Advice on MSI Utilities

Hi all,

I recently purchased a GE63VR through an online reseller, and it didn't come installed with many of the MSI apps. It has SCM, SteelSeries Engine 3, and the Realtek audio drivers. The ones that it's obviously missing is Dragon Center and Nahimic 2, but I take it on faith that my reseller omitted those on purpose. Anyway, what's the consensus about MSI apps? Are they fluff, or should I download them?

 

You need Nahimic otherwise the audio Jack's won't work and you want have the nice effects.

 

Dragon Gaming center is suited to have a single place to control everything :
- Fan Speed
- Overclocking
- Keyboard color
- Screen color

I unistall it because I prefer different tool for different point. More programm but less bug and more options
- Fan speed : Silent option
- Overclocking : via Bios
- Keyboard: Steelseries engine
- Screen color : MSI True color or via windows color profile

 

Truly excellent.

SilentOption, for one, works better than the Dragon Center bloatware.
I've nothing else in a recommendation to add to this list, but having owned MSI laptops before, the following rules apply:

1. It seems your reseller nuked the installation from MSI. Good for him. Should you get an MSI laptop with the OEM build of Windows 10, nuke it and do a clean install. Some of their bloatware cannot be cleaned properly (Norton is the worst offender).

2. Should you choose to stick with Dragon Center, please disable the X-boost options. That is garbage designed to peg your processor at 100% utilization, and that impacts gaming performance.

3. Overclocking and undervolting: Do it from the BIOS (if supported) and avoid using tools such as Intel's XTU. It will save you a lot of headaches.

 

1 ) 100% agree. I faced issue with the preinstall trial Office 2016. Impossible to totally remove it to install office 365 legal.

2) Didn't know about this.

3) 100% agree too. Had a lot of throttling, reseting problem with this. Now, it's overclocked with bios, 24H/24. No problem, 100% stable, zero throttle and nothing to worry.

 

1. Yeah, I'm good on that front. Last time I got a laptop with bloatware was 2008, and I was expecting some on this machine, but I'm glad I didn't. I'm really happy with the reseller (HID, if anyone is wondering).

2. You've talked me out of installing Dragon Center. I have something called Realtek HD Audio Manager taking care of sound and effects, and I don't see a compelling reason to switch that out for Nahimic, so I won't. Audio jacks work fine as is. I also don't have Silent Mode installed; I don't know what's managing the fans, but something definitely is. They get loud under load and are acceptable while idle, thought they could probably be quieter at idle. Maybe Windows? I may install Silent Mode.

3. My BIOS has nothing juicy. Boot order and a couple of on/offs that I don't know what they are, that's it. I'm currently tampering with ThrottleStop to undervolt, but I haven't had a good block of time to delve into it. CPU temps got into the low 90s after a sampling a variety of games over 4 hours, but life has prevented me from devoting that kind of time to it again. I'm hoping to drop those numbers with more undervolting.

Lastly, MSI true color? Is that color calibration software? Is it useful without a colorimeter?

Thanks for the help, guys, I've made up my mind about Dragon Center and Nahimic.

 

I didn't try to work without Nahimic. Some people say, realtek driver is enough but I'm used to the sound with Nahimic. Nahimic doesn't work without realtek, it's a "+", probably a software more than a driver but I can't say wich sound is better if you customize it. About fan, they are controlled by the EC (I believe), Silent option is just a tool to modify the fan curve if you like to controll eveything.. Look at this image.

I didn't see, you had the "GE". As you said, the best option is Throttle Stop for you.

MSI True Color. I don't have a colorimeter but, I displayed a blanck screen and I "calibrated" a manual profil
It's really not perfect, at least I have a screen that fit to my need

 

Since you are an HIDevolution gaming team member, I can show you some magic tricks in the BIOS if you want, let me know.

 

Yeah, that'd be great! Thanks!

 

OK I'll PM you in an hour and 26 minutes. Have Skype installed on your phone and be prepared to have your mind blown away by the Phoenix magic!

 

Edit: for being stupid.

 

I'm sorry, I won't quite be able to make it then, but I could do it an hour later? Say 1545 central time?

 

sure I'm online for the next 4 hours. PM sent

 

Thanks again for your help Phoenix, very generous of you.