The MSI Pulse GL66 gives the impression of transporting us to an earlier era. Although this is a bulky piece of equipment, there is no mistaking the power that lies beneath the hood.
The most recent incarnation of the Pulse laptop, which features processors from Intel’s latest 12th-generation lineup, is designed to compete with the most powerful gaming laptops now available on the market. When you consider that it also has a screen with a resolution of 1440p and a refresh rate of 165Hz, it is evident that the 2022 GL66 is aiming to compete with some of the more powerful machines now available.
We’ve been able to get our hands on the i7-12700H/RTX 3070 model, which is a configuration that comes in at £1,799.99/$1,899, in order to have a better idea of just where this extra heft gets us.
Design
In this case, MSI has chosen not to follow the current trend in the gaming industry toward producing thinner laptops; in fact, the Pulse GL66 is a somewhat hefty piece of hardware. This is one of the biggest new products to reach the shops in the previous several months, weighing in at 2.25 kilograms, and it was certainly not enjoyable to tote in a backpack because of its weight.
It is essential to evaluate this layout in light of its power, however, because (as we will see in the following section), by the time I had completed my testing, I was content to forego portability and aesthetics in exchange for the improved cooling and functionality that larger chassis offer.
Having said that, I was unable to reconcile the exorbitant price tag with the predominantly plastic chassis that this item had. In the past few weeks, I’ve had the opportunity to play with some quite high-end machines, and the transitioning to less expensive components was definitely obvious when contrasted to my time spent with the Alienware x14 and the Razer Blade 15.
It’s true that at this price point, you won’t be able to find these components within those luxury machines, but if you’re interested in a full metal finish, you have a lot of other options available to you besides spending your money on those machines. One example that is very beneficial to one’s wallet is the Asus TUF Dash F15.
Features
This keyboard has a notably tactile feel to it when held in the hand. I feel just the correct amount of strain underneath each button, which contributes to the pleasing level of input that this area provides. These keys have a more solid feel to them when compared to the low-travel laptop keyboards that are standard these days, but they have a more precise and responsive feel as a result.
It is a far cry from the mechanical sensation that is available on the best Alienware laptops, but these aren’t the soft butterfly switches that the market appears to be leaning towards right now, and I was all the more glad for this fact.
I was a little dissatisfied to find out that it was not configurable to the key, but rather that it only gives one zone, thus the RGB deserves a special note here as well. Despite this, though, the zone only has one color.
On the good side, there is also a little number pad inserted into the deck’s right-hand side, which serves as a reliable addition to the controls you have available to you. Even though I found the smaller arrow keys that were laid out beneath it to be a source of some annoyance, this area has a wealth of untapped potential for macro mapping.
Concerning the touchpad, this model reduces travel distances while introducing a minor increase in resistance. Compare this to other variants. This has a particularly shallow feel to it, yet it still springs back with a snap, which made tapping through my usual tasks seem nicely responsive.
There are a lot of connectors on this device, which is to be expected given its chunkier appearance. You will have more than enough ports for all of your peripherals thanks to the inclusion of a USB-C 3.2 Gen 1, two USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, a USB-A 2.0, and HDMI 2.0 along the sides of the device. In light of the pricing point, however, it would have been preferable to have a Thunderbolt port in addition to the USB-C port, which would have enabled display and charging connection options.
Having said that, I was content to retain this display operating in its native mode. My evaluation model came with a screen that had a refresh rate of 165 hertz and a resolution of 1440p. It presented colors that were really appealing, and the details were exceptionally crisp.
Performance
The capabilities of the MSI Pulse GL66 make it very evident who the intended audience for this device is. If you keep your machine piled on your desk, you’ll have some spectacular games at your fingertips, despite the fact that it might not be attractive and it surely won’t move well.
This setup didn’t even flinch when playing Planet Coaster for extended hours, on a map that would fry my own Asus TUF Dash F15. That stocky design pushed through to keep things cool, and it didn’t even flinch.
There is no question that you require all of that space given that this device appears to be composed primarily of a fan. It is among the noisiest gaming laptops I’ve ever had access to, but because I was using a gaming headset, the volume of the laptop’s speakers worked hard to compete with the headset’s volume. Despite the fact that it is among the noisiest gaming laptops I’ve ever had access to, I didn’t find it to be an issue.
The Pulse was able to maintain over 60 frames per second in 1080p when running heavier games such as Metro Exodus and Total War: Three Kingdoms in our benchmarks. However, the Pulse did struggle when playing Red Dead Redemption 2 on the Highest setting, dropping to just 57 frames per second when using this setting. However, with the release of Shadow of the Tomb Raider.
Should You Buy MSI GL66
The MSI Pulse GL66 is directed firmly at those individuals who value functionality more than aesthetics. This is one heavy machine, and it has a footprint that matches its weight. Additionally, its outmoded style will not wow in the same way that some of the more streamlined rigs that we are seeing these days will.
On the other hand, the performance once you turn on the engine speaks for itself. There is a lot of serious hardware packed into all of that space, and it puts in a lot of effort to produce some seriously impressive results in terms of fluid framerates and quick load times.
This particular configuration’s price of $1,899 or £1,799 can feel a little steep at times, especially when you consider that you are giving up some crucial USB-C functions, sacrificing portability, and acquiring a plastic chassis.
However, the price is justified when you consider all of these factors. However, it is not as heavy as the comparable Alienware M15 R6, and it is quite a bit less expensive than the premium Alienware x15, despite the fact that it offers specifications that are very similar.
If you want excellent performance and you’re not going to be moving this computer around too much, it’s a good buy and a worthwhile investment because it has CPUs from the most recent generation.
If, on the other hand, the lack of portability was the primary factor in your decision to purchase a laptop rather than a full-fledged gaming PC, we suggest looking into some thinner models, which, despite their thinner profiles, may frequently deliver only a little less powerful punch.
MSI GL66 gaming laptop with RTX 3070
- The high refresh rate of the 15.6″ 144hz display ensures that every action in the game can be clearly seen.
- The 11th generation Intel Core i7 processor redefines power, providing the speed and efficiency needed to breeze through any program or game.
- Get ready to take on today’s most popular games with the MSI GL66’s supercharged graphics; they’re fuelled by NVIDIA GeForce RTX.Recreation on the Fly: Developed to be portable and light so that gamers can take it with them everywhere they go, whether to play, study, or work.
- This powerful system stays cool thanks to MSI’s patented Cooler Boost Technology. Get the ventilation you need for gaming thanks to the cutting-edge fans and heat pipes.
Conclusion
MSI GF63 Thin 11UC starts at $899 in the US and £699 in the UK. The Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 graphics core may be underwhelming, but it’s quite powerful enough to support 1080p resolution. As a result of chassis and thermal limits, thin laptops often have to skimp on components. The MSI Pulse GL66 gives the impression of transporting us to an earlier era. MSI Pulse GL66 is one of the biggest new products to reach the shops in the previous several months.
The capabilities of the MSI Pulse GL66 make it very evident who the intended audience for this device is. MSI Pulse GL66 is among the noisiest gaming laptops I’ve ever had access to, but I didn’t find it to be an issue. The Pulse was able to maintain over 60 frames per second in 1080p when running heavier games such as Metro Exodus and Total War: Three Kingdoms in our benchmarks.
The laptop’s outmoded style will not wow in the same way that some of the more streamlined rigs will. The Alienware M15 R6 costs $1,899 or £1,799. However, it is not as heavy as the comparable Alienware M15 R6.
