MSI GX640-098US Review

You must work for MSI, cuz this post makes me re-interested, as my decision to buy looms near (Aug.1st is CSULB's deadline for me to accept or not).

 

I agree with all of the above except #5, I'm loving the stealth look. I'm glad it doesn't have a glowing alien head or a tacky light show.

 

Agreed.

Also, anyone with a GX test out SC2 yet? How's it play on high/ultra?

 

I got this game the second it came out lol!

Im proud to say it runs great MAXED OUT all the way!!! ultra, ultra, ultra...etc

I only played up to 2vs2 online, some of the campaign, and had no probems.

I'm working on finding a good, small, and action packed clip to screen capture. It's hard, because I've been forgetting tell after the action.

Im going to start playing now...

Edit:
I found out that with the screen capture makes the game lag around 18fps.
I'll try to use a video camera to record the laptops performance next.

The screen capture works fine with the cinematics:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6NuGXqN_4Y

 

LOL. No I don't work for MSI.....far from it. I am an Emerg Doc. I agree with you Dakins, that it's a good thing this laptop does not look like an Alienware. All I was saying is that if I was in charge it would be a lighter more Aluminum or Titanium colored chassis rather than the charcoal color that it is. I'd get rid of the red too. It's ok, but I think it would look classier dressed in a more monochromatic fashion.

 

My view regarding looks is that the black is overall pretty nice. It could be lighter and that might be better, but it doesn't bother me. If I had to choose to keep or eliminate the red though, I'd loose the red in favor of a classier look as H-Bomb suggests.

Looks wise, the biggest turn off for me is the touchpanel. Woof. That's not really a thing of beauty, as the metal grill stands out. I might detach it, mask off the panel, and spray paint the grill at some point (well probably not, but talk is cheap!).

 

I'm really debating gettin this thing, but the fact that SC2's screen doesnt like 16:10 as much as 16:9. Btw, does it make it 16:10 res, or do you get black bars instead?

 

Where are you getting your information?
There are NO black bars. You can get 1680x1050, which is what the GX640 has!

Here's my first video on SC2 gameplay
YouTube - StarCraft 2 Epic Battle - GX640

As you can see, it runs perfectly with all the settings maxed out!
This was lucky I filmed, but there have been much bigger battles and still no lag (in the 2vs2).

 

16:10 aspect ratios are used on a LOT of LCD screens, and were used more widely prior to obsession with 16:9 aspect ratios that are everywhere now. If the game didn't support 16:10 . . . it would be a crime.

 

H-bomb said he flashed the vBIOS and then updated to ATI Catalyst 10. 6
But isn't there a 10.7 version out?

Is the 10.6 version superior to the 10.7 perhaps?
Also, H-Bomb, you downloaded the latest BIOS from here; MSI Europe ? Computer, Laptop, Notebook, Desktop, Mainboard, Graphics and more

Right? And if so, you downloaded NB VGA Firmware, with the filename "1656_vbios.zip", correct?
This is all to make my own flash of the vBIOS correct, and not to fudge it up btw

 

I just downloaded the latest Catalyst drivers from the AMD -- I guess they may have updated them shortly after to 10.7, so no, there is now funky reason why I am running 10.6 rather than 10.7.

I got the bios and vbios from MSI Global ? Computer, Laptop, Notebook, Desktop, Mainboard, Graphics and more labelled as the 1656 release.

 

How can u guys get decent fps in sc2. Mine doesnt go higher than 20-30, and its on medium seetings.

 

You need to update your graphics card driver!
Here:
MSI Global ? Computer, Laptop, Notebook, Desktop, Mainboard, Graphics and more

Look for the "ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5850" driver.

...
The older ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4650, with updated drivers, can run SC2 on medium lol.

 

If I buy the GX640 from jr.com, how long, theoretically, would it take to arrive?

 

well, i updated it to ati catalsst to 10.7 and am i getting 15-20 fps on ultra
still i am going to try msi native driver and see if it helps. Btw i have updated vbios.

 

tried it. still getting 20-30 fps on medium settings.
any other ideas?

 

You serious? I get 20-25fps on my dinodesktop on low settings 2v2 LT on bnet. Hope those updated drivers work for ya.

That's just wat I've been waiting for. I <3 you dearly, my good man. You even used your own camera--that's super thoughtful (and depicts real-life situation perfectly!). Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

For some reason the folks in the 3820tg and E14 threads aint faring too well in SC2 beyond medium settings. I see that your GX can handle MAX EVERYTHING, which is indeed sexual. Sexual > Sexy btw

 

tried updated driver from mis website. Looks like its the same stuff. 40 fps at the beggining of the game and then it drops to 20-30. on medium settings.
Will try to reinstall windows. see if that helps.

 

GL. Let us know how it goes.

 

Why don't you get the new 10.7 directly from the Ati website? The MSI's driver are not the most up to date (not even sure they are the 10.6)...
So would advise you to try the 10.7 first before reinstalling Win7... takes less time ;-)

 

so, tried reinstallation. After i did that the game fps became better. were floating around 80 on medium. After i installed the game they became even better 100 at the beginnin.
And now, after i rested the computer, i made no changed to video card or anything. i am getting 60 at the beginning and it drops to 30 during middle game on medium settings at 1 vs 1. is going on. any ideas.

 

Well, been hearing (readin) that there's alotta issues with ATI cards (mobile radeon HD). E14 and 3820TG users getting problems too. Really disappointed actually. I hope people won't have to overclock GPUs in order to just play a game that isn't supposed to be all that intensive to begin with. No idea what to suggest to you though. Maybe you might wanna try MagusDraco's method of going to the variables.txt and modifying certain numbers, especially the fps limit. PM him for more info.

Let us know how it goes!

 

I hear nvidia cards have problems to lol!
ATI cards are the best in the market, at the moment. Being the only ones with GDDR5! The mobile radeon HD's are also the best bang for the buck!

I think "haplo 09" needs to update his drivers again and from this page:
MSI Global ? Computer, Laptop, Notebook, Desktop, Mainboard, Graphics and more
Then it should be like the rest of ours!

Overclocking the 5850 is not necessary and way to risky...the gpu gets hot enough lol!
It can get in the 90 degrees celsius easy when playing a GPU demanding game(I've seen it at 96 max without the fan).
I use a fan that keeps my GX640 under 80 degrees, no matter how long I play, or what game is played


StarCraft 2 update:
I played a 4vs4(max) and seen bigger battles with still no lag!!!
The GX640 can't get lag while maxed out, no matter what's on this game!
...if its working right.

I also changed the music for this SC2 gameplay video
YouTube - StarCraft 2 Epic Battle - GX640



NEW StarCraft 2 gameplay video: You all should see this one!
I loved playing this mission!

StarCraft 2 Zombie Defence - GX640
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGZ3WJvxPnw

 

i got it!
and starcraft works fine

 

Just got mine in. On all ultra settings SC2 hovers around 20fps during a campaign mission. I have updated the drivers from the ATI website, but not the vBIOS.

For those of you that say the game runs smoothly on all ultra settings, what is your fps during a campaign mission? (ctrl+alt+f to show fps)

 

lol
i got 30+
not sure
but its freakin smooth
wait lemme check
and oh, anyone who has oc their vga, what frequencies have u kept?
*me, 750/1000 for gpu/mem*
and what software have u used?
ccc or flashed the vbios?

 

745/1000 through CCC, never above 80°C

 

everything maxed out, 25 minimum in campaign, max is 50
not oc

 

thank you

 

Man I only wish!!!

I am in the 90s, sometimes high 90s when I game.

I idle in the low 60s.

And this is at stock

 

one thing
the sound seems laggy?
or sometimes i dont hear notifications from msn
or when u open a folder in windows explorer, it makes a tick sound..
for me.. example in the explorer case
i wont hear the first few clicks then it'll work fine.. *opening folders one after another
and for msn/yahoo etc, i wont hear the notification at all :S
and im using 7 home premium 64bit *not the stock one*

 

get in to realtek HD audio settings and untick power saving option for sound device

 

You should mod your heatsink.

Mine idles at 54°C, goes up to 80°C during gameplay and stabilizes around 90°C in Furmark. That's at stock clocks, though.

1. Open up Realtek HD audio console.
2. Click the battery icon
3. Click the blue orb to turn off power management.

 

thanks!

 

can you name a monitoring tool for fps/cpu/gpu usage?

 

CPU: Task manager, performance tab/Ressource monitor
GPU: MSI Afterburner
FPS: In-game FPS counter (external applications will actually lower your framerate)

 

thank us

 

NEW video on what the GX640 can do!!!
YouTube - Split Second gameplay on "high settings" - GX640

 

it runs fast but not smooth..
i dunno why :S
same with bad company 2
like the it misses a few frame?
i've tried overclocking and bios is latest along with catalyst 10.7
the movement of the car/ the team players *bad company 2* is not smooth.. and its not laggy either..

 

It is smooth on Split Second, but I didn't like that game at all. I'll have to try bc2 some time.

 

me neither
actually im jus not into racing xD
anyways, i'll try it again later..
dont have my laptop with me right now
plz, do test bad company 2
and my graphics were full except for antialising.. that was jus 4x

 

No really, it runs smooth!
The video camera can only film in like 24fps.

I never did tell just now use fraps on split/second. It stays at 30fps most of the time(99%), but never under 30fps! I've seen it reach 31fps in the first 10secs of the race lol!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfIiixBX9Tk

Same, over 30fps on bad company 2 with the same settings(maxed but both the anti's x4) you use.
It reached 50fps when there were no explosions!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtS-ku6c_f8

My ati 5850 driver version: 8.732.0.0000
No overclocking done

 

one thing
how can i check the fps?
for any game?

 

FRAPS show fps, record video game movies, screen capture software

 

Another great game that the GX640 can play on "very high" settings!!!
YouTube - Empire Total War gameplay on "very high" settings - GX640

 

sorry, im too lazy to make a gameplay video but you should try kane and lynch 2
im bout to end it on full settings
and its fun xD

 

If you want one that bad, just make it your self It's easy!
I dont have or want to play that game

I think this will be the last video on this game.
The ship battles are just to cool and highly detailed!
YouTube - Empire Total War - Epic Navy Battle - "very high" settings - GX640

 

can someone tell me the processor socket model thingy?
i cant find it on hm55's specs on intel's site
and my current i5 supports BGA1288 and PGA988..
i7 extreme only supports PGA988..

 

i5's and i7's r both the same socket if thats wat ur asking?

 

gx640 uses hm55 right?
whats the exact socket model?
can someone confirm it?