MSI GS30, MSI GS60, or GS70?

So I've been considering getting a light weight laptop. Because I wanted something light weight the GS series laptops from MSI have caught my eye. I would've bought one of these when they were equipped with the 870m, but the many reviews I saw talking about heat issues kept me from going for the first gen of the GS notebooks. With the release of the 970m though they look alot more appealing. I've been going on alot of weekend vacations as of late and would like something that is easy to carry for some away from home gaming and video editing. And to be honest I'm torn on which one I'd like to get. Which ever one I get I'd like to keep for around 3+ years. So here are a list of things I like and don't like about each one.


MSI GS70 Stealth
Pros:
-Largest screen
-Three m.sata slots for future upgrades
-HDD and SSD are easier to get to if I decide to void the warranty and upgrade them

Cons:
-TN Panel

MSI GS60 Ghost Pro
Pros:
-IPS Display
-More portable than the larger GS70
-Two M.2 slots is plenty enough space compared to the three in the larger GS70

Cons:
-M.2 slots are alot harder to get to in the laptop.

MSI GS30 Shadow
Pros:
-Laptop is the smallest and most portable of the three
-Slightly better CPU with the 4870HQ vs the 4710HQ
-Comes with 256gb of M.2 storage
-The Dock highly upgradeable with desktop graphics and a full size desktop hdd

Cons:
-Intel Iris 5100 pro is a very limited gpu for gaming
-Limited onboard storage for the laptop
-Dock is rather bulky to carry around
-Can't use the laptop screen while attached to the dock need to use an external display
-Most expensive with having to buy a dedicated gpu and HDD for the dock
-Already have a powerful desktop to use at home

 

i think theres a very limited market for the GS30, as its supposed to be a very mobile gaming option, but then you cant game without its dock, which makes it the opposite of mobile. The laptop itself is portable, but then, with just an iris pro, you wont be gaming much, so its no longer a gaming option either. I suppose it would only work for people who want to game at home (using the dock plus screen/mouse/keyboard) and just want a nongaming portable laptop when they're out. BUT then again, you'd be spending a lot by buying the GS30 + the screen + keyboard/mouse AND the desktop GPU for the dock), in which case it would probably be smarter to buy a desktop with a nice gpu and a portable laptop within that same budget. Oh well.

I was deciding between the gs60 and gs70 myself and had ultimately settled with the gs60 as it has a better screen and more portable size, but with my last gaming laptop, heat was a problem and i hated it, plus, some parts went bad and I had to replace them myself, repaste the gpu/cpu etc. which was a mess since the parts werent easily reachable. I realise the nvidia 900m series generate less heat, the gs60 is still a slim model (more prone to heating up) and its motherboard and parts are placed in a very inconvenient way according to reviews, I've decided to compromise the portability and (awesome) looks of the gs60 and go with the msi gt60. Its much bulkier but has the same specifications/power of the gs60 (970m gpu, i7) but it also has a second SATA slot, plus 2 more ram slots AND a dvd rom which, afaik, could act as a third hard drive slot. It also has a removable/replaceable MXM GPU. Now im still reading about the gt60 as it seems to have only one fan, but from what ive read so far, temps seem good.

 

Yeah the gs30 is my least favorite of the three. I think I'm axing that as an option. It is pretty neat though.

Part of the reason I was looking for a slim laptop is because I already have desktop gaming pc. So having it as light as possible is appealing to me. I have considered some thicker options. Maybe I'll keep it in mind since I may want to upgrade the hdd and such down the road.

I did use to own a m17x. It was heavy laptop. And I took that thing everywhere. But it was cumbersome. I just want to avoid anything that is bulky.

 

I had similar requirements and wanted a lightweight but powerful laptop I could game on when I travel yet is still fast enough to be my primary machine. The 4.4lbs GS60 was my choice (I've had both the 860m version and the 970m).

The GS30 is a neat idea, but unfortunately isn't a gaming laptop without the dock, so you'd have to lug along the dock/monitor/keyboard as well on your weekend trips, which defeats the whole purpose of a lightweight portable gaming laptop. Plus, with you already having a powerful desktop, this option is even less appealing.

GS70 is nice as well, but unfortunately like you mentioned the screen is no where near as good as the GS60's. If you really want 17" though, it might be worth the compromise. If I was wanting 17" however, I'd look real hard at the Aorus X7 Pro. It has it's own negatives like they all do, but it was my second choice contender to the GS60.

GS60 is very light and thin, doesn't have any throttling/component temp problems when playing, and as mentioned has a fantastic screen. Storage options weren't a limiting issue for me, and I've swapped the HDD for a 1TB SSD to go along with the 128GB M.2 SSD with room for another M.2 SSD should I ever want more space. Biggest negative would be the bottom panel does get hot while gaming, so you don't want it sitting on your bare legs in shorts ha. But, I've also had the GT60 and you can't game with it on your lap either as it both heats up and needs air pulled from the bottom for the fan. I think the next generation GT60 could be a good option, but if you are buying new right now it's chassis is dated and needs an overhaul similar to GT70 --> GT72.

Good luck in your search!

 

Well I'm glad to hear you've used the gs60. And weight is what I'm looking into the most. I think that's why the GS30 was so appealing. But, the more I think about it the more I realize I don't need it since I'll mostly be using the laptop while on the go and my desktop when I'm at home.

I used to use a TN panel on my Alienware laptop about 5 years ago. Had no problems with it. But ever since I've been using a desktop I've been using IPS monitors. So there maybe a good chance I don't like the TN panel. So that's gonna eliminate the GS70. Hmm. . .lol

I did find out that sager has the np8651. It's not as thin as the MSI GS60 but it has the same specs. The big difference I can see between those two is the keyboards. How is the keyboard on the GS60 compared to a standard laptop keyboard? That might be a deciding factor.

 

Depending on how much of a gaming beast you're looking for, there's also the GE62/72. Still on the thin side and a little less capable than a GS60, but also less expensive.

You can read the GT60/GT70 970M/980M upgrade thread for temps. Nice things is these are very upgradeable laptops. I just replaced the CPU with a 3920XM (I have a 16F3 Ivy-based unit) and will be upgrading to a 970M tonight.

Nice thing is the 970M actually has a lower TDP than the 675M it's replacing (75w vs 100w, respectively), so it should run cooler overall. The 3920XM has a higher TDP than the 3630MQ is replaced (55w vs 45w, respectively) but so far has done just fine on heat.

The GT60 is a nice unit. While it's a bit bigger, it's not terrible and certainly less cumbersome than a GT70.

Depending on what you need and how long you're willing to wait, Intel's putting out Skylake procs out toward the back to school time or early fall. It's supposed to be a big game changer, so you may want to check that out.

 

I'm not all that interested in upgrading a laptop. I've done that in the past and it blew my mind how pricey it can get. I'm more looking for something that I can use for a few years and then replace it when the CPU and GPU are too out of date.

I'm going to take a look at the Skylake processors and see what they may have to offer.

 

My friend picked up the GS30 Shadow last week -- It looks great in person, performs admirably alone as a notebook and games on its own surprisingly well. But like it was mentioned, there's a very limited market for this type of product. The GamingDock bundled with the notebook is super bulky and there are SOME compatibility issues with certain GPUs that it'll accept ( he tried an MSI GTX 680 Twin Frozr II and it wouldn't post on the external monitor. Popped my GTX 970 GPU by eVGA and it worked wonderfully ).

I hear Alienware's Graphics Amplifier is suffering from a similar compatibility issue as well.

I just ordered the GS60 with the GTX 970M and I'm looking forward to it. My vote would more than likely go to that notebook.

 

I purchased the Gs30 a few days ago. Ordered a gtx970 which is arriving today - at which point i will post a full review. But just for some initial impressions - i couldnt believe how small and light the Gs30 is. It reeks of quality - honestly. And best of all i thought the dock was going to be uglyand huge from all the YouTube videos and pictures id seen. It fits nicely on my desk(which isnt huge). I havent heard anyone having issues with newer cards (plus if youre gonna spend this kinda money get a good card - otherwise just get a laptop with mobile gpu as whats the point of buying this and putting an old gpu in it that will be equivalent to a mobile gpu). Just my opinion.
This thing boots and shuts down lightning fast - nice very readable screen (for a smaller screen). Only gaming ive tried using iris pro was league and it ran on medium high with butter smooth 60 fps.
For me this one absolutely 100% the best computer purchase ive made. Its perfect for taking to work- getting my schoolwork done and then bringing home for some gaming without attaching 5-7 cables etc. Can't wait to see how it performs with the desktop gtx970!

 

Another thing- when running off the hdmi port on the laptop - but while docked you can in fact use the laptop monitor as well as external.

 

Your cpu won't get out of date; since sandy bridge, laptop cpus don't go out of date for two reasons:
cpus are fast enough
cpus aren't getting much faster (we're talking small percentage points each year for the past few years)

Your gpu will get out of date, so the msi dock might be the better solution since you'll be able to upgrade that down the line. Plus you can do it with a desktop gpu which will be stronger and cheaper.

 

Yep, the simple fact I get such limited performance on the go killed the GS30 for me. Great for certain usage scenarios like Ecundiff1 has; it's just not mine... I want all the power where ever I am and simply can't lug a whole dock, monitor, keyboard etc with me.

I have no complaints about the GS60 keyboard, types and feels great, just don't expect a mechanical keyboard experience

I'll be blunt, I don't like Sager/Clevos so I'm the wrong guy to ask... I really like the specs of the np8651 (the 970m version, the 980m version is thicker), and think it looks good, but build quality/feel kills it for me every time I get tempted with a Sager. I had one a few years back and absolutely hated the quality. Plastic cracked at the hinges, finish wore through on the plastic, had to replace the motherboard. They may have gotten better, but every time I handle one, I'm disappointed. They are GREAT bang for the buck, but that bang has to come from somewhere. This is just my personal opinion, so take it with a grain of salt, and if I was unfamiliar with the brand I'd have been seriously looking at the np8651 as well. Others however absolutely love them, so by no means put too much stock in my single opinion. It's a very viable (and cheaper!) option to the GS60.

Also, as mentioned above, don't worry too much about the CPU roadmap. Broadwell (if it is ever actually released other than low power options) is minimal improvement and not worth worrying about, and Skylake, which will have a few nice new features along with it (USB 3.1 for example), is still a long ways away in computer time...

 

How about a GT80 titan with sli 970m to try and not kill off your wallet completely be77solo?

Personally, the GS30 is the best for me, mainly because I tend to game back at home and only take my laptop on the road for work hahaha but other than that I can definitely see the appeal at something like the GS60.

If you are going for a big size GS70, I would personally go with something more powerful still, which is why I bought the GT80!

 

Depending on where you live, carrying out HDD/SSD and RAM upgrades may not void the warranty, I asked MSI UK about this directly as want to upgrade an MSI GS60 2QE and this was the response I got:

Ticket:
Can I open the case to upgrade the RAM and SSD without invalidating UK Warranty?

Content:
Dear Customer,

MSI users are allowed to void the warranty sticker to upgrade RAM, HDD and also for cleaning purposes. However, please note that any mechanical damages which may occur during mentioned actions will not be covered under manufacturer's warranty.

Regards,
MSI UK Notebook&AIO Support Team

As the upgrading the RAM is a bit fiddly (it's on the side of the motherboard underneath the keyboard) I'm going to get a reliable local computer repairs/upgrade shop to carry out the RAM and SSD upgrades when I get my GS60

 

BTW the GS60 2QE ( at least in the UK) now comes with 2.6Ghz 4720HQ which is 0.1 Ghz faster than the previous 2.5Ghz 4710HQ and also supports some extra instruction sets

 

I've decided against the GS30. It's a really cool concept. And if I was replacing my desktop pc or didn't have one I'd really consider it. But, I've decided I really want some good GPU power when not at home in a light notebook. So I'll likely be going with the GS60. I was considering the Auros x3 plus. It's smaller than the GS60 with the same gpu. Though I've read it has a below standard keyboard. So I think it's lost my vote because of that.

I believe it's a great quality notebook. That's the main reason I was originally only considering the GS notebooks. The metal chassis, keyboard, and good specs in a thinner package than most other notebooks really caught my eye. I did some research on how well the Iris Pro does on common games I play currently. I generally am ok with turning down the quality on a games graphics so long as I can get a solid 60fps at the native resolution. And the Iris Pro falls short for me. Maybe if they threw in a low end dedicated GPU in a future revision I may consider one then. And another thing is my Desktop PC has dual 780's. So it does honestly beat the purpose for me to get another desktop like pc when I plan on moving it around so much. Thanks for your insight though.

If I can get three years or so out of the laptop I'll be more than happy. When I had my Alienware M17x r2 I was able to play games at 1920x1200 for almost three years at 60 fps. I normally mess with a games settings until I achieve 60 fps. The first time I ran into any problem was with the witcher 2. No matter what I tried I just could not run that game at a very good framerate on my laptop. And I learned first hand how expensive it was to upgrade a laptops gpus. Honestly I never plan to do it again. Too pricey and sometimes not easy to do depending on the laptop. If I did get the GS30 it would be a road warrior. That's why I'm really thinking it's not a good fit for me. The dock isn't all that large but it is added bulk I think I would get tired of hauling around. The upgradablity of the device it astounding though.

Yeah that's what's making it look less appealing to me too. I love the idea and want one because it's so neat. But, it's not what I'm looking for. Like you say I want my Laptop to perform at it's best where ever I take it. And if I leave the dock behind on the GS30 it becomes alot less powerful. Granted I can still do some video editing with it alone, but if I wanted to record some gameplay footage it may come up short in how much weaker the Iris Pro is to even the last gen mobile GPU's

Funny. . .I use a mechanical keyboard for my desktop. Flipping love it! I don't expect that from a laptop. Just so long as they aren't supper squishy. Then I might have a problem.

Rude. lol. But, build quality is important to me so I appreciate it. Building a desktop pc I originally went with what I could afford when I first build it. I quickly with a year replaced all of the periferals. And I do mean all of them! Monitor, Keyboard, Mouse (Twice), Speakers, Headphones, and amp. I did all of that because I spend way too much time at my pc so I wanted what was the best for it in my case. Couldn't be happier with it now. Minus it weighs a crap ton and I can't haul it anywhere easily.

Yeah I think everyone mentioning the CPU not going out of date is right. I still have my desktop 3570K in my rig. Never had any problems with it and it runs great. Though I am curious to see how a mobile CPU will compare to it for editing since the mobile CPU will be hyper threaded.

Because that monster is for men and I am not worthy! Plus I'd feel weird with a laptop that had a CPU stronger than my current desktop.

If I didn't have the desktop that would be an appealing option though. It has the same feeling to me though as the GS30 though. And I don't want to get rid of my desktop. I luvs it too much.

Thanks for that! I'm gonna give them a call and see what they say. I live in the USA so hopefully it's not a problem here either. I'd love to swap out the HDD for an SSD down the road.
The ones I've seen only have the 4710HQ. But, that shouldn't be a big deal. unless the 4720HQ runs cooler? Most of the other manufacturers I've looked at do have the newer CPU.

 

The MSI warranty situation is the same in the USA, but it may be worth trying to get an email from an MSI rep that confirms this which you could save, for peace of mind!

There's probably little real world difference between the 4710HQ and 4720HQ, but if you see the latter available, I'd go for that

 

Hmmm.. I'm quite tempted to wait for this, which was announced yesterday, assuming it'll be available in the UK (unlike the Razer Blade): http://rog.asus.com/399392015/g-ser...light-15-inch-gaming-laptop-with-4k-pcie-ssd/

 

The GS30 is really targeted at those who need a high quality ultra book on the go and GPU grunt at home.

 

That's a clever idea. I'll be sure to do that. Harder to argue if I have evidence. lol.

Yeah I figure 0.1GHZ is nothing to worry about if it's not available.

Oh wow that is a really nice looking notebook. I didn't think that asus made good looking notebooks that weren't the size of an airplane. I'm curious to see what they have to offer with that.

Don't feel too bad about not having availablity of the Razer Blade. It's thin a pretty, but costs an arm and a leg. More so than the MSI GS notebooks. Actually compared to Razer the GS notebooks are bargain notebooks. If I had an endless amount to spend I'd consider it based on looks. Cause they are really nice looking.

Yeah that's why I can't really justify getting one. It is a really cool concept though.

 

That's why MSI did not replace their entire line up with that concept

 

It's a pity they don't produce a 14" model with a decent GPU (even just a 965M) without a numpad (which I don't need)

 

Quick question guys, to those who own the gs30 and dock.

1. does the power need to be connected to laptop or does it get power from dock?
2. with nvidia card in dock in nvidia 3d settings does it have the DSR option available listed?
3. i know it needs to be shutdown to remove it but does it need to be shutdown before putting it into dock also?
4. how loud is the dock, the alienware amplifier is alittle loud before i modded it.
5. do you use the desktop driver for the GPU in the dock, like it just acts as a desktop card, (the alienware amp uses the mobile driver)
6. please explain the hdmi out on laptop letting you use the laptop screen, im thinking you connect the laptop hdmi out to the videocard second port and it converts to HDMI in and lets laptop become a screen too?

Thanks guys

 

If the next gen docks end up using the SuperPort like in the video the Xotic guys linked in another thread, it could end up making the GS60 a very compelling thin and light (well, more so than it already is).

 

im thinking of buying a gs30 for the dock option, can you link me to what your talking about, maybe the superport is a better solution

 

It's more convienient, but at best it's a 4x PCI-E 3.0 link compared to the 16x PCI-E 3.0 link in the original docks.

 

Check pat@xoticpc's post on this page:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/msi-skylake-laptop-predictions.780535/page-23

 

I don't know of any GPUs that really even push an x8 interface let alone x16. x16 may be more desirable, but Thunderbolt is pretty darn convenient.

I think if there we a need for greater bandwidth, Intel wouldn't be so stingy with PCI-E lanes.

 

This is intel we are talking about right? They have been leaving things pretty starved for bandwidth on the mainstream chips for some time.

 

They are now! The new GS40 Phantom is coming out around mid-October. It's the 14" model and looks like it blends design elements from the GS60, GE60 and GT72. I think it packs the same specs as the GS60 Ghost Pro except with a single PCIe sata port.

 

It certainly looks like an interesting machine

 

The one thing that worries me is the single fan design, not sure how that's going to handle a Skylake processor and 970M in a 14" form factor...

 

They manage on a GT60/70 with one fan. The fan can get a bit loud, but it works fine.

 

I see two vents on the back of the unit on that video...

 

Gamer segment further defined.

 

I see a cult following in the future for this one.

 

The force is strong with this one.