Testing Overview

Below is the test configuration for the MSI GT627. We will compare its performance with other recently tested notebooks. We have not included results from every single notebook we have tested in our graphs, but most of the recently tested laptops are present. If you're looking for results from other laptops, please refer to our mobile section.

MSI GT627-216US Test System
Processor Core 2 Duo P8400 (2.26GHz 1066FSB 3MB L2)
Memory 2x2048MB Transcend PC2-6400 @ DDR2-800 5-5-5-15
(Transcend JM800QSU-2G)
Graphics NVIDIA GeForce 9800M GS 1GB
Driver version 179.48
GPU/Shader/RAM Clocks: 530/1325/1600 MHz (256-bit)
Display 15.4" Glossy WXGA (1280x800)
Samsung 154AT01-A03 (Jan 2007)
Hard Drive Western Digital Scorpio Black 320GB 7200RPM 16MB (WD3200BEKT-22F3T0)
Optical Drive 8x DVDRW (Optiarc AD-7560S)
Battery 6-cell 51.8Whr
Operating System Windows Vista Hope Premium SP1 32-bit
Price Starting at $1100 online

Test configurations for the other laptops are available at the following pages:

Acer 6920G
Alienware m15x
ASUS G50V
ASUS U6V
AVADirect FL-92
Clevo D901C
Dell Studio XPS 16
Gateway M-152XL
Gateway P-171XL FX
Gateway P-6831 FX
Gateway P-7808u FX
Gateway P-7811 FX
HP dv5t
Toshiba X305-Q725

We run all of the standard application tests at the native LCD resolution - 1280x800 in this case. For the gaming tests, we will compare the GT627 to other notebooks using a baseline resolution of 1680x1050, with the laptop connected to an external LCD. We will include results at 1280x800 and 1920x1080 to show how the laptop and GPU scale to lower and higher settings. This will allow us to provide an apples-to-apples comparison with other laptops while also showing the performance you can expect at the native resolution, as well as what happens if you increase the resolution. We will also include overclocking results at the native LCD resolution.

A Tale of Beauty and the Beast Balanced Gaming Performance
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  • B3an - Wednesday, April 29, 2009 - link

    I'm not buying a new laptop until i can get one with a decent display. I agree with this review about the poor displays in most of them. I've been waiting 2 years so far to upgrade to something like a LED backlit laptop with a good screen res and image quality, or just one with a good IPS and normal backlighting even. But they're taking there time!!
  • Hrel - Wednesday, April 29, 2009 - link

    The review laptop needs to be $900 or less, simply look at this one: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9050...">http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp...&typ...

    The MSI Model with the faster CPU and higher resolution screen should be about $1100.

    Finally, crappy keyboard and cracking chassis' WHILE IN A BAG is just completely unacceptable. I think right now the Asus is still the way to go; though I really would like to see a higher resolution screen. 1520x855 or 1600x900 like Sony offers would be GREAT!!!
  • Hrel - Wednesday, April 29, 2009 - link

    That's amazing, the MSI is at the top of the list every single time; it even manages to beat out the Clevo at least once; then it's second the other times. Simply awesome! Can't believe that small overclock makes that big of a difference.
  • Hrel - Wednesday, April 29, 2009 - link

    I'm referring to the gaming test in the above comment; just to be clear.
  • Mikey - Wednesday, April 29, 2009 - link

    I think this is a great review for a great notebook. Never is there anything that is ever perfect when it comes to new tech in the market, but this MSI notebook can do it all. I don't know why these companies don't have the brains to use common sense and fix these little "issues" that people have with it. Don't they know that they could make a better product using better material? So what if it costs $100 more. I think that is worth the improvements that most people within this market segment is looking for.

    http://www.dumpsternationwide.com/">roll off dumpsters and containers>
  • crimson117 - Wednesday, April 29, 2009 - link

    How do you think the screen will be on this one? 17", 1680x1050, and claims to include "MSI vivid image enhancement technology"

    http://www.msimobile.com/level3_productpage.aspx?c...">http://www.msimobile.com/level3_productpage.aspx?c...
  • JarredWalton - Wednesday, April 29, 2009 - link

    Well, I can't say without testing in person, but take http://www.samsung.com/global/business/lcdpanel/pr...">Samsung's current laptop LCDs as a starting point. Their 17" option with WSXGA+ resolution lists a 45% color gamut (blech!), 300 nit brightness, and no contrast ration. There's a good chance that it will be a 500:1 contrast or higher, but no guarantee. If you walk down the aisles at Best Buy, Office Depot, or a similar store and look at the displays, you will likely notice that around 60-75% have poor contrast ratios, and all of them are TN panels.
  • crimson117 - Wednesday, April 29, 2009 - link

    I guess what I really want is a Dell Studio XPS 16 with a better graphics card (such as a AMD Mobile 4850).
  • IlllI - Wednesday, April 29, 2009 - link

    i'd be careful with dell. they've been known in the past to do 'panel lottery' so you might not get the same kind of lcd panel that they have in it now

  • JarredWalton - Wednesday, April 29, 2009 - link

    I'm pretty sure if you get one of the Dell laptops with a high color gamut RGB LED backlit LCD, the panels will all come from the same source (i.e. no lottery). I only know of one manufacturer doing RGB LEDs right now, at least (Seiko Epson).

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