Gaming Credentials
So just how potent is the current-generation GeForce GTX 660M GPU? According to 3DMark 11, it isn't a step-up from previous generation solutions - at least as far as 3D performance is concerned.
The GT780DXR is equipped with an older GTX 570M but manages to come out ahead, and the GT70 - armed with a GTX 670M, which itself is an overclocked GTX 570M - maintains a comfortable lead in the synthetic test.
Gaming Performance |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| Game | Quality Settings | Average FPS |
|
MSI GE70
(GTX 660M) |
MSI GT70
(GTX 670M) |
||
| Aliens vs. Predator | 1,920x1,080, 0xAA, 4xAF, Low Detail | 37.8 |
45.1 |
| 1,920x1,080, 2xAA, 8xAF, Medium Detail | 29.4 |
31.3 |
|
| 1,920x1,080, 4xAA, 16xAF, High Detail | 24.5 |
25.4 |
|
| Batman: Arkham City | 1,920x1,080, Low FXAA, Low Detail | 36 |
58 |
| 1,920x1,080, Medium FXAA, High Detail | 34 |
54 |
|
| 1,920x1,080, High FXAA, Extreme Detail | 26 |
31 |
|
Putting a real-world slant on mobile GPU performance, we're able to compare in-game performance between MSI's GT70 and GE70 laptops. Though, bear in mind the GT70 was tested a short while back, and driver discrepancies/game updates may come into play.
Regardless, it's clear that despite being built from an older architecture, the GeForce GTX 670M has an edge over the newer GeForce GTX 660M. The GE70 does offer gaming potential, but you'll almost certainly need to dial down quality settings in order to maintain a playable frame rate at the laptop's native full-HD resolution.
Battery Life and Noise
The HEXUS battery life test involves playing back a 720p movie clip until the laptop is automatically forced into hibernation. A balanced power profile is chosen for the duration of the test, all wireless radios are disabled and screen brightness is set to 50 per cent.
The battery results don't look particularly promising at first glance, but remember that the GT70 launched with a £2,100 price tag and measured 55mm thick. The GE70 costs half that amount, is almost 30 per cent thinner, and carries a much smaller battery (six-cell, as opposed to nine).
Considering the cuts in size and cost, MSI has done well to keep battery life reasonable at just over three hours of continuous video playback from a basic 49 Whr battery. Remember, however, that this particular test uses the integrated Intel HD graphics processor, and battery life will no doubt be further reduced when using the NVIDIA GeForce GPU for more demanding tasks.
You almost expect a gaming laptop to make a fair amount of noise, but the GE70's internal fan manages to keep quiet most of the time - it can and will get loud if you decide to manually ramp up fan speed using the one-touch hotkey. Surprisingly, it's not the fan noise that's a problem here; it's the internal hard disk. We've become so accustomed to SSDs that the sporadic noise of a mechanical drive really stands out - it actually makes the system sound old.
