msi ge62 2qe apache lcd panel free sample

MSI GE62 GP62 PE60 motherboards have two or three slots available for the m.2 solid state drive upgrade. In my case I didn’t have any m.2 SSDs installed but more expensive models come with SSDs installed at factory.

In some cases the hinge problem might occur inside the display panel like shown on the following picture. The hinge gets detached from the display cover. You can try fixing it with standard machine screws but it will not look perfect.

msi ge62 2qe apache lcd panel free sample

Well-rounded gaming notebook. MSI GE62 2QE Apache is not lacking in processing power. The other equipment is also a good match: SSD, HDD, and 16 GB of RAM. The MSI commits one blunder with its built-in 4k display: it is not very bright.

With the GE62 2QE Apache, MSI presents a gaming notebook in 15.6-inch format. This is a successor to the MSI GE60-2PEi781B, which we have tested previously. The two models do not have much in common. In the GE62, MSI uses a new, somewhat slimmer chassis. In addition, there is a new graphics chip from Nvidia’s GeForce 900M series. Our test report shows whether the GE62 can compete.

The GE62"s chassis is encased completely in black. A few red elements break up this impression slightly. The covers, as well as the upper surface of the base unit, are finished in brushed metal. The rest of the case is made of plastic. The notebook does not offer a maintenance hatch. However, the underside of the base unit can be removed (more on this later).

The interface configuration gives no cause for complaint; the GE62 offers enough ports. Most ports are to be found on the left side of the case. They are set reasonably far apart from each other, so that (for example) the two adjacent USB 3.0 ports can both be occupied by USB sticks (as long as they are not extra wide).

MSI has decided to opt for a wireless module from Intel (Wireless AC 3160) in the GE62, which supports the WLAN standards 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac. The connection between the router and the notebook remains stable at a radius of 15 meters (~50 ft). In addition to the WLAN adapter, a Bluetooth 4.0 chip is also installed in the notebook. Qualcomm"s Killer E2200 Gigabit Ethernet controller handles wired network connections. According to the manufacturer, this chip offers "faster online gaming." This is apparently achieved by giving priority to data packets from games. The built-in webcam produces grainy pictures with a maximum resolution of 1280x720.

Windows 8.1 (64-bit)serves as the operating system. A recovery volume is not included. Users who wish to purchase the DVD can order one for 49 Euros (~$55) from the MSI Shop.

MSI has not equipped the GE62 with a maintenance hatch. However, it is still possible to access the innards: After removing all the screws on the machine"s underside, it can be removed with the help of a pallet knife. The user then has access to all the hardware. Two memory banks are available; each is filled with an 8 GB module (more is not possible). The system hard drive (SSD in M.2 format)can be changed for a faster model or one with more storage space. Alternatively, it can be replaced by two SSDs that form a RAID array. Apart from the SSD, a traditional 2.5-inch hard drive is also included. The hard drive can be changed easily. In cases of defects, the battery could also be changed. However, this is not the case for the processor (it is soldered in).

One does not have to spend too many words on the GE62"s keyboard, since we have already met the built-in SteelSeries model in other MSI notebooks. The flat, smooth keys have a moderate stroke and a clear pressure point. The keys also offer a pleasingly comfortable resistance. Overall, the keyboard offers a good feel when writing. First-time users will still have to get used to the layout, since not all the keys are in the places that one would expect. The keyboard also offers multicolored backlighting.

The test machine provided to us presents a glossy 4k display(3840x2160 pixels). Users who want a matte panel will have to opt for a reasonably priced GE62 model with a Full HD monitor. The built-in 4k display does not attract attention for its high brightness; indeed, the opposite is the case: we measured a luminosity of 202 cd/m². Illumination is also not the best. Here the monitor reaches a value of just 63%. The purchase price of the machine is around 2000 Euros (~$2270), and for this price we expect much more. 4k monitors like those of the Schenker XMG P505 (332.7 cd/m²; 86%) and the Acer Aspire V15 Nitro VN7-591G-75TD (303.1 cd/m²; 87%) prove that there are better options.

Contrast (676:1) and black level (0.34 cd/m²) offer more favorable results. Here the GE62 performs relatively well. However, it cannot compete with the values of the Schenker XMG P505 (1643:1; 0.21 cd/m²) and the Acer VN7-591G-75TD (1003:1; 0.3 cd/m²). The 15-inch model does not cover the AdobeRGB and sRGB color spaces; values of 48% and 68%, respectively, are only average.

In factory condition, the monitor"s average DeltaE-2000 deviation was at a level of 4.59, just barely missing the target area (DeltaE below 3). The panel does not display a blue tint. We could only minimally improve these good values with some calibration.

MSI has decided against an IPS modelfor the GE62, which is why the monitor can be viewed from all positions. Outdoor use is only possible in shaded areas; otherwise, the low brightness and glossy surfaces will make things difficult.

With the GE62, MSI has a gaming notebook in 15.6-inch format in its product range. For this test, we used the top-of-the-range model at a price of 2000 Euros (~$2270). Users willing to compromise on hardware (Full HD monitor, 8 GB of RAM, no SSD) can get their hands on the notebook for just 1500 Euros (~$1700).

Thanks to the Core i7-4720HQ quad-core processor(Haswell), the GE62 is not lacking in processing power. The CPU does not belong to the class of Spartan ULV processors; it uses a traditional mobile processor with a TDP of 47 Watts. The CPU runs with a base speed of 2.6 GHz. Using turbo, the speed can be increased to 3.4 GHz (four cores), 3.5 GHz (two cores), or 3.6 GHz (one core). The Turbo can also be used when connected to a power supply: the CPU Cinebench tests run the processor at 3.3 GHz (Multithread) and 3.4 to 3.6 GHz (Single thread). When the tests are run under battery power, the clock rates come out slightly lower (Single thread: 3.2 to 3.5 GHz; Multithread: 2.6 GHz).

It is not surprising that the system is fast and smooth. A fast SSD, a powerful processor, and 16 GB of RAM make this possible. The results in the PC Mark tests come out very well. However, HP Omen performs even better despite a nearly-identical CPU. The higher resolution of the GE62 monitor (4k vs. Full HD) is responsible for this. When the PC Marks are run with a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels, the MSI"s ratings rise to a comparable level (see table).

The GE62 uses a solid-state disk from Kingston as its system hard drive, offering a capacity of 256 GB. It uses a model in M.2 format. The transfer rates of the SSD look good. However, it is not the very best option: the user has the option of installing two solid-state disks in the notebook and using them in a RAID array. A comparison with the similarly-equipped MSI GS60 2QE Ghost Pro 4K shows that the transfer rates increase noticeably. Apart from the solid-state disk, there is also a traditional hard drive (2.5 inch). This offers a capacity of 1 TB and runs at 7200 revolutions per minute.

The GE62 is equipped with a dual graphics solution(Optimus). This consists of Intel"s HD Graphics 4600 and Nvidia"s GeForce GTX 965M. Intel"s chip takes care of everyday tasks and battery use. The GeForce is responsible for power-hungry applications like computer games. The switch between cores is achieved automatically, but there is always the possibility to switch manually. The GeForce GTX 965M uses an entry-level model in the GPU upper range. It runs at a base rate of 924 MHz. With Turbo, the speed can be increased to 949 MHz. The GPU has a 2048-MB GDDR5 memory device (128-bit interface) at its disposal. The results in the 3D Marks are on par with similarly equipped notebooks like the Schenker XMG P705. The GE62 lags noticeably behind the XMG P705 only in the Ice Storm Test. Apparently, the MSI machine"s CPU and GPU ran this test below their full cycle rates.

The GE62"s hardware allows it to play most current games at 1920x1080 pixels and very high quality settings. Only a few extremely demanding games, such as “Assassin"s Creed Unity” and “Company of Heroes 2”, overwhelm the notebook at their maximum settings; here some resolution and details have to be sacrificed. We encountered problems with some older games.”Skyrim: The Elder Scrolls” led to massive image problems. “Dead Space 3” refused to start, because apparently the performance of the graphics chip was not sufficient. This is obviously not true: “Dead Space 3” runs smoothly with even noticeably weaker graphics cores.

In idle mode, the GE62 does not emit a single peep; the fan and HDD are quiet. As a rule, the fan runs at minimum speed. The noise level is then on par with the Aspire V15 Nitro. The Schenker XMG P505 can get somewhat louder than the competition. Under load, the GE62"s fan really kicks into motion. During the stress test, we measured a noise level of 52.4 dB(A). The Schenker XMP P505 also overshoots the 50 dB(A) mark, while the Aspire runs more quietly.

The GE62 got through the stress test (Prime95 and FurMark run for at least an hour) on and off battery power with varying results: while connected to power, the graphics core ran at full speed (949 MHz). The processor clocked from 2.8 to 2.9 GHz. We reached this state on battery power as well - at least, for the first ten minutes. Then the GPU (2.4 to 2.6 GHz) and especially the GPU (135 to 500 MHz) throttled back markedly.

The temperature reached just under 50 °C (~122 °F) at many points on the upper surface of the base unit, becoming uncomfortable for the user. The Schenker XMG P505 warms up even more, since it is equipped with a stronger graphics core. The MSI Notebook is undercut by the Acer Aspire V15 Nitro VN7-591G-75TD in terms of heat build-up.

The GE62"s stereo loudspeakers are found in the front area. There is also a subwoofer, which is placed on the underside. The sound of the 2.1 system does not knock the listener"s socks off, though. Despite the subwoofer, the notebook is lacking in bass. For a better sound experience, we recommend either external speakers or headphones.

As with the competition, the energy needs of the GE62 while idling are clearly above 10 Watts. This is normal for this notebook class. During the stress test, the power consumption rose to 136 Watts. This kind of scenario hardly ever occurs in everyday use. In daily gaming use, power consumption will probably hover around 90 Watts. This is also the case for the Acer Aspire V15 Nitro VN7-591G-75TD. The Schenker XMG P505 requires more energy because of its more powerful graphics chip.

While idling, the GE62manages a run time of 4 hours, 27 minutes. The competing Schenker XMG P505 (2:54 h) gives up earlier. The idle mode was tested via the Reader"s Test from Battery Eater. The display runs at the lowest brightness level, the energy saver profile is activated, and the wireless modules are deactivated. Under load, the GE62 shuts down after 59 minutes. The Schenker XMG P505 (1:11 h) manages a few more minutes. The runtime under load was measured with the Battery Eater Classic Test, during which the monitor is on full brightness and the high-performance profile and wireless modules are activated.

The practical WLAN test causes the GE62 to shut down after 2 hours, 59 minutes, equal to the Acer Aspire V15 Nitro VN7-591G-75TD (3:01 h). During this test, web sites are automatically loaded in 40-second intervals. The energy saver profile is active, and the display brightness is at about 150 cd/m². We tested the playing duration of videos by playing the short film Big Buck Bunny (H.264-coding, 1920x1080 pixels) in a continuous loop. The wireless adapter is deactivated and the display brightness is set at about 150 cd/m². The MSI Notebook manages for 2 hours, 40 minutes. The Schenker XMG P505 achieves a duration of 2:20 h.

The runtimes of the GE62 put it in a range that we are used to in potent gaming notebooks. In an absolute sense, these values are definitely meager. The battery has more the function of an emergency power supply.

The MSI GE62 2QE Apache offers the user high application and gaming performance. Most current games can be played smoothly in high resolution (Full HD) and with high settings. Despite this performance, the chassis does not warm up excessively. The notebook is not lacking in storage space: Apart from a solid-state disk, the computer also boasts an HDD. Both drives can be easily swapped for models with more storage space. One does not necessarily expect this with a gaming notebook, but the GE62 also offers a good keyboard. The 4k display of the highest-class variant disappoints us a little. It is not particularly bright and has very uneven illumination. This should not be the case with a 2000 Euros (~$2270) notebook. Users who find much to like in the GE62 but do not want to spend 2000 Euros (~$2270), can get their hands on a less well-equipped variant. With a Full HD monitor, 8 GB of RAM and a terabyte hard drive, the machine is available from 1500 Euros (~$1700).

msi ge62 2qe apache lcd panel free sample

Bullet Points MSI Gaming GE62 2QE(Apache)-072XTR i7-4720HQ Notebook 39.6 cm (15.6") Full HD Intel® Core™ i7 8 GB DDR3L-SDRAM 1000 GB HDD NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 965M Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) FreeDOS Black, Red

Long product name MSI Gaming GE62 2QE(Apache)-072XTR i7-4720HQ Notebook 39.6 cm (15.6") Full HD Intel® Core™ i7 8 GB DDR3L-SDRAM 1000 GB HDD NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 965M Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) FreeDOS Black, Red

The short editorial description of MSI Gaming GE62 2QE(Apache)-072XTR i7-4720HQ Notebook 39.6 cm (15.6") Full HD Intel® Core™ i7 8 GB DDR3L-SDRAM 1000 GB HDD NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 965M Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) FreeDOS Black, Red

MSI Gaming GE62 2QE(Apache)-072XTR i7-4720HQ Notebook 39.6 cm (15.6") Full HD Intel® Core™ i7 8 GB DDR3L-SDRAM 1000 GB HDD NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 965M Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) FreeDOS Black, Red:

The official marketing text of MSI Gaming GE62 2QE(Apache)-072XTR i7-4720HQ Notebook 39.6 cm (15.6") Full HD Intel® Core™ i7 8 GB DDR3L-SDRAM 1000 GB HDD NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 965M Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) FreeDOS Black, Red as supplied by the manufacturer

MSI has engineered a lightweight chassis using not only traditional aluminum, but also an Mg-Li alloy. As most of the chassis comprises of the special alloy, it is 44% stiffer and 23% lighter than an aluminum-only chassis, as well as being the first such backbone used in a gaming notebook.

The first Super RAID design—one notebook with two M.2 SSDs RAID 0 (128GB or 256GB) units, is yet another world first courtesy of MSI. Two M.2 SSDs and one HDD can be installed in the same laptop without the need to expand the size of the laptop, increasing read, write, and saving speeds. *Please contact your local dealer for final SKU.

To satisfy consumers desire to experience high quality sound effects, MSI partnered with top audio brand Dynaudio, which has a devoted aspiration for “Authentic Fidelity” to meet this demanding standard. It equips the MSI GAMING-Series gaming notebook with top-notch audio features, creating a realistic sound and immersive effects. Any high quality stereo source is transformed into true-to-life, multi-channel sound. No need to purchase extra speakers, wires or speaker stands to appreciate room-filling sound.

The MSI Audio Boost design enhances the output sound detail and sound stage by 30% more. The gold flash audio jack provides stable sound transmission (reduced obstruction) and works in conjunction with the optimized headsets AMP (Audio Power Amplifier) design, characterized by low noise and low distortion, to greatly enhance headphone performance and faithfully reproduce each acoustic detail.

Short summary description MSI Gaming GE62 2QE(Apache)-072XTR i7-4720HQ Notebook 39.6 cm (15.6") Full HD Intel® Core™ i7 8 GB DDR3L-SDRAM 1000 GB HDD NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 965M Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) FreeDOS Black, Red:

This short summary of the MSI Gaming GE62 2QE(Apache)-072XTR i7-4720HQ Notebook 39.6 cm (15.6") Full HD Intel® Core™ i7 8 GB DDR3L-SDRAM 1000 GB HDD NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 965M Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) FreeDOS Black, Red data-sheet is auto-generated and uses the product title and the first six key specs.

Long summary description MSI Gaming GE62 2QE(Apache)-072XTR i7-4720HQ Notebook 39.6 cm (15.6") Full HD Intel® Core™ i7 8 GB DDR3L-SDRAM 1000 GB HDD NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 965M Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) FreeDOS Black, Red:

This is an auto-generated long summary of MSI Gaming GE62 2QE(Apache)-072XTR i7-4720HQ Notebook 39.6 cm (15.6") Full HD Intel® Core™ i7 8 GB DDR3L-SDRAM 1000 GB HDD NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 965M Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) FreeDOS Black, Red based on the first three specs of the first five spec groups.

MSI Gaming GE62 2QE(Apache)-072XTR. Product type: Notebook, Form factor: Clamshell. Processor family: Intel® Core™ i7, Processor model: i7-4720HQ, Processor frequency: 2.6 GHz. Display diagonal: 39.6 cm (15.6"), HD type: Full HD, Display resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels. Internal memory: 8 GB, Internal memory type: DDR3L-SDRAM. Total storage capacity: 1000 GB, Storage media: HDD, Optical drive type: DVD Super Multi. Operating system installed: FreeDOS. Product colour: Black, Red

msi ge62 2qe apache lcd panel free sample

A little while ago, we reviewed MSI"s gargantuan GT80 2QE Titan SLI, the kind of machine only a true gaming fanatic with a bottomless bank account would buy. As impractical as that particular model was, there"s no denying the appeal of a powerful, portable machine. For those of us with more realistic budgets and requirements, MSI offers several other models including the GE62 6QD Apache Pro, which we"re reviewing today.

The Apache Pro is actually fairly slick, as far as gaming laptops go. At 29mm thick, it has the proportions of a modern laptop, which helps disguise its overall bulk. Its 2.4kg weight isn"t too bad either - this certainly isn"t the kind of machine you"d enjoy carrying around every day, but it is actually portable and practical as an everyday computer, unlike the hulking Titan SLI.

The 15.6-inch screen has a resolution of 1920x1080 which isn"t groundbreaking but is perfectly sharp thanks to Windows 10"s scaling abilities. You don"t get touch capabilities, but that also means there"s no glossy reflective glass which we"re happy about. The panel is also well suited to the laptop"s Nvidia GeForce GTX 960M GPU with 2GB of VRAM, which shouldn"t be stressed with a more demanding resolution in games.

MSI has tieups with Killer, Nahimic, Dynaudio and Steelseries for the networking, sound and input capabilities of its laptops, motherboards, and other products. The Apache Pro gains a Killer controller that can prioritise traffic over the Gigabit Ethernet and Wi-Fi connections; Nahimic and Dynaudio for virtual surround and effects; and the aforementioned Steelseries keyboard.

It was almost completely smooth sailing with the MSI GE62 Apache Pro, though of course there were times when it was blindingly obvious that the hard drive was throttling something or the other. Games in particular showed this a lot, and we haven"t seen such long load screens in a while. We did also have a few moments of unresponsiveness when multitasking between heavy apps with file system operations going on in the background.

Performance was fairly strong, though in many cases the Apache Pro lost out to the older HP Omen. HP"s offering is more expensive and doesn"t have a brand-new Skylake CPU or DDR4 RAM, but it does have an SSD and more VRAM, so it was no surprise that tests involving the multiple subsystems favoured the Omen. We managed 2007 and 3072 in PCMark 8"s Home and Work tests respectively, which were both quite a bit less than the Omen"s scores.

The GE62 6QD Apache Pro is by no means a perfect machine, but it has a lot of modern hardware and thus a lot of potential. Some of the annoyances, such as the overabundance of annoying software and the mechanical noises, could be easy for the company to fix. The biggest problem is in fact one users can take care of themselves: adding an SSD. However, none of these problems should have come up in the first place.

Just to be clear, the specs on MSI"s website state "1 x 2.5" HDD + 1 x NVMe M.2 SSD by PCIe Gen3 X4 / SATA-SSD Combo" under storage, and its product listing on Amazon.in reads "Get in the game before everyone else with the latest PCI-E Gen 3.0x4 bandwidth utilsing NVMe technology on single M.2 SSD. Harness the full performance potential of the Gen 3.0 SSD through the optimization of the hardware and software outputting extreme read speeds up to 2200MB/s, 5x faster than SATA3 SSD"s [sic]". It appears that a version with an SSD is sold in some parts of the world and that this text has been copied and pasted carelessly. We checked this with MSI via email, and a company rep did not see any problem with it.

It isn"t enough to say that the Apache Pro is still a whole lot faster than mainstream notebooks because it"s also that much more expensive. It isn"t enough to say that India gets customised variants of products with features shaved to save costs. MSI should not be selling this laptop without at least a basic SSD, no matter if it would raise the end-user cost a bit. This is an otherwise fantastic device in a beautiful package - it just doesn"t deliver the full experience you"re paying for. If MSI could take care of this one big issue and the few other smaller ones, the Apache Pro could be an unbeatable machine. Price (MRP): Rs. 1,15,000

msi ge62 2qe apache lcd panel free sample

There are many different msi ge62 needed to build a custom PC, from hard disk drives and solid-state drives (HDD"s and SSD"s) to graphics processing units and memory RAMs – short for random access memory. All of these critical pc components are joined onto the motherboard – the central communicating device that keeps it all together. If you are looking for wholesale msi ge62 that are all easy to use and come with clear guidelines in multiple languages, then explore our online wholesalers at Alibaba.

Alibaba supply all of the msi ge62 needed to build a gaming computer. Find a range of gaming PC parts, including central processing units, motherboards, cooling systems, memory RAMs, graphics processing units, operating systems, and gaming peripherals. With all of these msi ge62 for gaming, available wholesale, users can build their own customized PC.

Building a computer doesn"t always come at a low price. Buying multiple msi ge62 can be expensive and takes time. At Alibaba"s online wholesalers, we supply computer components at affordable rates, so your customers can spend the time they want building the right PC for them. All of our wholesale msi ge62 are designed to run as smoothly as possible for optimum efficiency. We also stock wholesale laptop accessories for building laptops, including laptop replacement screens for customers with smaller devices. If your customers are looking to budget build a PC, then shop online today at Alibaba.com.

msi ge62 2qe apache lcd panel free sample

MIL-STD 810G testing is conducted on select MSI products. The testing is not a representation of MSI products satisfying U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) requirements or for military use. Validation process is done in laboratory conditions. Test results do not guarantee future performance under these test conditions. Damage under such test conditions is not covered by MSI’s standard warranty..

msi ge62 2qe apache lcd panel free sample

Enter the MSI GE62 2QD Apache Gaming notebook from, you guessed it, MSI!  This sub £1100 portable gaming powerhouse features the new NVIDIA GTX 960M graphics card which comes with 2GB of VRAM; perfect for the 15.6″ 1080p screen which is also included.  This is powered by the 4th generation Intel Core i7 4720HQ processor which turbos at 3.6GHz; the stock speeds are 2.6GHz but can be controlled via the intuitive MSI Gaming app which comes featured with the GE62 Apache series.  Add 8GB of 1600MHz DDR3, 1 x 128GB SSD and 1 x 1TB HDD into the mix and you have a pretty potent little gaming notebook.  Of course MSI know this and have impecabbly designed their entire range of Gaming series notebooks from the entry level range all the way to the GT80 Titan SLI; this one will set you back £3000+!

If I had to sum up the MSI GE62 2QD Apache in a short sentence, it would include such words as manificent, blingy, premium and quality.  Ok so that was a sentence too which featured all those words but I guess you get the idea right?  The GE62 2QD combines top of the range components with more budget/mid-range orientated components to give it a price achieveable for most consumers looking to either move into the gaming notebook world, or for those wanting to completely replace their desktop to save space, maybe go travelling with or any other reason imaginable.

So what are my main highlights?  Well first of all, the included SteelSeries keyboard is a nice nifty innovation and you will only find these currently on MSI gaming notebooks which is great for MSI; the SteelSeries Engine 3 software is one of the easiest and most intuitive pieces of peripheral software I have ever used, even Engine 2 was brilliant so a testament to SteelSeries here; sorry MSI!  Although another striking MSI feature aside from the MSI Gaming APP, is the 15.6″ LCD screen which has a maximum resolution of 1080p and looks absolutely fantastic; very rich colours, great viewing angle and very Anti-Glare for those who hate sheen and screen glare from sunlight!  Also included is a free subscription to XSplit Gamecaster which allows gamers to stream their gaming experience to the world; use the webcam to fully immerse yourself, or if you are like me, humiliate yourself even further!

msi ge62 2qe apache lcd panel free sample

We"ve reviewed the huge desktop replacement 17" MSI Dominator laptops and the slim and light Ghost Pro that"s a gamer"s take on the Dell XPS 15 and 15" Retina MacBook Pro. This time we look at the middle of the family, the MSI Apache Pro. If you"re looking for something more affordable than the Ghost and Stealth models, with much more portability than the Dominator line, it"s the Apache Pro. Whether you need a GE62 15.6 or GE72 17.3 inch laptop, you"re covered since the Apache comes in both sizes with identical specs and ports. The Apaches have the latest Intel Skylake 6th generation CPUs, fast PCIe SSD boot drives, spacious secondary HDDs for your games and media and your choice of NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M or 970M graphics. They have full HD 1920 x 1080 matte IPS displays, but no touch screen.

The GE62 is priced around $1,100 and the GE72 starts around $1,300-- both nicely configured with 16 gigs of RAM, a quad core i7, 128 gig boot SSD and NVIDIA GTX 960M graphics. For fairly powerful gaming laptops that can handle pro apps like Adobe Premiere Pro easily, those are nice prices. MSI laptops are tuned for gaming--heat is well managed as is noise and there"s no thermal throttling when gaming. The gamer oriented tuning, optical drive, on-board Ethernet and generous port selection are features that set the Apache line apart from The XPS 15, 15" MacBook Pro with Retina Display and the handful of additional slim and light laptops that take on many of the same chores as the Apache.

Our 15.6" GE62 review loaner came from XoticPC.com. They sell a variety of gaming laptop brands and models and will customize them--handy if you"re not comfortable opening up a laptop. They can re-paste the CPU and GPU with IC Diamond compound, upgrade the RAM and storage, and their prices are very competitive. They also do a full round of performance testing before they send the laptop out--the results of which are included in a binder.

The Apache Pro sports MSI"s familiar but slightly updated look with a double "waterfall" crease in the black aluminum lid and a fairly slim design--though not wildly skinny like the 15" Ghost and 17" Stealth models. In terms of practicality, unless portability is paramount to you, the Apache"s less waifish design allows for quieter cooling and surface temperatures that won"t singe the hairs off your hands and thighs when gaming. They"re still modern looking laptops that aren"t chunky by any means and their weights at 5.3 and 6.5 lbs. respectively are manageable. For gaming laptops, their look is understated with a tiny bit of red trim and MSI"s Ferrari style logo hinting at what"s inside. The backlit SteelSeries keyboard has multicolor zone lighting that"s programmable, so you can go with a single staid color at work and a veritable rainbow when gaming. It"s a very good keyboard that I find more enjoyable than the GT72 Dominator Pro keyboard, and it"s fine for writing at length. Unfortunately, MSI continues to lead the path to the bottom when it comes to trackpads. Synaptics trackpads are generally quite good, but the Apache Pro trackpad has barely adequate tracking and it tends to ignore two-finger gestures half the time. Get a mouse. Really.

Build quality and esthetics are typical MSI, which is to say that the machines look and feel like they were designed by engineers rather than designers. They"re well put together with practical designs and the internals are a delight if you"re like me and analyze motherboard and component layouts with relish. Intelligently laid copper heat pipes, dual fans with quiet bearings and upgradable RAM, SSD, HDD and WiFi cards are hallmarks of MSI design. They"re a company that makes some of the best gaming motherboards for desktops--they know what they"re doing.

The laptops have aluminum lids and wrist rest areas and plastic bottoms (fine with us since plastic doesn"t get as hot as metal). The design and port selection is identical on the MSI Apache Pro GE62 and Apache Pro GE72--the choice between them comes down to display and laptop size preference. The 15.6" GE62 has a larger than average footprint in terms of width (left to right), which again is typical for MSI because they include a number pad in the keyboard area. Thus, the size difference between the two isn"t as much as you might expect. The depth and thickness are competitive with the Lenovo Y700 models, which are also available in 15 and 17 inch sizes. Our only complaint with build quality centers on the display bezel, particularly on the 15" GE62--it has flex across the lid (the price of a thin design) and it"s disconcertingly easy to push the bezel in at the bottom center area. I"ve owned a few MSI gaming laptops and I"ve yet to have the bezel fall off, but it doesn"t inspire confidence. The 17" GE72 has less flex--you"d think an even longer expanse would give more, but apparently there"s more reinforcement on the larger model.

The laptop"s Dynaudio stereo speakers fire from the front edge (dual drivers left and right) and there"s a subwoofer on the bottom. MSI gaming laptops have very good speakers that are considerably louder and fuller than the Windows competition. I love using them as a Netflix TV when exercising on loud gym equipment for this reason. MSI switched from SoundBlaster to Nahimic sound software last year--I have no strong preference, though I know some folks liked SoundBlaster"s software better.

The Apache Pros have a DVD burner, 3 USB 3.0 ports (right and left side), a USB-C port, Gigabit Killer Ethernet, HDMI, mini DisplayPort, SD card slot and 3.5mm stereo out and mic in with an ESS Sabre audio amplifier. They have Intel AC 3165 dual band WiFi 802.11ac with Bluetooth. In comparison, the larger and more expensive Dominator Pro GT72 is available with a Blu-Ray drive, NVIDIA GTX 980M, Killer WiFi 802.11ac, optional G-Sync display and several full size USB 3.1 ports.

Both models have 1920 x 1080 IPS non-touch matte displays, and both of our review units had panels made by LG. The pixel density is higher on the 15.6", so it looks a little bit sharper, and our GE62 15.6" model had a brighter panel that measured 290 nits of brightness vs. 260 nits on the 17" GE72. Both have good color gamut that cover 94% of the sRGB spectrum and 73% of Adobe RGB. These aren"t crazy full Adobe RGB gamut displays like the much more expensive Dell XPS 15 with 4K Infinity display, but for those who work professionally with web graphics and video, they do cover the sRGB spectrum used for the web. Color calibration with the default setting (MSI has a color settings app) wasn"t superb, but calibrated to near perfection easily. These displays are good enough for pro work if you"re a photographer, even if they don"t rate quite as high as the more expensive Dominator GT72 1080p matte display. Black levels were decent but not exceptional at 0.4 and contrast was good at 550:1. In comparison, the more expensive Dell XPS 15 with full HD display has a 1200:1 contrast ratio and slightly better 0.34 black levels.

msi ge62 2qe apache lcd panel free sample

MSI’s laptops have always had a major gaming focus, and in recent years have struck a great balance between price and performance. They"ve never been particularly pretty, though, preferring to let companies like Alienware put a premium on unique designs. The GE62 2QE Apache largely sticks to the same formula.

There"s plenty of room at the sides for ports, and MSI has filled every last centimetre. There’s a DVD optical drive, USB port and SD card reader on the right side, and three USB3 ports, Gigabit Ethernet, DisplayPort and HDMI video outputs, and two 3.5mm audio jacks on the left. You also get 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0.

The Samsung PLS panel on this machine is great, and really lifts the Apache above its much cheaper rivals. With 92.7% coverage of the sRGB colour gamut, a big 911:1 contrast ratio and reasonable low 0.4cd/m2 black levels, images looked rich and colourful. Viewing angles were wide, too. We were able to see plenty of detail when navigating through the dank subways of Metro: Last Light Redux. It"s also very bright at over 360cd/m2, which, combined with the anti-glare coating, means you should be able to game outside (although not in direct sunlight) if the mood takes you.

The MSI GE62 2QE Apache is a well-specified gaming laptop with a great screen, although at its original £1100+ price, we weren"t convinced it was good value. However, now that the cost of this machine has fallen by nearly £200, it"s fantastic. It"s easily comparable to the likes of the Scan 3XS Graphite LG157, which is only very slightly cheaper than the specification on test here. With its excellent screen and top-notch graphics performance, the MSI GE62 2QE Apache gets a Best Buy award.