MSI GS30 Revealed

Likely a glitch in the maths it uses to determine the frequency.

 

For the current owners, when docked, which audio output takes precedence? I assume the dock port first is first. Then, if something isn't plugged into the dock port, will it try to output to the dock speakers, or will it be to headphones if they are plugged into the laptop's headphones port?

 

Dock audio port, then laptop audio port, then dock speakers (the laptop speakers are disabled when docked).

 

Is there any news on when the new gaming dock (mini version) will be sold?
The GS30 combined with the gaming dock mini (and using the internal display and keyboard) really is a awesome device!
Will the gaming dock mini also have a hdd in it or does it just offer desktop graphics card and some extra ports in a smaller design?

 

We've all been asking the same questions for some time as well and have been very interested in this product even before it was released. However, due to Intel's sudden and rather unexpected change in stance regarding GPU connectivity over TB3 interface, a lot of things seem to have changed. MSI's plans regarding this entire product line also seem to have changed. There is no official news about the mini dock or update on that front or even the broadwell/skylake refresh for these machines. (A page on the MSI official website even listed 5xxx series procs with these laptops)

I am still very interested in getting this laptop but a couple of things are still making me a bit hesitant. Hopefully the forum members with experience with this machine can help me out here with these:

Assuming this now seems to be more or less on path to be discontinued,

1. How good is the repairability of this laptop? I'm hoping the m2 ssd's can be changed easily, but what about the display and the fan? Chances are both these might need replacement over time and over very long term usage, the motherboard itself might need to be replaced so what are the chances of finding spare parts over time?

2. Would it be possible to attach USB3 RAIDed HDD enclosures to the usb3 ports on the dock?

Ideally, is there any MSI rep here who can be questioned about what MSI's roadmap is for these devices with proprietary docks?

A friend is coming over from the US in december and my window for ordering will be around late november, so I really would like to proceed with the maximum information as it a big purchase for me and I would hate to end up with another product that becomes dead weight should one small thing go wrong with it.

 

What has changed about Intel's stance rises egpus and MSI's dock plans?

 

Before intel/microsoft refused to support external GPUs over thunderbolt, this seems to have changed.

 

What do you mean?
They now dont want support external GPUs over t3 or they are ok for support extrnal GPU over t3?

 

Well if before they were refusing to support it and it has now changed, that would mean they are now allowing it

 

That's what I was thinking but I wasn't sure if they had backed off that.

 

On the GS40 thread,



Does this mean that the MSI GS30 proprietary port is more or less discontinued/replaced now?

 

I sure hope not, but it seems like it, with the complete lack of any GS30 updates. If I remember correctly, I think I read somewhere that TB3 would still have less graphics bandwidth than the proprietary PCI-E the GS30 had? I'm not that familiar with the capabilities of data connections.

I actually wish an updated GS30 will be realleased with a Type-C port. I like the lower weight because I think an Iris Pro will be good enough for my mobile gaming needs, plus I want lower power draw to be able to use the new tiny 65W inductive chargers.

 

I agree with you there. Not only does the GS30's port carry more data, but overall I prefer it much more to a GPU-laden 14inch heat heater. The GS30 as is with a skylake iris update and a type-c port would be an incredible machine to behold.

I hope someone at MSI has the sense to see the incredible potential this had if only that had priced it sanely shortly after release. It hovered around $1900 for most of its short life. Add to that the cost of a GPU, monitor, mouse keyboard etc and you're looking at something that has all the cons of a desktop but not the 980ti sli that one could build otherwise in that 2500 to 2600 budget.

 

Yeah, the cost was quite high for what you could alternatively get. It really became a niche product, I would guess, because even this late in its life, when it's 2 generstions outdated, it still sells for close to MSRP. I was hoping for clearance prices, but my theory is that since it was so niche, retailers didnt stock many units, so there is no need to clearance price them, which is sad.

 

It did drop a fair bit for a while before going back up again. Still can't quite match the 980ti partnership.

 

Hello I need help with my msi gs30 laptop.
When I am playing more demanding games my cpu temp almost reach 100c. (My laptop is docked so I dont use the internal gpu beacause of the heat)
Is this safe?
I dont want my new computer to have this high cpu temps... what to do? Is this normal?

 

How old is it?

 

One week old

 

It could need a re-paste, what region are you in?

 

Sweden. When i use Heaven Benchmark 4.0 My max temp in CPUID HWMonitor is reaching 95C. Is this okey?

 

I tend to max out in the 85C region with liquid metal (overclocked but with an undervolt).

 

I'm taking my mod a step further, I've now got two full size fans on the radiator, I'm waiting for a third fan to get a full set of 120mm corsair high pressure fans in the system. I'm also looking to finally get an unlocked system bios, but that will take removing the bios chip.

 

Svet and I are starting to get there

 

Socket goodness:





9450 in firestrike extreme:

http://www.3dmark.com/fs/6553838

5234 in firestrike ultra:

http://www.3dmark.com/fs/6544590

Looks like .10C broke the integrated panel use by mistake, I found the settings and sent them off to MSI:



These are hidden options in a locked bios so here is .10B I have uploaded in case someone needs it.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/l7eo3u9vallxper/E13F1IMS.10B.zip?dl=0

 

Thats quite awesome! Glad that someone is still helping make this machine better.

Its taking all of my will power to stop me from getting this device. The only things holding me back are the 16gm ram limit and the fact that the whole point of this machine was to later be able to have later laptops also make use of the dock.

Does MSI have any plan of maybe releasing a connector that allows their later laptops with superport to connect to this laptops dock? OR even have a connector that allows THIS laptop to connect to TB3 docks? It seems to be doable for them since this laptop does have the capability to handle TB3 data due to its proprietary port.

Also, is there any chance this laptop will go below $1400 (after a $100 mail in rebate?

 

Mostly the machine is being phased out now.

The main point really was the laptop itself would remain the same while you can upgrade the GPU as you like. No reason it can't keep up with the successor to the Titan-x.

 

Sad to hear that, when it won't be that hard for them to rig up a TB3/superport addon for the proprietary port.
Is it haswell or post-broadwell that we are getting 16gb dimms ?

Also, any hope for this going 'clearance price'? Lowest right now is $1400 after $100 rebate.

 

Does the modified CPU settings work?!?!

 

As much as the 4870HQ allows, which appears to be similar to the 49xx series.

 

Thats good to hear if its thermal. I still haven't been able to eliminate power throttle during stress. My Cinebench is basically 700 now, which has improved, but I still see TDP limit near the end of the test.

 

My post got weirdly corrupted. I get the same 30 second window of 65W followed by 45W after that, but in this machine that's mostly what the cooling solution can deal with.

 

Hei Folks

it seems that we can find here a few enthusiasts of the gs30. So you people may have the answer to my question.

I am looking for a quad core laptop with lots of RAM (min 16 better 32GB) for the development of parallel code. At the same time I travel a lot and hate lugging heavy boxes around. Here the gs30 seems to be uniquely positioned. As far as I know of the only laptop at 1.2kg with a quad core. While the new gs40 is a real update as far as hardware goes, I have not heard anything about the gs30. Some MSI website lists the gs30 with the broadwell processor but that does not seem to be on the market.

Is there any authoritative information about the GS30 out there?

And while we are at it: I need to run Linux, any experience here? The same goes for battery life. Clearly, with a heavy load on all 4 CPUs it will be short. But how long does it last with editing/compiling?
Any takers?

thanks in advance

Tred

 

You wont get very long loading the CPU properly, 60-90 minutes most likely depending on amount.

 

This is the current EC table I have.

 

How did you get the unlocked BIOS? I would really love the get one too..
Nice work so far

 

I worked with Svet so the usual suspect on that one. If you want he can send it to you but the chip does need removing to be flashed with it due to hardware and software protection on the chip.

You can modify the EC using his tool above and it does not need to be unlocked for that.

 

I was joking with some people in another thread regarding a really silly blurb for some ram and remembered I had the old hyper-x metal heat spreaders so I repurposed them from the original 1066mhz CL5 modules:



Purely cosmetic really

 

Just picked up a GS30 with dock for one of the best prices I have seen new. Will have it sometime this coming week. Until then, I have a few questions that have maybe been answered in the thread, but the search function isn't the best.

1) What brand SSDs are included stock? If I am upgrading, I want to have the new SSDs here before my laptop, but I would have no use for the olds, so reselling them is part of the consideration.
2) Is anyone running Windows 7? Are there any problems? Does optimus work well (like having both a monitor and built in screen work when the monitor is plugged into the dock)?
3) Is CPU underclocking in the GS30 a good way to increase battery life? Is there a way to have the CPU underclock only when not plugged in (basically throttle constantly but at lower temperatures)?

Thanks for the help!

 

1) Ours were kingston Phison controller based.
2) I would advise sticking with 8.1 or 10.
3) The CPU does limit itself already a bit on battery so just applying a general undervolt all the time would work.

 

Thanks for the info! Any particular issues or reasons why you recommend the new Windows? Or is it just general compatibility? Because I do see that MSI has versions of all drivers & utilities for Win 7.

Would anyone happen to have a link to the 10A bios still? The old link that Kevin from GenTech posted seems to have expired.

 

Any idea where I can pick up a spare old dock? or should I wait for the new one if they'll ever release one....hmm......

 

Full price new: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...kCFYaCfgod0skAOQ&Q=&ap=y&m=Y&is=REG&A=details

otherwise, I would say keep checking ebay?

 

Pretty much those are the options, they were not a high volume product.

 

400$ is a lot

 

It's the original RRP IIRC.

 

Any chance it may go down?
Any news on the mini dock?

 

With thunderbolt 3 I don't think MSI is going to continue down the custom road like this. That also means the dock is likely not getting another production run.

One thing I am considering is if it's possible to mod the GS40 battery into the GS30, it will need connector modding at the very least but it depends on the size.

 

^That makes me wanna weep. :'(

Does the GS40 battery hold more charge?

 

47 watt hours vs 61 watt hours.

 

I

I am interested in that mod too. Can you post a how to?