MSI GL72M 7RDX-800 Review: Adequate Gaming on a Budget

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MSI GL72M 7RDX-800: At First Glance

The MSI GL72M 7RDX-800, a gaming laptop that has captured the attention of gamers, offers a compelling blend of power and functionality. This machine is part of MSI’s GL series, renowned for delivering high-performance gaming experiences in a sleek and relatively affordable package.

Looking back at MSI’s history, the company has consistently been at the forefront of gaming technology. With a commitment to innovation and performance, MSI has carved a niche for itself in the gaming laptop market.

The GL72M 7RDX-800 stands as a testament to MSI’s dedication to providing gamers with cutting-edge hardware and an exceptional gaming experience. Introduced as a successor to its predecessor (MSI GL72 6QF-405), the GL72M 7RDX-800 has evolved to meet the ever-growing demands of the gaming community.

The laptop features a 17.3-inch display, a powerful Intel Core i7 processor, and an NVIDIA graphics card, ensuring smooth gameplay and immersive visuals.

Now, join me as I unravel the gaming prowess of this laptop and answer the burning question – is this the ultimate gaming companion you’ve been searching for?

MSI GL72M 7RDX-800: Design, Display, Ports, and Connectivity

When it comes to gaming laptops, design plays a crucial role in creating that immersive gaming experience. The MSI GL72M 7RDX-800 does not disappoint in this aspect, showcasing a design that strikes a balance between aesthetics and functionality.

The laptop’s chassis is constructed from high-quality plastic materials that not only give off a premium feel but also contribute to its durability. However, the matte plastic of the chassis is extremely prone to fingerprints.

While the GL72M 7RDX-800 doesn’t offer an extensive range of color options, the black and red color scheme is a classic choice that exudes a gaming vibe. For instance, the red accents on the MSI logo – located on the center of the lid – complement the black chassis.

The subtle but bold inclusion of the logo adds a touch of personality to the laptop. Additionally, it creates a visually appealing combination that aligns with gaming aesthetics without being overly flashy.

The hinges, often overlooked but critical aspect of a laptop’s design, are robust and well-engineered in the GL72M 7RDX-800. They provide a smooth opening and closing motion of the laptop’s lid while maintaining stability during usage.

Opening the lid of the laptop reveals its 17.3-inch display with FHD (1920 x 1080) resolution. The 17.3-inch Full HD display sets the stage for an immersive gaming and multimedia experience.

It delivers crisp and sharp visuals, ensuring that every detail in games, videos, and applications is rendered with clarity. The 17.3-inch screen size complements this resolution, providing an expansive canvas for gaming and multimedia consumption without compromising pixel density.

The color accuracy of the display is a crucial factor for an immersive visual experience, and the GL72M 7RDX-800 doesn’t disappoint. The display reproduces vibrant and true-to-life colors, enhancing the overall gaming and multimedia content.

This level of color accuracy contributes to a visually appealing experience. Also, it aids in tasks that demand color precision, such as content creation and photo editing.

However, one notable drawback is the narrow viewing angles of the display. This means that deviations from a straight-on perspective may result in a reduction in color accuracy and brightness.

While this might not be a significant concern for solo gaming sessions, it’s worth considering for activities like co-op gaming. Besides, the laptop offers a 60 Hz refresh rate.

For casual and mainstream gamers, a 60 Hz refresh rate provides a smooth and responsive gaming experience, handling most games with ease. The display refreshes 60 times per second, minimizing motion blur and ensuring that fast-paced action sequences are displayed with clarity.

This is particularly important for genres like first-person shooters and racing games, where quick reflexes and precision are key. While a 60 Hz refresh rate suffices for the majority of gamers, competitive esports players might desire higher refresh rates like 120 Hz.

One of the standout features of the GL72M 7RDX-800’s display is its impressive brightness levels. With a maximum brightness of 340 nits, the display excels in both well-lit and dim environments.

This is particularly advantageous for gamers who may find themselves in varied lighting conditions. Hence, it ensures that the on-screen action remains vibrant and clear.

Surrounding the laptop’s massive 17.3-inch display are bezels with standard width, neither exceptionally thin nor thick. While narrow bezels have become a trend in modern laptop design, the GL72M maintains a balance, offering a clean and traditional look.

The black bezels contribute to a focused and immersive visual experience without distracting the user from the display. Interestingly, a slanted “MSI” inscription finds its place on the bottom bezel of the display.

This adds a touch of branding to the laptop’s overall appearance. The inscription, while not really subtle, serves as a distinctive mark that aligns with MSI’s gaming identity.

Meanwhile, the top bezel houses an HD webcam in the center, adhering to the conventional placement seen in most laptops. However, the quality of the webcam may not match the expectations of users who prioritize high-quality video calls or content creation.

Nonetheless, it serves its purpose for casual video chats but may fall short for those who demand superior imaging capabilities.

Moving on, positioned front and center for a gaming-centric experience, the MSI GL72M 7RDX-800’s keyboard is a standout feature. The full-sized, backlit SteelSeries keyboard with red accent lighting enhances visibility and adds a touch of style.

Additionally, the keys offer a tactile response and sufficient travel, providing gamers with a satisfying typing experience. The inclusion of a dedicated numeric keypad is a practical addition for users who frequently deal with numbers.

Beneath the keyboard sits the touchpad, flanked by two dedicated click buttons. The touchpad is responsive, allowing for smooth navigation, and the physical click buttons provide tactile feedback.

While gamers might lean towards an external mouse for precision, the touchpad functionality remains reliable for everyday tasks. That aside, the GL72M’s sound system delivers a robust audio experience.

The integrated speakers, located near the front edges, produce clear and immersive sound quality. They are more than capable for casual gaming, multimedia consumption, and video conferencing.

Ensuring optimal thermal management is critical for sustained gaming performance. Therefore, the GL72M 7RDX-800 employs the Cooler Boost 4 cooling system with 7 heat pipes and strategically placed vents and fans.

The cooling system is proficient at disbanding heat during intense gaming sessions, preventing thermal throttling. Hence, it helps in maintaining the laptop’s performance over extended periods.

Carrying on, the MSI GL72M 7RDX-800 offers an adequate amount of ports. On the left, there is an Ethernet port, Kensington lock, two USB 3.0 ports, a display port, an HDMI slot, one USB Type-C port, a microphone jack, and a headphone jack.

Meanwhile, the right side houses the DVD drive, a USB 2.0 port, a charging port, and an SD card reader.

Regarding dimension and weight, the MSI GL72M 7RDX-800 measures 419 x 287 x 29 – 32 mm (W x D x H) and weighs 2700 g. With this weight and dimension, moving the laptop around may not be really comfortable.

Nonetheless, the laptop is lighter than the likes of the Acer Aspire Nitro BE VN7-793G-5811 and ASUS GL753VE-DS74. These laptops weigh 3098 g and 2866 g, respectively.

To conclude this design review section, I will rate the MSI GL72M 7RDX-800 an eight out of ten.

MSI GL72M 7RDX-800: Processor Specs and Performance

The beating heart of any gaming laptop lies in its processor, and the MSI GL72M 7RDX-800 doesn’t disappoint with its 4-core Intel Core i7-7700HQ CPU. This 7th-generation quad-core processor is designed for high-performance computing.

With a base clock speed of 2.8 GHz and the ability to turbo boost up to 3.8 GHz, this CPU is tailored for demanding tasks. This makes it well-suited for gaming, content creation, and resource-intensive applications.

In the realm of gaming, the i7-7700HQ proves its capabilities by effortlessly handling modern titles. The four cores, eight threads, and ample 6 MB cache contribute to smooth gameplay, reducing lag and ensuring a responsive experience.

So, whether you’re engaged in intense firefights or exploring vast open-world environments, the processor’s capabilities shine through. This provides the necessary horsepower for a captivating gaming session.

Beyond gaming, the GL72M 7RDX-800’s processor excels in multitasking scenarios. The quad-core architecture, combined with hyper-threading technology, allows users to seamlessly run multiple applications simultaneously.

Besides, content creators will appreciate the CPU’s prowess when handling video editing, 3D rendering, and other creative tasks. This showcases the laptop’s versatility beyond the gaming arena.

However, the i7-7700HQ, like many high-performance processors, generates heat during intensive tasks. Nonetheless, the GL72M 7RDX-800 addresses this through its robust cooling system, featuring strategically placed vents and fans.

Honestly, the choice of the Intel Core i7-7700HQ processor in the MSI GL72M 7RDX-800 significantly impacts the overall user experience. Gamers and power users will appreciate the seamless performance in both gaming and productivity tasks.

To further know the performance of this gaming laptop with the Intel Core i7 processor, I put it through a Cinebench 15 test. Cinebench R15 is a benchmarking tool developed by MAXON.

It assesses the performance of a computer’s hardware, particularly its CPU. Moreover, Cinebench R15 consists of two main tests – the single-core test and the multi-core test.

The single-core test primarily assesses the performance of a single CPU core. On the other hand, the multi-core test evaluates the overall performance of all available CPU cores.

Both the single-core and multi-core tests generate a numerical score, with higher scores generally indicating better performance. According to the test results, the MSI GL72M 7RDX-800 scored 156 points on the single-core test.

Meanwhile, on the multi-core test, the laptop delivered a test score of 731 points. While these are impressive numbers, they fall slightly short of the scores gotten by ASUS GL753VE-DS74 which uses the same processor.

Specifically, this ASUS laptop delivered a 159 points single-core test score and 738 points multi-core test score. Nonetheless, the MSI GL72M 7RDX-800 offers a powerful CPU that can perform most tasks and run most title AAA games without stress.

Due to that, I will rate the laptop an eight out of ten in this section.

MSI GL72M 7RDX-800: Memory Specs and Performance

In the pursuit of gaming and multitasking excellence, the memory (RAM) of a laptop plays a pivotal role. The RAM influences the overall performance and responsiveness of the system.

Gladly, the MSI GL72M 7RDX-800 doesn’t disappoint in that area with its carefully curated memory specifications. To start with, the GL72M 7RDX-800 features DDR4 RAM.

This type of RAM is widely adopted and efficient memory technology known for its improved speed and power efficiency compared to its predecessors. Apart from its impressive RAM type, the laptop comes equipped with a standard memory of 8 GB out of the box.

With this standard memory configuration, the MSI GL72M 7RDX-800 will definitely meet the memory requirements of most games. Even if it doesn’t, the laptop allows upgradability, featuring two memory slots and supporting a maximum RAM capacity of 32 GB.

The ability to upgrade the RAM offers a future-proofing element, ensuring that the laptop can adapt to evolving software and user demands.

That being said, it is important to note that my review model came with 16 GB of RAM. With this amount of RAM, the laptop provides smooth multitasking, quick application loading times, and efficient handling of memory-intensive processes.

In fact, while running about 20+ Chrome tabs, the laptop didn’t lag a bit even as I was switching between multiple tabs. The laptop’s impressive memory performance extends to a PCMark 8 test I conducted to further prove the laptop’s capabilities.

In case you’re wondering, PCMark 8 is a benchmarking tool that measures the performance of a computer across various real-world usage scenarios. The benchmark focuses on assessing a system’s capabilities in handling everyday tasks, productivity, and entertainment applications.

At the end of the PCMark 8 test, the MSI GL72M 7RDX-800 delivered a score of 4735 points. With this score, the laptop proves to be a better performer than the Acer Aspire Nitro BE VN7-793G-5811, which scored 4486 points.

Hence, the MSI GL72M 7RDX-800 deserves nothing less than a nine out of ten rating in the memory department.

MSI GL72M 7RDX-800: Storage Options and Performance

The MSI GL72M 7RDX-800 offers users a dual-storage solution, providing flexibility and adaptability to different storage requirements. Users can choose between two storage options – 2.5″ 5400 RPM SATA HDD and M.2 NVMe PCIe SSD.

The MSI GL72M 7RDX-800 supports a maximum storage capacity of up to 1 TB for the SATA HDD and 128 GB for the M.2 NVMe PCIe SSD. For a standard user, these storage capacities will be more than enough to store applications and multimedia files.

However, for a gamer, these storage capacities are quite limited. The inadequacy of storage space in gaming laptops is a common concern, primarily due to the substantial size of modern game installations.

Modern AAA games often come with large file sizes, sometimes exceeding 50 GB or even 100 GB per title. This is attributed to high-quality graphics, detailed textures, extensive game worlds, and cinematic content.

Besides, games frequently receive updates, patches, and additional content post-launch. These updates can also be substantial in size, further contributing to the need for ample storage space.

Before moving on, it is essential to mention that my review unit came with 1 TB HDD storage. Although this storage option offers more storage space than the SSD option, it is quite slow.

For instance, on a CrystalDiskMark test, the MSI GL72M 7RDX-800’s HDD storage delivered a sequential read speed of 135.3 MB/s. Also, it recorded a sequential write speed of just 127 MB/s.

Compared to the Nexoc G739 with an SSD storage option, those read and write speeds are a joke. Specifically, this laptop’s SSD has a sequential read and write speed of 1666 MB/s and 1192 MB/s, respectively.

For your information, read speed represents how quickly data can be retrieved from a storage device. Meanwhile, write speed represents how fast data can be opened on a storage device.

Hence, if you value speed than storage space, it is ideal to buy the MSI GL72M 7RDX-800 with the SSD storage option. However, if you prefer storage space to speed, the HDD storage option is the best for you.

Meanwhile, if you want both speed and storage space, I am happy to inform you that the GL72M 7RDX-800 supports a combo storage option. Thus, you have the flexibility to utilize both the SATA HDD and M.2 NVMe PCIe SSD concurrently.

To conclude this storage review section, I will rate the MSI GL72M 7RDX-800 a seven out of ten.

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MSI GL72M 7RDX-800: Graphics Card Specs and Performance

The gaming prowess of the MSI GL72M 7RDX-800 is propelled by its dedicated graphics card, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050. This mid-range GPU brings a commendable balance of performance and efficiency to the gaming laptop, catering to the needs of gamers.

The GeForce GTX 1050 is part of NVIDIA’s Pascal architecture, offering a solid foundation for gaming laptops. It offers a base GPU frequency of 1354 MHz and a boost GPU frequency of 1455 MHz.

Moreover, with 2 GB of GDDR5 dedicated VRAM, the GTX 1050 provides ample graphics power for a range of gaming titles. While it may not represent the bleeding edge of graphics technology, the GTX 1050 proves more than capable for mainstream and slightly demanding games.

For instance, I was able to get about 63 fps while playing Rise Of The Tomb Raider on the MSI GL72M 7RDX-800.

Beyond gaming, the GTX 1050 contributes to the overall performance of the GL72M 7RDX-800. Creative professionals engaging in tasks such as video editing, 3D modeling, and rendering will benefit from the GPU’s capabilities.

That being said, I put the MSI GL72M 7RDX-800 through a 3DMark 11 test in order to know more about its graphics performance. 3DMark 11 is a benchmarking software that focuses on assessing the graphical and gaming performance of a computer system, particularly its DirectX 11 capabilities.

On the test, the MSI GL72M 7RDX-800 scored 7594 points, which is pretty impressive. However, the laptop falls short of the Nexoc G739, which scored 8800 points with its NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile GPU.

In conclusion, the choice of the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 in the GL72M 7RDX-800 strikes a balance between affordability and performance. While not designed for the highest graphical settings in every title, the GTX 1050 provides a satisfying gaming experience for the most part.

Also, the laptop handles daily tasks, multimedia consumption, and moderate gaming demands with ease. Thus, I will rate the MSI GL72M 7RDX-800 an eight out of ten in this section.

MSI GL72M 7RDX-800: Battery Life and Performance

Gaming laptops are known to have poor battery life. Sadly, the MSI GL72M 7RDX-800 faces the same challenge.

With a 6-cell 41 WHr Lithium-Ion battery, the laptop attempts to strike a balance between performance and portability. However, the results may leave users wanting more, especially during demanding tasks.

In a web surfing battery test, the GL72M 7RDX-800 managed to last just 3 hours and 23 minutes. This runtime indicates the laptop’s limitations when engaged in lighter tasks.

While three hours is sufficient for some, others may find themselves reaching for the charger sooner than desired. To make things worse, gaming puts significant pressure on the laptop’s battery.

To be more specific, while playing games on the GL72M 7RDX-800, the battery died after just 40 minutes. This emphasizes that extended gaming sessions on battery power alone are not the laptop’s strong suit.

Other gaming laptops such as the Nexoc G739 and Asus GL753VE-DS74 have a slightly better battery life. The former lasted for about 5 hours on the web surfing test and 2 hours while gaming.

Meanwhile, the latter lasted for 4 hours on the web surfing test and 47 minutes while gaming.

All in all, I will rate the MSI GL72M 7RDX-800 a six out of ten in the battery department.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

In wrapping up our journey with the MSI GL72M 7RDX-800, it’s clear that this gaming laptop is a robust machine. For gamers seeking a laptop that can handle the latest titles without breaking the bank, the GL72M 7RDX-800 offers a compelling package.

Let’s cut to the chase, if you’re after a gaming laptop that doesn’t compromise on performance but won’t drain your savings, this is a solid choice. The Intel Core i7 processor and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 graphics card make sure your games run smoothly.

Also, the spacious 17.3-inch display is a visual treat, providing ample screen real estate for gaming sessions. Sure, the battery life might not win any awards, and you’ll want to keep that power cord handy for extended gaming sessions.

But let’s be real – aren’t most of us plugged in when it comes to serious gaming anyway?

Now, this laptop isn’t for everyone. If you’re looking for something feather-light or planning to carry it around all day for work or class, you might want to reconsider.

It’s not the most portable option out there, but hey, it wasn’t designed to be. It’s a gaming laptop, plain and simple, and it does that job well.

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