Before this yr, Intel and Nvidia released new products designed for high-performance mobile devices. On the processor side, Intel launched the H-series quad-core Kaby Lake CPUs, which feature increased clock speeds compared to the Skylake modes they replace. On the graphics front, Nvidia's new GTX 1050 and GTX 1050 Ti bring mainstream GPU performance to more value-oriented gaming notebooks and larger ultraportables.

To examination this new hardware in an actual device, I reached out to MSI, who kindly provided me with the GE62 7RD Apache. This is an entry-level gaming notebook powered past Intel'south new Cadre i7-7700HQ processor and a GeForce GTX 1050. It'due south not the almost beastly laptop going around, merely information technology provides budget-conscious buyers with a wallet-friendly option that's capable of playing today's games, albeit at reduced quality settings.

I'll be talking more about the hardware in this laptop later, merely first it's worth checking out the laptop's design and features. At 29mm thick and 2.4kg heavy (v.3 lbs), the GE62 Apache is not a laptop meant to be carried around on the day to day. Instead this 15.6-inch system is destined to spend about of its time tethered to a desk, and that's not at all surprising: portability is a bonus feature not a requirement of gaming laptops, then a upkeep auto similar this was never going to strive for slenderness. Sure, it's not an outrageously large device, but I wouldn't want to carry this car effectually frequently.

The GE62's design and build is typical of modernistic MSI laptops. There's brushed black metallic on the chapeau and around the keyboard, with cheap plastic used elsewhere. Subtle angles are used around the base and lid to remind you this is a gaming laptop, while the edges are more aggressively angled so this system doesn't look as chunky as its dimensions suggest. A couple of red highlights, including MSI's gaming shield logo on the lid, add a small amount of interest to an otherwise stealthy design.

I appreciate that MSI'southward modern gaming laptops aren't equally overtly gamer, which helps make some of their builds – especially the slim and low-cal Stealth series – look quite attractive. Unfortunately, you don't tend to get the most attractive designs in budget-oriented products, and the GE62 is no exception. It'southward simply too bulky to be anything more a basic 15.6-inch gaming laptop.

But hey, if it'southward cheap and y'all're getting decent hardware that tin can run modern games, the looks aren't too of import.

The collection of ports on the GE62 Apache is exactly what you'd want from a budget gaming laptop. On the left is Ethernet, ii USB iii.0 Type-A ports, a single USB 3.1 gen 2 Type-C port (without Thunderbolt 3 support), a HDMI 1.4 port, mini-DisplayPort, and two 3.5mm sound jacks. There'southward likewise a proprietary ability connector, an SD menu slot, and a USB 2.0 port on the right side.

MSI has as well included a DVD drive in the GE62. Yep, in 2017 plain you can withal purchase laptops with DVD drives. I don't expect the drive will go used all that ofttimes, and I would have preferred if the infinite occupied by the bulldoze was used for extra hardware or a larger battery.

The cooling solution inside this laptop is basic, and that'southward not surprising considering the CPU and GPU are but 45 and 75 watts respectively. Air is drawn in from vents on the bottom, passed through small fans – i each for the CPU and GPU – and exhausted out of small vents forth the rear edge.

The xv.six-inch LCD comes in two resolution options: 1080p and 4K. My review unit came with the bones 1080p panel, and I recollect this is the best option for most people. Although the 4K display would produce sharper imagery, 1080p should provides plenty desktop resolution for most while the GTX 1050 is meliorate suited for 1080p gaming by far.

MSI claims this is an "IPS-level" display, but in reality the display is very poor and doesn't exhibit whatever IPS-similar qualities. Viewing angles are bad, maximum effulgence is an extremely poor 216 nits, and contrast is an abysmal 330:one due to terrible blackness levels. While MSI'southward Truthful Colour app does switch to 'sRGB' by default, accuracy isn't keen either.

The 1080p brandish is limited to a refresh rate of but 60 Hz. I didn't expect annihilation better from a budget gaming laptop, but these days gamers are starting to await college refresh rates at this resolution.

The keyboard included with the GE62 Apache is the aforementioned SteelSeries unit constitute on almost of MSI'south gaming laptops. This keyboard is well suited to both gaming and typing, cheers to clicky tactile feedback and decent travel distance. The keyboard'southward layout is first-class, and although the island-mode keys themselves aren't particularly big, I had no trouble typing at my normal speed on this laptop. I also appreciate the full-sized enter, backspace keys and arrow keys, forth with the handy numpad.

For those who enjoy RGB LEDs, the keyboard is backlit with iii adjustable RGB lighting zones. You lot can't command the color of individual keys like you tin can on Razer notebooks, just you practise get some absurd lighting effects and modes.

MSI has finally moved abroad from an ELAN trackpad with the GE62, instead opting for hardware from Synaptics. This results in a far more responsive and accurate tracking experience, and while gesture back up isn't as expert as I've seen from other laptops, it's a far cry from the garbage trackpad feel in previous MSI laptops.

Unfortunately, the trackpad isn't perfect. MSI has decided to give it a brushed metal finish, which feels weird to impact and swipe across during use. I'd prefer just a basic, apartment trackpad here, although I doubtable people will mostly be using external mice for gaming.