We lately coated Intel’s new Twelfth technology Core-H sequence laptop CPUs that are constructed on the Intel Twelfth technology Core structure. Now it’s time to see what it might probably do in the actual world utilizing the MSI GE76 Raider high-end Artistic or Gaming laptop.
This laptop is a superb illustration of the top-end efficiency customers can count on from Intel’s newest providing. As you’ll see, it’s just about the very best pace cash should purchase, however the value-proposition is thrilling too.
Specs Highlights
As we stated, the GE76 Raider unit is powered by the Intel Core i9-12900HK processor (w/ 32GB of RAM), a chip with a 45W base TDP, however it might probably go as excessive as attainable 115W and as little as 35W. For comparability, your typical productiveness skinny & gentle laptop goes from 15W to 25W.
The i9-12900HK’s 14 (6+8) cores setup is a substantial enchancment over the earlier octa-core Core i9-11980HK, and also you’ll see efficiency numbers mirror that.
This laptop is designed as a desktop substitute for top-line efficiency above all. The MSI GE76 Raider may also be ordered with a extra inexpensive Core i7-12700H CPU and exists in many alternative configurations, however we’ve got one of many dearer fashions, estimated at $3999.99.
The graphics processor is an NVIDIA GeForce 3080Ti with 16GB of video reminiscence and a most energy of 175W. The wattage is vital as it would considerably have an effect on efficiency in several laptop fashions utilizing the identical “3080 Ti” specs, so maintain an eye fixed out for that.
Sometimes, the cooling system determines how excessive the wattage can go, as all that computing energy generates lots of warmth.
Efficiency
Let’s go over the system efficiency straight away since that’s the entire level of this pc. All numbers level to glorious features throughout the board, simply have a look at the benchmarks:
We’re not stunned by the big features as a result of they mirror what we’ve seen with the desktop CPU fashions. The identical Intel Alder Lake structure is doing wonders and considerably lifts efficiency for each Single-core and Multi-core cell purposes.
The enhancements are shortly revealed by artificial benchmarks resembling Geekbench. Nevertheless, extra sensible checks like Cinebench (3D offline rendering) provide related insights.
“NOTHING STANDS IN INTEL’S WAY WHEN IT COMES TO SHEER CPU PERFORMANCE”
It’s attainable to run tons and tons of various benchmarks, and they are going to nearly all correlate and present the identical sort of efficiency variations. If you should examine on a particular software’s pace, do extra analysis, however the expectations are clear.
When operating on Intel’s newest platform, any closely multithreaded software will expertise very considerable features. In the intervening time, nothing stands in Intel’s approach in the case of sheer CPU efficiency.
We will use numbers gathered from our Acer Predator Triton 500 SE review (i9-11900H, RTX 3080) to check how a high-end Intel Eleventh technology high-end laptop carried out. The Lenovo ThinkPad P15 (Gen2) workstation we reviewed can be a wonderful reference. Each laptops had been outfitted with an RTX 3080 (non-TI) equal.
CPU-wise, the numbers present a slightly extraordinary efficiency evolution from the Eleventh-gen Intel Core processors such because the i9-11900H and i9-11950H.
The graphics efficiency of this laptop can be out of this world, and that comes from two elements. First, purposes that had been considerably CPU-limited and ran at 1080p decision will exhibit greater graphics efficiency, because of the CPU increase.
Secondly, this MSI GE76 Raider comes outfitted with NVIDIA’s newest GeForce RTX 3080Ti (freshly introduced at CES), which is quicker than its RTX 3080 (non-Ti) predecessor.
Traditionally, the GeForce Ti (Titanium) fashions are the generational “peak” of any given NVIDIA structure, the place all of the attainable tuning was accomplished (# of cores, frequency, clock path, and many others.) and what could possibly be the “excellent GPU” of that technology.
Regardless of the same title, the RTX 3080Ti options 7,424 graphics computing cores, whereas the 3080 (non-Ti) has 6,144 of them. That’s 20% extra cores, and you could possibly contemplate this a tough baseline for elevated graphics efficiency.
“IT’S INCREDIBLE TO GET THIS TYPE OF GENERATIONAL PERFORMANCE LEAP”
The mixed enchancment in CPU and GPU efficiency results in mind-blowing benchmark outcomes. This MSI GE76 Raider is considerably quicker than the in any other case glorious Predator Triton 500SE with the i9-11900H and an RTX 3080. It’s unbelievable to get this sort of generational efficiency leap, however needless to say the Predator 500 SE can be half the burden of the GE76 Raider.
Word that these graphics benchmarks are extra akin to video-games workloads designed to stress the GPU. Workstation-type work ought to stress each CPU and GPU to the utmost and yield even greater efficiency deltas.
One thing that charts don’t present is the potential power-draw of the system. Laptops such because the Predator Triton 500 SE shipped with a 230W energy provide, however this GE76 Raider comes with a 330W energy provide.
We additionally have a look at the efficiency “for the worth” as laptops like this aren’t low cost. We estimate our configuration prices about $3999.99 (priced to be confirmed by MSI).
Intel’s new platform has good efficiency/worth regardless of the comparatively excessive price ticket, which suggests you’re getting efficiency proportional to what you pay.
Whether or not you’re a inventive skilled or an avid gamer, the top-line efficiency is unbelievable. Intel’s Twelfth-generation CPU is the de-facto platform to think about, even from a worth perspective.
Such a pace increase can simply translate into productiveness acquire that may (hopefully) be billed to purchasers and leveraged through the lifetime of your new pc.
If worth is just not an element, what concerning the efficiency relative to measurement and weight? Our knowledge exhibits the MSI GE76 Raider providing a few of the finest pace/weight ratios, particularly in the case of CPU efficiency. Sure, you is perhaps carrying a couple of extra Lbs in your backpack, however every pound packs much more efficiency, so it’s simpler to justify.
The brand new Intel Thread Director mixed with Home windows 11 appears to supply higher perceived responsiveness because it’s alleged to ship background duties to one of many effectivity cores.
Battery Life
In our battery life checks, we ran workplace productiveness duties with the laptop set for “finest battery life” and a show brightness of 110 NITs. As a reminder, this laptop has a 99Wh battery capability.
You may get round 5h30 hours through the use of the “Hybrid Graphics” settings, which makes use of the built-in GPU for mundane duties and fires up the NVIDIA GPU when wanted.
There’s a minor efficiency penalty for high-performance graphics because the pipeline would wish to undergo the built-in GPU regardless. I like to recommend this setting if you happen to’re engaged on the go.
The “Discrete Graphics” mode (no built-in GPU) yields solely 2h30 of steady workplace productiveness use, and that’s because of the base energy envelope of the 170W discrete GPU.We ran all of the benchmarks in “Discrete Graphics” mode.
The Intel Alder Lake structure has lots of potential for prolonged battery life. However we’re unlikely to see proof of this on a gaming laptop, and we’ll have to attend for skinny & gentle laptops with a a lot decrease system energy profile.
Regardless of the 330W energy provide, the battery costs comparatively slowly, and it could take practically 1hr of cost to go from 0% to a 50% cost. Once more, I count on individuals to plug this laptop, however a fast top-off on the airport is not going to occur.
Industrial Design
The 17.3” MSI GE76 Raider has a gray metallic physique, and its design is pleasant to a company boardroom so long as you don’t gentle up all of the RGB lights (it’s configurable, don’t fear).
For individuals who need that “gamer” have a look at residence, it’s completely attainable, and the light-bar and per-key RGB backlight will do wonders to make your setup look cool. The included SteelSeries app can assist you set issues up, and your profile may be saved on-line.
The 6.39 Lbs weight of the laptop makes a desktop substitute or a cell workstation in my guide. It is extremely just like the burden of the ThinkPad P15 Gen2. Moreover, you’ll have to hold the large 330W energy provide.
A lot house is devoted to the large cooling system, which helps this laptop attain its full efficiency potential. That’s a major benefit of bigger laptops as cooling typically comes all the way down to physics: greater (cooling) is healthier.
The cooling efficiency additionally permits excessive masses with out the laptop changing into too noisy, which is vital in a real-world state of affairs, particularly for professionals who have to focus.
Keyboard and Trackpad
The per-key RGB backlighting is nice as a result of it lets me configure the laptop’s keyboard lighting the identical approach I’d with my desktop setup. I discover it improves my productiveness as I see the identical visible marks as I transition from one pc to the opposite.
The tactile suggestions of the keys is okay however isn’t a lot to speak about. The keyboard is just not practically as comfy as a ThinkPad-style keyboard and isn’t clicky and agency both. It’s a pity as a result of there’s ample inside quantity to make issues a bit higher, particularly at that worth level.
The shortage of “Fn” button on the left aspect of the keyboard is a bit annoying because it’s one thing that many individuals use along side the F-keys on the prime to manage mundane issues like brightness or quantity.
The trackpad is comparatively small, which is okay for gaming, however maybe a bit tight for Artistic functions, relying on how you’re employed.That stated, in a “desktop substitute” context, I additionally count on many individuals to have a standalone keyboard/mouse combo for optimum productiveness.
Ports
I like having plenty of ports within the again (Energy, Thunderbolt, HDMI, Mini DisplayPort, 2.5Gb Ethernet) because it facilitates cable administration and reduces the probability of getting cables interfering with mouse utilization the left or proper aspect.
On the correct, you’ll discover two full-size USB ports, together with an SD card reader. There’s another full-size USB, a USB-C port, and a 3.5mm audio connector to the left.
I want we had no less than another TB4 port, however I’d personally use a TB Docking Station to make use of this pc as a desktop substitute.Nonetheless, there’s enough space to incorporate further USB-C TB4 connectors, and the Intel platform helps it.
Sound
The quad-speaker setup of the MSI GE76 Raider works very nicely and delivers a high-quality sound with nice physique and bass, though spatialization may have been higher (with out-of-the-box settings).
Relative to the dimensions of the laptop, I used to be anticipating the sound to be a bit extra highly effective. It’s a slight lack of alternative as a result of the laptop is so large that I believe MSI may (ought to) have discovered a technique to have even higher audio system for an ideal audio expertise.
That stated, avid gamers are possible to make use of headphones, and Artistic execs would possibly hook it to an exterior speaker anyway. But, at this worth, I count on one of the best of all the pieces.
Show
We received the FHD show on this laptop, and if you happen to want extra pixels, MSI has 2560×1440 (my favourite) and 3840×2160 choices. Increased decision shows are inclined to have greater coloration accuracy and maybe greater brightness. Nevertheless, this FHD show has a 360Hz refresh charge, for the pickiest avid gamers.
Additionally, the FHD decision is essentially the most pleasant choice to battery life because the 4K possibility can minimize battery endurance by 30% in checks. At the very least, that’s our common expertise with 4K shows as of late.
Our SpyderXElite checks affirm this FHD show has a 100% sRGB coloration gamut (81% AdobeRGB, 81% P3), which works for Artistic work as nicely.
The most brightness is 330 NITs, and whereas not distinctive, it’s greater than sufficient for indoor or workplace utilization. I principally used a 60%-75% brightness in a well-lit room through the take a look at.
Conclusion
The MSI GE76 Raider (official web page) is a superb gaming laptop and an awesome consultant of the quickest Core i9-12900HK laptops. It delivers unbelievable efficiency and simply surpasses the 2021 champions by as much as 30%, which is terrific.
Definitely, the Intel Core i9-12900HK (official web page) units the usual for cell efficiency.
The GE76 Raider has many show choices as a workstation, and RAM may be prolonged to 64GB at order time. Our unit even got here with 2x 2TB of SSD storage.
“THE INTEL CORE I9-12900HK SETS THE STANDARD FOR MOBILE PERFORMANCE”
The GeForce RTX 3080Ti GPU is spectacular and delivers prime graphics efficiency nicely above the earlier RTX 3080 (non-Ti). Briefly, NVIDIA beats itself as a result of nobody else will.
We’ve proven that despite the fact that the worth is excessive, you’re really getting what you pay for, and also you’re not being overcharged for a little bit bit extra pace and don’t undergo from diminishing returns.
And at last, there isn’t a “deadweight” as every Lbs of this pc brings its share of system efficiency. The MSI GE76 Raider makes a case for proudly owning a heavier laptop to get unequaled efficiency.
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