Gaming laptops suffer from an identity crisis. On the one hand, they want to be portable devices that aren’t insanely heavy to carry around. On the other, they want to deliver the type of performance that is required to run the latest and greatest games. The latest gaming laptop from MSI, however, knows exactly what it is.
The latest gaming “laptop” from MSI won’t be the type of machine you’ll want carry around daily. With a weight of 3.8kg, the GT72 is clearly a desktop replacement that is easier to move around than a normal tower, but definitely not something for the extremely mobile gamer. Although, it all makes sense when you take a look at what’s under the hood.
The GT72 sports Nvidia’s flagship Maxwell mobile chip, with the GT880M ensuring you’re gaming needs will be more than catered for. The chip features 8GB of GDDR5 memory, which is almost unheard of even for desktop chips. The 17.3’ laptop is powered by a fourth generation Intel Core i7 chip, along with a ludicrous 32GB of DDR3 1600MHz RAM. That’s seriously more than you’ll ever need, but it’s there anyway.
Wrap that up with a 512GB SSD drive in Raid 0 configuration, a SteelSeries keyboard with backlighting and a battery that is probably going to hate its very existence, and you’ve got the GT72. Gaming laptops come with a premium price most of the time, but the GT72 offers a lot more than other products in the same price range. It’s retailing for just under R40 000 at Evetech, and they’re expecting stock in the first week of August.
It’s an expensive laptop that is likely never to move from your desk, but you probably won’t find anything close to as powerful in any other price range. Not a laptop, of course.
Last Updated: July 23, 2014
Button
July 23, 2014 at 19:26
I’ll take 2! oh and one for the man with the nice beard
Ross Woofels Mason
July 23, 2014 at 19:35
This makes the most sense for me with gaming laptops honestly. My desktop died awhile ago and I ended up just getting a powerful laptop because it was more convenient and yea it maybe moves off my desk twice a month?
So this is perfect for the average gamer who will probably just take it to friends places or lans.
HvR - Still dislikes Random.or
July 23, 2014 at 19:42
But sheeze for the price you can get a PS4, Xboner, new TV, new desktop rig, year MS Gold and PS+ subscriptions and buy out a Steam Sale with the change.
MichaelMatusowsky
July 23, 2014 at 19:55
And still have money left over to buy a car.
MichaelMatusowsky
July 23, 2014 at 19:55
The worst part is that you could get a better PC for that money. Gaming laptops just aren’t worth it.
Sir Faulty
July 24, 2014 at 06:45
I have the version before this one. The GT70 Dragon Edition and yes while its expensive (mine came in at about R32 000) I absolutely love this brands gaming laptops.
I am not due for any kind of upgrade yet (since the Dragon handles almost anything with ease) they are super smart machines and they look gorgeous.
I will probably look to upgrade mine some next year and then flog off the one I have.
Sure you can get cheaper brands, build a desktop, buy a house…whatever. I work hard for my money and since I am man in my mid-thirties with no kids draining my pocket (and no plans of ever spawning the little buggers), I can afford to indulge myself a little (lot).
Jonah Cash
July 24, 2014 at 07:39
I am a man close to 30, and also earn good money… but I have one of those little buggers and yes they eat money every day, but the joy she brings is priceless!! I do see where you are coming from though!!! Hahahaha
Would love one of these laptops!!!
Alex Hicks
July 24, 2014 at 08:20
I’m over 30 (hell I’m nearing 40) and have two of the spawn myself. I miss the gaming time; I miss disposable income; I miss the ability to drink with mates – but I love my family more than anything else.
Pretty content with my lot to be honest.
Sir Faulty
July 24, 2014 at 08:29
I can well believe it. Kids are a joy to those to that want them. I have never had the inclination (and I don’t see that changing in the near future either). Many a relationship has been washed ashore wrecked because of this but I am happy with my decisions.
I respect people who do want kinds though. Parenting ain’t an easy job. I just have to look at the scally-wag of a youngster I was when growing up and getting into all sorts of craziness that would probably result in my flipping so far now there would be a a good possibility of me never returning if I was the parent and not the child. In fact I think its the hardest job in the world so kudos to you and your loving family 🙂
Jonah Cash
July 24, 2014 at 09:35
Your choices still make us more jealous of you than what our choices make you of them!! Wow that was tricky to write 🙂
Sir Faulty
July 24, 2014 at 09:49
@Jonah – each has its pro’s and cons. My parents keep asking me who is going to look after you when you get old and I keep telling them I will be looking after myself LOL
Its funny because I have a younger brother also in his mid -thirties (he just turned 35 in March – God which makes me closer to 40) and a sister who is 27 and both of them are also not really interested in having children.
I know my mother wants grandchildren more than anything in the world but right now the prognosis is not looking to good.
Kikmi
July 24, 2014 at 10:18
just the one SSD? Whats the point of running a raid on it then? Either way, thats a fucking crazy bit of kit. How on earth did they manage to get DDR5 is a bit odd, DDR4 hasnt even been made available commercially so they must have a hit a deal or something somewhere, that or your sources are wrong. i would have imagined the headroom for the RAM upgrade would be a bigger chunk than 32gb, with 64gb sticks on the way Im certain folk would rather opt for a ram drive (we’re not talking about poor plebeians like us now are we)
Interested to see what this 880 mobile chip can do. Also interested to see if theyre going to go the UHD route, more than likely, but I fear that the impact on battery life will be pretty apparent.
CoffeeDrinker
July 24, 2014 at 11:37
Hey, the memory for the DDR5 is for the Graphics card, not the RAM, the RAM installed on the laptop is DDR3 RAM. To run RAID 0 on it, it requires 2 hard drives, saying this, the notebook comes with 4 x 128 SSD Drives. the rest, is pretty insane for a laptop. enjoy. 🙂
Kikmi
July 24, 2014 at 15:24
Ah then its Sandy’s misnomer, should be GDDR5. What gives you the impression its 4 x128gb?
CoffeeDrinker
July 24, 2014 at 15:36
Hehehe, well now that is a little secret, just kidding, there is a link to Evetechs website in the article, it broke the specs down on the website. 🙂
Kikmi
July 24, 2014 at 16:14
ah fantastic, I should really concentrate more though /: Thanks man!
Axon1988
July 24, 2014 at 12:19
Wait a minute… Eurocom’s gaming laptops blow this thing out of the water… Money is the only issue.
MakeItLegal
July 24, 2014 at 13:05
insane !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Midou Lii
November 27, 2014 at 23:52
Eurocom Panther 5SE anyone? Intel XEON processor (server based CPU!) two gpu and 4 hard drives? Damn son.