so you’re covered for almost every model on the planet, except for the water-cooled ones. On top of that, the MSI Gaming Dock has room for a 3.5″ storage drive and a speaker to which the notebook’s audio can be routed to.

So what does the Gaming Dock have that Alienware’s Graphics Amplifier doesn’t? Well, besides the storage and the audio part, there’s the bandwidth. MSI claims that the Graphics Amplifier limits bandwidth to PCI-e 4x speed, whereas with their device, gamers can get the full performance of PCI-e 16x.

As it happens most of the time, amazing gaming accessories (if you could name the Gaming Dock that) are rarely affordable. The bundle consisting of the MSI GS30 gaming notebook and the Gaming Dock will cost north of $1,700, depending on the configuration. Bear in mind that for that money you get an empty GPU enclosure, which you will have to populate with a modern graphics card that’s worthy of being GS30′s companion. That means that you’ll have to spend extra for the GPU (and HDD, in case you want do expand the storage capacity of your laptop), but to be frank, anyone who can afford this $1,700 bundle will most likely also have the dough for a GTX980 or the like.

I’m looking forward to seeing more such GPU enclosures from other manufacturers, as well, and I have a feeling that ASUS’ Republic of Gamers line will include one in the near future.

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Xbook Duo: Two Microsoft Gaming Systems In One Laptop

Posted on 26/11/2014 by Bernie Mota

Witness the combination of Xboxes past and present in this laptop gaming mod.

What’s better than a Xbox One console mod? A Xbox One and a Xbox 360 console mod. Gadget enthusiast Ed Zarick has done just that with his Xbook Duo, a console laptop mod that has built-in capabilities for Microsoft’s current and previous console offerings, which can be played on a collapsible 22? 1080p Vizio LCD monitor.

Stylish as it may be, I imagine the Xbook Duo would be a behemoth to lug around. Not surprising when you consider how bulky the Xbox One already is… Then you try to force (precisely, of course!) another console in such a relatively compact space? Well, it would be like trying to fit a walk-in closet’s worth of clothes into a tiny suitcase.

Tight fit, huh?

Logically, I very much doubt bulk was much of a consideration in the design phase. Getting that slick combo working together was at it’s forefront, and in that case – a laptop case (haha!) – the Duo is fantastic. CD loading trays for both console can be found on the side, and while you can’t operate both at the same time, switching between either is as simple as a press of a button.

Source: Ed’s Junk

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One-Inch Thick 13″ Alienware Laptop Packs More Power than the 14″ Version

Posted on 08/08/2014 by Alexandru Chiuariu

Alienware, Dell’s division of gaming hardware, has announced the launch of a new notebook which is more powerful than the 14″ generation, despite being smaller.

At the price point that most Alienware products are sold, it’s clear that this company targets a specific niche audience with its gaming notebooks and desktops: gamers with deep pockets. The premium prices is often justified by components and features we don’t get to see in an everyday laptop.

The new Alienware notebook is only one inch thick, so this isn’t exactly its strongest point. As one of the company’s representatives explained, “There are slimmer notebooks out there, but they’ll rely on some tactics that might actually compromise performance just to reach a more significant level of thinness. We decided we’re going to maintain a system that gives the graphics card and the CPU the greatest amount of power possible without throttling performance.”

A powerful system tends to produce a lot of heat, especially when encased in such a small form factor. The representative pointed out that “You can tax the CPU and the graphics card both completely. There’s two fans, there’s two thermal solutions, and they all run independently from one another.”

The specs of the 13″ Alienware laptop are as follows:

GPU: Nvidia 860 GTX GPU
CPU: Intel Core i Processors
RAM: Up to 16GB DDR3
Internal storage: Up to two SSD drives (or one regular hard drive)
Wi-Fi: Wireless 802.11ac tech from Killer
Sound card: Klipsch
OS: Supports Windows 8.1, 8.1 Pro, and 7 Pro
Battery life: 7-8 hours if streaming over Wi-Fi and using an SSD drive for storage
Thickness: 1-inch
Weight: Less than 4.5 lbs

When it comes to the type of display, you have three different options:

HD 1366 x 768
200 nits, TN-panel, 45% color gamut
FHD 1920 x 1080
350 nits, IPS-panel, 72% color gamut
QHD w/touch, 2560 x 1440
400 nits, IPS-panel, 72% color gamut

A 13″ display may seem small, but it is in fact ideal when gaming on the go.

As per usual, this Alienware notebook comes with an illuminated keyboard that turns gaming nights into great experiences. Combined with the other pieces of hardware and an otherworldly design, every single detail of this laptop reveals how unique it really is.

Scheduled for a November launch, the 13″ laptop will be available at different price points, depending on the configuration. However, the company’s representative mentioned that “To give you some idea, our 14-inch sells for $1099.”

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Razer Blade Might As Well Be the Ultimate Gaming Notebook

Posted on 16/03/2014 by Alexandru Chiuariu

Despite having a 14″ display, the new Razer Blade sports a QHD+ resolution as well as a better CPU and GPU, a combo that could bring all the other gaming laptops out there down on their knees.

In an interview with Wired, Razer CEO Min-Liang Tan stated that “Many people were asking us for a 1080 screen. We’ve gone way above that with a QHD+ display… This is, hands down, the world’s best laptop screen there is right now.” The 3200 x 1800-resolution IGZO touchscreen display is without a doubt the major selling point of the new Razer Blade, as currently there aren’t any other gaming notebooks with such a great resolution and pixel density.

Tan emphasized that the display technology used in the Razer Blade is superior to the ones of IPS panels: “There’s a huge premium that we are paying for this (Sharp IGZO panel) versus a normal IPS panel, but the difference is that the IGZO panel’s response rate is incredible. It’s much better than a normal IPS screen, so it fulfills our need for great resolution, super thin, and super fast response rate. Its color vibrancy and color gamut is incredible.”

The new Razer Blade is not only cooler (both literally, and figuratively), but it also has a greater battery life, mainly thanks to Nvidia: “We’ve completely reengineered again the thermal system around the Blade, and we’re now using a GTX 870M. It was all about making sure we optimized the thermals in this. We really made as much space as possible to put the battery in there. We’ve got a 70 Wh battery. We’ve also worked with Nvidia to do a battery boost.”

According to Tan, Razer is always looking to move forward, to create something great and then work hard to surpass it: “We constantly design and iterate over and over again, and it’s a little nuts. But that’s how I think we’ve gone from launching our first laptop three years ago to probably the best laptop in the world right now.”

Besides the GeForce GTX 870M GPU with 3GB of GDDR5 RAM, the new Razer Blade features a 2.2GHz Haswell quad-core Intel i7 CPU and 8GB of 1600 MHz RAM, plenty of horsepower for even the most demanding games out there. One thing is certain: Razer Blade has the looks, but also the power necessary for making its competitors tremble in fear.

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Alienware 14 and 17 review: Dell’s new gaming laptops are fast, powerful and well-lit

Posted on 15/09/2013 by Sean Buckley

Alienware 14 and 17 review: Dell's new gaming laptops are fast, powerful and well-lit

Picking a gaming laptop is a difficult task these days: machines can be found in all shapes and sizes, from pricey thin-and-lights to oversized behemoths. That wide selection is a good thing, allowing buyers to pick and choose the best machine from dozens of manufacturers, possibly even finding a deal on a lower-cost ODM system. Still, there needs to be some sort of benchmark buyers can look to, and for many, Alienware serves that purpose. The brand, now owned by Dell, is known for offering powerful, high-quality machines at the market's going rate; that is, not too cheap, not too expensive, but reasonably priced with just a hint of prestige. Considering Alienware's 2013 hardware refresh, it seemed about time we took a closer look at Dell's updated family of gaming portables. We picked out two: the Alienware 14 ($1,199+) and the larger Alienware 17 ($1,499+). Let's see how they stack up.

Filed under: Gaming, Laptops, Dell

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MSI ships AMD Richland A10-based GX70 and GX60 gaming laptops

Posted on 22/05/2013 by Darren Murph

Just as we knew it would, MSI has formally announced pricing for its newfangled GX70 and GX60 gaming laptops -- the world's first machines to ship with AMD's Richland A10-5750M (2.5GHz - 3.5GHz) within. The 17.3-inch GX70 offers up a 1,920 x 1,080 native display resolution, AMD's Radeon HD 8970M on the graphics front, a 750GB hard drive, 8GB of DDR3 memory, a Blu-ray Disc drive, Bluetooth 4.0 and Killer's E2200 networking technology. You'll also get a SDXC card slot, HDMI 1.4 socket, 720p webcam, a 9-cell battery -- likely good for about 89 seconds of use -- a backlit keyboard and a frame that's 2.17-inches thick and 8.6 pounds. If none of that frightens you, you can plan on parting ways with $1,399.99 to call one your own. The (slightly) more petite GX60 boasts a 15.6-inch panel (still 1080p, though), a 7.7 pound frame and a $1,299.99 price tag. Otherwise, the specifications are essentially identical from its big brother, and both should be shipping any moment now.

Filed under: Laptops

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Source: MSI

Razer Blade review (late 2012)

Posted on 30/09/2012 by Sean Buckley

Razer has made a habit of catching us off guard -- breaking the mold as an accessory manufacturer by building laptops, prototype game handhelds and controller-toting tablets. Their Blade laptop cut through our expectations as well, featuring a beautiful aluminum shell and one of the thinnest profiles of any gaming rig on the market. It had some serious flaws, though: it was underpowered, had minor build issues and simply fell short in the audio department. Its maker, apparently, wasn't deterred: mere months after the original Blade's own debut, Razer is now introducing a successor.

Most of the changes are internal: this model swaps out the original's Sandy Bridge CPU and last-generation NVIDIA graphics for a newly announced 2.2GHz Intel Core i7-3632QM processor and a Kepler-based GeForce GTX 660M GPU. It caught our interest -- Razer had previously insisted its first laptop wasn't built just for power, but for a premium experience. Now, the firm seems to be focusing on both (now that's a premium experience we can get behind). So, is this upgrade enough to make up for the OG version's shortcomings? Read on to find out.

Gallery: Razer Blade review (late 2012)

Continue reading Razer Blade review (late 2012)

Filed under: Gaming, Laptops

Razer Blade review (late 2012) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 30 Sep 2012 03:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Maingear announces Nomad 17 gaming laptop, comes with custom paint job

Posted on 30/09/2012 by James Trew

Maingear certainly loves to turn out solidly specificated hardware, and today is no exception. Its latest offering? The Nomad 17. As the name suggests this is a 17-inch notebook for gamers on the go. (Nomad, get it?) The new addition will support third-gen Intel Core i7 chips (up to 3.8GHz) and a maximum 32GB of RAM, with a choice of hard drive configurations. It's not all about the under-the-hood grunt, though, with Maingear offering a choice of six colors for what it's calling "hand-painted premium automotive paint jobs." As for the other spec options? You can expect NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675M or 680M graphics, a 1,920 x 1080 display, combo Blue-ray optical drive, b / g / n wireless along with USB 2 / 3, DVI-I, HDMI and Fire Wire ports. So, this definitely sounds like a ride you can make your own. Assuming you're good with the $1,599 starting sticker price that is.

Continue reading Maingear announces Nomad 17 gaming laptop, comes with custom paint job

Filed under: Gaming, Laptops

Maingear announces Nomad 17 gaming laptop, comes with custom paint job originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 30 Sep 2012 00:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Second-generation Razer Blade hands-on (update: video)

Posted on 27/09/2012 by Ben Gilbert

Razer's second attempt at a gaming laptop is just as sleek as its first try, and even more powerful. The second-generation Razer Blade -- Razer Blade 2.0, we're calling it -- packs some serious hardware: an unannounced Core i7 processor, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660M graphics (a big step up from last year's GT 555M inclusion), 8GB of 1600MHz DDR3 RAM, a 500GB 7200RPM hard drive, and 64GB of solid state storage. All that hardware is stuffed in a nigh identical aluminum chassis to the first edition, with a 17.3-inch high def screen and the infamous multitouch LCD Switchblade interface (read: that bizarre little touch screen built into the keyboard). And all this for the low, low price of ... nearly $2,500. Yikes.

For the savvy, independently wealthy gamer on the go, however, little else on the market compares to Razer's Blade laptop. The second generation focuses on beefing up the tech specs from last year, and that's immediately apparent with the inclusion of the Kepler-grade GTX 660M. Not much else is changed in the hardware department otherwise, with the exception of the USB slots all being upgraded to 3.0 -- the same LCD touch panel display sits on the right side of the keyboard, and its been bolstered with a new software suite.

Gallery: Razer Blade 2 hands-on