Official MSI GE60 & GE70 2012 Owners' Lounge

For any laptop, I would invest in some kind of lapdesk if you're going to game on your lap. I mean, yeah, you could be careful about not obstructing the intakes, but that could be distracting. And it could get hot along the bottom, too.

Xpad slims are great.

I'm planning on doing just that. Tee hee.

 

it sounds like you're changing the pointer speed not the sensitivity in the elantech properties?

 

This is the last test that I'll be running.

GPU + CPU Torture Test - Furmark + Prime95
Furmark Burn-In test 1280x720 (Defaults) + Prime95 Blend Test 8x Threads (Defaults)

Room temperature was 82 F (28 C); stock nVidia Drivers (296.31) @ Stock Clocks. Windows Power Plan was set to High Performance. Turbo-Fan button was pressed. No laptop cooler was used. Optical bay was removed, so there is a large hole on the side to possibly lower the temps, but it didn't seem to help that much. Obviously additional holes in the bottom would be optimal, plus re-pasting with IC Diamond may help.

nVidia GPU core clock was at 950MHz during half of the test but lowered to 835MHz & 810MHz later in the test.

Intel clocks hovered between 1.2GHz and 3.0GHz during the test, depending on the core and it's temps.

Max GPU temp was 95 C; Max CPU Temp was 97 C.

Once again, this is an extreme stress test, and of course the GE60 will run hotter since it only has 1 fan and 1 exhaust outlet, plus the laptop is very thin and light.

After 3 Minutes:

Spoiler

After 22 Minutes

Spoiler

 

id love to see that... make a post on instructibles

no, im pretty sure i was under sensitivity... its the first option i believe

 

for me sensitivity is the last option in the elan smart-pad options

 

Yup seems just like the results I was getting, makes sense why certain spots of BF3 was hitting 95C. I am curious if repasting or using a laptopcooler will help, I can test out the latter tomorrow.

 

Looks like that would work pretty well. I'm expecting my home for the next year to be a bed in a transient tent so being able to game and watch movies comfortably on my bed is my goal. Should I get a stand or cooler it needs to be light and compact which the xpad seems to be. Any other suggestions would be considered too

 

thanks man!

 

I got my GE60 and used it a few times. Here are a few small things I noticed:
-I missed the space bar a few times because it isn't as long.
-The exhaust on the left was pretty hot when playing D3 at high settings. I'm probably going to invest in a laptop cooler.

This is my first non-netbook and I am pretty satisfied with my purchase. I was thinking that I should of opted for the GE70 for only $50 more, but I'm glad I didn't. 15" screens seem to be the max that fits into most bags.

I was thinking about installing an SSD (have one in my desktop and I definitely know the difference it can make), but I might wait til the mSSD prices start falling a little and invest in one of those.

 

Quick questions:

1. can people link some decent reviews on the new GE60 with th3 660m?
2. Does this have an mSata port?
3. Can I get a replacement lid? The stock one looks like a teenagers dream date.
4. Is it better to order this off Amazon and add customizations or go through a reseller (adding better LAN card 6300 or maybe a killer, already have SSD to put in, and want Bluray)

 

2. Yes
3. I don't think so. I was a bit worried about the about the lid, but the pictures kind of exaggerate the colors. IMO, it doesn't look too flaming in person.

 

Any suggestions on reviews? I found a few unboxing and such but nothing concrete on performance feel and all that.

And thanks.

 

I just went by newegg comments, comments on this thread, and "which laptop should I buy?" threads. Didn't find any "official" reviews.
_____________________________________________________

Instead of waiting for the price of mSSDs to drop, I just bought a Samsung 830 256gb on newegg. I have a couple of questions:
1) Do I need any brackets for the SSD after taking the HDD out?
2) How would I go about a fresh install of Windows 7? Use the utility CD provided in the box?

 

1. no real reviews of 660m, but lots on the 650m. realistically the only difference is a better GPU and 8GB ram instead of 6gb ram. The rest like keyboard, screen, cooling, etc.. should all be the same.
2. Yes
3. No, though XoticPC offers custom skins when you order from them (costs extra of course). You can always get a skin somewhere else or a cover, but to directly answer your question, no replacement lids. as mentioned earlier, most pictures do exagerate the red stripes
4. you can do both. good thing about MSI and Sager laptops is that most components are easily accessible and upgradeable. I know for sure the LAN card, SSD and bluray can all be added as the network card, harddrive and odd are all removable.

 

well i packed mine up and shipped it off... can you send me a screenshot of yours? Thanks

 

It's actually fairly understated. Definitely not "in-your-face-I'm-a-gaming-laptop".



It is however a fingerprint magnet, though that shouldn't bother your average touch-screen smartphone user (and if it does, do what you do with a smart-phone, and get a protector. I recommend the invisible-shield).

 

here you go

 

Is that a GE60 or 70? looks like a 70.

P.S. Shame on you, Green Bay Packers... (im from Chicago)

 

Is there anything else that could keep the prints down? I'm almost thinking of using a 3m wrap or something if I were to get this. I really wish they did it in a matte or brushed metal.

 

If that's a USB port in front of the ODD, then yeah, looks like a GE70.

And speaking of backpanel designs, I used to own this. Top that.

 

I noticed that the GE60 0NC-042US configuration page on xotic updated the title and no longer says PRE-ORDER. Has anyone with a pre-order there gotten an order status update yet? I have one on pre-order, but no update and no charge on my card as yet...

 

Isnt that like a $4000 laptop? Force something?

 

My 660m GE60 has shipped, should be here friday or Monday be sure to post unboxing pics

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk 2

 

Oh, man, I wish I was able to afford that kind of machine.

That's a G51vx-RX05, a cheapified G51vx exclusive from Worst Buy. Price was $1000-$1100.

There's quite a few similarities between the G51vx and the GE60. Both were at good price points, both had good hardware (but not the best; the G51vx had the GTX 260m, which was beaten by the 280m and Mobility Radeon 4870) and both had so-so cooling systems. In the G51vx's case, a little hardware modding made it run much cooler (My modded G51 was one of the coolest-running on the forums, even with a 45W T9900 CPU and overclocked GPU), so I'm hoping that some choice mods will hold true for the GE60.

 

Another issue I have with the MSI ge60 is WHY the hell are you venting out the side? Just please vent it out the back. I'm ok if nothing else is back there but you lose so many spots for connectors and ports by venting out the side. This simple design concept should be a no brainer for gaming models now. Even the low end gaming ones.

 

It's a GE70

Lol I know. That's an extremely expensive golf-set my boss gave me the other day (apparently I have to learn golf now!), and he's a Cheese-head. So shame on both of you! Cowboys fan (I live in Texas you see). Lol

You could always take some 1000grit sand paper to it and rough it up. That's what a ton of people are doing with the new HTC EVO 4G LTE with it's fingerprint-magnet top portion. You would essentially be giving it a matte finish yourself.

[HOW TO] Sanding Top Cover to Matte Black - DIY Instructions - xda-developers

 

I could see myself sanding too much and ruining the finish completely. On this laptop you would need to sand every portion. The top cover, the plan rests, and everywhere else.

 

Is it just me or do these laptops look awfully similar to the GE60/GE70?

PowerPro I 9:6 Gaming Laptop
PowerPro I 9:7 Gaming Laptop
FORCE 16GA / MSI 16GA - XOTIC PC 15.6" Custom Gaming Notebook
FORCE 1756 / MSI 1756 - XOTIC PC - 17.3" Custom Gaming Notebook

The material looks like it might be brushed aluminum considering the weights of these laptops are also slightly higher than the GE60/GE70.

 

I wouldn't mind trying this on the top cover, I can deal with fingerprints on the palm rests. The top cover just gets SO fingerprinty.

I probably wouldn't want to be the first one to try it though.

 

its the same material.

 

The gaming laptops of Asus and MSI have been doing this for a long time already. It's not like we're losing a bunch of ports.

 

Here's a review of the MSI 16GA Barebones by DevilTech:
Review MSI MS-16GA Barebone Notebook - Notebookcheck.net Reviews

I like the plain look of the barebones over the MSI GE60. Cheaper too.

 

I just got my GE60 yesterday. I've got a question. I am using the GPU observer widget to monitor temps/clocks. I've notice that the gtx660m is running at 405/2499 even on idle, and the only time it downclocks is when I open a monitoring software like GPU-Z or something that can monitor numbers like afterburner. When I open one of those, clocks drop to 135/405. As soon as I close them, they go back to 405/2499.

I haven't had an Nvidia GPU since my old desktop 8800gts so I'm not sure if this is a setting in the control panel or what. I've looked, but nothing I've changed seems to make a difference (besides opening GPU-Z).

 

That would be a dirty little trick if it is true, imanol. Reminds me of stories I've heard about how car engine manufacturers were building engines with control chips that would identify the test pattern the government uses to rate fuel efficiency and change the performance of the engine under those conditions to get better numbers.

 

It might e an Optimus setting that isn't set right. It should switch to the HD 4000 graphics off the CPU when you are not running a have GPU load program. I would check the applications you are running. The monitor you have going might be one on the white list for the GPU to turn on.

 

I've been doing some more, erm, testing. It seems that turning on the monitor "wakes" the nvidia gpu, thereby allowing it to set the clocks on demand. I tried running a game, and the clocks behave the same way. As soon as any 3D apps are off and the Intel GPU is active, the nvidia GPU reverts to stock clocks, 405/2499 on batt, 835/2499 when plugged.

Might be a driver issue. I'm using the stock ones that came on the CD. I tried the 304.48 betas and it was even worse. Apps/games wouldn't switch to the nvidia GPU at all no matter what setting I used on the control panel. I'll try manually setting ALL apps to use the nvidia gpu and see how it goes...

Thanks for the replies.

EDIT: Gah! Apparently some apps can only use the integrated chip. Bah!

EDIT2: Some more observations. Opening GPU-z triggers the clocks to go up or down. Opening any 3d app/game would make the clocks behave the same way. However, if you open the game/app before opening GPU-z, clocks will stay not go below stock settings, but it will go up. I've changed settings so many times, I no longer have any idea what is causing what. Oh, well...

 

whoops! you're absolutely right... i think i was thinking of "tapping" i think that one is first, and I had to disable it to get any use out of the dam thing

 

Does what imanol is experiencing mean that 660m GPU performance is compromised, for example in games?

 

Mine shipped today! Woot woot! Can't wait!

Planning to take out the optical drive and drop in my 128GB Plextor SATA III SSD. Unless the ODD is SATA II? In which case I'll put the HDD in there and the SSD inside.

Anything else I should know about this beast?

I'll be SO glad to get off 1366x768...

 

ODD is SATAII

 

Thanks slaxys. Seems like a waste! But I'll do the swaperoo...

 

If it really bugs you, if you havne't bought the ssd yet, you can make use of the msata ssd slot, which uses SATAIII.

 

yeah I was considering that. looks tough to find any msata III ssd's in stock. would be nice to keep the odd in place though ... and I could recoup a few bucks selling off my plextor .. hmmmm...

 

Do you mind putting some simple details down on the SSD installation (swap)? I plan to install one this weekend. I built my own PC, but I have never operated on a laptop before.

-Just unscrew the hdd + pull out sata and then screw in the ssd + plug in? Any adapter needed for the ssd to fit?
-How would I go about installing Windows 7? I don't have an install disk but I have the MSI recovery disk.

 

For me, I have a 12.7mm HDD sled which fits in the ODD bay of my old laptop. I will just pop off MSI's face plate and swap it with the faceplate on this adapter. I will take out MSI's 750gb drive and put it in the sled. I will put the MSI ODD in an external USB sled I already have. I will put my 2.5" SSD in the bay where the 750gb drive used to be. Then I will either use acronis to clone the HDD to the SSD and then optimize it (turn off defrag, indexing, turn on trim) or I will use my existing win 7 install on the SSD and install the drivers for the MSI components on it. Undecided as of now.

Alternatively - if I can find a decent 128gb MSATA III device at a reasonable price, I'll order that and sell off my 2.5" plextor SATA III. Would certainly make life easier.

Sleds can be found here: http://www.newmodeus.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2_27&products_id=197

And other places, too ... I think I got mine off e-bay.

 

I haven't done it myself yet, but I believe the msi recovery disk is used to reinstall windows

 

* winx14, basically what wharfrat70 said. No special adapter is needed when swapping the stock HDD with a 'normal' sized (9.5mm) SSD.

What I did when swapping to a SSD is I downloaded the official Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 ISO from the Digital River server (Google it), burned it to a DVD, and then installed Windows. Then using the supplied MSI DVD (which only includes the drivers and utilities - Windows is not on the DVD), I installed all of the drivers except the Elan trackpad drivers (since the generic Windows driver is fine) and also installed the S-Bar utility. There are other utilities on the MSi DVD but I didn't need them. Then run Windows Update to get only the 'Important' updates, then activate Windows using the Product Key on the sticker on the bottom of the laptop.

Doing this clean install of Windows is recommended over cloning, plus it results in a much leaner system with many fewer processes at startup.

* anycolour & imanol, the GTX 660M is not a compromised (downclocked) GPU. I've seen other manufatcurers do this (2010 HP Envy 14, ASUS G72GX, etc.), but MSI hasn't done this to the GPU in the GE60. The problem is we really need an offical driver from nVidia.

Check out my review in my sig.

 

Forgot to mention this, I used this Microsoft utility to burn the Windows ISO to DVD.
Microsoft Store Online

Official Windows Home Premium SP1 ISO is here:
Official Windows 7 SP1 ISO from Digital River « My Digital Life

 

Thanks Sequencer!

Also I was able to pick up a Crucial M4 MSATA III SSD at Seaboom.com for $150 - if anyone else was looking for one in stock somewhere.

 

as i've previously mentioned i haven't done it myself, but there is a recovery disk you can burn, and someone please correct me if i'm wrong, that should include windows. The only disk in the box are the drivers, but there is a msi recovery icon on the desktop that will allow you to burn a copy of windows in case you want to reinstall... not sure if it has all the same bloatware or not, but i believe that is included