MSI GE76 Raider Review: Intel’s i9-12900HK Is The New Mobile CPU King

We not too long ago lined Intel’s new Twelfth technology Core-H collection laptop computer CPUs that are constructed on the Intel Twelfth technology Core structure. Now it’s time to see what it may do in the true world utilizing the MSI GE76 Raider high-end Creative or Gaming laptop computer.

This laptop computer is a superb illustration of the top-end efficiency customers can count on from Intel’s newest providing. As you’ll see, it’s just about the best velocity cash can purchase, however the value-proposition is thrilling too.

Specs Highlights

As we mentioned, the GE76 Raider unit is powered by the Intel Core i9-12900HK processor (w/ 32GB of RAM), a chip with a 45W base TDP, however it may go as excessive as potential 115W and as little as 35W. For comparability, your typical productiveness skinny & mild laptop computer goes from 15W to 25W.

The i9-12900HK’s 14 (6+8) cores setup is a substantial enchancment over the earlier octa-core Core i9-11980HK, and also you’ll see efficiency numbers mirror that.

This laptop computer is designed as a desktop substitute for top-line efficiency above all. The MSI GE76 Raider may also be ordered with a extra inexpensive Core i7-12700H CPU and exists in many alternative configurations, however we’ve got one of many dearer fashions, estimated at $3999.99.

The graphics processor is an NVIDIA GeForce 3080Ti with 16GB of video reminiscence and a most energy of 175W. The wattage is crucial as it’d considerably have an effect on efficiency in several laptop computer fashions utilizing the identical “3080 Ti” specs, so preserve an eye fixed out for that.

Typically, the cooling system determines how excessive the wattage can go, as all that computing energy generates lots of warmth.

Performance

Let’s go over the system efficiency straight away since that’s the entire level of this pc. All numbers level to glorious good points throughout the board, simply have a look at the benchmarks:

We’re not shocked by the big good points as a result of they mirror what we’ve seen with the desktop CPU fashions. The similar Intel Alder Lake structure is doing wonders and considerably lifts efficiency for each Single-core and Multi-core cellular purposes.

The enhancements are rapidly revealed by artificial benchmarks similar to Geekbench. However, extra sensible assessments like Cinebench (3D offline rendering) provide comparable insights.

“NOTHING STANDS IN INTEL’S WAY WHEN IT COMES TO SHEER CPU PERFORMANCE”

It’s potential to run tons and tons of various benchmarks, and they may nearly all correlate and present the identical kind of efficiency variations. If you might want to verify on a particular utility’s velocity, do extra analysis, however the expectations are clear.

When working on Intel’s newest platform, any closely multithreaded utility will expertise very considerable good points. At the second, nothing stands in Intel’s means in terms of sheer CPU efficiency.

We can use numbers gathered from our Acer Predator Triton 500 SE evaluation (i9-11900H, RTX 3080) to check how a high-end Intel Eleventh technology high-end laptop computer carried out. The Lenovo ThinkPad P15 (Gen2) workstation we reviewed can also be a superb reference. Both laptops have been outfitted with an RTX 3080 (non-TI) equal.

CPU-wise, the numbers present a moderately extraordinary efficiency evolution from the Eleventh-gen Intel Core processors such because the i9-11900H and i9-11950H.

The graphics efficiency of this laptop computer can also be out of this world, and that comes from two elements. First, purposes that have been considerably CPU-limited and ran at 1080p decision will exhibit greater graphics efficiency, due to the CPU enhance.

Secondly, this MSI GE76 Raider comes outfitted with NVIDIA’s newest GeForce RTX 3080Ti (freshly announced at CES), which is quicker than its RTX 3080 (non-Ti) predecessor.

Historically, the GeForce Ti (Titanium) fashions are the generational “peak” of any given NVIDIA structure, the place all of the potential tuning was accomplished (# of cores, frequency, clock path, and so on.) and what may very well be the “perfect GPU” of that technology.

Despite the same identify, the RTX 3080Ti options 7,424 graphics computing cores, whereas the 3080 (non-Ti) has 6,144 of them. That’s 20% extra cores, and you can take into account this a tough baseline for elevated graphics efficiency.

“IT’S INCREDIBLE TO GET THIS TYPE OF GENERATIONAL PERFORMANCE LEAP”

The mixed enchancment in CPU and GPU efficiency results in mind-blowing benchmark outcomes. This MSI GE76 Raider is considerably quicker than the in any other case glorious Predator Triton 500SE with the i9-11900H and an RTX 3080. It’s unbelievable to get such a generational efficiency leap, however remember the fact that the Predator 500 SE can also be half the burden of the GE76 Raider.

Note that these graphics benchmarks are extra akin to video-games workloads designed to stress the GPU. Workstation-type work ought to stress each CPU and GPU to the utmost and yield even greater efficiency deltas.

Something that charts don’t present is the potential power-draw of the system. Laptops such because the Predator Triton 500 SE shipped with a 230W energy provide, however this GE76 Raider comes with a 330W energy provide.

We additionally have a look at the efficiency “for the price” as laptops like this aren’t low cost. We estimate our configuration prices about $3999.99 (priced to be confirmed by MSI).

Intel’s new platform has good efficiency/worth regardless of the comparatively excessive price ticket, which implies you’re getting efficiency proportional to what you pay.

Whether you’re a artistic skilled or an avid gamer, the top-line efficiency is unbelievable. Intel’s Twelfth-generation CPU is the de-facto platform to contemplate, even from a price viewpoint.

Such a velocity enhance can simply translate into productiveness achieve that may (hopefully) be billed to purchasers and leveraged through the lifetime of your new pc.

If value shouldn’t be an element, what concerning the efficiency relative to dimension and weight? Our knowledge exhibits the MSI GE76 Raider providing among the greatest velocity/weight ratios, particularly in terms of CPU efficiency. Yes, you could be carrying a couple of extra Lbs in your backpack, however every pound packs much more efficiency, so it’s simpler to justify.

The new Intel Thread Director mixed with Windows 11 appears to supply higher perceived responsiveness because it’s speculated to ship background duties to one of many effectivity cores.

Battery Life

In our battery life assessments, we ran workplace productiveness duties with the laptop computer set for “best battery life” and a show brightness of 110 NITs. As a reminder, this laptop computer has a 99Wh battery capability.

You can get round 5h30 hours by utilizing the “Hybrid Graphics” settings, which makes use of the built-in GPU for mundane duties and fires up the NVIDIA GPU when wanted.

There’s a minor efficiency penalty for high-performance graphics because the pipeline would want to undergo the built-in GPU regardless. I like to recommend this setting if you happen to’re engaged on the go.

The “Discrete Graphics” mode (no built-in GPU) yields solely 2h30 of steady workplace productiveness use, and that’s because of the base energy envelope of the 170W discrete GPU. We ran all of the benchmarks in “Discrete Graphics” mode.

The Intel Alder Lake structure has lots of potential for prolonged battery life. But we’re unlikely to see proof of this on a gaming laptop computer, and we’ll have to attend for skinny & mild laptops with a a lot decrease system energy profile.

Despite the 330W energy provide, the battery costs comparatively slowly, and it could take almost 1hr of cost to go from 0% to a 50% cost. Again, I count on individuals to plug this laptop computer, however a fast top-off on the airport is not going to occur.

Industrial Design

The 17.3” MSI GE76 Raider has a gray metallic physique, and its design is pleasant to a company boardroom so long as you don’t mild up all of the RGB lights (it’s configurable, don’t fear).

For those that need that “gamer” have a look at house, it’s completely potential, and the light-bar and per-key RGB backlight will do wonders to make your setup look cool. The included SteelSeries app may also help you set issues up, and your profile could be saved on-line.

The 6.39 Lbs weight of the laptop computer makes a desktop substitute or a cellular workstation in my e-book. It is similar to the burden of the ThinkPad P15 Gen2. Additionally, you’ll have to hold the huge 330W energy provide.

Much area is devoted to the huge cooling system, which helps this laptop computer attain its full efficiency potential. That’s a major benefit of bigger laptops as cooling typically comes all the way down to physics: larger (cooling) is healthier.

The cooling efficiency additionally permits excessive masses with out the laptop computer turning into too noisy, which is crucial in a real-world state of affairs, particularly for professionals who have to focus.

Keyboard and Trackpad

The per-key RGB backlighting is nice as a result of it lets me configure the laptop computer’s keyboard lighting the identical means I might with my desktop setup. I discover it improves my productiveness as I see the identical visible marks as I transition from one pc to the opposite.

The tactile suggestions of the keys is okay however isn’t a lot to speak about. The keyboard shouldn’t be almost as comfy as a ThinkPad-style keyboard and isn’t clicky and agency both. It’s a pity as a result of there’s ample inside quantity to make issues a bit higher, particularly at that value level.

The lack of “Fn” button on the left facet of the keyboard is a bit annoying because it’s one thing that many individuals use together with the F-keys on the prime to manage mundane issues like brightness or quantity.

The trackpad is comparatively small, which is ok for gaming, however maybe a bit tight for Creative functions, relying on how you’re employed. That mentioned, in a “desktop replacement” context, I additionally count on many individuals to have a standalone keyboard/mouse combo for optimum productiveness.

Ports

I like having a lot of ports within the again (Power, Thunderbolt, HDMI, Mini DisplayPort, 2.5Gb Ethernet) because it facilitates cable administration and reduces the probability of getting cables interfering with mouse utilization the left or proper facet.

On the appropriate, you’ll discover two full-size USB ports, together with an SD card reader. There’s yet another full-size USB, a USB-C port, and a 3.5mm audio connector to the left.

I want we had no less than yet another TB4 port, however I might personally use a TB Docking Station to make use of this pc as a desktop substitute. Still, there’s enough space to incorporate further USB-C TB4 connectors, and the Intel platform helps it.

Sound

The quad-speaker setup of the MSI GE76 Raider works very nicely and delivers a high-quality sound with nice physique and bass, though spatialization might have been higher (with out-of-the-box settings).

Relative to the dimensions of the laptop computer, I used to be anticipating the sound to be a bit extra highly effective. It’s a slight lack of alternative as a result of the laptop computer is so large that I believe MSI might (ought to) have discovered a option to have even higher audio system for an ideal audio expertise.

That mentioned, avid gamers are seemingly to make use of headphones, and Creative professionals may hook it to an exterior speaker anyway. Yet, at this value, I count on the perfect of every thing.

Display

We bought the FHD show on this laptop computer, and if you happen to want extra pixels, MSI has 2560×1440 (my favourite) and 3840×2160 choices. Higher decision shows are inclined to have greater colour accuracy and maybe greater brightness. However, this FHD show has a 360Hz refresh price, for the pickiest avid gamers.

Also, the FHD decision is probably the most pleasant choice to battery life because the 4K possibility can lower battery endurance by 30% in assessments. At least, that’s our normal expertise with 4K shows as of late.

Our SpyderXElite assessments verify this FHD show has a 100% sRGB colour gamut (81% AdobeRGB, 81% P3), which works for Creative work as nicely.

The most brightness is 330 NITs, and whereas not distinctive, it’s greater than sufficient for indoor or workplace utilization. I largely used a 60%-75% brightness in a well-lit room through the take a look at.

Conclusion

The MSI GE76 Raider is a superb gaming laptop computer and a fantastic consultant of the quickest Core i9-12900HK laptops. It delivers unbelievable efficiency and simply surpasses the 2021 champions by as much as 30%, which is terrific.

Without a doubt, the Intel Core i9-12900HK units the usual for cellular efficiency.

The GE76 Raider has many show choices as a workstation, and RAM could be prolonged to 64GB at order time. Our unit even got here with 2x 2TB of SSD storage.

“THE INTEL CORE I9-12900HK SETS THE STANDARD FOR MOBILE PERFORMANCE”

The GeForce RTX 3080Ti GPU is spectacular and delivers prime graphics efficiency nicely above the earlier RTX 3080 (non-Ti). In quick, NVIDIA beats itself as a result of nobody else will.

We’ve proven that despite the fact that the value is excessive, you’re actually getting what you pay for, and also you’re not being overcharged for somewhat bit extra velocity and don’t undergo from diminishing returns.

And lastly, there isn’t a “deadweight” as every Lbs of this pc brings its share of system efficiency. The MSI GE76 Raider makes a case for proudly owning a heavier laptop computer to get unequaled efficiency.

Filed in Computers >Gaming. Read extra about Editorspick, Intel, Laptop Reviews, Laptops and NVIDIA.

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