[ntab Configuration]
For many years, the MSI GP series has been among the best budget gaming laptops on the market. The GP series has similar cooling to MSI’s more expensive GE series but saves money with a lower quality chassis and reduced number of ports and features. On a lower tier than the GP series, MSI has the GF and GL series, with inferior cooling and significantly worse chassis build materials. Consequently, given its quality and price range, the GP series is designed to go against the Acer Helios, Asus TUF series and Dell G5.
The MSI GP65 reviewed here is the company’s latest version of this model, complete with the new Intel 10th Gen i7 processor, a potent dedicated graphics card from Nvidia, a 144Hz display alongside a plethora of RGB lighting features, all packed in a compact chassis. The base configuration starts at $1,199.00 ($1,163.03 on sale) but the configuration reviewed here costs around $1,499.00 ($1,454.03 on sale).
Configuration specifications
| Display |
15.6-inch, 1920 x 1080 @ 144Hz, Matte, IPS LP156WFG-SPB3/LGD0625 |
| Processor |
Intel Core i7-10750H @ 2.60GHz (6c/12t 45W) |
| Memory |
Samsung 16GB DDR4 2666MHz (dual-channel) |
| Video card |
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 8GB GDDR6 (TU106M) 115W |
| Wireless card |
Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201 |
| Storage |
Samsung 512 GB M.2 PCIe SSD |
| Battery |
51 WHr 6-cell Li-Ion |
| Operating system |
Windows 10 Pro (Version 2004) |
| Full specifications here |
A local retailer provided the unit, and the machine was tested as MSI delivers it. No enhancements or changes were done to the laptop except for installing the operating system.
[ntab Build quality]
Physical size
| Width: |
360 mm / 14.05 inches |
| Depth: |
249 mm / 9.80 inches |
| Height: |
Front: 24 mm / 0.94 inch
Rear: 28 mm / 1.10 inch |
| Laptop weight: |
2.207 g / 4.86 lbs |
| Charger weight: |
957 g / 2.10 lbs |
| Laptop + charger weight: |
3.164 g / 6.97 lbs |
MSI GP65 Leopard (10SFK) display lid
 |
Following MSI’s tradition of making new laptops based off older models, the new GP65 Leopard borrows the design and features of its predecessors. It uses the same chassis as the 2018-2019 GP series and its AMD based version, the Alpha 15. For those who want to dig deeper into the previous generation of MSI laptops, Noteb did an extensive review of the Alpha 15 a couple of months ago.
In summary, the chassis is made of plastic with a thin aluminium layer on the back of the lid. The laptop is black and has a rather clean design with some red elements between the exhaust vents. There is also a logo in the middle of the lid, surrounded by two vertical lines resembling those of a sports car, a subtle indication that this is a gaming laptop. The chassis is reasonably sturdy with minimal flex on both the keyboard deck and display lid, and it can easily open with one hand up to 160 degrees.
MSI GP65 Leopard (10SFK) keyboard view
 |
Just like on the MSI Alpha 15, the typing experience on the SteelSeries keyboard feels great. Even though the key’s travel time is a little bit on the short side, they still have excellent feedback. They are individually lit, with many illumination patterns from which to choose. MSI even went so far as to add a physical button that changes between pre-set illumination patterns. The keyboard also features other neat tricks like lighting up all the keys that switch their functionality when the Fn key is pressed or integrating the keyboard lighting with supported games like DoTA 2 and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive through the SteelSeries App.
MSI GP65 Leopard (10SFK) keyboard view
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Sadly, the keyboard also inherits the same problems as its predecessors, like the combined functionality of the Page Up/Home and Page Down/End keys, or the merging of the arrow keys with the Numpad. This key arrangement is unfortunate to say the least, especially when some competitors like Asus or HP, already proved that placing a full-sized keyboard featuring a full Numpad in a 15 inches chassis is entirely possible without making any weird compromises. Also, there is no Windows key on the left side, but to be fair, this is hardly a negative point since MSI lets the user switch the functionality of the Fn key to become a Win key trough the Dragon Center App.
MSI GP65 Leopard (10SFK) RGB keyboard
 |
The touchpad is a noticeable improvement over the Alpha 15, but it is still nothing to write home about. However, the touchpad is hardly an issue for most gamers, since they will usually use a decent mouse anyway. The new touchpad is comfortable to use, and it has two dedicated left and right buttons beneath it which are very “clicky” and enjoyable to use.
The webcam quality is the standard low-quality solution used in most budget gaming laptops, but at least it is there. It records in 720p at 30 frames per second, and it is good enough for occasional video calls. However, for streaming, it is better to get a dedicated camera. On the other hand, sound recordings are clear without picking any noticeable background noise, so the integrated microphone should be ok for online gaming.
MSI GP65 Leopard (10SFK) webcam quality
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[ntab Disassembly]
MSI GP65 Leopard (10SFK) bottom panel
 |
Gaining access to the internal components of the GP65 Leopard is not that complicated. Firstly, there are twelve Philips head screws on the back of the laptop that need unscrewing. One of the screws will likely have a “factory seal” label over it. In most European countries and the US, removing this sticker should not legally void the warranty, but some retailers may claim otherwise. It is recommended to check with the retailer before tempering with the “factory seal”. Secondly, carefully place a prying tool or a plastic card in the space between the plastic bottom cover and the main chassis, then move the prying tool or plastic card all along this separation space. As the prying tool/plastic card moves along this space, it will slowly un-clip the bottom cover from the main chassis. Finally, lift the bottom lid to reveal the laptop’s internal components.
MSI GP65 Leopard (10SFK) internal components
 |
Inside, there is:
- one M.2 SSD/PCIe slot;
- two RAM slots;
- one 2.5-inch storage bay;
- a PCIe slot for the Wi-Fi card;
 |
| MSI GP65 Leopard (10SFK) M.2 SSD slot |
Please note that unlike the MSI Alpha 15, the GP65 Leopard has only one M.2 slot. It looks like the motherboard has the pins for it, but MSI decided not to add the socket.
 |
| MSI GP65 Leopard (10SFK) Wifi slot |
MSI GP65 Leopard (10SFK) RAM slots
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[ntab Ports]
Just like its predecessors, the GP65 Leopard suffers from the awkwardly placed ports on the right side of the chassis. These ports are way too close to the front of the machine, severely interfering with the usage of a wired mouse. But on the bright side, there is now a more varied selection of ports, including two video outputs which allow for a “Matrix Display setup”, which is a marketing term for hooking up two extra monitors. Just keep in mind that the HDMI port is only capable of transmitting 4K at 30fps but the Mini DisplayPort 1.2 works at 60 fps.
Overall, the laptop has :
- one Ethernet extension connector;
- three USB 3.0 Type-A ports;
- one USB 3.0 Type-C port (also known as USB-C 3.2 Gen 1);
- one HDMI port (4K @ 30Hz);
- one mini-DisplayPort 1.2;
- a standard 3.5mm jack for the microphone;
- a standard 3.5mm jack for headphones or speakers;
- one Kensington lock
- one full-size SD card slot;
- a DC-in power connector.
Also, three USB ports can be quickly filled just by adding an external mouse, a keyboard and a USB flash drive. Of course, the port limitation can be resolved by buying a USB port hub.
MSI GP65 Leopard (10SFK) mouse area
 |
[ntab Display]
The GP65 Leopard is rocking the LP156WFG-SPB3/LGD0625 IPS panel which features a high 144Hz refresh rate alongside a decent 10-12ms response time. Consequently, the display should enable gamers to remain competitive in online games and offers a more fluid gaming experience in single-player games. Furthermore, with a colour coverage of 93.6% sRGB, 64.7% AdobeRGB and 67.0% DCI P3, the laptop is entirely suitable for photo/video editing.
On another note, the display is unusually bright for a budget gaming laptop. For example, while indoors, it is entirely possible to turn the brightness down to 10% and still comfortably see what is on the screen. Unfortunately, even with its 400 nits, the outdoor visibility is rather poor due to the display’s poor contrast ratio, which results in poor visibility despite its matte coating. The screen also suffers from noticeable backlight bleeding, which becomes evident in games or during dark movie scenes.
Here is a link to the calibrated display profile of the reviewed unit. Because each display is unique, this profile will not perfectly match other displays of the same model. Still, using this profile should give better overall colours.
MSI GP65 Leopard (10SFK) display view angles
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MSI GP65 Leopard (10SFK) backlight bleed
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[ntab Benchmarks]
Port Royal
Fire Strike
|
SCORE
|
17883 |
| Graphics score |
20341 |
| Physics score |
18027 |
| Combined score |
9323 |
Sky Diver
|
SCORE
|
39549 |
| Graphics score |
64427 |
| Physics score |
15096 |
| Combined score |
26974 |
Time Spy
|
SCORE
|
7554 |
| Graphics score |
7684 |
| Physics score |
6894 |
Orange Room
|
SCORE
|
7368 |
| Average frame rate |
160.63 fps |
| Target frame rate |
109.00 fps |
Cyan room
|
SCORE
|
6547 |
| Average frame rate |
142.73 fps |
| Target frame rate |
88.90 fps |
Blue Room
|
SCORE
|
2408 |
| Average frame rate |
52.50 fps |
| Target frame rate |
109.00 fps |
Nvidia DLSS Test
| DLSS Off |
21.13 fps |
| DLSS On |
30.59 fps |
Cinebench R20
| R20 Single/Multi |
| 423/2996 |
Blender
Geekbench 4
| Single-core score |
Multi-core score |
| 5514 |
24830 |
Geekbench 5
| Single-core score |
Multi-core score |
| 1241 |
6309 |
PCMark 10
Web Score
|
8699 |
Apps Score
|
10803 |
Chat Score
|
7459 |
| Photo Score |
11971 |
Video Score
|
3014 |
Writing Score
|
6799 |
Spreadsheet Score
|
7757 |
| Essentials |
8882 |
| Productivity |
7262 |
Digital Content Creation
|
6908 |
|
Crystal Disk Mark
|
[ntab Gaming benchmarks]
Anthem
| Ultra + DLSS |
67 FPS |
46 FPS |
97 FPS |
Apex Legends
| High |
105 FPS |
63 FPS |
144 FPS |
ARK: Survival Evolved
| Epic |
44 FPS |
24 FPS |
82 FPS |
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
| Ultra High |
66 FPS |
45 FPS |
96 FPS |
Batman Arkham Knight
| High + Nvidia GameWorks ON |
86 FPS |
50 FPS |
282 FPS |
Beyond Two Souls
| High |
59 FPS |
58 FPS |
60 FPS |
Black Desert Remastered
| Remastered preset |
99 FPS |
55 FPS |
145 FPS |
Borderlands 3
| Badass preset + DX12 |
72 FPS |
59 FPS |
94 FPS |
Call of Duty: Warzone
| High |
100 FPS |
63 FPS |
128 FPS |
Control
| High |
62 FPS |
56 FPS |
71 FPS |
Counter Strike Global Offensive
| High |
148 FPS |
96 FPS |
294 FPS |
Crysis 3
| Very High |
63 FPS |
29 FPS |
84 FPS |
Darksiders Genesis
| Ultra |
121 FPS |
88 FPS |
160 FPS |
Detroid Become Human
| Ultra |
94 FPS |
66 FPS |
143 FPS |
Devil May Cry 5
| Ultra |
134 FPS |
94 FPS |
273 FPS |
Dirt Rally 2
| Ultra |
65 FPS |
48 FPS |
88 FPS |
Disintegration
| Epic |
104 FPS |
68 FPS |
150 FPS |
Dota 2
| High |
95 FPS |
60 FPS |
115 FPS |
F1 2019
| Ultra High |
110 FPS |
72 FPS |
123 FPS |
Far Cry 5
| Ultra |
79 FPS |
53 FPS |
142 FPS |
Final Fantasy XV
| Highest settings |
75 FPS |
44 FPS |
118 FPS |
Fortnite
| Epic |
103 FPS |
61 FPS |
146 FPS |
Forza Horizon 4
| Ultra |
90 FPS |
29 FPS |
124 FPS |
Grand Theft Auto V
| Maximum settings |
56 FPS |
37 FPS |
86 FPS |
Guild Wars 2
| Best Appearance preset |
50 FPS |
24 FPS |
88 FPS |
Halo Combat Evolved
| Enhanced preset |
101 FPS |
61 FPS |
178 FPS |
Heavy Rain
| High |
139 FPS |
63 FPS |
379 FPS |
Jurassic World Evolution
| Ultra |
54 FPS |
37 FPS |
77 FPS |
League of Legends
| Very High |
121 FPS |
68 FPS |
191 FPS |
Mafia 3
| Maximum settings |
88 FPS |
55 FPS |
125 FPS |
Mass Effect Andromeda
| Ultra |
97 FPS |
52 FPS |
176 FPS |
Metro Exodus
| Extreme graphics + Extreme RTX + DLSS |
78 FPS |
54 FPS |
107 FPS |
Monster Hunter World
| Highest settings |
75 FPS |
28 FPS |
136 FPS |
MotoGP 20
| Ultra |
145 FPS |
120 FPS |
165 FPS |
Need For Speed Heat
| Ultra |
53 FPS |
45 FPS |
62 FPS |
No Man’s Sky
| Ultra |
93 FPS |
15 FPS |
160 FPS |
Overwatch
| Epic |
104 FPS |
87 FPS |
133 FPS |
Paladins
| Maximum settings |
157 FPS |
125 FPS |
176 FPS |
Path of Exile
| Maximum settings) |
83 FPS |
75 FPS |
88 FPS |
Persona 4 Golden
| High |
38 FPS |
24 FPS |
108 FPS |
Persona 5
| 4K Upscaled (Vulkan) |
30 FPS |
29 FPS |
30 FPS |
Planetside 2
| Ultra + Max Render Distance |
74 FPS |
19 FPS |
170 FPS |
PLAYERUNKNOWN’S BATTLEGROUNDS
| Ultra |
101 FPS |
23 FPS |
142 FPS |
Rage 2
| Ultra |
97 FPS |
74 FPS |
123 FPS |
Red Dead Redemption 2
| 1st lvl of Favor Quality preset |
52 FPS |
35 FPS |
69 FPS |
Resident Evil 2
| High |
137 FPS |
46 FPS |
349 FPS |
Spongebob Squarepants Battle for Bikini Bottom Rehydrated
| Default settings |
140 FPS |
48 FPS |
146 FPS |
Saints Row The Third Remastered
| Ultra |
64 FPS |
19 FPS |
67 FPS |
Sekiro Shadows Die Twice
Shadow of the Tomb Raider
| Highest preset |
94 FPS |
48 FPS |
122 FPS |
Smite
| Maximum settings+ HD textures pack |
143 FPS |
116 FPS |
151 FPS |
Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order
| Epic |
91 FPS |
32 FPS |
145 FPS |
The Crew 2
| Ultra |
60 FPS |
52 FPS |
61 FPS |
The Witcher 3
| Ultra |
88 FPS |
65 FPS |
108 FPS |
theHunter Call of the Wild
| Ultra |
74 FPS |
67 FPS |
112 FPS |
Titanfall 2
| Maximum settings |
128 FPS |
89 FPS |
145 FPS |
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege
| Ultra |
234 FPS |
103 FPS |
564 FPS |
Tom Clancy’s The Division 2
| Ultra |
79 FPS |
68 FPS |
104 FPS |
Total War Three Kingdoms
| Ultra |
53 FPS |
28 FPS |
81 FPS |
Trackmania
| Very nice preset |
112 FPS |
86 FPS |
135 FPS |
Valorant
| High |
162 FPS |
98 FPS |
247 FPS |
War Thunder
| Movie preset |
81 FPS |
38 FPS |
119 FPS |
Warframe
| High |
192 FPS |
117 FPS |
279 FPS |
World of Warships
| Maximum settings |
75 FPS |
55 FPS |
76 FPS |
[ntab Temperatures]
MSI GP65 Leopard (10SFK) cooling system
 |
The MSI GP65 has the same excellent cooling system as the Alpha 15, which is made up of two fans and seven larger than average heat pipes:
- three for the GPU;
- one shared between VRM and GPU;
- two for the CPU;
- one shared between VRAM and CPU.
Unfortunately, the cooling solution has trouble keeping up with Intel’s power-hungry processors and Nvidia’s refreshed RTX 2070. Consequently, the resulting temperatures are far worse than in the Alpha 15.
On another note, because the laptop is designed to draw fresh air through the bottom cover, a cooling pad will be highly effective at reducing overall temperatures. Also, the exhaust vents are placed on the back and the left side of the chassis, meaning that the mouse area will not get uncomfortably hot.
MSI GP65 Leopard (10SFK) back vent
 |
All temperature measurements were performed at an ambient temperature of 25° C (77° F).
Temperatures on idle and heavy load
 |
The laptop’s performance was tested in both real-usage scenarios (like gaming) and synthetic benchmarks, yielding some worrying results. After testing almost 70 games from a wide variety of genres and analysing the data, the results indicate that the CPU reaches an average of 96°C (204.8°F), with a maximum temperature of 100°C (212°F) in most graphically demanding games and an average all-core boost of 3.7 GHz with occasional dips to as low as 0.700 Mhz.
The synthetic tests yielded similar results:
During the standard 30 minutes AIDA64 stress test (CPU, FPU, cache), the processor reached an average temperature of 91°C (195.8°F), with a maximum of 99°C (210.2°F). At these temperatures, the processor managed to keep an average frequency of 3.85 GHz, with occasional dips to as low as 3.78 GHz on some of its cores.
| AIDA64 CPU stress test |
|
CPU |
| Average Frequency |
3.85 Ghz |
| Min Frequency |
3.78 Ghz |
|
| Average Temperature |
91°C (195.8°F) |
| Max Temperature |
99°C (210.2°F) |
CPU clock rates after AIDA64 CPU stress test
 |
In the combined AIDA64 plus Unigine Superposition test (which had both the processor and the RXT 2070 under heavy load for 30 minutes), the processor reached a maximum temperature of 99°C (210.2°F) and throttled until it settled at a temperature of 94°C (201.2°F). Despite its throttling, the processor still managed to keep an average clock speed of 3.49 GHz with occasional dips to as low as 3.09 GHz. The video card temperature gradually increased to 78°C (172.4 °F) in the first 5 minutes, and it settled at that value for the rest of the test. The RXT 2070 kept an average frequency of 1575 MHz with a maximum boost clock of 1920 MHz.
| AIDA64 plus Unigine Superposition test |
|
CPU |
GPU |
| Average Frequency |
3.49 Ghz |
1575 MHz |
| Min Frequency |
3.09 Ghz |
|
| Max Frequency |
|
1920 MHz |
| Average Temperature |
94°C (201.2°F) |
78°C (172.4 °F) |
| Max Temperature |
99°C (210.2°F) |
78°C (172.4 °F) |
Unigine Superposition + Aida64 combined stress test -HWinfo
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Unigine Superposition + Aida64 combined stress test -HWinfo
 |
Finally, the laptop was tested with the AIDA64 stability test, which is another combined stress test for the video card and processor. The results were very similar to the previous stress tests. The processor reached a maximum temperature of 98°C (208.4°F) and throttled until it settled at a temperature of 88°C (190.4°F). However, despite the lower average temperature, the average clock speed was lower as well, settling at 3.17 GHz with occasional dips to as low as 3.09 GHz. The dedicated graphics card maintained an average clock speed of 1776 MHz with a maximum boost of 1905 MHz. Temperature-wise, the video card hovered between 77 and 79°C (170.6 – 174.2°F).
| AIDA64 Stability test |
|
CPU |
GPU |
| Average Frequency |
3.17 Ghz |
1776 MHz |
| Min Frequency |
3.09 Ghz |
|
| Max Frequency |
|
1905 MHz |
| Average Temperature |
88°C (190.4°F) |
77°C (170.6°F) |
| Max Temperature |
98°C (208.4°F) |
79°C (174.2 °F) |
AIDA64 Stability test -HWinfo
 |
After all these tests conducted by the Noteb review team, it is safe to conclude that the cooling solution implemented by MSI is barely enough for the components inside. The processor constantly reaches 96+°C, sometimes even 100°C in games like Red Dead Redemption 2, which is dangerously close to Intel’s maximum safe temperature of 100°C. Without better cooling, the components inside this laptop will have a shorter lifespan than those in machines with better cooling. Undervolting and using a cooling pad should noticeably increase the life span of this machine.
[ntab Undervolting]
Before undervolting the MSI GP65, there are a couple of essential aspects that need mentioning:
In December 2019 it was disclosed that all Intel processors have a security vulnerability called “Plundervolt”. To better explain this vulnerability, here is the short introduction from plundervolt.com:
 |
“Modern processors are being pushed to perform faster than ever before – and with this comes increases in heat and power consumption. To manage this, many chip manufacturers allow frequency and voltage to be adjusted as and when needed. But more than that, they offer the user the opportunity to modify the frequency and voltage through privileged software interfaces. With Plundervolt we showed that these software interfaces can be exploited to undermine the system’s security. We were able to corrupt the integrity of Intel SGX on Intel Core processors by controlling the voltage when executing enclave computations. This means that even Intel SGX’s memory encryption/authentication technology cannot protect against Plundervolt.”
To mitigate this vulnerability, Intel has decided that from now on, all its processors will have their voltage control locked from user interference, effectively putting an end to most laptop undervolting. However, some manufacturers, including MSI, implemented hidden settings in their system BIOS, which enable users to turn back on manual voltage control despite Intel’s lock.
This undervolting guide applies only the 2020 version of the MSI GP65. Please note that MSI may altogether remove the ability to turn undervolting back on in its future BIOS updates.
Step 1
The first step in this undervolting guide is to turn the XTU voltage management control back on. To do this, the user must enter the system BIOS at boot time and then switch the BIOS to “test mode”. To change to “test mode” the following keys need to be pressed at the same time while in the system BIOS: RIGHT SHIFT, RIGHT CONTROL, LEFT ALT and F2.
Once in “test mode”, go to “Advanced settings”, open the “OverClocking Performance Menu” and enable “OverClocking Feature”.
Once the “OverClocking Feature” is enabled, the system BIOS will present the user with many other options. However, only enable the “XTU Interface” option.
To save the BIOS changes while in “test mode” is a bit tricky. Navigating to the menu with the “Save BIOS” options will restart the machine and lose any of the changes made. Thus, the only solution to save the changes is by pressing which will keep the BIOS settings and restart the machine.
Step 2
Now that the ability to control the processor’s voltage is back on, it is time to boot into Windows and use either Intel XTU (downlink) or ThrottleStop (downlink) to undervolt the laptop.
Both software work in a similar manner. First, determine the optimal stable undervolt value and then set the program run at Windows start-up to apply the undervolting automatically when Windows starts.
However, XTU has the added benefit of changing the voltages straight into BIOS, making the undervolt effective before Windows boots. Consequently, XTU seems like a better option for undervolting the processor. However, if the applied undervolt is not stable at boot time, then using the XTU solution may make the system unable to boot. To make the laptop boot again will require a hard BIOS reset back to factory settings.
For this particular unit, the Intel Core i7-10750H had the following undervolting results:
- -50 mV ok;
- -100 mV ok;
- -110 mV ok;
- -120 mV ok;
- -125 mV ok;
- -130 mV Unsafe, works only in desktop mode;
- -140 mV Unsafe, works only in desktop mode;
- -150 mV Unsafe, works only in desktop mode;
- -250 mV Unsafe, works only in desktop mode.
Since each processor is unique, the undervolting results of this processor may not apply to other processors of the same model. Other 10750H processors may work fine with -150 mV while others may refuse to work even with -100 mV. Finding the right undervolt requires a bit of trial and error for each processor.
The 10750H is a very hot CPU compared to previous Intel Core processors, and unfortunately, undervolting did not help much to reduce its temperatures. Under heavy load, the processor reached the same scorching 95+°C temperatures as without undervolting. However, with undervolting, it did hold higher clocks which resulted in a noticeable, but not significant performance boost. However, there was a somewhat significant change in temperatures while idle or when using the laptop for basic tasks like web browsing or watching a YouTube. For further details of the undervolting results, please check Noteb’s YouTube channel in the following weeks.
[ntab Noise]
Depending on the fan profile and various usage scenarios, the GP65 Leopard can be either a quiet or an irritably loud machine. Doing mundane tasks like reading emails or browsing the Internet will not activate the fans at all. However, if Windows decides to download and install an update, then suddenly this laptop becomes the most obnoxious machine in the world, being only dethroned by the Helios 300. Fortunately, MSI allows the user to choose between various fan profiles, from Silent to Extreme Performance, or even create custom ones in the Dragon Center tool.
MSI GP65 Leopard (10SFK) fan profiles
 |
When idling, the fan noise is hardly noticeable, generally remaining at the room’s ambient level of around 28 dB. Under intensive usage, however, with Extreme Performance profile and CoolerBoost turned on which sets the fans to their maximum speed, the noise level reaches 51-53 dB, which will be noticeably loud for most users.
MSI GP65 Leopard (10SFK) noise test, Idle and Under heavy load
 |
The LatencyMon test evaluates if a laptop is suitable for video/audio editing and recording.
The laptop was tested while connected to the Internet with a network cable and while connected via WiFi. Unfortunately, under both circumstances, the laptop experienced high latency, which may result in clicks or pops while recording. The test was run multiple times to eliminate any flukes, and it always returned with the same results.
Consequently, this laptop is NOT recommended for audio/video recording and editing.
 |
 |
| LatencyMon test – WIFI |
LatencyMon test – LAN |
[ntab Sound quality]
MSI GP65 Leopard (10SFK) speakers
 |
Despite the MSI marketing team emphasising the machine’s “giant” speakers as a competitive advantage, bigger does not always mean better. The two 3-watt speakers look like they drew the short stick when MSI decided where to reduce production costs, with the sound quality being average at best and the bass being almost none existent. The speakers do get loud at times, but since the speakers are also in a continuous battle with the fan noise, any pair of headphones will seem like a much better choice.
MSI GP65 Leopard (10SFK) peak volume
 |
[ntab Battery life]
MSI GP65 Leopard (10SFK) battery
 |
Since most laptops are used on battery for mundane office activities and web browsing, the laptop was tested using a simulated continuous web browsing session over the WiFi. The browsing session involved checking emails/news, social media and accessing multimedia websites, similar to the behaviour of an average user. The level of brightness was set according to visibility and usability. At 12% brightness, the laptop provided an enjoyable viewing experience. The sound volume was also set to 50%.
Officially, the battery is rated at 53.2 WHr. However, as it is often the case with most laptops, the total maximum charge is smaller and diminishes over time due to battery wear. The unit reviewed here reported a full charge capacity of 52.9 WHr.
 |
 |
| MSI GP65 Leopard (10SFK) battery specifications |
MSI GP65 Leopard (10SFK) charger |
With its 53 WHr battery, the laptop lasted only 1 hour and 25 minutes. The machine was tested using both Firefox and Edge and yielded similar battery life results regardless of the browser. Such low battery life indicates that the laptop lacks or does not have Nvidia Optimus enabled. Nvidia Optimus is a type of switchable graphics which changes between the Nvidia card and the much more power-efficient Intel integrated video card depending on the application.
Charging the laptop from 5% to 100% took almost 1 hour and 52 minutes with the 230W power adapter included in the box.
Also, it is worth mentioning that while playing video games, the battery often discharges even when the laptop is plugged in. For example, playing Monster Hunter World for 30 min will deplete the battery by 8% and playing Rainbow Six: Siege for 20 min will drain the battery by 5%. Such behaviour is an indication of an inadequate power supply, which is surprising given the fact that MSI provided this machine with a 230-watt power supply weighing almost a kilogram (over two pounds).
[ntab Software]
Even though the laptop was provided without an operating system, the hard drive contained a pre-defined partition made by MSI with various software kits. The files on the partition are accessible after installing the operating system. The most notable programs were:
- MSI Dragon Center tool that shows system information and allows the user to create fan curve profiles.
- The SteelSeries Engine 3 software that enables the user to switch between various keyboard illumination profiles and create custom ones.
MSI GP65 Leopard (10SFK) pre-made partition with software kits
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MSI GP65 Leopard (10SFK) Driver install utility app
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MSI GP65 Leopard (10SFK) software kits
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MSI GP65 Leopard (10SFK) drivers
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MSI GP65 Leopard (10SFK) Dragon Center app – Resource Monitor
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MSI GP65 Leopard (10SFK) Dragon Center App – General Settings
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MSI GP65 Leopard (10SFK) Dragon Center App – Fan Profiles
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MSI GP65 Leopard (10SFK) Dragon Center App – Battery Options
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MSI GP65 Leopard (10SFK) SteelSeries 3 app – Illumination profiles
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[ntab Conclusion]
Pros:
- 144Hz display;
- good performance for 1080p gaming;
- good colour coverage display;
- competitive pricing;
- large selection of peripheral ports;
- user-defined fan curves;
- per-key RGB keyboard;
Cons:
- the processor runs dangerously hot;
- below-average battery life;
- poor speakers;
- fingerprint magnet;
- annoying placement of USB ports;
- poor Numpad implementation;
- loud fans.
In conclusion, the 2020 MSI GP65 Leopard is an iteration of the previous GP models, using the same chassis, but updated with the latest 10th gen Intel Core i7 processor and refreshed with the newest version of the Nvidia RTX 2070. As a side note, Intel’s latest processors boost a 5 to 15% performance gain over the previous Intel’s 9th gen Core processors. Also, the laptop offers an excellent 144Hz display, adequate for both gaming and video/photo editing. All these components are packed in a relatively light and compact chassis.
Unfortunately, the cooling solution is not enough to keep the Intel Core i7-10750H temperatures in check, questioning the laptop’s long-term reliability. Other laptops rocking the latest AMD processors offer almost the same performance while having significantly less power consumption and heat generation for around the same price.
[ntab Buy]
To support noteb.com search engine and its review team, please consider buying a future MSI GP65 laptop through one of the links included below. Thank you!
Newegg
MSI GP65 Leopard 10SFK – i7-10750H, 16 GB RAM, 512GB SSD, RTX 2070, 144Hz FHD display, Win 10 Home
MSI GP65 Leopard 10SEK – i7-10750H, 16 GB RAM, 512GB SSD, RTX 2060, 144Hz FHD display, Win 10 Home
MSI GP65 Leopard 10SDK – i7-10750H, 16 GB RAM, 512GB SSD, GTX 1660 Ti, 120Hz FHD display, Win 10 Home
Walwart
MSI GP65 Leopard 10SFK Configurator – i7-10750H, 16 GB RAM (up to 64 GB), 512GB SSD (up to 1280GB), RTX 2070, 144Hz FHD display, Win 10 Home
MSI GP65 Leopard 10SEK – i7-10750H, 16 GB RAM, 512GB SSD, RTX 2060, 144Hz FHD display, Win 10 Home
MSI GP65 Leopard 10SDK – i7-10750H, 16 GB RAM, 512GB SSD, GTX 1660 Ti, 120Hz FHD display, Win 10 Home
Amazon
MSI GP65 Leopard 10SFK – i7-10750H, 16 GB RAM, 512GB SSD, RTX 2070, 144Hz FHD display, Win 10 Home
MSI GP65 Leopard 10SEK – i7-10750H, 16 GB RAM, 512GB SSD, RTX 2060, 144Hz FHD display, Win 10 Home
MSI GP65 Leopard 10SDK – i7-10750H, 16 GB RAM, 512GB SSD, GTX 1660 Ti, 120Hz FHD display, Win 10 Home
Bestbuy
MSI GP65 Leopard 10SFK – i7-10750H, 16 GB RAM, 512GB SSD, RTX 2070, 144Hz FHD display, Win 10 Home
BH Photo
MSI GP65 Leopard 10SFK – i7-10750H, 16 GB RAM, 512GB SSD, RTX 2070, 144Hz FHD display, Win 10 Home
MSI GP65 Leopard 10SEK – i7-10750H, 16 GB RAM, 512GB SSD, RTX 2060, 144Hz FHD display, Win 10 Home
MSI GP65 Leopard 10SDK – i7-10750H, 16 GB RAM, 512GB SSD, GTX 1660 Ti, 120Hz FHD display, Win 10 Home
Colamco
MSI GP65 Leopard 10SFK – i7-10750H, 16 GB RAM, 512GB SSD, RTX 2070, 144Hz FHD display, Win 10 Home
PC Conection
MSI GP65 Leopard 10SFK – i7-10750H, 16 GB RAM, 512GB SSD, RTX 2070, 144Hz FHD display, Win 10 Home
PC Nation
MSI GP65 Leopard 10SFK – i7-10750H, 16 GB RAM, 512GB SSD, RTX 2070, 144Hz FHD display, Win 10 Home
[ntab More Pictures]
[ntab Videos]
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