CPU and Storage Performance
Just as we saw with the ASUS ROG Zephyrus notebook, the MSI GS63VR has an Intel i7-7700HQ processor. However, CPU performance in notebooks using the same processor can vary quite heavily due to thermal and design constraints for the given form factor.
Rendering in Cinebench R155 shows the MSI GS63VR and the ROG Zephyrus performing nearly identically, and at a distinct speed advantage from when compared to other notebooks, including the quad-core non-hyperthreaded i5-7300HQ in the Dell Inspiron 15 Gaming.
Similarly, CPU-based encoding in Handbrake once again shows the GS63VR and ROG Zephyrus performing very closely. However, unlike the ROG Zephyrus, the GS63VR uses an NVIDIA Optimus configuration, allowing the lower power integrated Intel HD 630 graphics to be utilized, as well as Intel Quick Sync rendering technology.
With Quick Sync enabled, we see a 61% speed difference between pure CPU-based rendering on the i7-7700HQ and the Quick Sync-accelerated encoder.
PCMark 8 is a benchmarking suite that aims to emulate several different usage scenarios ranging from basic productivity to mixed workloads with light gaming and to applications for creative professionals like photo and video editing. While the "conventional" tests are running applications as you'd expect, the "accelerated" versions add OpenCL acceleration and use the available GPU devices for some operations.
PCMark being a more holistic system benchmarks allows us to explore the differences between the GS63VR and the ROG Zephyrus as opposed to the CPU that they both share.
Results of the Conventional benchmarks show similarities in performance between the two notebooks, but the Accelerated tests show a clear winner with the ROG Zephyrus. This performance advantage is likely due to the Zephyrus using it's GTX 1080 for OpenCL acceleration, and the GS63VR utilizing the Intel HD 620 graphics.
Storage performance is a bit disappointing with our configuration of the MSI GS63VR. While the Samsung PM871a performs well for a SATA device, we've come to expect NVMe SSDs with this class of notebook. It's worth noting that there are versions of the GS63VR available with NVMe drives.
For a review of a laptop with
For a review of a laptop with a max-q gpu you should at least have some kind of noise or sound analysis.
We did some testing with this
We did some testing with this notebook in our earlier WhisperMode article here: https://www.pcper.com/reviews/Graphics-Cards/NVIDIA-WhisperMode-Tested-Quieter-Gaming-Notebooks
I've updated the review to mention this article now. Thanks!
That pm871 is kinda a bummer
That pm871 is kinda a bummer compared to their other offerings.
No stress testing, no
No stress testing, no temperature and checking if throttling occurs at full simultaneous load of all CPU cores and the GPU?
That is important to consider in a high powered thin gaming/workstation laptop.
Ugh. I hate the power button
Ugh. I hate the power button on this laptop so much. The number of times I have accidentally hit it while moving from one office to another is TOO DAMNED HIGH!
(Note: note not this specific model but still a GS63VR with the same outer case)
DC port on my first and last
DC port on my first and last MSI laptop burnt out just after a year of use. All of their products are written off to me.