OUR VERDICT
- Overall performance
- Good color gamut display
- Pretty sturdy build
- Good tactile feedback keyboard
- Smooth, responsive, and accurate touchpad
- Keyboard has individual key backlighting
- Better thermal management governed by 3 fans
- Display has no G-Sync available
- Silent fans
- Thunderbolt port
- RAM expansion is possible
- Faster SSD storage
- No flex during normal use
- Very impressive microphone
- 180-degree hinge
- Bit more fingerprints magnet
- Not incredibly bright display
- Disappointing camera quality
- WHAT IT CAN DO
- Web Programming
- Android Programming
- Desktop Programming
- PC-Game development
- Graphics & Video Editing
- Small-scale Deep Learning
- Run high-end PC games
- WHAT IT CAN’T DO
- iOS/Mac Programming
- Medium to high-level of machine learning
Hello, Guys! Today, In this article, I'm going to review the MSI GS65 Stealth-004 gaming laptop. Here, we will go with technical specs followed by a detailed description of each. The review unit that I have received from New Delhi on rent for 14 days was a brand-new.
MSI GS65 Stealth-004 is one of the most popular gaming laptops and able to get the 3rd position in our article on the best gaming laptops to buy in India. GS65 won't fulfill your gaming needs only, It will also do Small-scale Machine Learning, Graphics and Video editing, and many more for you just like Razer Blade Pro 17 and Lenovo Legion 7i.
So, let's dig into it and find out what's inside there, what it can do and cannot, and good and bad about it. Furthermore, here is an article that explains the laptop specs in easy to understand language.
Technical Specs of MSI GS65 Stealth-004
- CPU: 4.1GHz 8th Gen Intel Core i7-8750H Processor | 6 Core.
- GPU: Dedicated NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q 8GB GDDR6.
- RAM: 2666MHz 16GB DDR4 SDRAM | Expandable up to 32GB.
- Storage: 256GB PCIe NVMe SSD.
- Display: 15.6-inch FHD Display | IPS technology | 144Hz refresh rate.
- Battery: 82Wh 4 Cell Li-ion battery | Lasts up to 1 hour and 38 minutes on Gaming. (Though the game was playable for an hour only.)
- Weight: 4.08 Pounds (1.85 kg)
- Product dimension: 35.7 x 24.7 x 1.79 cms
- Ports: Jump to the port section
The Build Quality and Material
The MSI GS65 Stealth-004 has an all-metal aluminum build with a black matte finish. The edges are little rounded and there are no sharp corners. Overall, the build feels pretty sturdy and solid despite some flex on the keyboard side. So, pretty premium builds quality like Pro 17 Razer Blade and Lenovo Legion 7i.
I have used it for 12 days heavily for gaming, video editing, and small-scale machine learning.
I have measured the weight using Propert meter and found the laptop just 4.08lb (1.85kg) heavy. With charging cables, the total weight has raised to 5.29lb (2.40kg).
The dimensions of this laptop measured are 14.05 x 9.72 x 0.7 inches (35.7 x 24.7 x 1.79 cms). It's just 0.7-inch thick and fills in just 14-inch chassis - shorter than Razer Blade Pro 17. This GS65 is notably thinner than both Legion 7i and Razer Blade Pro 17 gaming laptops. And, it is much slimmer than Dell Alienware machines.
Moreover, similar to Razer Blade Pro 17, the MSI GS65 has no RGB backlit except for the keyboard. If you really want a gaming laptop with RGB backlighting then go for Lenovo Legion 7i.
There is also a gold color frame on the edges of a lid, on the edge of the touchpad, and hinges. In addition to that, the MSI logo on the lid is of golden color instead of the traditional red and black color.
Display Quality and Color Accuracy
Size and Quality
The 15.6-inch 1080p display is pretty awesome and surrounded by just 4.9mm thin bezels with an 82% screen to body ratio. Its response time is on average 7ms. It has no G-Sync available but you won't miss it in this 144Hz display. Overall, my tests on Razer Blade Pro 17 and this one has revealed that G-Sync is important for screens with less refresh rate like 60Hz. However, Legion 7i's display is better than MSI's and also has G-Sync despite a 144Hz refresh rate.
It has also good viewing angles, thanks to its IPS panel. I have also checked the screen color gamut using Spyder 5 Pro. See, below how Stealth's screen has performed.
Color Accuracy
The color gamut tests done using Spyder 5 Pro have returned the results shown in the following image.
So, the results looking pretty good as per the just above image but not good when compared to Legion 7i. Furthermore, Gamers need a brighter display. So, the higher the Nits, the higher the bright display. So, I have measured the screen nits at 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% brightness. The results of this test are shown in the below chart.
So, At 100% of screen brightness, I have measured just 281 Nits which is near to the below an average. It's found less bright than Legion 7i and Razer Blade Pro 17. But, screen color gamut results make it a useful machine for content creation in addition to gaming.
Is there any screen flex?
While intentionally moving the display, I found little flex there. But, despite the screen flex, the screen found pretty solid enough, thanks to the metal build. Overall, I found no issue during normal use.
The hinges are found at back corners like Lenovo Legion 7i gaming laptop. It doesn't run along the most of the base like the Razer laptop, but it doesn't matter. Also, the hinges turn the laptop display right back to 180-degree like Lenovo Legion 7i. In Razer Blade, you gonna miss it.
In addition to hinges placement, the laptop can be opened up using just one finger which demonstrates the fairly evenly distributed weight. And last, the laptop's lags aren't much grippy. So, you can move the machine effortlessly using your fingers.
Keyboard – Tactile, Flex, Build, and RGB Backlit?
Keyboard Flex and Build Quality
There is some keyboard flex when pushed it fairly hard down. And, unlike Legion 7i and Blade Pro 17, the flex was extended down to the Palm rest area. But, the overall build feels quite sturdy and solid enough. I have not faced a single issue during normal typing.
Individual Key RGB Backlit
The keyboard is an RGB backlit keyboard. The keys have individual backlights instead of zonal backlighting. And, you can control the RGB effects using the software that comes with the machine.
The keyboard is placed in the center of the base. And, it's a stealth series-3 keyboard. It looks pretty nice like Razer Blade and Legion 7i keyboard.
Tactile Feedback
Typing on the keyboard is pretty awesome. The keys have good tactile feedback to give due to the decent amount of travel distance. Despite the tactile feedback, I have found the keys a bit more clicky. I don't how to explain it but it doesn't mushy. The typing sound is also great like the Legion 7i laptop, It's even better than the Macbook Pro 16-inch.
Touchpad – Precision, Smooth, and Accurate?
The touchpad of the MSI GS65 Stealth laptop was found smooth and responsive. It isn't using Windows precision drivers unlike Legion 7i and Razer Blade's touchpad, But I found it handled the gestures accurately. It uses the Synaptic drivers to track the movement.
It's 4.1 x 2.7 inches (10.41 x 6.86 cms) big but smaller when compared to the Razer Blade's touchpad (5 x 3 inches). So, overall good but I do recommend buying an external dedicated gaming mouse because touchpad won't help you while escaping from enemies.
Fingerprints
Fingerprints show up extremely and fairly easy on the matte finish of this laptop like Razer Blade Pro 17. However, despite the same finish, the Lenovo Legion 7i proven to be fingerprints resistance. Coming back to GS65 Stealth, the fingerprints are obvious on the matte finish and easy to wipe off using a microfiber cloth. So, not to worry much.
Processor and Graphics Chip
The MSI GS65 Stealth-004 laptop is powered by an Intel Core i7-8750H processor with NVIDIA RTX 2070 Max-Q 6GB GDDR6 graphics chip. With 16GB of RAM and 256GB of very fast SSD storage, you gonna experience a pretty smooth, awesome, and optimized performance. The CPU is coming with a 6 core. I have tested the CPU score for single and multi-core using the Cinebench R20 and the results are shown in the below figure.
Here, as shown in the above image, undervolting the CPU hasn't shown any change for the single-core score but the multi-core score has jumped 1182 from 1017. However, I haven't tested it for a cooling pad. Next, I have measured the average CPU cores speed for different modes and the test results are in the following image.
My test results for CPU clock speed in different modes say that undervolting the CPU in this laptop reflects quite a big improvement in CPU clock speed. In my test of CPU+GPU full load with max fans with undervolted CPU, the average clock speed jumped to 3712 from 3248 MHz which was I got in a test conducted without undervolting the CPU.
Similarly, another same test was carried out for 5 times in CPU+GPU full load and stock fans with undervolted CPU and without undervolted CPU. In that test, as shown in the just above image, the score has raised to 3581 from 3087. That shows that undervolting has improved the performance of the CPU considerably. During The Witcher 3, I was able to achieve the highest 3781MHz clock speed.
Also, when I have reviewed the Razer Blade Pro 17 and Lenovo Legion 7i, I found undervolting has impacted considerably in a positive way.
The following are the different modes I have preferred to test the laptop's CPU.
- Full CPU+GPU load - Max Fans - UV
- Full CPU+GPU load - Max Fans
- Full CPU+GPU load - Stock Fans - UV
- Full CPU+GPU load - Stock Fans
- Gaming - The Witcher 3
In addition to that tests for CPU and GPU benchmarks, I have also measured the gaming capabilities by measuring the Gaming FPS achieved during the gameplay. I have played the following games for exactly half an hour in possible maximum settings and recorded the average of frames per second.
- Watch Dogs 2
- Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege
- Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon
- The Witcher 3
- Rise of the Tomb Raider
- PUBG
- Overwatch
- Fortnite
- Far Cry 5
- Dota 2
- CS:GO
See the gaming FPS data I have obtained in the following image.
Video Editing Performance
As shown in the above image, MSI GS65 has exported the 16 minutes and 13 seconds long video in YouTube 4K H.264 preset within 592 seconds on average. I have conducted 5 tests to measure the time.
In addition to the video export time tests, I have also tested the smoothness and responsiveness of this gaming laptop while it was exporting the video in 4K. Usually, the video export process consumes nearly 99% of the CPU and GPU and leaves no space for other processes to execute which in turn results in lag. But, this laptop was found pretty responsive.
I have tested the touchpad using heavy gesture activities and it has responded to and handled the gesture very well and accurately. Although, I was missing the precision drivers on this laptop unlike Lenovo Legion 7i and Razer Blade Pro 17 gaming laptops.
So, overall, I have a very positive review of video editing performance for this laptop. However, the time exported by this laptop is higher than the Razer Blade Pro (585 seconds), Quite higher than Dell Alienware m15 R2 (951 seconds), but lesser than Legion 7i (597 seconds). Although, MacBook Pro is the best laptop for video editing laptops due to quite a smooth performance and a Final Cut Pro video editing software that is optimized for Mac OS.
Thermal and fans Performance – Throttling, Rise in Keyboard Temperature, and more
Thermal Performance
As shown in the above figure, At idle both CPU and GPU were at a normal temperature of 42 and 40 degrees C. In the stress test at stock fans, the temperature of CPU and GPU has raised to 90 and 84 degrees C. And, in the stress tests with max fans, only GPU has shown the reduction in temperature to 79 degrees C. During the same tests, the CPU temperature was maintained to 90 C shows no relation.
In addition to the stress tests, I have also played The Witcher 3 and recorded the CPU and GPU temperatures. Both were found 90 and 84 degrees C respectively. So, not different. My tests for thermal performance revealed that Legion 7i and Razer Blade Pro 17 are better than MSI GS65 in temperature reduction. Despite 3 fans, this laptop was found incapable to handle the thermal throttling. In Blade Pro 17, I found 4 fans to provide the best heat management.
The rise in the Temperature of Keyboard and Palm Rest
Not only the CPU and GPU but also the keyboard and palm rest temperature was tested for different modes on this laptop. After all, Keyboard and palm rest are the places where you gonna feel the heat and will be always in touch with it. So, they must be at nearly low temperatures otherwise it will be a big problem during typing. See the results in the following images.
At idle, the right part of the keyboard to the edge of the laptop reached nearly 28 degrees C temperature. The middle part was also found there. But, the palm rest was cool and a touchpad found pretty normal. So, heating isn't an issue in normal use.
Let's check it for gaming at maximum settings. I have played the Witcher 3 and recorded the temperature rise shown in the following image.
During gaming with max settings, the temperature rise must be taken into account. The keyboard especially at the middle to the backside edge has reached 43 degrees C and the sides were at normal 30 degrees C. Thanks to the fans, the palm rest was completely cool. And, the areas very close to the air exhausts found very hot even more than the keyboard's middle. So, a pretty effective cooling solution I have found on the GS65 Stealth gaming laptop. Next, let's check the heat rise in CPU+GPU full load with max fans.
At Full CPU+GPU load with max fans, the results of temperature rise tests were found similar to Gaming. I haven't detected any major changes.
At Full CPU+GPU load with default fans, the middle of the keyboard was getting hotter even crossed 43 degrees C temperature, and the side parts of it were touched 35 degrees C almost. But, the palm rest was found cool.
Fans Noise
I have opened up the bottom panel to show you the fans, its size, and placement inside the laptop. As you can see in the just above image that there are 3 fans with 1 slightly smaller looking. So, I have tested the fans' noise by measuring it with Digitech's sound level meter in different modes.
At idle, the fans were completely silent. I couldn't hear anything. Pretty similar results to Razer Blade Pro 17 gaming laptop.
During gaming, the fans were heard but not loud. In comparison with Legion 7i and Blade Pro 17, the MSI GS65's fans found louder. The sound level measured by meter was 50.8dB as you can see in the just above image. Also, note that the sound produced was too small that was hardly distracted me in the conference room while sitting alone.
At full CPU+GPU load with default fans, the fans were audible but not too loud. But, that has resulted in a negative impact on the cooling solution. And, led to more thermal throttling than average gaming laptops I have tested.
At full CPU+GPU load with max fans, the fans were a little louder than average. The sound level measured was almost 58dB which is higher than Razer Blade (54.8dB) and Legion 7i (52.4dB). The fans seemed quite louder but resulted in a pretty good cooling solution.
Air Intake Vents
Above the keyboard, you will find many holes. Those holes are not for speakers but for air intake. The large belt of the air intake holes contributes to a better cooling solution. In the middle of the belt, you will find the stylish power button. The placement of the power button is as same as Lenovo Legion 7i. Razer Blade Pro 17 has a power button placed on the speaker's holes. In addition to the sides, there is also a quite wide belt of a huge amount of air intake vents. See it in the below figure.
Air Exhausts
Air exhausts in this MSI GS65 are placed at the back, left, and right side corners. The air exhausts look smaller in size when compared to Dell Alienware m15 R2'.
Speakers, Microphone, and Camera
Speakers
The 2 speakers are found underneath the laptop at the front corners. They sound good and pretty large as the laptop speakers should be. Although, there is a little bass at maximum volume and also the speakers sound a little tiny but found getting the job done. Overall, not disappointing, not incredible, just above average.
Camera and Microphone
Despite very thin bezels, MSI somehow managed to put the 720p camera and a microphone on it with a camera LED indicator and no support for Windows Hello here. The camera isn't good as it shows a more noisy picture. But, the microphone was found to be decent good. It has captured a clear voice with little to no noise. When the camera was compared to Legion 7i, Blade Pro 17, and Dell Alienware m15 R2, MSI lost to all of them. But, in terms of microphone quality, it has won the battle against two giants.
Ports in MSI GS65 Stealth-004
On the left side of the laptop, from left to right corner, there is
- 1 Kensington lock,
- An air exhausts,
- A Gigabit Ethernet,
- 2 USB 3.1 Type-A port,
- 2 3.5mm audio/mic jack
On the right of the laptop, from left to right corner, there is
- 1 USB 3.1 Type-A port,
- 1 USB Type-C port with thunderbolt-3 support,
- 1 miniDisplay port,
- 1 HDMI 2.0,
- 1 Power input, and
- 2 air exhausts
Furthermore, there is nothing on the front except some of the status LEDs towards the right. And, on the back, there are two other air exhausts.
Battery Life
The 82Wh battery hasn't lasted long during my tests of YouTube watching and gaming. I have tested it for gaming at 50% of screen brightness and NVIDIA battery boost enabled at 30 FPS. So, during that test, The battery lasted for 1 hour and 38 minutes. However, the game was playable until 1 hour only. Despite 30 FPS preset, The Witcher 3 has run on 24 FPS. And, after one hour the FPS was dropped to just 10 FPS - Pretty awkward.
While watching YouTube videos with a normal integrated Intel GPU due to NVIDIA Optimus, the battery has lasted for 4 hours roughly. So, the battery drain for normal tasks in this gaming laptop is more than average compared to the other laptops I have tested.
It looks like the battery isn't capable enough to supply sufficient power during gaming. It's better if you play games when the machine is plugged-in. Perhaps, this is the only way for better performance. However, gaming with a plugged-in machine led to one major loss. The loss is in battery life.
Keeping the MSI GS65 plugged-in during gaming and repeating this activity for months may lead to complete failure in the battery. And, you might need a battery. So, I recommend going for either Lenovo Legion 7i or Razer Blade Pro 17. Both are powerful decent gaming laptops. Dell Alienware m15 R2 has the worst battery life (43 minutes during The Witcher 3 gameplay) compared to other laptops I have tested.
Storage
This MSI GS65 gaming laptop is coming with a 256GB of a solid-state drive. The storage is much faster with less possible battery consumption. I have tested the SSD speed using CrystalDiskMark and recorded the results. Note that the SSD storage I have tested was partitioned. So, only the partition's speed was recorded, not of full storage.
Gaming Performance (FPS Data)
So, that's all for MSI GS65 Stealth-004 gaming laptop. I have also reviewed other gaming laptops as shown following.
- Dell Alienware m15 R2 Gaming Laptop Review
- Lenovo Legion 7i Gaming Laptop Review
- Razer Blade Pro 17 Gaming Laptop Review
- Dell G3 3500 Review
- Acer Nitro 5 AN515 Review
