MSI, a company known for its computers and components, has just announced two lightweight laptops aimed at gamers. The two models, called the GS70 Stealth and GS60 Ghost, feature high-end components to run modern games. Of course, a desktop will always be the best solution for PC gaming, but for gamers who need portability, these look like they should do the job ... albeit with a premium price tag.
The company claims that the GS70 Stealth is the thinnest and lightest notebook aimed at gamers. It features a depth of 0.78 inches (2 cm), which is definitely very thin for a laptop featuring performance components.
The GS70 utilizes a NVIDIA GeForce GTX 870M GPU with 3GB of dedicated graphics memory. According to NVIDIA, this card has more than enough power to handle the latest games at high settings while maintaining a frame rate of 30fps or better. For a laptop GPU, it's definitely a powerhouse. It also comes with 16GB DDR3L RAM, which is fairly standard for most gaming PCs. Processing is handled by an Intel Core i7-4700HQ. For internal storage, a 128GB SSD and 1TB HDD is included.
The 17.3-inch screen features a 1920 x 1080 resolution with an anti-reflective coating. While some PC games can run at resolutions beyond 1080p, it's not standard to see such screens in a laptop, and a mobile GPU pushing those resolutions while maintaining high texture quality and framerate is nearly impossible.
The other model, the GS60 Ghost, comes in two configurations. Both feature the same 15.6-inch 1080p display, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 860M GPU with 2GB of graphics memory, Intel Core i7-4700HQ processor, and a 128GB SSD. The differences come in the RAM and HDD, with the cheaper 007 configuration featuring 12 GB of RAM and a 750GB hard drive. The more expensive 003 jumps up to 16GB of RAM and a 1TB HDD.
A notable feature offered by all models is the SteelSeries full-color backlit keyboard. SteelSeries is a brand known for its high-performance gaming peripherals and solid reputation within the pro gaming scene, so having it lend its design to these MSI laptops could be a selling point for gamers who will be using the built-in offering. The keyboard features a ton of customization, with gamers being able to change the color of lights down to individual keys.
Both laptops also feature a built-in 720p webcam, HDMI outputs for hooking up an additional display, dual fan cooling, and three USB 3.0 ports.
All in all, these look to be very solid offerings for gamers who need to keep their PC portable for one reason or another. They do come with high price tags, with the GS60 Ghost starting at US$1,699, then jumping to $1,799 for the 003 configuration and going up to 1,900 for the 17-inch GS70 Stealth. All models will be available in April.
Source: MSI