Ryzeki's MSI GX660R Review

just tested with stock clocks and I got around 82-83 celcius without the turbo fan. Weird thing is when playing sc2 im always at 85 C, but not more... I thought furmark was much more stressful on the gpu? But, i am wondering what your temps are like forge, because it was my 1st time using and applying thermal paste so i might have scewed up somewhere, as the cpu temps are much improved from stock tests, but not so much the gpu...
Thanks =]

 

It's been a while since I ran a test, but at 70F ambient with only passive cooling and autofan, I think I maxed at like 82C with stock clocks. That was before I did any mods. I know I repasted--it was the very first thing I did when I received my laptop--but I can't be sure if it was AC MX-3 or Tuniq TX-4 that I used.

 

hi guys, i have a question. Where can I find the webcam driver for GX660R I couldn't find it on the MSI website? Thanks in advance.

 

hi owners of gx660r, may i ask whether could you use 2 external screen in this laptop, i mean it does have a hdmi output and vga ( which i think we can buy the converter to convert it become dvi output)

 

There is no driver it uses the Windows Native drivers. To turn it on you need to press Fn+F6 this only allows the OS to see the camera. You then use whatever camera software you want to use it.

 

Thanks a lot for the help. Works Great!

 

Can anyone take a few pictures of their GX660r next to a ruler, I would like to see the width. Is it realllly thick?

 

It is bigger than others 15,6 notebooks like your alienware is.

I do not have here a ruler, but side by side a gateway 17,3"



BR

 

Ah thank you, and the height, can I get a picture of that as well please?

It's a big laptop then! I didn't realise, I assumed it was the same as my alienware m15x (cos that was a big laptop)

Oh and think about doing a review, I love to read reviews from this forum, it's alot more personal than the ones from blogs (commercialised). I would love to read a review from you if you have time!

I've ordered it, but haven't paid for it yet, so still in lingo.

 

You can only setup one external monitor if you're using the AMD/ATI Catalyst Version that shipped with your GX660R. However, I read that AMD/ATI released a newer version that supports more than one external monitor (HDMI/VGA), so go to the AMD/ATI site to read up on it some more. I haven't upgraded yet simply because I want to get through the school year before I start playing with my system lol.

 

The 5870 supposedly supports the ATI "EyeFinity" Technology which allows you up to three monitors if you want.

Got me how it works though. The whole point of a laptop for me is to not have monitor screens!

 

I believe you need adapters for each of the monitors, and I think multiple VGA/DVI ports, which are not available.

That being said, the 5870 can't handle 3 monitors unless you're playing the game in low detail.

 

nah im going to use it for web browsing and other minor stuff, for gaming will still use just 1 monitor

 

Hey guys, hoping you one of you can answer my question on having two different simultaneous audio sources going at once, one through HDMI to TV and the other through laptop speakers/headphones. I'd like to be able to use the GX660R as a HTPC along with gaming at the same time. I've made a post on this and from what I'm seeing it doesn't look like Windows 7 even supports this ( Output to more than one audio device simultaneously - Windows 7 Taskforce)? Is it possible with this laptop?

Update: Is there a realtek setting for this?

Thanks

 

Hey there, i've been away for a while now lol. being without internet sure is boring.

I tried checking the realtek settings but the only two options is to tie up all input devices or separate them (like having different line in or mic).

I'll try tomorrow with my tv via HDMI and speakers on the laptop and post results.

 

Thanks Ryzeki, looking forward to hearing your results. I'm trying to get myself off of TV and get rid of cable so hoping it works on this laptop.

 

Sorry man, I can't test today, my HDMI cable got basically destroyed during my moving in, and I can't get it to work well. I already ordered a new one though and a friend also offered to help so I will keep you posted about that.

But being realistic I don't think it works natively. I have used the HDMI interface before with this laptop, and I remember always being able to use a single sound output. Maybe it is capable and only needs a bit of tweaking or additional software.

 

No problem, if you can get a chance that would be great. I've been reading a lot of conflicting information and it seems it is motherboard dependent on whether or not it works. The software must allow you to choose the different the audio sources but sometimes the motherboard doesn't give two option. Appreciate the help

 

So It's weird that the GX640 and GX740 has this option but the higher end GX660 doesn't.

My guess is it's a difference of audio done by Dynaudio and audio through SRS.

 

Thanks Bearclaw, hopefully ryzeki comes back with good news that the gx660 supports dual audio as well .

 

Well, I do come with a bit of good news. It is possible to have two simultaneous outputs. Maybe even three.

There is a bit of trick to it though, and there are several factors. Mostly it is just software. With windows 7 you have the choice of default device and default communication device. Additionally, you can make certain apps like Windows media player to use a particular output mainly, making it the default multimedia device.

Here is a picture of that particular feature. I played a youtube vid on my TV via HDMI with sound on the HDMI, while playing a song on my laptop speakers on windows media player.




Uploaded with ImageShack.us

 

Nice find Ryzeki

 

Awesome thanks Ryzeki that is good news to hear. Hopefully will be buying this in the next week or two. Still looking into HTPC software/hardware and canceling my cable.

 

Hi guys, maybe you can help me.

I've posted my question here:

Basically, I'm get 5 less fps when I use the turbo button than when I use the gaming profile (eco button).

Thx.

 

I have noticed such behaviour too. But it depends on the game. My current guess is that the turbo button overclocks the CPU but at 4 cores, so games that run better on dual cores or single cores might take a hit.

 

I just got a GX660, and I am already thinking of taking the processor out and replacing it with an i7 920 or 940XM, but am wondering what kind of temps people are getting that have already done this? Will there be a significant gain over my current i5 450m? Is there a significant different between the i7 720qm and the 920 and 940? Is there any real difference between the 720 vs 740 other than the small speed difference, because the price difference seems to be pretty significant on ebay.

Edit, how difficult is it to access the extra ram location under the keyboard? I can get a 2gb stick for 37.99 on newegg, and will be getting that as well. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231214 <<<Was thinking I'd pick this up.

 

Welcome aboard man.

I would suggest 920 over 940 as there is very little performance difference between them and the 920 can be found for around 380-450dlrs for some QS versions. I doubt you will see much performance difference right now because Core i5/i7 are strong processors that, at least on the mobile world, are not a bottleneck for gaming. There is no difference between 720 and 740 other than 133mhz.

As for the access for the third RAM I wouldn't know, I haven't tried it. I think Forge has and it may be a bit tricky but not that difficult.

 

hi. as ryzeky says the i5 is not a bottleneck for games.as i said on another post, i can play sc2 on ultra with a core2duo without problems. in my opinion I'd stick with the i5 and when it gets old buy a new processor in order to save money and gain performance. however i bet you the 5870m will be your real bottleneck, not the i5.thats why i didnt go for the gx660r or the asus g73 instead of the gx660

 

hi. as ryzeky says the i5 is not a bottleneck for games.as i said on another post, i can play sc2 on ultra with a core2duo without problems. in my opinion I'd stick with the i5 and when it gets old buy a new processor in order to save money and gain performance. however i bet you the 5870m will be your real bottleneck, not the i5.thats why i didnt go for the gx660r or the asus g73 instead of the gx660

 

Well after reading a post of TalonUIUC on the GX660R thread, I want to tell you guys that Windows rates our GX660 memory with the same score (5.9).

My desktop PC with 4 gb DDR2 is rated with a 6.3 lol!!!!

any help here guys? I've read on some forums that sellers are tricking people packing PCs with DDR3 1333 while only quad core i7 can support that frecuency, so any dual core i5/i7 will handle 1333 as 1066.

You can see that with cpuz reporting ram speed as 533 mhz (533*2=1066)

 

From what i know, only the higher-end i-series processors support 1333MHz. All i5 and even the dual core i7 (like the 640m) are rated DDR3 800/1066. The first in the intel hierarchy to support 1333 natively is the 620qm.

 

I have a rating of 7.1 for my ram. I have 8gb of ram.

I think windows must have an algorithm which uses the amount of ram, not just the speed.

 

My ram is rated at 7.3.

Windows Index is a joke as a measuring system, as it just compares ammount, speeds etc and throws a number. The real bench behind it is very limited and usually indicative of nothing.

 

how much noise does this laptop make both on no load and under load? As per techradar's review, it sounds like you are living under Heathrow...

I don't mind moderate levels of noise but is it really loud? For example, does it make listening to music/game sounds from the speakers unpleasant?

Is it worthwhile upgrading from stock cooling to IC diamond thermal paste? And is this better than Arctic Silver? (xoticpc.com)

I'm interested in purchasing this laptop to upgrade from my current...

thanks,

 

The laptop isn't that loud. It's on par with my previous G50 series laptops. It does not make sound or music unpleasant at all unless you enable turbo fan to listen to music haha.

Sound on the machine will easily put to shame the sound made by the fan anyday so don't worry. When on normal usage, the fan is there but not that intrusive unless you are in a closed silent room with no other sounds. On my office, for example, I can barely hear it because there are other machines, faxes, printers, PC and I can't even hear my own laptop.

when gaming I always enable turbo fan to keep things super cool, but my speakers triumph the sound. That, or I user headphones, either way I am not bothered.

I think that stock system is quite good already, IC diamond would be only if you are interested in pushing the system over the limit. Even then, stock paste is good.

The HD5870m will be a sizeable upgrade over your current 9500m GS. It should be the change from " I can't run this at all" to " I can run this... at high settings"

 

Thanks Ryzeki for your reply

sounds like it's ok.. I was worried by the "Heathrow airport" term used by Techradar ...

I noticed that with the IC diamond paste, you're getting temps of 78 deg C while gaming (70 deg with the turbo fan mode), probably with the standard paste it should be 5-8 deg C higher I guess...

By the way, is the stock wireless card good enough?

Thanks again...!

 

"good enough" yes it is. It worked fine. That said I snagged an Intel 6200 for $25 and figured since I was under the keyboard updating the RAM, I might as well put in something a bit better for the wireless for the present (and future).

The drivers and BIOS were a pain in the butt to get right (for whatever reason I had to re-flash it), but it works pretty well for me.

The money is right, not sure I'd do it again given the amount of time it took for me to get it to work vs. price of the upgrade

 

Hi, this is my first post. I bought this laptop a month ago. What is the difference between the turbo mode and the gaming mode? How many FPS are you getting in Dirt 2 demo DX11 1080p 8xAA and everything on high? I am getting avg 28 FPS. How many FPS are you people getting on crysis demo (the original one from 2007) with all settings on high and full AA and 1080p?

 

Hmm does the resolution really make that much of a diff? on my e7405 with stock clocks I get 42FPS average with 1680x1050...

 

I haven't tried Dirt 2 demo, I will try it later I have to download it first. Keep in mind my results will reflect my overclocked GPU since I normally game around 880/1030 or more.

Crysis retail is playable all high (not very high) 1920x1080 around 25+fps average. I get over 30fps average with my overclock but it still struggles a bit every now and then. Specially the later levels like the snow levels which run around 24fps or less.

Keep in mind this is without AA. AA is a no no with 1920x1080 right now in newish games because memory bandwidth is lacking and performance will drop considerably.

Resolution does make a huge difference when you pass what your memory bandwidth is capable off. For example, Metro 2033 high settings DX10 runs around 24-28fps average on 1920x1080 but notching the res to 1600x900 up the fps to around 42fps average.

 

hihihihihi i flash bios gx660r on gx660 hihihihihih

now power with GX660R

 

Interesting... Guess I was right with not getting a FHD screen then.

BTW, how did you get your core clock to 900? What tool are you using, because the max I can do with MSI afterburner and the ATI Overdrive is 860. And are those clocks you use for gaming? Or just benchmarks?

 

Bear - Do you have the GX or E-version of the 740? Not that I can help you with the clocks, more just me being curious

 

try AMD GPU clock tool. That's what I use when I bench.

 

I have the E version.

Hmm okay I'll try that thanks.

 

Yeah, unless you can get 1200mhz memory, 1600x900 is the best resolution for stock HD5870m.

As for overclocking, I use MSI afterburner, but the program is locked at 860 clocks, you need to unlock it via modding some files of the program. I do game at 900/1030 but sadly it isn't THAT stable. It doesn't crash not die, but in some games I have noticed a 1-2 second freeze that I am sure its due to the inestability of the O/C. Rolling to 880-890 does not seem to have any issues even after several hours of gaming.

Cheers.

 

Just got me a GX660. It's such a good laptop except for the screen. The screen look blurry/cloudy for some reason. Don't know if its Windows7 or the screen itself.

 

Blurry? Make sure you are running in native resolution. GX660 (not R) should have a 1366x768 screen, so even a 1365x768 res would make things look blurry.

 

Yea. I guess its the resolution.

Do you know how to get rid of that orange moon light on the touch pad?

 

What orange moonlight?! Mine didn't come with such a thing! now I feel less special haha

Well if it is a sticker, I removed mine a loooooooooong time ago.