MSI GS40 Phantom-001

@dclanz: So do you reckon the MSI GS40 is better than Gigabyte P34W?

 

Since the GS40 has a USB C/Thunderbolt3 connector, does anyone think it'll be able to work with the new Razer Core? I love the idea that Razer has with the Blade Stealth and the Core but I just can't justify myself buying a laptop with a dual-core CPU in 2016...the Razer Core connects via Thunderbolt3 but there hasn't been any offical information released on if it'll be compatible with other laptops or not.

 

No reason why it shouldn't. I'm gong to assume all the cores/docks will be compatible since is merely a TB3 connection. I'm going to wait until a DIY dock comes out though. Razers looks cool but it's overly large in my opinion. If it's going to be that big, I would like some ssd bays or something. I have a feeling there will be more compact solutions coming out soon.

 

I just took a look at the ASUS GX2...the dock looks a bit gawdy but their laptop looks promising, there's just hardly any info on it. I hope everything is open though. I just want a quad-core ultrabook with decent on-board graphics (like Iris 5200 or HD 520) for light gaming on the go and a dock that connects via Thunderbolt3. If the laptop and dock can be added and removed without powering the laptop down, even better.

 

I'll probably just find a DIY kit and design my own case. I have a 3d printer, so it'll be fun to experiment.

 

Well, with the GS40, I would not be looking for an external videocard yet, at least for another year. One of the main reasons why I got my GS40 is that it should be quick enough to power up the upcoming VR-goggles. Like some of you have said, it I am looking for an external videocard kind of system, I will instead look for something which is even more portable with 6-8hrs of battery life and a decent integrated GPU.

 

I currently have a GS70 with the 6GB 970M. It's great...by itself. At home, I like to plug it into 3 external monitors and multi-task while gaming...it's not so great for that...I'd like to either build a PC or get a laptop/dock with a Titan X. That's my dream.

 

Msi say that dock options are on the way

 

I heard gs40 gets very hot when you just browse on it, so its not possible to put him on laps, is it true? And does cooling dock really help?

 

im currently browsing the web with chrome for 1 hour (with 2 tabs open lol) and i would say its just above body temp. not hot at all. and thats only on the bottom .

hot spot right between the (R) and the (I) keys. starting above the (B) key. that should be away from your legs. but on your lap you will be blocking some of the intake.

but the bottom is also VERY slippery. The GS60 has a fabric tape so it wont slip. I dont know if they make it for the GS40 as an add on but its a very good idea. Some kind of tape which wont leave a residue or wont melt off with heat (wink wink MSI ;-)

 

Hey guys! On the product website, it says

• Thunderbolt 3 supporting 40Gbps ultra speed data transfer rate, dual 4K monitor output, and portable charging power up to 5V/3A (Optional)

, I'm curious about the part "Optional". Does it mean that it's NOT every GS40 products have TB3 bandwidth on USB3.1 type-c port? If so, what specific model has TB3?

 

From my understanding, they all do but they were working on getting it TB3 certified after they launched it. Not sure if it finally went through.

 

so you mean ANY gs40 can serve TB3's original bandwidth(40Gbps) on type-c port?

 

that's what I read somewhere. It was the same as the GS60. I'll try to find the source later. Traveling atm.

 

I'm afraid it's not every gs40 provides TB3.

On the product site of Korean site(which is the country I live in), it only mentions Super-Port, specifically saying "supports up to 10Gbps, USB 3.1 devices". The word 'optional' is also gone.

But the strange thing is that they are still saying it supports dual 4K external monitor output, which I think only possible on TB3 bandwidth. It cause some arguments.

http://kr.msi.com/product/notebook/GS40-6QE-Phantom.html#hero-overview

 

booo.. so apparently the EGPU dock at CES16 will only support the 960m version of the gs40.

i guess i wont trade this in until tb3 and egpus become more mainstream

 

It seems most of american resellers also don't mention TB3 on their GS40 page. For example XOTIC, and many. (XOTIC specifies it's USB 3.1 clearly)

Is there anyone who verify their GS40 from the resellers that don't mention TB3 that actually has working TB3?

 

thanks for the answer! And about the fans - do they bother? Did you manage to set them right (not to start at low temperatures)?

 

I've just found that the bandwidth of 40Gbps(TB3's) is merely about 31% of that of PCIE 3.0 x16. Since GTX980TI utilizes more than 50% of that(I mean more than PCIE 3.0 x8), it can barely handle about... GTX960-level at most, and we all know GTX970M is already better than that.

So for those who wants external GPU for hardcore gaming or whatever, I recommand the new GS40 variation that will come soon with GTX960m and the docking port which is just a PCIE 3.0 x16 riser. eGPU that comes with Thunderbolt Interface is just worthless, at least for now.

 

Anyone else have a problem with their ethernet not working at all?

I register no connection. There are no flashing lights. Drivers all updated.

 

Have you looked at the pins to make sure they are all in place in the port? Also checked the cable?

 

I have GS40 of mine now, but there's annoying sound problem.

There're some mentions on this(ex : https://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?topic=264401.0). The volume is terribly quiet on their latest Realtek sound driver(default and one in Nahimic utility setup archive(actual latest), and the general latest(this version is between those above) driver recommanded on ALC899(GS40's sound chip) either. So quiet that it's a shame MSI promoted this with good speaker and sound software.

Only the driver(R2.69) from Realtek's homepage solves this volume problem, but Nahimic software cannot be installed on this because it says "This driver is obsolete". But... On this the volume is a lot louder. Considering Nahimic software doesn't make real difference, I think I should use this R2.69 driver(like I said, HUGE difference on volume, almost twice compared to others).

Anyone who are dealing with it or solved?

 

Have you raised it to MSI as a support question?

 

Cables are all fine. The gs40 just doesn't detect any ethernet.

 

And the port? Can you take a picture?

 

Just have now. I just wonder there's not much saying about this problem despite that I think it's general problem that anyone should notice just by installing MSI original driver(even without nahimic? I think). Don't you have this problem? Can you tell me what sound driver version you use now?

 

I never touched the fan settings. I really dont mind the fans going on and off while browsing the web.

 

Pins look ok to me. Should there at least be a light when an ethernet cable is connected?

 

That's the combination I have the problem with. I checked it once more, than I found out that even with that driver, It's safe from the volume problem without Nahimic.
Following this, if Nahimic installed(without activating it), it automatically lower the internal volume. You can notice it if remove Nahimic.

You can reactivate Realtek original control panel with this driver(already mentioned in above link), but the volume on this driver is too high, making cracking sound(I think left-right balance are messed up also).

 

I already saw it, but I don't know which internal speaker file I should edit. Unlike the file for the external speakers(edited in the above link), there are many files for the different internal speakers.

 

At the thunderbolt products page from intel, GS40 is included as Thunderbolt compliant. MSI's page on the other hand, has it as optional. Could any owner of this device confirm that it has (or not) TB3?

Also, does anyone have any idea why there are so few reviews for this laptop? And its availability in Europe (apart from the UK) is problematic at least (not even sure we're gonna get the 256GB model).

PS I've read this thread (many times) and I haven't seen anyone confirm TB3, just assumptions based on the spec page.

 

I am not sure if anyone has looked at the Global MSI support page for downloads.

https://www.msi.com/product/notebook/support/GS40-6QE-Phantom.html#down-driver&Win10 64

If you browse down to the bottom, there is a driver called Thunderbolt Intel 6540.
Does that mean the GS40 is indeed Thunderbolt compliant?

 

This driver refers to this controller which is a TB3 controller. But, according to the product page, TB3 is optional, so maybe not all GS40 configs have it.

 

closest thing to being confirmed is on page 38, post 371 of this thread.

 

At least korean GS40(gs40 004xkr) now has been confirmed having TB3. None of official specification shows it has TB3, but yes it does.

Since my model(004xkr with just 1TB HDD(7200rpm 9mm 2.5 HGST)) is the cheapest one in all variations, it's a good news I can say.

 

So I actually just got my GS40 and it has software named "Thunderbolt(TM) Software" that seems to detect thunderbolt connected devices. So perhaps they do as of now.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Totally out of topic, guys , but are there any ways to get that laptop to shut the heck down of its fans when its CPU is only at 46C, i mean those fans are ridiculous. Where should i look or where should i drop my money to get that problem fixed guys ? thanks in advance

 

I don't think the GS40 is compatible yet but this is the tool for all the other MSI laptops. https://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?topic=255972.0

Also Svet has another tool which I used to use here: https://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?topic=148273.0

I haven't used any for the GS40. You might want to ask Svet if either of them are or will be compatible.

 

The first tool isn't compatible with windows 10

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

 

Hmm, I've been using it on the gs60 with Windows 10. Wonder if they've been having issues with newer processors.

 

Regarding fan noise... Would you say its loud even when just surfing the web or writing docs? I'm leaning towards this baby since they announced the external gpu dock. I wanna get rid of my home workstation and just have the laptop with a dock.
Thx.

Sent from my SM-G925W8 using Tapatalk

 

Hey westcoastgeek.

Let's simply put it like that. Fans do not have the ability to take rotation values that are under 3300 rp/*m (somehow) and the hysteresis makes the beast running its fans once a CPU temperature of 40-45*C (approx) is reached, dem fans spin a few seconds til the laptop cools down enough.

So now i'm using it with and without the Cooler Master Notepal U3 plus, and okay it can handle browsing web and docs though it'll depend on how many tabs you are running . For instance i like to play music on spotify, have social media tabs open, a pdf here and there. In this situation the computer's CPU is oftenly above 45*C so the fan kicks in often, okay it's not too annoying for most of the ppl i guess but i feel sorry for the machine and if i stop the music it's quite hearable, especially when i use it on my lap and i do not like that.

Also the computer feels a bit fragile due to its plastic build and that's so fingerprint friendly, aside from that it's a super GREAT MACHINE, performance wise, no throttling and the built-in screen is sick, keyboard is sweet too, and the weight's perfect., however i bought it over the Clevo P640RE (very recent 14"), cuz here in France a company called Fnac was selling it, and their 3 year warranty refunds the whole money without any technical analsys (it's managed by some stupid insurance company), e.g you make the computer overheat with huge OC and shiet, then bring it and be like look guys it doesn't work :O , it doesn't turn on, and they'll be like :O oh too bad here is the papers you need to get your money back (exactly the amount spent, all you'll lose at the end is the 400 euro warranty you paid for) They'll just look at the case of the computer if there is no bump you're good to go lel. (already tested).

So yeah that explains my choice of the MSI GS40 over the clevo P640 RE

OH and to you guys, planning to buy the ultimate cooling solution for laptops that's to say the OPOLAR LC 05 (-15/20*C most of the time) , i tried it with the GS40 , the vents are just not made for it (shapewise), and the air flow is weirder than expected. So yeah don't expect to find a solution to back up the fans through vacuuming systems.

 

Thanks for the information Zaal. I may hold off for the new GS40 update with the 960m. maybe that will produce less heat / noise overall and with the external GPU dock I can throw in a GTX card and get good gaming performance that way.

Cheers

 

exactly why i went with the msi gs40. I can drop my gs40 and get a newer laptop no questions asked. BUT if it was a perfect world Id love to customize the teeth out of my laptop.

the EGPU sounds great and all, but I will never use a multimonitor setup and ill be okay running medium settings in 1080p in 3 years

 

I'm still confused about the exact difference between this gs40 and the one they'll release in the near future with the lower gpu and some sort of dock compatibility. I mean, I thought that all of the various egpus would be able to connect to a laptop that had thunderbolt 3.0, which this current gs40 (possibly) has. I get that maybe there's some sort of proprietary msi dock, that the new version of the laptop will be able to clip into somehow, but I didn't think that would exclude the current gs40 from working with any future egpus. Mine arrived this morning, can't wait to start it up!

 

I think that is one way of lowering the price of the model even further so that they look competitive, and yet, you still can enjoy some top end performance by buying the external card and monitor, a bit like the GS30. The idea is good, but at the moment, I want something which is stand-alone or all in one. That is why the GS40 is perfect.

 

TB3 will allow you to connect to an external GPU but we have yet to see what it's limitations are. I have a feeling it's going to be a 960, which is about equivalent to a 970M. So in cases like the GS40, there's a good chance the TB3 port won't make this laptop any better. That slot in the back will probably handle a lot more bandwidth and hopefully will support a 980Ti.

I keep seeing people on other threads post that they plan on hooking a 980Ti to their TB3 port, but I just don't see how that won't be bottlenecked... I'm thinking the TB3 port will be most utilized for external GPUs by people who want even thinner laptops but will be limited to a GPU of 960M and below. Asus has a couple laptops that would fit this category and so do a few others. Since the GS40 already has a 970M, the only way to make it better is to allow higher end graphics cards to be used without being bottlenecked. Hopefully that slot is the solution.

 

It's highly unlikely, since in this comparison it's obvious, that not even PCIe 2.0 x8 bottlenecks (significantly) 2x SLI GTX Titan. TB3 has a bandwidth of 5GB/s (40Gbps / 8), and PCIe 2.0 x8 stands at 4GB/s (8 x 0.5 GB/s), so their performance should be similar. Unless you're running the highest end Pascal or later cards, you shouldn't worry.

 

Interesting, so 1 card would probably work then. I stand corrected but I still want to see it to believe it. I don't think 2 Titans would would work thoguh since they are using 8 lanes per card in their testing, which would double the bandwidth.

 

I have had the gs40 for several weeks now and I am very happy with it.

Just to note about TB3 when I enable Thunderbolt firmware update in BIOS a Thunderbolt controller and a USB 3.1 controller appear in Device Manager. They were absent before I changed that setting.



Has anyone successfully changed out the SM951 for the 950 PRO nvme? There was a post earlier about the BIOS not recognizing the drive. I have not done this yet but may in future.