Mar 23 2011 - MSI has launched a new G-series gaming laptop with an Intel 2nd Generation Core i7 processor and NVIDIA GTX 460M graphics card. Retailing for $1,650, the MSI GT680R-008US boasts an abundance of memory and a 15.6-inch high resolution HD display. Gamers looking for a Sandy Bridge notebook will find the MSI GT680R-008US to perform well in the latest games with excellent visuals thanks to the glossy display. Even though the MSI GT680R-008US does not arrive standard with a Blu-ray drive, it does make a nice gaming and multimedia laptop.
Pros
- Fast Processor With Great Overclocking Potential
- High Definition Display
- Above Average Audio Quality
Cons
- No Blu-ray Drive
- Memory Isn't 1333MHz
Description
- Intel Core i7-2630QM Processor
- 8GB DDR3 1066MHz Memory
- 15.6-Inch 1920x1080 Full HD Display
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460M 1.5GB GDDR5
- 1TB (500GB x 2) 7200RPM Hard Drive
- DVD Super Multi Drive
- 7-in-1 Card Reader
- 802.11 b/g/n Wireless LAN with Bluetooth
- 720p HD Webcam
- HDMI Output
- Two USB 3.0, Two USB 2.0 Ports
- 9 Cell Battery
- 14.97" x 10.24" x 1.77" @ 7.7 Pounds
Review - MSI GT680R-008US 15.6-Inch Gaming Laptop PC
March has been a busy month for PC manufacturers thanks to the 2011 release of Intel 2nd Generation processors. The GT680R-008US is a midsize 15.6-inch gaming laptop from MSI that is equipped with an Intel Core i7-2630QM processor. This mobile quad-core CPU runs at 2.0GHz with 6MB of Cache. It can also turbo up to 2.9GHz. Overall, this processor is fast and offers enhanced value. Speaking of value, the MSI GT680R-008US retails for $1,650, which puts it at a midrange level.
The display is also excellent with full HD resolution (1920x1080). The 15.6-inch size offers versatility, as you can take the MSI GT680R-008US with you on a trip relatively easily (even at 7.7 pounds) compared to a 17.3-inch desktop replacement. On the other hand, the screen isn't so small to the point where gaming is difficult. It's a nice midsize glossy display.
For $1,650, you also get 8GB of DDR3 memory. While it's not the fastest RAM on the market, the volume of memory is substantial enough to notice a pleasant increase in performance, especially when running programs simultaneously. Overall, 8GB of memory is enough to make the MSI GT680R-008US a worthy competitor to the ASUS Republic of Gamers notebook line, which has been widely successful among gamers. Unfortunately, the GT680R supports up to 12GB of memory whereas some competing systems offer up to 16GB of RAM. Luckily, this isn't too big of an issue.
Another component key to gaming performance is the graphics card. The MSI GT680R-008US features an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460M with 1.5GB DDR5 video memory. This card performs well in DirectX 11 games and is a solid component. It offers 192 CUDA cores and a texture fill rate of 16.1 billion/sec. Many PC manufacturers use this card in their midrange gaming laptops, and it performs well.
Since gamers are typically quite tech savvy, MSI went ahead and gave the GT680R-008US RAID 0 capability with two 500GB 7200RPM hard drives for a total of 1TB of space. This storage setup is nice and spacious for storing games, music, and applications. Sound quality is also above average thanks to Dynaudio sound technology.
And considering users don't use a laptop 100% of the time for gaming, there are several additional features that enhance overall usability. Take, for instance, the 720p webcam. While having a webcam with HD resolution is becoming standard in many notebooks, it is nice to have the option to communicate with family and friends who live far away without video being blurry. And if you enjoy using your notebook for multimedia, the HDMI output comes in handy as well. Unfortunately, a Blu-ray player isn’t standard which would have added a new level of multimedia capability and put it on par with competing gaming laptops.
In conclusion, the MSI GT680R-008US is a decent value with a fast Intel Sandy Bridge processor that can be overclocked. Having 8GB of memory and a midrange video card also enable the MSI GT680R to be a worthy competitor in the gaming laptop sector. Although it would be nice if the memory was faster and a Blu-ray player came standard, these deficits can be overlooked thanks to a full HD screen and $1,650 price tag.