*The Offical MSI GX60 Owners Lounge*

eeeek. See what your distributor has to say (if you ordered it from somewhere like Gentech or Xotic), maybe they would be willing to fix it for you. Otherwise call MSI tech support *after* registering the device on their convoluted half-arsed POS website. Get a set of free recovery discs too while your on the phone with them

Personally I am both OCD and anal retentive about that type of stuff, I wouldn't just leave it, though to what extent you pursue is up to you - as long as it is not structural to the hinge you might be able to work something out with the seller.

 

For love of pete yes...I have had way too many hinge issues with previous laptops get it fixed!

 

>.< I guess I'm one of the unlucky one... =[

I am emailing my reseller, they have been very nice and helpful with the purchase, I really hope they can help me out with this issue.

btw, I got mine from powernotebooks.

 

I thought I had the brightness issue figured out...but it turned out I didn't...

At first I was installing the DESKTOP version catalyst...I just realized now, and I downloaded the mobility one, and installed it, but....brightness issue still not solved...=[

I wasn't able to uninstall stuff under safe-mode.. it keeps telling me that windows installer something something cannot be used under safe-mode...

So I use the catalyst manager to uninstall, then used driver fusion to deep cleaned it, and installed the 13.1 mobility catalyst, however... brightness issue not solved

 

With Windows 7 you could get into Safe Mode by pressing the F8 key on bootup.

To get this feature back in Windows 8 you'll need to run the following command as administrator.

bcdedit /set {default} bootmenupolicy legacy

If you later want to remove the F8 Safe Mode feature run the following command as administrator

bcdedit /set {default} bootmenupolicy standard

 

I go for desktop drivers if they work - if there's so much as a single setting geared towards higher performance I'm all for it power savings be damned.

I really wish I could help, can you not adjust the brightness even through windows (in power settings if you go into the profile settings from the battery/charging indicator in the task bar, if you get into the advanced granular part of it you can adjust it there, or, there are settings there that supposedly allow it anyway).

Maybe you could go into device manager and try to update your display driver - as in, your actual display (the panel itself). I do not of course recommend deleting the driver and reinstalling it but you might be willing to try it (don't hold me responsible if it doesn't find it on it's own again!!!), otherwise just right click and update driver.

And last but not least, try ccleaner between driver installs in addition to driver fusion.

 

I was able to get into safe mode no problem, just that I was not able to run cclearner, or any installer/uninstaller in safe mode, I get "windows installer cannot be use under safe-mode" something like that

 

I installed AMD Catalyst 13.1 WHQL and it fix the brightness issue. But the power button stays orange. Tried a few games and monitoring thru afterburner, it seems the enduro still works.

 

There is a little program you can find on google that will reactivate windows installer in safe mode.

 

In Windows 7 - my WEI scores with Catalyst 12.12 were:
Processor: 6.9
Memory: 7.3
Graphics: 6.9
Gaming Graphics: 6.9
Hard Disk: 5.9 (I know I know, pitiful I don't have an SSD, cry me a river. haha)

Updating to 13.1 (MOBILITY Radeon drivers even!):
Processor: 6.9
Memory: 7.3
Graphics: 7.3
Gaming Graphics: 7.3
Hard Disk: 5.9


So, from even that most utter base line spec, I call that a MAJOR upgrade.


I did a complete uninstall of 12.12 (which also removes the chipset drivers, usb3.0 drivers, etc!!! Be warned!!!), cleaned up with Ccleaner and then Driver Fusion (trial or whatever, there were still a few registry entries it wanted me to upgrade to pro to remove which I left), rebooted, installed 13.1, rebooted, found drivers missing left and right so I re-ran the 12.12 installer I had (the one I linked to seemingly eons ago, that included every AMD driver under the sun, like chipset, usb3.0, etc) and ran it *with EVERYTHING selected* over top of 13.1 - it left alone the newer software/drivers while adding in the missing drivers - rebooted, and then re-ran my WEI.


And for relevancy, win7 x64 Ultimate, my brightness controls continue to remain fully functional.


EDIT: I did none of this in safe mode.

 

Thank you, I will look into this program.


@sublime, My WEI scores are exactly like yours, except my hard drive is 7.9 cuz of SSD.


but mine is under Windows8 not sure if that makes a different tho... I know on Win8 it's on a scale of 1-9.9

Btw when you guys say using ccleaner, do you mean using the uninstaller function?

 

Negatory, I am not smart enough to think to use that until I get to the clean up after and think, hey, dammit, this thing has an uninstaller. I don't know if the uninstaller does anything different, but I wouldn't know XD haha

 

haha yaaa, I actually think the catalyst manager to uninstall does a better job than cclearner.

driver fusion on the other hand seems like a good tool

 

Yeah I suppose I should clarify that, I used the stand alone official catalyst remover from AMD - a darn good tool. CCleaner and Driver Fusion are both great tools as well.

Man, what an improvement on the integrated 7660G, I keep my EVE Online client running on that since I play it in the living room on battery, and woah, 30-60FPS with everything up (including AA and all that good stuff). Jita still poops it down to 20s, but as long as it's not wartime that's fine. I'll probably pop it over to the 7970M when our alliance goes back into war.

 

Anyone elsee has troubles with wow:mop. Keep getting low fps and dips to 17 fps in dungeons. Settings on good on 1920 with 13.1 windows 8

Edit: ah found it, stupid that i didnt saw the colour of the led. It played wow on apu with 44 fps, quite good and why didnt noticed it first . Only with much effects in a dungeon it brought the intern gpu to his knees

 

With Drivers 13.1 this by far is the most fun laptop I have every owned! WOW MOP on Ultra Settings is just nuts

 

EVE Online maxed in Jita (the computer-crippling mega-major trade hub with 200-1500 players in space outside Jita 4-4 at any given time) was 32FPS today on the APU, 127FPS on the 7970M.

The new 13.1 drivers are awesome. Ask any EVE player with a less-than-insane machine and they will tell you that you either don't max your settings or don't go to Jita. Back when I had my twin Desktop 4890s with 4GB video ram, I STILL had moments of lag in Jita 4-4.

I am thoroughly impressed with this beast.

 

I'll give some inputs on the 13.1 too.

I've been playing Tera Online, back with 12.12 or older, On APU with minimum setting I was getting 15-30. Now with minimum setting on APU I get 30+

On the 7970 on high setting (presets are from a scale 0-6) it was on 4, I get 25-40+ some places it actually jump to 50+ amazing!!!

sadly it is still bottleneck by the CPU in major town, my FPS drop to 15-25.


I can't wait till the new APU release, I really hope it is compatible with the gx60, this machine, in fact if it actually compatible, I think we can actually cross fire with the APU, cuz it's the same GPU architecture?

 

I don't know as if we can crossfire it, and I would have to see the micro-stuttering and framerate impact to really draw a comparison. Call me paranoid but I'm real hesitant to crossfire non-identical cards (I wouldn't crossfire different manufacturers of the same desktop chip for instance), though if it were able to be used like a CPU with multi cores - one card render the other perform a task like physics - then I would be *ALL* for it. I have no doubt that the integrated 7660G could do a moderat amount of physx emulation - imagine if AMD optimized it to run physics calculations! I know I know, pipe dream...

 

Probably not going to happen...at least not any time soon.. =[

 

Havent really done much gaming on the 13.1's, but my windows score has increase like everyone elses and i now score 400 more points in 3dmark 11.

 

A dutch tech website released a review of the gx60 MSI GX60: gamelaptop met een twist | Review | Tweakers

I know most you cant read dutch but the benchmarks are quite clear though. Double and sometimes tripple the performance on the i7, with no difference between 720p and 1080p for the A10 ,so a real hard lock@ cpu. I really hope amd releases a new cpu on this socket !

 

Oh there's no doubt the 2nd and 3rd gen i7 is a vastly more powerful CPU. For me though, the marginal increase in games I play was not worth the $250+ to get an i7/7970M when the A10 can play games like Skyrim on high settings with no external graphics card, and go beast mode with the 7970M on. I had a very hard budget of $1300, and I made it work (with $70 being for RAM, but that was purchased weeks in advance) - by that I mean there isn't any game I can't play reasonably, and the core games I want to play I can still take every setting and max it and pull well over a completely playable 30FPS. If I can upgrade the APU, that's awesome. If not, I'm still completely happy - I still have a solid laptop that is leaps above the Turion TL-60 2GHz dual core and Radeon 2600 I have been gaming on for the last 4-5 years

 

Hey Guys,

I just went on battery power, and the brightness problem is back. Its fixed when its on power but that's it not sure. Just came from a clean install didn't do any uninstalling or re-installing of drivers I'm running the 13.1 drivers.

My 3dMark11 score was P6497 Also my Windows Score is
6.8
7.3
7.3
7.3
5.9

Im sure it has nothing to do with that just posting the scores for other people, anyone else having the brightness issue?

Cheers!

Also anyone else try PSCheck I did today and it worked pretty stable at 2.7Ghz and 1.12v

 

Have you tried PS Check set at 2.7-3.2? it seems to help. We need to get some real benchmarks up with the new 13.1 drivers. I will work on that tonight If I ws reading that review right they have a ssd in the other laptop! I'm running the low volt CL 9 ram also with windows 7 plus a 240gb ssd.

 

Whats nice is, the 3dMark11 score on this laptop is almost as much as my micro desktop using FX-6300@4GHz and an HD7850@1GHz

 

Can anyone help me with PSCheck btw?

 

I can confirm that the ability to adjust brightness on the GX60 in Windows 8x64 is still an issue with the WHQL Mobility drivers. I have had to revert back to the MSI install.
Steps taken-:
- Uninstall Drivers
- Boot in to safe mode
- Check all drivers are removed
- Use Catalyst Uninstall
- Run Driver Cleaner .NET version -> Tick all ATi / AMD options that are available, remove all files
- Delete AMD directory from C:\
- Change boot mode back to Normal boot
- Install latest 13.1 WHQL Mobility Drivers
- Reboot Laptop.
Result:
Become owned by not being able to change the brightness and Black screen only from resume from sleep mode lifting the lid of the Laptop.
I am now reverting back to the older MSI drivers, same process as above.
Result:
All issues fixed, performance drop in Skyrim.

 

I apologize if this question has already been asked but I really wonder if there is any possibility to install other Windows than Windows 8 on this machine. As far as I'm informed, the Windows 8 is locked inside the Bios so I'm not allowed to install any other operating system. Is that true ? I'm having issues with slow start up of the Task Manager and Windows takes huge amount of time to configure and update. Also, I'm not a fan of Windows 8 at all. I really wish I could install Windows 7.

P.S: Great thread, a lot of helpful information! Cheers for that!

 

@shades_aus
Thank you for confirming this! I thought I'm the only with brightness issue with WIN 8... still don't know how phantom did it.. =[
On the other hand, I do not have problem with waking up from sleep with a black screen

@quest667
Yes you certainly can install other OS like Win7.
You have to run boot in legacy mode, and leave only 1 hard drive in the system (the one you'll be installing windows to) and install windows 7 like how you'll normally would.
After installation go back BIOS and change it make to UEFI boot mode, then done!

I think..... check with Sublime for a better instruction haha..

BTW I LOVE windows 8 really not that hard to adjust to, with a SSD I can do a cold boot within 10sec! usually around 10-13seconds. No problems with task manger.
The update does takes a long time, but that's only for the first few times, after that, the update won't take as long anymore.

 

In my signature I'm running Windows 7 no problem

Disable UEFI in the BIOS and you can run Windows 3.1 if you want

 

Hello everyone! Been following this thread for a while now, great info on here. I picked up my GX60 about a week ago and am loving it, no major problems with it so far and it's performance is better than what some reviews online can lead you to believe. Mine is the Win 8 version with the HDD. I'm really limited on free time so when I'm not gaming I'm tinkering with the drivers and trying to figure out how to OC the 7970 to squeeze the most out of it. The brightness adjustment issue is something else I'd like to sort out too. If I could get Afterburner or any other VGA OC utility to work, it'd be great since the cooling system on this rig is pretty stout. Cheers

 

I admit, I never tested for long under the new 13.1 WHQL Mobility drivers. Once I confirmed I was unable to change the brightness, I ran though my process as mentioned to remove all traces and re-installed the MSI one from the website.
Perhaps my black screen was due to my VM that I also run (VirtualBox) for work however, there are no such problems under the MSI install at all. If I find the time, I can re-try although I was quite throrrough in my removal / install. I don't believe the Brightness adjustment has been fixed.
Actually, I am unsure if AMD are even aware that this brightness adjustment issue exists.

 

You do not have to only have one drive in. Just make sure the main drive is in the bay below the keyboard/touchpad. Thats all I did with the ssd and hd

 

Hi guys, i am using win8 pro upgrade (my gx60 comes with win7hp). What i did is i do a window refresh(not reset,i think reset will do a format too?), install all other driver and SCM and install 13.1 WHQL from guru3d. This fix my brightness issue and i can control it.

However, the power button light wont work and stuck at orange. The swichable graphic Enduro still works (eg. start skyrim without profile, and afterburner show no utility on 7970m).

To fix this, i download a 13.1 mobility from AMD website, install over it (no uninstall). This fix the power button light (now there is orange and white) AND the brightness control still there.

 

hmmm in that case, should we just install the stock 12.10 driver, and then install the 13.1 OVER the 12.10 (with no uninstall at all)??


Not sure if that's a good thing to do or not... =/

 

This has not worked for me on the GX60 Laptop. Neither has a full un-install and re-install. The endure "orange" light problem is not there however, the brightness control from Windows 8 does NOT work. I have also noticed the HDMI Audio driver does not install and lists as Failed status.

Once again, the reference driver from MSI has no problems and no fail even on the HDMI Audio section.
My GX60 is
8GB RAM
Windows 8 x64
Standard 7200rpm HDD only.

Just tried to install AMD website driver from using AMD's catalyst_mobility_64-bit_util and overwrote my current driver.
Nothing is different. No fix on Brightness control, HDMI Audio Fails to install.
Re-Install MSI reference drivers after un-install and all OK again.
Perhaps this is just a Windows 8 x64 issue seing as though others running 7 x64 have fixed it.

 

Can the gx60 run bf3 on ultra 1080p !?

 

Well, I am hesitant to think it will work as, while I haven't ever run the stock MSI installer, if it uses the CCC installer I believe it will overwrite everything. I would love to be wrong, and the worst that can happen is you need to do an uninstall and reinstall.

Since I guinea pigged myself on Win7, CCC12.12, and CCC13.1 - I vote no for me because I just got the dust settled on Windows 7 and don't want to start tinkering around with Windows 8 again - for a while at least


And Quest667 - feel free to ask anything about Win7, though I must say Windows 8 works great with Start8, and the only reason I went back to 7 was due to a boot file corruption and Windows 7 was the only DVD I had available to me. Press delete when you first power up, and go into the boot tab of your bios and switch it from UEFI to Legacy - (!!!) BEWARE (!!!) this will render your current windows 8 installation un-bootable and will remain so until you put it BACK to UEFI. I BELIEVE you can re-install Windows 8 *after* switching to Legacy, however I doubt you can do it with anything but a fresh install (read: restoring to factory *image* might not work because the *image* was made with the BIOS set to UEFI <- untested so call it a guess).

Anywho, back to "work" haha

 

I used MSI Backup Software and made a image to a 16gb usb drive and it works fine

 

Tried re-install over 13.1 with MSI drivers and no go. Uninstalled all, re-installed and all is well.
Would be nice to have the added framerate playing skyrim however, I need brightness control for night playing without disturbing the boss :-\

 

Well thanks for testing and confirming it =\

I guess we need to send AMD or MSI an email regarding this issue? I'm still wondering if this is a issue ONLY specific to MSI windows 8 users, or all windows 8 laptop users with AMD GPUs

 

Did you switch your BIOS to Legacy and then restore, or did you leave your BIOS at UEFI and restore? I was rerring to using the factory restore with Legacy BIOS mode.

Also, I should give that a try with the USB if I ever go back to Win8. Then again, if I ever go back it will be with a stock windows disc so I won't get the MSI recovery software anyway

 

No first thing I did was have Windows 8 backup to the usb drive via msi software. I keep the bios set to UEFI. Then installed windows 8 clean to a ssd and it worked fine from the usb. I then switched to Leagcy mode using a different usb drive with windows 7 and installed it worked perfect.

I have not tried to install windows 8 back since I have gone to windows 7. I hate the fact that windows 8 trys to do everything for you and the drivers issues! Windows 7 works so much better and you have complete control!

 

Did you switch your BIOS to Legacy and then restore, or did you leave your BIOS at UEFI and restore? I was referring to using the factory restore with Legacy BIOS mode. I'm curious if this would work since switching from UEFI to Legacy breaks an existing installation - so this would mean the restore image is more than just a static image... hmm

Also, I should give that a try with the USB if I ever go back to Win8. Then again, if I ever go back it will be with a stock windows disc so I won't get the MSI recovery software anyway

 

For some reason the forums are double posting or I have gone full-retard. Probably option B...

Windows 8 seems to poop on itself after switching from UEFI to Legacy, though to what extent I don't know as I haven't really played with it. If Legacy works, ignore me

 

Holy Clusterpoop Batman!

*IN Catalyst control center (advanced mode) > Gaming > 3D Application Settings (High-performance Graphics):

I turned on Edge-Detect (filter), supersampling (AA method), Morphological Filtering On, High Texture Filtering Quality, Surface Format Optimization On, and this is the result: PHENOMENAL quality, "blurry" text, and a quartered frame rate (currently 58fps, normally holds steady at 171fps in warp, it's not a frame limiter because I shut that off [present interval: immediate in the in-game graphics options] and in space it goes from 35-125fps)

http://i.imgur.com/GXCWasw.jpg

Sorry imgur borked the sharpness and quality, it is AMAZING in-game (truly, it is nuts how amazing it looks now) - and if the forums will ever allow me to "go advanced" without forcing a re-logon and directing me to the home page, only to do it all again when I get back here and click go advanced again, I would upload the image here. But you can still see the blurry text.

Questions, what can I do (if anything) to get better quality, or keep quality and increase FPS, and what did I muck up to blur my text. I figure I could spend hours troubleshooting it and testing, or I can take a nap while someone who knows this stuff like the back of there hand (or really, anything at all about it - when it comes to terminology of rendering methods, I am somewhat mentally handicapped) can say "Hey you idiot, turn this on and this off"

This is what I mean when I say everything at max - I find every setting I can, and set it to max. If I am unsure, I usually choose what sounds best or is at the opposite end of the list of something that I know is weak like bilinear vs anisotropic 16x for example. I don't know "why" (what makes it) Anisotropic is better, I just know it is. If there is something further away from bilinear past anisotropic, that is what I would choose based on my dummy-logic. I never claimed to be smart, and now you all know my terrible secret

As always, any and all help is appreciated


edit: and for those that don't play EVE, two things: One, the blurryness around the ship is the warp-tunnel effect of being in warp, the effect looks SO MUCH BETTER with the settings I just made, and two if you want to try EVE; PM me and I can set you up with a buddy invite which gets you a longer trial, and gets me free in game time if you sign up (which I will gladly set you up with a few hundred million ISK in game should you be so kind). Heck if you can help fix my dumb-assery by letting me keep the visuals and de-blur the text, and you play EVE, I'll send you a couple hundred mil anyway

 

So your telling me if you turn these settings on performace jumps up?? Have you tried it with any other games?

Thanks

 

No, performance is quartered (I'm all for the visuals). I have a hunch this is going to make other games unplayable if it has a similar effect. More like a very pretty slideshow

Going to try Arkham City benchmark in a bit.

 

Windows is rejecting the Win7 saying the target i'm trying to install to it's GPT Partition. Now I formated the drive and I can't even install Win8 back on. Great.