MSI GL62-6QE-1827PH the Gaming Starter Pack

Gaming is considered to be one of the best time to relax and taking away weekday stress to the next level and Micro-Star International or also known as MSI Gaming gives everyone the best value for money product that will cater personal needs in terms of gaming and other digital activities along this review.

Specifications:

Model: GL62-6QE-1827-PH

Processor: Intel Core i5 6300HQ Quad Core Processor with 4 Threads

Discreet Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX950M GDDR5

Screen Size: 15.4 HD Screen

RAM: 4GB RAM

Storage: 1TB 2.5 HGST Hard Drive 5400 RPM | Optional M.2 SSD Combo (NVMe / SATA)

Keyboard: SteelSeries Keyboard

Optical Storage: DVD-RW Optical Drive

I/O Ports: 2 USB 3.0 Ports / 1 USB 2.0 Ports / 1 USB Type C 3.1 Port

Sound Ports: 3.5mm Audio In / 3.5mm Audio Out

Network Connectivity: 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet / Wireless AC-750 Network Card

The build of the laptop is sturdy and nothing fancy, although it is made of high grade plastic that is similar strength of the ABS Plastic not as same density of an Engineering plastic in comparison, Upon inspection the laptop itself is seemingly fingerprint magnet although it i easy to wipe off the marks using the good old fashion flannel (Pranella).

Aesthetically designed I/O Ports, Including the Standard USB 3.0 and 2.0’s are properly aligned for easy access same as for the DVD-RW and the USB Type C 3.1. Out of curiosity tested the keyboard just for the kicks seemingly the performance is little bit stiff given that the laptop is new and of course and it takes a little time to settle in.

The MSI GL62-6QE-1827-PH is crafted specifically for the budget conscious gamer and also this can be utilized also for productivity. Specifically this review will be concentrated more on utility meaning in real world use and how it performs to understand the whole idea why this laptop is value for money.

Test Configuration

Model: GL62-6QE-1827-PH

Processor: Intel Core i5 6300HQ Quad Core Processor with 4 Threads

Discreet Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX950M GDDR5

Screen Size: 15.4 HD Screen

RAM: 4GB RAM (Added 4GB RAM) = 8GB

Storage: 1TB 2.5 HGST Hard Drive 5400 RPM | Optional M.2 SSD Combo (NVMe / SATA) [ADDED HYNIX 128GB SSD]

Keyboard: SteelSeries Keyboard

Optical Storage: DVD-RW Optical Drive

I/O Ports: 2 USB 3.0 Ports / 1 USB 2.0 Ports / 1 USB Type C 3.1 Port

Sound Ports: 3.5mm Audio In / 3.5mm Audio Out

Network Connectivity: 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet / Wireless AC-750 Network Card

The reason why adding a SSD and RAM? To prove a point that the nVIDIA 9 series GPU can actually play mainstream games and understanding the potential of this laptop with ease.

Flipping the screen, Looking at the 102 key SteelSeries Keyboard and touchpad. Clean and Minimalist, There are stickers around and not much else to begin with. Zooming in at the keyboard noticing the 3 buttons at the upper right hand side. The obvious power button on the far right and other two buttons dedicated for MSI’s CoolerBoost and Dragon Center features.

Definitely the GL62-6QE-1827 is an interesting laptop with minimalist sleek design that boasts more than a premium look than many other brands that has sub Php. 40,000.00 gaming laptop. Looks are not much of a priority on this department, however, and when it comes to the build quality itself, MSI is surprisingly above average, but not great as the aluminum bodied counterparts.

Features

The frame itself is indeed solid after in-depth checks and from observation it can handle typical to above average abuse. The screen has some flex due to the nature of the bezel construction and the hinge is completely well done and to avoid becoming tacky after a year or so, Of course it doesn’t compete with aluminum bodied versions.

The Cooling solution of MSI with CoolerBoost technology utilized and surprisingly that the temperature with this design was never an issue to begin with.

Due to demands of DIY or Do-It-Yourself upgrades are not open in terms of access and hatches for the RAM, Hard Drive, M.2 Slot and Battery. At an MSRP of Php. 42995.00, But underneath the hood the components are easier based on test and experience and since MSI allowed this for test purposes when adding RAM and SSD. But for some users it might be a chore, By standard operating procedure when doing the upgrades visit the store where you purchased from to ensure quality and safety.

MSI did a good job keeping the bloatware to a minimum however there are software are bundled inside but did not affect the whole experience with the GL62 but it s quite unnecessary like the Anti-Virus that comes with. But for personal preference i would take an Anti-Virus software that is something you experienced and used over the years to safeguard the laptop from malware and viruses.

MSI’s proprietary software DragonCenter software with system control interface with CPU and GPU profiles that can be accessed directly on windows or push of a button. Comparison to the old and new DragonCenter based on this screenshot for this demonstration purposes we did an upgrade for our users to maximize the full potential of the laptop.

OLD

NEW

We will be include a link to download the new software upgrades HERE

CoolerBoost technology of MSI is the key selling point, Although it is a small toggle switch to enhance the cooling capabilities of the laptop. Not all laptops in the market has this feature to pump up the fan speeds to 150% throwing the heat away from the laptop to prolong the durability. In our climate this feature is very useful since it drops temperatures nearly 15 degrees during gaming

Among with other useful software, there are bunch of applications to remind you to register the computer and also a system restore disk setup via USB drive, Considering these value added software it makes the users feel easier to handle their own backup.

Performance

The GL62-6QE-1827 of MSI proved its worth in terms of surprising performance. Not expecting initially at first from an Intel i5 6300HQ processor and as per Cinebench Benchmark R15 comparison from here and offered just about 60% of the i7 6700K performance on its desktop counterpart. Coupled with a DDR4 SO-DIMM rams in GL62 gives more performance boost making this value for money laptop.

For the Triple AAA games, We tested few game such as the DOTA2, CSGO and Overwatch to have a perspective and to understand the laptop in a simplest manner and expecting it to perform seamlessly.

Gaming on Overwatch on high settings is amazing for 60 FPS!

NOTE**************** Other Gaming Recordings are under youtube processing. Internet is still quite slow. We will be adding content as soon as possible.

Since it runs only on 1TB WD Blue 5400RPM hard drive by default which is just enough, But it is a farcry in comparison to an SSD. Which we installed for comparison and real world tests. Then again, considering the laptop’s price, We cannot point fingers to MSI for having this kind of configuration.

Battery life is kind of sloppy considering also the battery that is packed to this laptop coupled with the processor performance. For science sake tested Overwatch on battery, Steadily the graphics is on 60fps during gameplay lasting for 40 minutes via DragonCenter Sport Mode. For ECO mode the game ran only on 30FPS lasted for 1 hour and 5 minutes. Browsing, Typing and Photoshop and other desk related activity lasted for 3 hours with 80 percent LCD Brightness which something that is enough, But at the end of the day, Power adaptors are still needed when doing complex tasks and gaming of course.

GL62-6QE-1827 did great in all gaming performance related and real world use including Photoshop editing and typing related activities. In comparison to a gaming desktop this is not a complete replacement. It will give you only mobility in your gaming adventure. Since the laptop is on 1366 x 768 (720p) resolution display by default expect games will run smoothly and in comparison to 1920 x 1080 (1080p) display technically forcing it it won’t work because the panel only works on 1366 x 768 (720p) display.

Audio Performance

In terms of audio, The MSI GL62-6QE-1827 is simply amazing and tested a pair of PX100 Sennheiser headphones seemingly brings the headphone a cleaner frequency response making it great for a starter audio performance because of the gold platted jacks. But it doesn’t really compare to a higher tier audio cards on their laptops like the MSI GS63VR-StealthPro that comes with a Sabre Hi-Fi chip that brings Hi-Resolution audio intensively for Audiophiles. Then again the MSI GL62-6QE-1827 sound quality is adequate and combined with Nahimic 2 overlaying the Realtek DAC it gives you a better hearing, crisp and clean audio with various options and modes for your personal preference.

Featuring the Nahimic 2 is the sound tracker it can actually give you a better edge on playing FPS games such as Overwatch, CSGO and even Special Force or any other FPS game that you can think of.

Touch Pad / Keyboard

Touch pad seems a little bit rough, It gives a little resistance every time we glide around to navigate the laptop for easy access. But still this is not a priority since most people every now and then are using mouse for navigation which common.

Moving on to the keyboard department. MSI and SteelSeries in collaboration provided the best keyboard solution not just for gamers but for people who type most of the time perfect also for web developers and writers.

Conclusion

We highly recommend the MSI GL62-6QE-1827 not just for gamers but for people who are into the arts and perfect for students. Considering the laptop is a good entry to mid range gaming laptop class. Offering performance not only in the processor, With a true quad core with 4 threads, Gaming at the native resolution of 1366 x 768 which is enough for everyday tasks. Thinking utilizing this as a workforce laptop with the option taking a break from tough work and do some gaming, On a serious note it fits the bill nicely.

Considering the SteelSeries keyboard is a complete step-up from a typical keyboard chiclet form keyboards commonly used in most laptops with touch pad that performs just right.

When it comes to features, MSI’s CoolerBoost function proves useful in times of summer temperature as it ramps a high speed fan although you will be considering the fan noisy but it does the job perfectly to drop laptop temperature. In terms of software that comes with bundled stuff are packaged perfectly making it value for money namely the Dragon Center, OS Recovery and Nahimic 2.

Pointing out few things on the review is the access to HDD, RAM and Battery it will take the whole panel underneath to be a chore but it is all good. As for the frame where the LCD sits it flexes yes but it doesn’t matter and Finally the battery life considering this is a high powered CPU expect battery life to dive down about an hour or less but still consider playing on battery is something a measly thing to do as a user.

Pros: