SKYLAKE GT72s are you excited?

Here is the new listing. The S will be the high end one with a slightly better chipset.

http://gaming.msi.com/products/notebook/gt-series

Interesting is the storage configuration.

"1 x 2.5" HDD / 2x PCI-E SSD RAID0 (Super RAID 4), 2x M.2 SSD of SATA3"

I think the reference to NVMe is moot simply because there are no available M.2 form factor NMVe chips. But that might change. It could be INSANE speed.

Here are some available NMVe but not in M.2 form factor. Look at those IOPS.

http://www.samsung.com/global/business/semiconductor/file/product/XS1715_ProdOverview_2014_1.pdf

http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/solid-state-drives/solid-state-drives-750-series.html

But I digress. So the cool idea is make the 2 PCIe 4x slots NOT the boot drive, but super fast storage. And use the older SATA3 slots as the OS boot drive. Then use the 2.5" space for some other drive. It does not say what the interface is on the 2.5". Lastly use the Thunderbolt port for off machine storage.

Thoughts?

 

Taking a good model and adding upgrades and other new options across the board, what isn't to like about it?

While you are right about limited amount of NVMe chips now, it does certainly offer some crazy speed upgrades to what is out there now. It will be nice to get one of these in hand and play around with it.

 

I'm actually taking a strong look at the GT72S. It looks like a very capable machine with a lot of room to grow. I wish there were prices out for it.

I'm still on the fence between the GT72S and the GS60. I generally prefer the 15" platform, but it looks like MSI's done with the GT60. The GS60 is a lot more portable, and may be able to use an external graphics card in the future, but the GT72 looks like it'll be a better long term investment.

Decisions, decisions.

I'm curious as to why you're thinking of using the PCI-E SSD for storage and using the M.2 for the OS and apps? Do you do a lot of media work, or have a lot of multimedia storage? How much of a speed difference would there be between the M.2 and PCI-E versions? It's an interesting thought, nonetheless.

 

The way the channels work, you won't see much of performance gain on boot so why bother. I do a lot of large file movement for video editing. I think it will be about 4x-6x faster on the PCI-e because it is 4 channel. Of course only some SSD support the 4x lanes. Samsung is the only one so far, last check.

Couple of other notes:

Gentech said the machine are in customs and will arrive on Sept 20th.
The GT72 is only 0.9 pounds heavier than the GT 60, and 1 inch wider and longer and slightly thinner. It looks like the hinge design helped a lot.

 

Yeah, probably what I'll do us take my GT60 to the shop and do some size comparisons. I'm leaning toward toward the GT72 at the moment.

 

I keep thinking that if you are planning to buy a new high-end laptop like this one, you should wait for the combination skylake + pascal. I think it must not be far away!

 

Pascal's too far off. That looks like mid 2016. If I can do an upgradeable card or use an external card with Thunderbolt, I'm good.

 

Did post some prices a couple of days ago, USD 3000 for the following spec'd GT72S 6QE which has now sold out. So either very few available or selling like hot cakes.


Also posted some video with i7-6820HK running Cinebench R15 at 4.2GHz in the TS thread with what looks very much like the MSI laptop. Note that thermal throttling took place some 17 seconds into the bench.

 

The above is the model I got. other then the issues I faced, missing g-sync and not being a 75hz panel.
This is a beast. With a HK processor and overclockable in bios

Have hyperX pcie m2 gen2 240gig ssd lying around and tried putting it in, not recognized........ oh well.

 

@jamesoth Congrats, I imagine there will be a few people interested to see some user performance figures.

 

Well, I got a 6924 on firestrike... with 1 fifth of the time during the benchmark the screen was blank/off........

 

Thanks for the info. $3000's a bit rich for my blood at this point. I may end up looking at the 6QD instead. The 970m did well for me in what I played, so I can probably save a few bucks with that option. I'm looking at around the $2000-2200 range for my next purchase. Maybe those will force the GS60.

jamesoth, I'd suggest trying another socket and see if you can get it to work. There are supposed to be SATA and PCI-E x4 M.2 slots. Perhaps you got them mixed up?

I don't think there are any tear down guides for the new models yet, unfortunately.

 

$3000 for that? Way too expensive. What part of that machine justifies that kind of cost? You can find machines with similar specs for close to $2000.

Heck, you can get the current top-end GT72 2QD with the 980M for around $2000. At least where I live.

 

Well that's half the problem, not everybody lives where laptops are relatively cheap. Probably get a much better price in the states.

GT72 2QD, current? I thought MSI had moved onto Broadwell for some time now, not that the difference would be that great.

@jamesoth sounds like some teething troubles, hope you get them sorted soon.

 

Yes, the 2QD with Broadwell.

GT72 2QD-144US-K is one example, with the i7-5700HQ.

 

If you feel like doing a full review thread with photos and everything, well, that'd be just swell.

 

Need to get XTU fired up and see what the options do

 

XTU?

 

Intel XTU, extreme tuning utility

 

Hmmm, I never heard of that. Everything I ahead did was in the bios. I'll have to check that out.

 

Also check out GPU tuning with MSI Afterburner, combined with XTU tuning you can get some really nice FPS bumps, and run the CPU cooler with negative voltage offsets.

Do some searching in the forums / google, there are lots of postings for tuning with those apps.

 

I've played around with afterburner, but couldn't get it to work. But then again, it was a kludged GT60 with a Clevo 970m too.

I'll check those out.

 

Don't even know if I want to keep this..... the black screen flickering when g-sync is on is driving me crazy, having paid so much for it.

And GT72s is generally a GT72 with updated internals, bought it for g-sync. But since g-sync is not working as its supposed to, maybe I will have to go for ASUS g751 with g-sync.... will loose out on skylake, but don't think thats a big deal now.

 

jamesoth, it isn't that unusual for both Asus and MSI to release new hardware, and Nvidia doesn't have their new ID's built into the inf file, you can add it yourself and install the latest drivers.

Also, I would be surprised if MSI didn't get G-sync to work correctly, again it is new tech and everyone is rushing to get it out, Asus has blown it before too, and fixed it in the end.

It's easy to get OCD about this stuff and get frustrated, if you are that way, then best to wait to buy new tech till you have verified it is functional and drivers are stable. Which can be months after initial release.

The price you pay for getting the new shiny is that it won't be at 100% at release, and you have to work with the vendor - or be patient and watch others work with the vendor, to get things working at 100%.

You might end up with the same problem with Asus

This the site I used for new inf files, and then info on how to edit myself:
http://laptopvideo2go.com/

ForceWare Updater's Quickstart Guide - modded inf files
http://forums.laptopvideo2go.com/topic/9243-forceware-updaters-quickstart-guide/

Modding Nvidia OEM INF Files
http://forums.laptopvideo2go.com/topic/30969-modding-nvidia-oem-inf-files/

 

Thanks for the links, got version 355.85 installed and the black screening in games are indeed less frequent, but still frequent in 3dmark firestrike... Panel is still 60hz and becomes fuzzy if attempt to overclock to 75......

 

jamesoth, can you disable G-sync, uncheck the box, reboot, and try setting a custom resolution for higher refresh rates to see if that helps stop the fuzzing. Then re-enable G-sync? There might be an interaction.

Some panels won't OC as far as others. My Asus 17" AUO's would only do 75/80hz, while the the Chen Mei's would do over 100hz.

The Samsung 18" in this MSI will do 100hz, and I have several custom settings between 60 to 100hz.

Also watch for GFE, or something, setting 2x DSR out of nowhere, I have to disable it once in a while.

 

I've read the Asus G-sync laptops have had similar issues. This may be more of an Nvidia issue than a vendor issue.

 

jamesoth, have you turned off desktop scaling through the "MSI Sizing app" or Display control panel.

MSI defaults to 125% magnified desktop, and I have to override it and set to 100% whenever I reinstall for testing.

Uninstall the MSI sizing app, MSI Desktop Setup (or some such), and go into the Display control panel and click the checkbox for setting all displays with 1 setting, and click on the 100% radio button.

That will stop that cause of fuzzing

 

Issue I am facing when g-sync is enable.



This with a pre release bios that msi sent me. Before the bios update, g-sync option does not exist.

 

Sadly, the service centre told me MSI HQ says my model is indeed 60hz.......

 

jamesoth, yes, they are all 60hz as comes out of the box, mine is too.

But, look at your reply again, and the quoted text, I wasn't talking about setting a custom resolution with custom refresh rate, I was talking about curing your fuzzy text / images.

Go into the Display control panel, and set the magnification to 100%, and follow the rest of the info in the post I made.

 

jamesoth, it seems G-sync still isn't working correctly. IDK if there are settings to adjust, or if it is all supposed to be automatic, maybe someone with G-sync on the built-in screen can reply to help you.

I was suggesting to disable G-sync until MSI get's it working, you can't game/benchmark with black screen like the

 

I have aorus x5 and x7 and know well how g-sync on laptops work. and this is not it.

 

jamesoth, yes, we all see it isn't working

 

Hi all!

I found here a review of the new keyboard MSI: http://www.pcworld.com/article/2978...d-thunderbolt-3-0-for-new-gaming-laptops.html.

Here you can see a comparison of the old and new keyboard: http://imgur.com/a/syD58. Surely in the new laptops GT72 with Skylake will be used so cheap keycaps with stickers on top instead of a full keys ???

Sorry for my not good english.

 

Delf1, it would cost too much to apply "stickers" to each keycap

The keycaps have the design molded in to them. As described in another thread, the old keycaps were blocking to much light, and people were complaining about it.

This generation keycaps includes a band of clear to let more light out and illuminate the keyboard better in the dark.

The darker plastic that used to cover that now clear band is reduced to just the keycap top and the edge is now clear. If it is too bright, dim the backlight.

 

MSI just released the 109 bios today. After flashing, no more black screen flashes in games and benchmarks... And screen is now 75hz with no fuzziness. All is great, except still not able to install nvidia drivers from nvidia. Getting a no compatible hardware found. Ofcos modified inf will work. but that shouldnt be the way.

But am still glad that everything worked out well.

 

Glad to see those issues being worked out.
Waiting on Nvidia to release a driver supporting MSI-version of graphics.

 

Eh, they're still using the 15" keyboard on a 17" laptop. Lazy.

 

There are the function keys, the GT72 keyboard is not used in other models so it's quite deliberate.