This is a PC built for intensive gaming and for productivity that will seduce more than one. For less than 1300 euros, this 15 inch contains a GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Turing, a high-end graphics card allowing to launch all AAA titles, but also a powerful Hexa Core i7 supported by a good amount of RAM (16 GB) and good capacity SSD storage for system responsiveness. Robust and with a thin and light design, the metal chassis updates a 120 Hz matte Full HD IPS borderless screen to stay ahead of the game. On the other hand, the connection is correct, the keyboard backlit in red and the autonomy is not ridiculous. On the other hand, ventilation is heard continuously, the numeric keypad is absent and the case could be more robust.
Specifications for the MSI GF65 9SD-018FR
| Screen (s) | 15.6 “Full HD LED 120Hz IPS with thin edges (1920×1080, anti-reflective / mat) |
| Processor | Intel Core i7-9750H Coffee Lake Refresh (2.6 GHz, 6 cores) |
| RAM installed | 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4 2666 MHz, 2 slots |
| Graphic card | NVIDIA Turing GeForce GTX 1660 Ti 6 GB GDDR6 dedicated, Intel UHD 630 and NVIDIA Optimus |
| Storage | 512 GB M.2 NVMe PCIe SSD + 1 free M.2 port |
| Connectors | 2 USB 3.1 (Gen2) + 2 USB 3.1 Type-C (Gen2), HDMI |
| Network | Wi-Fi ac, Bluetooth 5.0, Gigabit Ethernet (RJ45) |
| Backlit Keyboard | Yes |
| Numeric keypad | – |
| Windows Hello | – |
| Audio system | 2 speakers (2 x 2W) Nahimic 3 Audio Boost |
| Operating system | Windows 10 64 bit |
| Autonomy announced / Battery | 7 hours / Li-Polymer 3 cells 51Whr |
| Dimensions (mm) / Weight | 359 x 254 x 21.7 / 1.86 Kg |
Chassis, connectors, screen of the MSI GF65 9SD-018FR
Visually, the MSI GF65 9SD-018FR takes up in all points the design of the MSI GF63, its predecessor. Indeed, he chose a minimalist design with smooth and flat surfaces, especially on the back of the cover covered with an aluminum plate with brushed effect. The plastic interior, on the contrary, is drawn with slight angles and inclinations for a slightly more elegant result. The finishes are neat and the design remains sober enough for who wants to take the PC into a professional environment.
Good point, the MSI GF65 9SD-018FR benefits from a small format ( 1.8 kg for 21 mm thick), positioning it as the most compact in its class with equivalent value and configuration. The keyboard is backlit in red over an area and on three intensity levels to enhance the gamer’s identity, but that does not really help visibility in a dark room.
Next, let’s talk about the screen that appeals at first glance. And for good reason, highlighted by a thin frame, it sports specifications welcome for players: IPS panel with a refresh rate of 120 Hz . We are not at the level of a 144 Hz screen (or 240 Hz) but the gain in liveliness in the actions on the screen is already visible compared to a standard slab of 60 Hz. Especially since the angles of vision are excellent thanks to the IPS panel which, it should be emphasized, is generally not noticed for its liveliness. The Full HD (1920 x 1080 px) is the most suitable for players and allows you to make the most of your High Definition content while the mat treatment prevents ambient light from being reflected on the screen, improving playing comfort (especially in dark scenes).
Next, let’s take a look at the connectors, which curiously doesn’t include an SD card reader. The essentials are gathered on the right side of the PC and on the left for the HDMI output and consists of two USB 3.1 Gen2 ports, two USB Type-C Gen2 ports, a Gigabit Ethernet port, a combined socket headset / microphone and a power outlet. The wireless modules are entrusted to Wifi AC and the latest generation Bluetooth 5.0.
Performance, autonomy of the MSI GF65 9SD-018FR
Gifted for gaming, the Turing GeForce GTX 1660 Ti graphics card places the PC on a high-end level. If the latter only supports Ray-Tracing in small proportions unlike its big sister RTX 2060, the GTX 1660 Ti follows the latter in most performance question scenarios. In fact, it is particularly capable of competing with intensive players and ensuring optimal frequencies in 1080p High on all AAA games with a total of FPS that exceeds 60. The support for creatives is also precious with its 6 Go VRAM GDDR6 .
Next comes the very heart of this PC and its 9th generation processor Hexa Core i7-9750H Coffee Lake Refresh . The gain compared to the previous generation is not necessarily significant performance issue but it still allows to glimpse large resources in multicore tasks, in the service of versatility. Indeed, its 6 cores (12 logic in multi-threading) are precious when you work on greedy applications such as 3D modeling, parallelization, video editing … Especially since the RAM is present in quantity. With 16 GB of RAM , you have scope in multitasking and what to see coming the next years serenely.
Storage is another strength in this MSI GF65 9SD-018FR since it is entrusted to an NVMe PCIe 512 GB SSD which will significantly strengthen the overall reactivity of the system on a daily basis. Overall quieter, more robust and energy efficient than a mechanical disk, it allows Windows to reach a remarkable level of fluidity with short loading times and execution without latencies. What is more, its capacity is not ridiculous and can accommodate a good part of your toy library even if some will not find it sufficient.
MSI has improved the cooling solution to include more heat pipes and an additional fan compared to the GF63. It is therefore based on Cooler Boost 5 technology which will automatically adjust the speed of the 2 integrated fans and the 7 heat pipes via 4 air outlets. Note that if this serves performance, the noise is noticeable in game and never really silent in more basic use.
A word to finish on the fairly good capacity battery (51 Whr). This should allow an autonomy of about 5 hours in Internet browsing via Wifi. It’s about average.
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