The Official MSI GT70-2OD Owner's Lounge

Some months ago I updated to Win8.1 from 8.0, but it completely screwed up my wifi. All drivers and devices etc showed as being installed and configured just fine, but my wifi would drop out constantly. Signal strength would show as fine, but websites etc would not load. I remember trying endless combinations of the wifi drivers, both with and without the killer config software, but nothing worked. In the end I factory reset my machine back to 8.0, which is where it still is today.

I'm now starting to get more frequent reminders to update again to 8.1, but I'm super nervous to do so after my last horrible experience. Can anyone share any advice on this topic. Was my experience a known issue? Is it fixed now? Do I need to make sure to use a specific combination of drivers and/or killer config SW?

Currently my Killer Wireless-N 1202 adapter is using driver version 10.0.1.247. I have none of the additional config SW installed. Everything is running just perfectly.

Or should I just ignore the nagging to update to 8.1 completely?

 

You will need to update BIOS, EC, and drivers to the newest version before doing the Win8.1 upgrade.
The latest wireless driver is 10.0.1.268 therefore make sure you do the updates now.

 

Cheers for the info!

Hmm, thats what I was sort of afraid of. BIOS and EC updates I have no experience of since my desktop PC days (which was a while ago). Can you give any advice / links on this topic? I really really don't want to end up with a 1600 euro brick!

As for updating drivers, I presume you are just referring to updating wireless drivers to 10.1.268, or anything else? (do you also by any chance have links etc?)

 

You should read though the readme and follow which BIOS you need (listed by shipping OS not by the OS you intend to put on) MSI.com have their own forums on it too.

 

BIOS can be updated using the IN-BIOS updater with the BIOS ROM file stored on an USB flash drive.
For EC firmware, you can do it within Windows by double-clicking on Autoflash.
They don't brick easily as long as you let the flash process complete, your system is stable without running lots of applications, and you have the AC plugged in.
The wireless driver is located here in the package.
https://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?topic=174228.0

 

Hello,
Has anyone been able to get better than 60Hz on an external monitor? Are all the outputs hardwired to the Intel card?

 

HDMI is limited to 30 or 60Hz. DisplayPort can do higher.
All of the outputs are linked to Nvidia GPU directly, thus bypassing Optimus.

 

I think VGA is linked to the Intel HD iGPU. Display port and HDMI are linked to nvidia GPU.

 

Yup, VGA is Intel, but not many would want to use Intel for high Hz applications.

 

Thanks everyone. So, to use a device with HDMI input at 75Hz, I'll need a Display Port to HDMI adapter? Yes, this is for the Oculus Rift DK2.

 

The HDMI and displayport can go above 60hz with custom resolutions.

EG you can run a 75hz 1080p output on the HDMI like I do on my system.

 

Make sure you get the one that can output dual-link instead of single-link in order to have sufficient bandwidth.

 

since my laptop originally came with win7 and I dual booted win 8 on it, do I have to do anything with bios? and I have intel wireless card so im not sure if I would have those problems after upgrading to 8.1 for my secondary os

 

Since these machines were made with windows 8 in mind, I doubt you have anything in particular to update.

 

Just make sure you have the latest bios on it.

 

So I wouldn't need to use the DP port and adapter to go to 75Hz on HDMI?

 

So long as the display was capable of it at 1080p you can get 75hz.

 

No, HDMI 1.4 is capable of that refresh rate at full HD.

 

Yes though thanks to MSI putting that on a dedicated link to the dGPU you can run your monitor at that even if it does not officially support it (and in some cases even if it does). This is something the IGP entirely blocks. So thanks to good design you are all ready to go

 

I'm going to buy these copper heatsinks to improve a bit more the cooling system

8 PCS Copper VGA RAM Cooling Heatsinks Cooler + Cosmos Cable Tie | eBay

Akust Copper Memory Chip Heatsink - 13mm x 12mm x 5mm - 4 Pack (RS00-0602-AKS) - FrozenCPU.com

Which are better?

 

Neither they don't help. This was after testing many arrangements.

 

Then I'll buy better thermal pads...

Are you sure that there's no improvements with more coopers plus better thermal pads?

 

Meaker knows his stuff and other users have tested with copper blocks and found little to no improvement. Thermal pads and paste do help compared to stock, and even a cooling pad helps a little haha.

 

Thanks a lot for your help guys.

I'm from Europe (Spain) and here it's hard to find these things so I'm going to import it from US, which thermal pads are the most recommended?

 

You are welcome!

I bought mine from FrozenCPU, 0.5mm thermal pads.

 

Any reasonable 0.5mm pads will do, it's more about the core getting great contact than the vrms getting better cooling (that's just a nice side effect).

 

I have a GT70 0ND-664ZA for 16 months now. I've replaced one of the HDD's with an SSD, and fitted a 16Gb memory kit.

As of late, I've started noticing my battery life degrading. Running Windows 8.1, I'd normally get a "10% battery left", followed by a "7% left (plug in your PC now)" message, but not anymore. If battery life gets below a certain point, it would just turn off. I've also noticed the battery LED flashing blue constantly. Windows reports that the laptop is Plugged in, 79% available ( not charging). Anyone seen this?

 

Battery has worn out of its 500 life cycles, and it's time to replace it.
Warranty is 1-year so it's gone.

 

Awesome... thank you very much.

Well, not awesome, but at least I know now.

 

You are welcome, feel free to ask anything if you still have any. :thumbsup:

 

Has someone worked on a way around getting the new SteelSeries Engine working on our GT70s?

 

Amazon.com: ASUS VG248QE 24-inch LED-lit Monitor 144Hz refresh rate 1ms pixel response time & 3D capable: Computers & Accessories

do you think I could use this to max capacity on my laptop? with 144hz?

 

Off the display port you should be fine.

 

No one yet, unless someone can figure out how to bypass the security checking mechanism in the software.

 

but it doesn't have a vga port on it

 

Sorry what does a vga port have to do with display port and high refresh rate displays?

 

Decided to drop an AUO B173HW01 V.5 into my GT70. It's definitely a much more bright and vivid screen than the MSI contracted CMO 1720, also having far less of the grain effect. Its clarity is beautiful, really.

Anyone looking for that last bit of perfection might want to consider the upgrade. I had a Clevo which needed it, but put it in my main rig instead.

 

Hi guys.
Considering the 880m is crap , I know the 780m is capable to max it's own performance with some overclocking BUT ----- how are the temperatures on the GT70 2OD ???? I was considering getting the Dominator 895 (with the 870m) but found out that 870m TDP = 780m TDP and we all know how superior it is to 870m.
I'm currently waiting for maxwells myself. But I am expecting price drops on Keplar machines. Also considering that Maxwells will be the last ones to use MXM 3b, I was thinking of getting the 780m and then later upgrade to 980m.
But the real question is will the MSI chassis with hold my plans ??? with the 180W PSU.
Would love to hear some expert opinion.

 

If your thinking in terms of future upgradeability, I would avoid the GT70, simply because of the 180W limitation. Buying the GT72 with its 230W would be the smarter move.

 

Just trying to find a cost effective solution to my gaming needs
I started out with $1400 for the GT70 895 ---> to $1700 for the GS60 --> GT70 2OD...... just trying to find a highly capable laptop which could fit my budget.

The GT72 is $2499, and I don't see lower priced versions coming out any time soon

 

I'd wait until we get news on the Maxwell series, which may happen this weekend.

There may be a $1400 GTX 970M MSI is your future.

 

We all wish that, lol.

 

the laptop has a vga, hdmi, and miniusb

 

Strange new problem with my GT70 =(

It is frequently going into standby/sleep mode on it's own while in active use, sometimes even shutting down then having a bit of trouble starting back up.
I've checked event viewer and the only thing I can discern, if related, is that the error "The Power Control [2013/12/24 12:12:10] service failed to start due to the following error:
The system cannot find the path specified."

Has anyone else had this issue or any idea of how to fix it? It seemed to start after the latest automatic Windows update from Microsft. I'm running 8.1.

 

I do have another question... know where I can find a battery replacement? We don't have any local suppliers.

 

The laptop has a VGA port, HDMI and mini displayport v1.2 for video out. The Mini display port can handle the monitor you posted. Both Monitor and laptop have display port, at best you would need a cable from mini display port to display port.

 

You can try asking some of the resellers here, Masjster MSI and perhaps ebay/amazon etc. GT70 uses the same battery that MSI has been using, 9 cell in both GT60, GT70 all the way back to like 4 or 5 gens ago. Or more.

 

Use a restore point from before the update.

 

Microsoft get good publicity - the repair instructions are published here in about all newspapers...

 

do you know what would be a excellent wire to use? I cant seem to find a trusting one through amazon where I usually search for my devices