MSI GE66 Raider 10SGS review: Powerful gaming laptop with a Sci-Fi design

MSI just launched a new premium gaming laptop called the MSI GE66 Raider 10SGS. It's a high-end device that's available in a multitude of configurations. We got a sample that featured an Intel Core i9-10980HK processor, 32 GB of DDR4 RAM, and the best mobile graphics card these days: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER with Max-Q Design (and 8GB of GDDR6). Are you curious to find out more? Read this review to see the details about what the MSI GE66 Raider 10SGS can do:

MSI GE66 Raider 10SGS: Who is it good for?

The MSI GE66 Raider 10 SGS is an excellent choice if you:

• Want to play any modern game at high framerates and maxed graphics settings
• Desire a laptop with high-end hardware that can handle any task, no matter how demanding
• You afford paying a high price for a premium device

Pros and cons

There are a lot of good things to mention about the MSI GE66 Raider 10SGS:

• It features one of the best Intel processors for laptops
• The graphics card can run any game at maxed visuals and high framerates
• The sample we tested has a display with a 240 Hz refresh rate, excellent for competitive gaming (also, you can choose what type of display you prefer)
• The SteelSeries keyboard is excellent and comfortable to type on
• The laptop's chassis has a premium and robust build
• The cooling system is well thought
• Comes with Wi-Fi 6 and 2.5Gbps Ethernet, which means fast network connections
• Plenty of input/output ports
• RGB lighting that looks great
• The battery is generous

The only downside we can think of when it comes to this laptop is that it's price is high, and many people won’t afford it.

Verdict

If money is not a problem for you, and you want one of the best gaming laptops available on the market today, you can't go wrong with the MSI GE66 Raider 10SGS. It is one of the most powerful laptops we tested and, in our opinion, one of the most beautiful we've seen also. After seeing its hardware specs and the results it managed to get in benchmarks, we're pretty sure that this laptop will be able to run any game at maxed graphics settings for at least a couple of years from now.

Unboxing the MSI GE66 Raider 10SGS

The MSI GE66 Raider 10SGS laptop arrives in a large box made of hardened cardboard. The box design is minimalist: only the MSI logo is painted on it. The box containing the MSI GE66 Raider 10SGS gaming laptop In the package, you find the laptop inside a protective textile cover, a power adapter, a power cable, the user documentation, and the warranty. MSI GE66 Raider 10SGS gaming laptop: What's inside the box Unpacking the MSI GE66 Raider 10SGS is a pleasant experience, and we must admit that we loved the way it looks from our first encounter.

Design and hardware specifications

MSI GE66 Raider 10SGS is a powerful machine with a beautiful design. Its chassis looks elegant and more restrained compared to the majority of gaming laptops we've seen during the last years. On the screen lid, you're only going to find MSI's dragon logo on a plane matte gray surface. The MSI GE66 Raider 10SGS gaming laptop (view of the screen lid) The screen connects to the body via two slightly oversized and robust hinges. On the rear side, as well as on the left and right sides, MSI placed large air vents for cooling the insides of the laptop. However, they're not the only ones, as the bottom of the chassis is also filled with a large grille that looks like a bees honeycomb. It's an interesting choice of design that we like a lot. Not only does it provide an excellent airflow, but also helps keep the laptop very stable on any plane surface. MSI GE66 Raider 10SGS gaming laptop: View from the bottom The body size of the MSI GE66 Raider 10SGS is that of a regular 15" modern laptop, measuring 14.1 by 10.51 by 0.92 inches (358 x 267 x 23.4 mm) in width by depth by height. It weighs 5.25 pounds or 2.38 kg. The MSI GE66 Raider 10SGS gaming laptop has robust hinges The brain of the machine we tested is an Intel Core i9 10980HK processor. It's a CPU launched in the second quarter of 2020, with 8 cores and 16 threads running at a base frequency of 2.4 GHz and a maximum turbo frequency of 5.3 GHz! It is one of the fastest processors you can find on a laptop these days. However, you might find other variants of the MSI GE66 Raider laptop that feature other CPUs from Intel. According to the company, this laptop can be equipped with any CPU from "the latest Intel Core Processor Family." Processor information from CPU-Z The processor is accompanied by a maximum of 64 GB of DDR4 RAM running at a maximum frequency of 3200 MHz. The amount of RAM you get also depends on the exact model you buy. For example, the laptop that we received had 32 GB. Note that there are two SO-DIMM slots available on the laptop, so you should be able to upgrade to larger capacity DIMMs if you want to. Details about the RAM, from CPU-Z Moving on to the graphics part, this is where things get interesting. The MSI GE66 Raider 10SGS laptop features the best mobile GPU you can find today. We are talking about the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER with Max-Q Design and 8GB of GDDR6. Sure, NVIDIA launched the RTX 3000 series of graphics cards already, but only for desktop machines. If you dream about having one of those on a laptop, you will probably have to wait until the first quarter of 2021. MSI GE66 Raider 10SGS gaming laptop: GPU details The GPU sends the video signal to a 15.6" FHD (1920x1080) display with an impressive refresh rate of 240 Hz. But that is just the sample laptop that we tested. According to MSI's documentation, the laptop is available in other display configurations also: 15.6" UHD (3840x2160), 15.6" FHD (1920x1080) and 144Hz, and 15.6" FHD (1920x1080) and 300Hz! MSI describes all the screen options as being IPS-Level. However, that does not mean that they use IPS panels: they use TN panels, but MSI thinks their quality is close to that of IPS. A view of the MSI GE66 Raider 10SGS gaming laptop When it comes to storage options, the MSI GE66 Raider 10SGS offers one M.2 SSD slot (NVMe PCIe Gen3) and one M.2 SSD Combo slot (NVMe PCIe Gen3 / SATA). The sample that we tested came with 1 TB SSD made by Sandisk. However, MSI probably sells this laptop in other storage configurations too. MSI GE66 Raider 10SGS gaming laptop: SSD information The MSI GE66 Raider 10SGS comes with great options in terms of network connectivity. You get Killer Gb LAN, as well as Killer Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth v5.1. If you are curious about the exact models of network chips you get, know that the sample we received had a Killer E3100 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet controller and a Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX1650i wireless network adapter. Regarding audio, the MSI GE66 Raider 10SGS laptop delivers it via a set of built-in stereo speakers made by Dynaudio. Nahimic handles the software part. The laptop is generous when it comes to the input/output ports you can use. Some of them are positioned on the rear side, while others are found on the left and right sides. On the rear, there is a Mini-DisplayPort, a USB 3.2 Gen 2 (Type-C) port, the RJ-45 Ethernet connector, an HDMI port, and the AC power connector. MSI GE66 Raider 10SGS gaming laptop: IO ports on its rear On the right side, you get a USB 3.2 Gen 1 port and a card reader, while on the left side of the laptop, there is a Kensington Lock, a status LED, a USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 (Type-C) port, one USB 3.2 Gen 2 port, and a Combo 3.5 mm audio port. MSI GE66 Raider 10SGS gaming laptop: IO ports on the left side Regarding the operating system, MSI delivers the GE66 Raider 10SGS with Windows 10 Home. When it is not connected to a power socket, the laptop gets its autonomy from a generous Li-Ion battery that can deliver 99.9 watts per hour. For more details about the features and technical specs of this laptop, visit GE66 Raider Specifications. The hardware specs of the MSI GE66 Raider 10SGS recommend it to anyone who longs for a premium laptop that can handle any modern game at high framerates and the highest graphics settings. Evidently, it should also ace any productivity tasks. Also, the design is quite elegant, and the RGB lighting looks great on the laptop. On the next page of this review, we share details about the user experience, the software, and apps bundled with the MSI GE66 Raider 10SGS laptop, as well as its benchmark results.

Using the MSI GE66 Raider 10SGS

Obviously, the MSI GE66 Raider 10SGS laptop's hardware specs are more than enough for it to handle any productivity tasks without any kind of issues. I've used it for all my daily activities, ranging from browsing the internet with dozens of open tabs to writing this review and other articles in Microsoft Word, watching videos on YouTube, working with Excel, and running virtual machines. Not one moment did I see it run sluggishly. Perspective of the MSI GE66 Raider 10SGS gaming laptop I had an outstanding experience in games also. The MSI GE66 Raider 10SGS amazed me with how much performance it's able to deliver. Among the games I played on it, I can count Metro Exodus, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, and the popular League of Legends, all of which ran super fast. Furthermore, as you will find out from the benchmarks section of this review, this laptop did extremely well in gaming tests also. Side view of the MSI GE66 Raider 10SGS gaming laptop The SteelSeries keyboard on the MSI GE66 Raider 10SGS is one of the best things about this laptop. It's a high-quality keyboard that's comfortable to type on, does not bend in any area, and it also looks stunning. The characters on the keys look great, and the light effects are completely customizable. The touchpad is also very well built and easy to use, but, personally, I would have like it to be lit on its edges, to make it easier to find in the dark. MSI GE66 Raider 10SGS gaming laptop: SteelSeries keyboard One other factor that's important, especially for gaming laptops, is how hot they get. Fortunately, the MSI GE66 Raider 10SGS has an adequate cooling system and a well-though chassis that efficiently disippates heat. I didn't find any spots on the laptop that would get so hot as to make you uncomfortable while using it. MSI GE66 Raider 10SGS gaming laptop: Birds-eye view The audio quality of the laptop is also good. The two stereo speakers deliver quite a high maximum volume level compared to other gaming laptops I've tested. So, yes, that's another pro for the MSI GE66 Raider 10SGS from my part. Using the MSI GE66 Raider 10 SGS is a very enjoyable experience, worthy of what you expect from a premium device.

Performance in benchmarks

To get a better and more accurate idea about how fast this gaming laptop is, we ran several benchmarks. First, we used BootRacer to measure how much time the laptop needs to start. We found that MSI GE66 Raider 10SGS usually boots in about 31 seconds. It is a good time considering all the apps that MSI bundled on it. MSI GE66 Raider 10SGS gaming laptop: Boot time As you know, the MSI GE66 Raider 10SGS sample that we had in testing came with an NVMe solid-state drive made by Sandisk, with a capacity of 1 TB. To test its performance, we used CrystalDiskMark, and, as you can see below, both the reading and writing speeds are excellent. CrystalDiskMark scores Before testing this laptop in gaming benchmarks, we first wanted to know how good it is for everyday productivity tasks. For that, we ran the default benchmark offered by PCMark 10, which evaluated the laptop's performance when working with Office apps, videoconferencing, browsing the internet, and creating digital content. As expected, we obtained a very high score of 5845 points. MSI GE66 Raider 10SGS gaming laptop benchmark: PCMark 10 Then we began the gaming tests. After all, if you are reading this review, these are the ones that you probably wanted to see more than anything, right? ???? In 3DMark's Time Spy Extreme, we got a score of 4037 points. That means this laptop offers the same performance as a gaming PC as ranked by 3DMark for 2020. An impressive result! MSI GE66 Raider 10SGS gaming laptop benchmark: 3DMark Time Spy Extreme In 3DMark's standard Time Spy benchmark, MSI GE66 Raider 10SGS laptop had a score of 8375 points. It's a better score than 68% of all the computers and laptops ranked by 3DMark in 2020. MSI GE66 Raider 10SGS gaming laptop benchmark: 3DMark Time Spy The third test we ran was also one from 3DMark: Port Royal. This is a benchmark that evaluates the graphics performance for ray tracing effects. In this one, MSI GE66 Raider 10SGS had a score of 5246 points. That is better than 29% of all results (60% more than the average gaming laptop of 2020). MSI GE66 Raider 10SGS gaming laptop benchmark: 3DMark Port Royale We also wanted to see whether the MSI GE66 Raider 10SGS is capable of VR (Virtual Reality), so we ran the SuperPosition VR Maximum benchmark from Unigine. This gaming laptop managed a score of 9863 points, which is remarkably close to the 10000 maximum possible score. In short, the MSI GE66 Raider 10SGS has no trouble managing high-quality VR experiences. MSI GE66 Raider 10SGS gaming laptop benchmark: Unigine Superposition We also ran a few benchmarks in games: Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Metro Exodus, and World War Z. All the benchmarks were run in FHD (1920 x 1080) and at maximum graphics settings. In Shadow of the Tomb Raider, using DirectX 12, we got some impressive results: a minimum frame rate of 96, an average of 122, and a maximum of 185. MSI GE66 Raider 10SGS gaming laptop benchmark: Shadow of the Tomb Raider In Metro Exodus, we chose to use the RTX graphics preset. We got a minimum framerate of 30 frames per second, an average of 53, and a maximum of 86 FPS. These are excellent results! MSI GE66 Raider 10SGS gaming laptop benchmark: Metro Exodus For World War Z, we used the Vulkan API, and we got a minimum FPS of 125, an average of 144, and a maximum of 198 frames per second. Obviously, this laptop has no issues running World War Z at the highest quality possible. MSI GE66 Raider 10SGS gaming laptop benchmark: World War Z What about the cooling system? To evaluate it, we used FurMark's benchmark. The video card reached a maximum temperature of just 155 degrees Fahrenheit (68 degrees Celsius). It's a very low temperature for a laptop graphics card! MSI GE66 Raider 10SGS gaming laptop benchmark: FurMark Finally, we also ran PCMark 8 to check the laptop's battery life. While running common home computing tasks such as web browsing, writing, photo editing, video chat, and casual gaming, the MSI GE66 Raider 10SGS managed to keep on going for 2 hours and 30 minutes. It's a good result considering how powerful this gaming laptop is. MSI GE66 Raider 10SGS gaming laptop benchmark: PCMark 8 Home Accelerated All the benchmarks show that the MSI GE66 Raider 10SGS is a high-end gaming laptop. It has no trouble whatsoever running any game at maximum graphics quality, while staying cool at all times. Great job MSI!

Apps bundled with the MSI GE66 Raider 10SGS

The MSI GE66 Raider 10SGS comes with Windows 10 Home. The sample that we tested also bundled some third-party apps. Some are useful and necessary, while others you might not want to keep. Here's what you get: MSI GE66 Raider 10SGS gaming laptop: MSI Dragon Center

• Dragon Center is for controlling and managing the laptop's hardware. It has tools for monitoring hardware components, such as the processor, graphics card, RAM, or storage drives, and can also help change power plans, calibrate its battery, etc.
• Killer Control Center shows you the status of network connections, data transfers, and the apps that do that. It also lets you manage and optimize wired and Wi-Fi connections to get the best possible internet speed in your favorite games or apps.
• MSI App Player is a freemium app that uses BlueStacks' Android emulator software to allow you to play games and run Android apps on your MSI laptop.
• AudioDirector 7 for MSI is an app from CyberLink that lets you create audio projects by editing and mixing audio tracks and applying effects.
• MSI True Color is an app that helps calibrate the colors on your laptop's screen using simple preset color mode settings.
• Nahimic is a tool that helps you configure and adjust how the audio and voice recording works.
• PhotoDirector 10 Essentials for MSI is a shareware app from CyberLink that gives you some editing tools for photo adjustment.
• PowerDirector 17 for MSI is an app from CyberLink that lets you create and edit videos.
• SteelSeries Engine 3 allows you to configure how your keyboard works, as well as adjust the lighting effects on your laptop's chassis and keyboard.

MSI GE66 Raider 10SGS gaming laptop: MSI Per Key RGB Keyboard The MSI GE66 Raider 10SGS laptop bundles some useful apps that you should keep and a few that you might not need or want. Fortunately, there are not as many as other vendors bundle on their devices.

What do you think about the MSI GE66 Raider 10SGS?

As you know now, the MSI GE66 Raider 10SGS is one powerful gaming laptop. Not only does it look great, but it also features some of the best hardware components you can find on the market these days. What is your opinion about it? Do you like it and would you buy it? Don't hesitate to share your thoughts in the comments section below.