Over the last several years, laptops have evolved to the point that they are made to serve as a desktop replacement, and then some. Depending on the use case scenario, one could be looking for a laptop that adequately serves as a gaming machine, or a machine powerful enough for professionals, be it designers or content creators, to use and whip up an idea that just popped into their heads.
Another criterion for laptops today is portability: while they can serve as desktop replacements, there are those that still value these powerhouses for their portability. Ultimately, however, the suitability of a laptop really boils down to what exactly a user wants.
In this article, we’ll be listing down some pointers for consumers to look out for when it comes to the ideal laptop for them.
Current Gen Or Last Gen?
Firstly, the laptops we’ll be looking at here will be of the Intel variants. More to the point, we’ll be looking at the chipmaker’s latest 12th generation Alder Lake mobile, as well as its previous 11th generation Tiger Lake mobile lineup of processors.
If you’re one of those individuals that want nothing but the latest and the fastest, you will want to put your money on Intel’s 12th generation Alder Lake CPUs. With its top of the line SKU sports as many as 14-cores and 20-threads, these CPUs have a maximum boost clock of 5GHz and even support the latest PCIe Gen5 interface.
With MSI, the company’s GE76 Raider and GS66 Stealth are two such laptops that have been refreshed with Intel’s latest 12th generation Alder Lake CPUs.
Of course, if you’re not fussed about having the “latest and greatest” in terms of hardware: have no fear, Intel’s 11th Gen Tiger Lake is here and still a very, very workable option. While obviously not as up-to-date, it is nevertheless an all-around workhorse, be it for gaming or productivity.
As for which laptops still rock Intel’s 11th Gen CPUs, that will be the GP66 Leopard and GF66 Katana.
Generation On Generation Performance Boost
For those among you convinced about purchasing an Intel laptop and more specifically, a 12th Gen Alder Lake Mobile laptop, but are unsure what sort of benefits and gains such a machine has over another powered by Intel’s last-generation, but still just as potent, 11th Gen Tiger Lake CPUs, allow us to explain.
Besides the usual accoutrement of features that come with Alder Lake – access to DDR5 RAM and PCIe 5.0 interface, among other things – Intel has promised up to 28% improvement in most of today’s gaming titles, with some titles pulling ahead from others.
For content creators and professionals, the choice of a 12th Gen Alder Lake Mobile over an 11th Gen Tiger Lake laptop could mean a difference of up to 44% while working on Adobe Creative Cloud or up to 14% faster processing on Autodesk.
Powerful CPU, Equally Powerful GPU
Complementing the latest Alder Lake mobile processors is, naturally, NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 30 Series for mobile. Powered by its Ampere architecture, both the chassis’ of the GE76 and GS66 can play host to the RTX 3080 Ti Mobile discrete GPU: the king of the hill for NVIDIA’s laptop graphics series.
As for the GP66 and GF66, you’re looking at an RTX 3070 as the top-tier option for both. It’s a fair compromise, considering that both models cater for individuals that still want that balance of power, weight, and portability.
A Boost In The Cooling Department
You know the saying: with high performance comes the need for an even high-performance cooling solution. With the GE76 and GS66, that solution comes in the form of MSI’s proprietary Cooler Boost technology. With the GE76, you’re looking at a 2-fan, 6-pipes Cooler Boost 5 setup.
Of course, that Cooler Boost 5 is the very same cooling technology that you will find within the GP66 and GF66 too, so you’re also guaranteed some relatively manageable heat efficiency.
Meanwhile, in an effort to keep it thin and portable, MSI fitted the GS66 with its Cooler Boost Trinity+ solution: featuring a triple-fan design with all fans sporting 0.1mm thin fan blades, along with seven cooling pipes, you’re guaranteed a less heaty experience, even with the most demanding programs and games.
Smoothness In Motion
Are you the kind of person that favours high refresh rates over higher display resolutions and sizes? Are you a pixel peeper that wishes to savour every little detail of whatever you’re viewing at its absolute best? Or, perhaps, are you the kind that favours both?
Whether it’s the ultra-portable GF66 with its Full HD panel with a 144Hz refresh rate or the thin and light powerhouse GS66 laptop with display options ranging from FHD 360Hz up to a standard 4K60Hz panel, MSI clearly has all your needs and desires under the radar.
Enter the Gameverse
So, if all that we’ve mentioned have you sold on what MSI has on tap, you may be happy to know that the brand is currently hosting a Gameverse promotion, as part of its campaign to tell the world about its…well, own take on the Metaverse, which is also named Gameverse.
Starting from 4 April and until 15 May 2022, gamers can purchase any of their favourite GE, GS, GP, and GF series laptops at special promotional prices, based on their budget. Additionally, fans who purchase either laptops will also be treated to a Fitbit Inspire 2 fitness tracker worth RM498, while stocks last.
This article is brought to you by MSI.
