User Interface, A/V Quality, Cooling, Software and Warranty

Yet again, much of the same commentary from our GT60 review applies here. For starters, while the SteelSeries keyboard is literally identical (and still excellent, to boot, though the layout takes some getting used to), the touchpad has seen its chrome button bar replaced (thankfully) by two separate physical buttons with a matte finish and a metal accent along the bottom border. This resolves one of the only user interface-related complaints we had with the GT60; it not only looks much nicer (and isn’t prone to being dominated by fingerprints), but it’s easier to operate, too.

The one small gripe we have apart from the layout is that on our particular review unit, the keyboard’s spacebar exhibited an odd squeaky sensation, almost as though it was clipping against the keyboard surround. We didn’t experience this on the GT60 and we haven’t seen any other complaints about it, however, so we’re fairly confident this is an isolated incident.

Elsewhere, the same complaints still apply to the touch-sensitive control center buttons above the keyboard. They’re finicky and difficult to activate, and fingerprints rule the day inevitably. It’s a small complaint, but one which we would love to see resolved.

A/V Quality

The GT70 features a 17.3” 1080p LCD panel with a matte finish. Specifically, it’s a Chi Mei Model N173HGE-L11 panel, which overall we found to be very good both in terms of color and contrast (it’s the same panel that we found in our recently-reviewed ASUS G750JX-DB71). Retail for a replacement part is only around $80 currently, but the quality of the display is excellent for a TN panel. Brightness is more than sufficient and the matte finish makes it perfectly usable in outdoor environments (provided sunlight is not shining directly onto the panel, in which case it overpowers the good—but not great—brightness). Speaking of which, the panel is specified for 300 cd/m², which is a good number.

As for audio, the machine’s speakers seem identical in performance to those of the GT60 we reviewed previously; that is to say, very good overall. There are four total speakers: two above the keyboard and two on the front edge of the machine, and the sound is rich and full-bodied. The software it comes with (Sound Blaster Cinema), meanwhile, is pretty useless, as is most post-processing software in our experience.

Cooling

Once again, the cooling system in the GT70 is literally identical to that of the GT60. The heatsink/fan and the copper piping all are located in the exact same places. The only real question, then, is how well the system’s temperatures hold up under the rule of its new chipset—and, of course, when you factor in the larger case of the GT70 (to accommodate the 1.7” larger screen).

MSI’s Cooler Boost once again makes a return on the GT70, and once again, it’s loud as hell. Nevertheless, it mostly works—at least, that is, provided you enable it early enough in the process. It successfully slowed the climb to the 90°C mark, but it did little to reduce temperatures once that level was reached.

Software and Warranty

Not much has changed in terms of the out-of-box-experience or warranty from our review of the GT60. Check out our comments there for more information on what to expect with the GT70.

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