MSI GT77 Titan review: a scorching, costly gaming monster

MSI GT77 Titan

MSRP $5,000.00

“The MSI Titan GT77 is highly effective, however it’s additionally overly scorching, loud, and costly.”

Professionals

• Chart-topping CPU efficiency
• Unbelievable port choice, together with Thunderbolt 4
• Glorious audio system
• Excessive-end gaming efficiency
• A great deal of brilliant RGB flare

Cons

• Lackluster show
• Loud and scorching
• Costly
• Keyboard will get caught from time-to-time

When Intel launched its first 16-core laptop CPU, one query reverberated all through the world of high-end laptops: why? MSI’s 17-inch workstation alternative, the GT77 Titan, is among the many first machines that attempt to reply that query. It options the 16-core Core i9-12900HX, and though it offers some advantages, they aren’t price gunning for.

Multi-core efficiency is off the charts, however most functions are simply superb with Intel’s non-HX choices, particularly contemplating that this can be a gaming laptop, at the start. The GT77 Titan takes benefit of the brand new chip with an additional excessive price ticket, as effectively, making it a nasty worth even in comparison with MSI’s different high-end choices. The MSI GT77 Titan can go toe-to-toe with one of the best gaming laptops attributable to its 16-core CPU in efficiency, however it’s too costly for that benefit to matter.

Value and configurations

Jacob Roach / Digital Traits

It shouldn’t come as a shock, however the GT77 Titan is an costly laptop. A top-end mannequin will run you round $5,000 for an RTX 3080 Ti, one in all Intel’s new Core i9-12900HX processors, 64GB of RAM, and a 4K display screen at 120Hz. For $1,800 much less, you will get a Core i7-12800HX, RTX 3070 Ti, 32GB of DDR5, and the identical 4K display screen.

I wasn’t in a position to observe down my actual configuration being bought on-line. It’s the $5,000 mannequin, however mine got here with a 360Hz 1080p display screen. I’m unsure if MSI is definitely providing this display screen, however I wouldn’t advocate it. If any laptop justifies 4K, it’s the GT77 Titan. You seemingly received’t be capable of make the most of 120Hz at 4K within the huge majority of video games, however 360Hz is simply helpful for extremely aggressive esports titles.

The GT77 Titan is within the vary of ridiculously costly — if you happen to’re shopping for a laptop round this value, there’s no sense mincing phrases on $100 or $200. Nonetheless, it feels too costly. The Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 comes with similar specs for $1,500 lower than the highest mannequin, and MSI’s personal Raider GE76 is $1,000 much less if you happen to don’t thoughts the 45W HK model of the Core i9-12900.

For configurations, the RTX 3070 Ti/Core i7-12800HX mannequin is the place you wish to be. The Core i9-12900HX not often reaches its max increase clock, and the i7 comes with simply as many cores. The RTX 3080 Ti is a slight increase, however it’s actually not price an $1,800 upcharge.

Design

Jacob Roach / Digital Traits

The MSI GT77 Titan is an enormous laptop — however the entire “Titan” bit type of provides that away, doesn’t it? It’s huge even by the requirements of 17-inch workstation replacements, although. It’s over 7 kilos, making it a pound heavier than the MSI GE76 Raider, and it’s huge, measuring 15.6 inches large and 13 inches lengthy. It’s not as thick as I anticipated, although, clocking in at 0.9 inches thick.

An enormous a part of the dimensions comes right down to the vents within the again, which aggressively jut out of the again to maintain the 55W Intel processor and RTX 3080 Ti cool. MSI and Intel wish to invoice this as a workstation alternative, however the design makes it clear: This can be a gamer’s laptop with brilliant RGB, aggressive angles, and sufficient cooling potential to place the Razer Blade 17 to disgrace.

You received’t be taking the GT77 Titan out and about with you, particularly with the huge energy brick in tow. However the machine seems wonderful arrange on a desk. The again vents spill out customizable RGB lighting to match the MSI defend on the highest lid, and you’ve got full management over the lighting on the SteelSeries mechanical keyboard while you open the machine up. The lid is a little bit of a fingerprint magnet, although, as evidenced by the photograph above.

Ports

Jacob Roach / Digital Traits

An enormous laptop means a whole lot of house for ports, and MSI takes benefit. You might have two USB-C ports able to DisplayPort and Thunderbolt 4, three USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, a full-size Ethernet jack, an SD card reader, a mini DisplayPort connection, and an HDMI 2.1 connection able to 4K at 120Hz. These are all situated on the aspect of the gadget, reasonably than on the again as some gaming laptops have begun doing.

The connectivity rivals a whole lot of desktops, minus just a few USB-A ports. When you ever end up in want of extra (uncertain), you may all the time hook up a Thunderbolt 4 dock to one of many spare ports, too.

Efficiency

Jacob Roach / Digital Traits

Now for what issues: the 16-core Intel Core i9-12900HX behind the GT77 Titan. This HX processor boasts a 55W energy restrict and two extra cores than the Core i9-12900HK, making it essentially the most highly effective cellular processor you should purchase proper now. At the very least, on paper.

It does handle to beat the earlier i9 Intel has supplied, in addition to the i7 choices decrease down the stack. Nonetheless, the advantages are restricted to apps that may make the most of a whole lot of cores. In Handbrake, for instance, the additional cores helped end the render 22% quicker than the Core i9-12900HK within the Gigabyte Aero 16. That’s spectacular.

Alternatively, although, it didn’t present any profit in Premiere Professional. And as you may see from my Cinebench and Geekbench outcomes, the single-core efficiency is in keeping with the remainder of Intel’s current-gen choices. The Core i9-12900HX is one of the best, however not by a lot and solely in sure functions.

Performant as it’s, the Core i9-12900HX appears like an unhinged beast. It instantly shot to 95 levels Celsius in a run of Cinebench R23 and by no means went under 85 levels. And that’s regardless of the GT77 Titan sounding like a jet engine, making an attempt to maintain the chip anyplace close to cool.

It’s regular for gaming laptops to run loud and scorching, however the GT77 Titan is concerningly loud. When you’re operating an intense sport or utility, you’ll most likely want noise-canceling headphones on to not hear the followers. And when you’ve got anybody else close by, prepare to harass the hell out of them.

Gaming efficiency

The GT77 Titan could also be a workstation, however it’s a gaming laptop at the start. I used to be curious how the HX processor would push gaming efficiency, if in any respect, when paired with the highly effective RTX 3080 Ti. Sadly, the reply isn’t a lot.

3DMark confirmed the Core i9-12900HX in motion essentially the most, which weighs the processor’s efficiency heavier than a whole lot of actual video games. Over the MSI GE76 Raider, which has the identical GPU, you may see an 8% and 4% uplift in 3DMark Time Spy and Fireplace Strike, respectively.

The Razer Blade 17 with its Core i7-12700H isn’t far behind, although, and really managed to beat the Raider in Time Spy. It’s an ideal illustration of how skinny the margins are for avid gamers on the excessive finish.

Stepping into actual video games, there’s nothing promoting the HX processor. In Murderer’s Creed Valhalla, the GE76 Raider really outperforms the GT77 Titan, and each laptops handle the identical body fee in Fortnite. My exams have been restricted to 1080p because of the display screen on my GT77 Titan, however I nonetheless pushed the GPU with Extremely graphics settings.

That doesn’t imply the Core i9-12900HX doesn’t present any profit. In CPU-intensive video games like Crimson Lifeless Redemption 2 and Cyberpunk 2077, the additional cores and boosted clock velocity present an actual increase in efficiency. These advantages will disappear at larger resolutions, although, and the GT77 Titan is constructed for greater than 1080p.

The Core i9-12900HX is so much just like the desktop Core i9-12900KS in terms of gaming. It ekes out some leads in sure titles, however you’re largely getting the identical expertise as you’ll with the lower-powered choice.

Show and audio

Jacob Roach / Digital Traits

The 1080p show on the GT77 Titan is superb. I by no means anticipated a show-stopping show, particularly at that decision, however it might’ve been good to see given the excessive premium MSI is charging for the machine. It’s decently coloration correct however not notably brilliant at 313 nits, and the black ranges are good, however the distinction isn’t fairly excessive sufficient for them to make a distinction. It’s a well-calibrated show, although, with a measured Delta-E of 0.8.

It’s a disgrace there isn’t a brighter display screen just like the one accessible on the MSI Creator X16P or perhaps a mini-LED choice just like the MacBook Professional 16 provides. The worth actually requires a extra premium display screen. The plus of the show is its dimension. I used to be in a position to arrange the GT77 Titan on my espresso desk and lean again to play video games with a controller attributable to how giant the display screen is.

The audio system are nice and so they get tremendous loud.

Audio is significantly better thanks to 2 giant upward-firing audio system located across the keyboard. Dynaudio lead the design, and the audio system by no means distorted even once they have been uncomfortably loud at full quantity. MSI consists of software program from SteelSeries known as Nahimic, as effectively, which helps you to tune EQ and configure digital encompass sound.

The audio system are nice, however I’m unsure how a lot use you’ll get out of them. They get tremendous loud, however they’re all the time combating in opposition to fan noise when taking part in video games. Headphones are the best way to go right here, however the audio system are an excellent different for watching motion pictures or looking the web.

Keyboard and webcam

Jacob Roach / Digital Traits

One of many extra distinctive facets of the GT77 Titan is its mechanical keyboard. It comes with Cherry’s extremely low-profile switches, which give it a way more satisfying typing expertise than a conventional laptop. At the very least in idea. After utilizing the keyboard for just a few weeks, I nonetheless desire the normal design on the Lenovo Legion 5 Professional.

The journey distance and click on are each satisfying, however the keys simply aren’t constant. That is an Apple Butterfly keyboard state of affairs. Dust, hair, and dirt can simply journey below the keys and trigger them to hold, forcing you to press down tougher for an actuation. This situation got here up after just a few days of utilizing the laptop, and though keys solely sometimes stick, it’s nonetheless annoying for such an costly machine.

The trackpad is giant and labored completely with Home windows Precision Drivers, however the webcam is a bit behind. It’s solely 720p and liable to get grainy if you happen to’re in a darkish room. The distinction is notable, particularly for the reason that MSI GE76 Raider encompasses a larger decision 1080p webcam. Videoconferencing actually isn’t the main focus of the GT77 Titan, although, and it’s giant sufficient that you could strap an exterior webcam on the display screen if you happen to want.

Battery life

Jacob Roach / Digital Traits

Let’s be trustworthy: you’ll not often use the GT77 Titan other than a charger. The battery life is first rate, with the machine lasting for 4 hours and 25 minutes in my internet looking take a look at. That’s a few half-hour greater than the Razer Blade 17 and some minutes greater than the MSI GE76 Raider, however it’s removed from the heights you’ll discover on ultra-portable laptops from Apple.

It shouldn’t come as a shock that the GT77 Titan comes with the utmost battery capability you may stick with it a aircraft (99Whr), however it appears like a downright puny capability in comparison with the {hardware} contained in the machine. All-day battery life isn’t an choice for laptops within the class of the GT77 Titan, however the laptop can nonetheless final for just a few hours away from an outlet given you aren’t gaming or operating intense functions.

Our take

The GT77 Titan is a monster laptop that may rip by video games and intense functions alike. Nonetheless, I don’t assume you should purchase it. The HX processor offers solely modest good points in sure functions, and the worth is way above different 17-inch laptops with comparable specs. And that’s true even for different laptops from MSI.

It’s not a nasty machine by any metric, however I’m struggling to see the place the premium goes. There are some upsides like a second Thunderbolt 4 port and extra room for DDR5 reminiscence, however these benefits solely apply to a small variety of customers. They don’t justify a $1,000 (or extra) premium.

Are there any alternate options?

Sure. Probably the most direct different is MSI’s personal Raider GE76, which can be accessible with a Twelfth-gen Intel HX processor. The ROG Strix Scar 17 additionally comes with the identical HX processor and is significantly cheaper.

The Razer Blade 17 can be an alternate for round $1,000 much less, although it doesn’t have an HX processor and is concentrated extra on portability than uncooked energy.

How lengthy will it final?

With the {hardware} inside, you may count on to make use of the GT77 Titan for a number of years earlier than changing it.

Must you purchase it?

No. Though the GT77 Titan is actually a robust laptop, you will get one thing that performs simply as effectively for considerably much less. The GT77 Titan is all about over-the-top abundance, and it comes with a price ticket to match that objective.

Editors’ Suggestions