MSI GF65 Thin (9SEXR-249) review: RTX graphics power for less than $1,000. Hi everyone, I posted the deal on the MSI GF65 Thin yesterday and I thought I would compile a post answering all of the questions everyone had about this laptop. At least the storage has returned to a healthy 512GB SSD. The GF65 Thin comes in lots of configurations, too, including one with 16GB of dual-channel RAM and a Core i7 for $300 more, which is still a good deal (especially if you get it with a $100 rebate). MSI knows how to build high-performance gaming laptops, even for entry-level gamers, with the GF65 Thin as proof. The power supply is even reasonably compact for a gaming laptop. The upgrade process is at least a simple one. And it's got all the memory and storage you could want at that price and form factor. You will receive a verification email shortly. Or at least longer than a GTX 1650, 1650 Ti or 1660 Ti, which are more typical of a laptop at this price. This is the cheapest RTX 2060 laptop that I have seen in a very long time. Two NVMe slots also makes for an easy transfer if you do end up swapping out your boot drive. MSI's new GeForce RTX 2060 GAMING Z can be found for around $380-$390, a $30-$40 or so premium over NVIDIA's own GeForce RTX 2060. With DLSS offering the ability to improve frame rates, with little downside on the second-gen DLSS 2.0, the jump to the RTX 2060 nets the possibility of a large performance boon over 16-series cards of more than the silicon technically allows. Here are the $999 RTX 2060 gaming laptops we've found so far. In this review, we take a look at the MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Super Gaming X. The power input is in the middle of the left side along with an HDMI output (4K at 30Hz) so they're out of your way (assuming you're right-handed); all of its other ports are on the right side. Unfortunately, that means replacing the 512GB SSD with a 256GB one, which after OS installation is running frightfully low on capacity with only a few benchmarks installed. Geforce RTX 2060: Test-Fazit Die Nvidia RTX 2060 Founders Edition liefert ein von Full HD bis 4K durchweg hohes Tempo und ist deutlich flinker als das Vorgängermodell GTX 1060. In order to hit a specification roughly analogous with the UK model at £999, you'll have to spend $1,099. The Asus TUF FA506IV, too. In order to get your hands on an RTX 2060 for $999, you'll have to make do with Intel's Core i5 9300H, in lieu of the Core i7 9750H found in the UK model. But with only a single channel in play, that 8GB doesn't get you very far. The MSI GF65 Thin brings with it two key selling points: an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 GPU and one of the lowest prices for a gaming laptop you'll find right now. You will have to put your faith in Nvidia and game developers to go above and beyond to access that performance, however, and it's by no means a guarantee—the least bit for older games. We delete comments that violate our policy, which we encourage you to read. Video playback battery drain test (streaming minutes), Discuss: MSI GF65 Thin (9SEXR-249) review: RTX graphics power for less than $1,000, GF65 Thin comes in lots of configurations, newer version with a 144Hz display for $1,149, Microsoft Windows 10 Home (64-bit); 2.4GHz Intel Core i5-9300H; 8GB DDR4 SDRAM 2,667MHz; 6GB Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060; 512GB SSD, Microsoft Windows 10 Home (64-bit); 1.1GHz Intel Core i7-10710U; 32GB DDR4 SDRAM 2,667MHz; 4GB Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 with Max-Q Design; 1TB SSD, Microsoft Windows 10 Home (64-bit); 2.6GHz Intel Core I7-9750H; 16GB DDR4 SDRAM 2,667MHz; 3072MB N512GB SSD; Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050; 512GB SSD, Microsoft Windows 10 Home (64-bit); 2.6GHz Intel Core i7-9750H; 16GB DDR4 SDRAM 2,667MHz; 6GB Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 Ti with Max-Q Design; 256GB SSD + 1TB HDD, Microsoft Windows 10 Home (64-bit); 2.4GHz Intel Core i5-9300H; 8GB DDR4 SDRAM 2,667MHz; 4GB Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650; 512GB SSD. Pop the underside off by removing an ungodly quantity of screws and you'll find a spare NVMe slot and a spare SODIMM slot. At first glance not much has changed with the exterior of the GF65 compared with its predecessor. Cyber Monday deals: see all the best offers right now! The models available in the US have seen especially harsh cuts to come in under $1,000. That extra performance doesn't do battery life any favors: The GF65 Thin lasted just under five hours on our streaming video test. However, you can add another 8GB RAM on your own down the road. MSI's GF65 is one of the first of a handful of gaming laptops to make good on that promise. Bath With the release of its Super GPU silicon for mobile, the RTX 2070 Super and RTX 2080 Super, Nvidia also promised to make its RTX 2060 GPU available in a gaming laptop for under ($999) £999. If you reside in the US, you can find that similar configuration I mentioned for $1,099 across major retailers. That's more graphics headroom than you'd typically find and a speedy display to match. As important as it is to point out what's been lost in order to hit £999, it's just as important to quantify what has been gained as a result of offering RTX at this price point. So whatever misgivings I may have for the chassis in terms of its looks, it's capable enough of maintaining decent performance. And it's also of the IPS variety, so good marks here for an all-round decent panel pairing for the GF65's entry-level RTX GPU. The MSI GF65 Thin brings with it two key selling points: an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 GPU and one of the lowest prices for a gaming laptop you'll find right now. RTX 2060 GPU available in a gaming laptop for under ($999) £999, little downside on the second-gen DLSS 2.0. I do like that it's more discreet about being a gaming laptop, though. The performance is more than good in the game and in everyday use, as well as the build quality (touchpad aside). Without some power management and a dimmed display, you won't last too long away from an outlet. What could become a boon to the GF65 (and the TUF, for that matter) is the growing prevalence of DLSS within the latest games. Processor - Intel Core i7 9750H Be respectful, keep it civil and stay on topic. Both memory and storage have been stripped back in order to keep the balance sheet for parts in good stead with the shift to the RTX 20-series GPU. Receive mail from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors? With its black brushed-metal lid and keyboard deck, plastic body and red-backlit keyboard, the GF65 Thin looks a bit dated compared to its competition. 80% MSI GF65 2020 review: gaming on tight budget Quelle: Phandroid EN→DE Overall, my experience with the MSI GF65 was quite enjoyable. Throughout our gaming benchmarks, the MSI GF65 performs well—if only a little shy of the Asus TUF FA506IV equipped with an RTX 2060 and AMD Ryzen 4800H. However, if you are going to go above $1,200, there are better deals and nicer designs to be had. From there he graduated to professionally break things and then write about it for cash in the city of Bath, UK. The keyboard is big and comfortable for typing and gaming and the font choice is easy to read, which, believe me, can be a challenge with some gaming laptops. You've got to really have your heart set on Nvidia RTX functionality to choose this gaming laptop over one a more balanced build. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is absolutely out of the question without an upgrade. Memory speed - 2,666MHz Buying an entry-level gaming laptop for $1,000 or less typically means you're getting a discrete graphics chip that's good for playing current demanding games at reduced quality settings. It's powered by an RTX 2060, marking a step-up upgrade over the GTX 1660 Ti in 2019's top model. The card features MSI's compact rendition of the Twin Frozr 7 cooling solution that offers idle fan stop. © Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, The GF65 THIN 9SEXR feels like a partially incomplete product by comparison, and lacking what is required to get the most out of it. PC Gamer is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. MSI GF65 Thin 9SEXR is a laptop that tries to bring the cost of accessing the RTX 2060 to a lower level. good (84%) MSI GP65 Leopard 9SE-225US Intel Core i7-9750H NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 Mobile Gaming - 08/25/2019 - v6 Test device courtesy of MSI Download your licensed rating image as PNG / … Refresh rate - 120Hz Model - GF65 THIN 9SEXR (UK) Again, at $1,000, this performance in a laptop is tough to find. GPU - Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 Even if this configuration isn't exactly what you want, there is likely one that meets your performance and budget needs. But if you're willing, then the MSI GF65 offers a low-cost entry-point into RTX on mobile with an easy upgrade path to greater performance later in life. Please refresh the page and try again. With the specs list of the UK model as it is, the GF65 does leave me wanting for more. All rights reserved. Please deactivate your ad blocker in order to see our subscription offer, Every RTX 2060 gaming laptop under $1,000. Resolution - 1920 x 1080 Also, I appreciate that MSI didn't try to jam in a number pad, though I wish it had put some space around the arrow keys. Discussion threads can be closed at any time at our discretion. I don't mean to be disparaging of the MSI GF65 THIN 9SEXR, but take a look at its technical specifications and you'll find the same parts that have been powering our machines for over a year—there's truly nothing Super, 7nm, or 10th Gen about it. Strangely the MSI GF65 THIN 9SEXR will be available exclusively at Curry's PC World from May 4th in the UK. That's the norm for a gaming laptop, though. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Previously, the ASUS TUF FX505DV was available for $870 with a weaker Ryzen 5 processor. We're all for bringing the price of gaming laptops down, but what will you actually get? But at 1.86kg it is at least lighter than some comparable laptops in this price bracket. That potentially means more to parsimonious customers than high-end GPUs, and it's not often that gaming laptops are level-pegging with their DIY PC counterparts. © 2020 CNET, A RED VENTURES COMPANY. The last-gen GF65 (2019) doesn't suffer the same fate. MSI GF65 Thin 10Sx review – set your expectations correctly Source: ... MSI GF65 Thin 9SEXR-249 GeForce RTX 2060 Mobile, Coffee Lake i5-9300H. In this review, we take a look at the MSI GeForce RTX 2060 Super Gaming X. Storage - 256GB NVMe SSD CNET may get a commission from these offers. That's actually rather favourable to the dollar when you look at today's exchange rate, and you still hold on to that 512GB SSD, but it's not quite in keeping with Nvidia's $999 promise, is it? This card is based on the same board design as the RTX 2060 Gaming X, but with an additional power-phase, 8 GB of memory, and the better-endowed GPU. Performance is decent in today's games, but I'm not entirely convinced how much ray tracing you're going to get done with a spec that only gets by with the skin of its teeth without cutting-edge rendering tech helping to grind performance into pulp. MSI's Dragon Center app lets you keep tabs on system performance as well as change to different performance profiles that can be helpful if you need to conserve power for work or push its performance for gaming. At least it houses a panel rated to 120Hz, which is suitably fast to make good on the promises of the RTX 2060 within. In fact, to date, it is one of the least expensive laptops with this GPU, with a price of 1349 euros on Amazon. To keep the price low, though, MSI used a single, 8GB stick of memory, so the out-of-the-box performance isn't as good as it could be. The body feels sturdy and the plastic keeps it light -- the laptop only weighs 4.1 pounds (1.8 kg). This page provides reviews and other infos about the MSI GF65 Thin 9SEXR-249 of the series GF65 laptop. So, this is undoubtedly a really solid deal. That's true in all but Far Cry New Dawn where the TUF inexplicably, and repeatedly, soared above the rest. PCMark 8 Home. We saw no significant dips in performance across a lengthy three run marathon of the Metro Exodus benchmark at ultra, either. Ray tracing reproduces how light behaves in the real world improving shadows and reflections to give games a more photorealistic look and immersive feel. Despite the first wave of Intel 10th Gen Comet Lake H-series laptops starting to filter out from the rank and file of Intel's partners—including MSI's very own GF63 Slim in identical garb to the GF65—it's instead made the decision to stick with the older, cheaper, Core i7 9750H. Memory bandwidth is significantly hampered, and that may find you dropping frames in demanding games or incredibly conscious of app RAM usage for the duration of your time with the GF65. Thank you for signing up to PC Gamer. The higher-end Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 chip in the GF65 Thin should keep your frame rates up for some time, though. This card is based on the same board design as the RTX 2060 Gaming X, but with an additional power-phase, 8 GB of memory, and the better-endowed GPU. BA1 1UA. While the Core i7 9750H hits max velocity at 4.5GHz—quite a bit lower than its 10th Gen sibling—what matters most is whether it can sustain its rated clocks. Sign up to get the best content of the week, and great gaming deals, as picked by the editors. The 8GB of dual-channel memory is capable of getting by in most titles, especially at 1080p on a laptop such as this. That puts a hard limit on your choice of games (or game), too. The RTX 2060 is also better for PC-driven VR games and it supports games with ray tracing. Yet its announcement has come as part of one of the few captivating developments in gaming laptops beyond AMD's Ryzen 4000 APUs. In a single-core run of Cinebench R15, it maintained 4.4GHz for the duration, only a touch shy of the chip's rated limit of 4.5GHz boost, and in multi-core testing that drops to around the 3.7GHz mark, but maintains it throughout. MSI offers a factory overclock of 1695 MHz GPU Boost. Thanks to a broad range of configuration options and fair pricing, the MSI GF65 Thin is worth checking out. It's undoubtedly a little on the large size, too, especially as we've already seen some incredibly thin gaming laptops so far this year. Screen size - 15.6-inch With relatively familiar specifications from the 14nm family, and an apparent price premium on the 10th Gen chips—by Intel's own admission—I can't help but think it made the right choice. ... a 6GB Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 graphics chip and a 15.6-inch 1080p display with a 120Hz refresh rate. Joining the fray is Intel's Core i7 9750H. MSI didn't make the WASD keys stand out from the other with the exception of a little bump at the bottom of the W key like those on the F and J keys for finding the home row for typing. Also, while this configuration is still available, there is a newer version with a 144Hz display for $1,149. And while that all makes an RTX 2060 for under £1,000 sound like an alluring offer, MSI has made some sacrifices with the 2020 model of the GF65 in order to scrape in under the mark. It's not too different than what other PC makers offer at its $999 price except for two things: a 6GB Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 graphics chip and a 15.6-inch 1080p display with a 120Hz refresh rate. Memory - 1x8GB DDR4