MSI GE72VR 6RF Apache Pro GTX 1060 Laptop Review

Introduction Not so long ago, Taiwanese journal DigitTimes published a report which classified MSI as the leading gaming laptop manufacturer and forecasted huge growth in the upcoming quarter. Even though ASUS queried the data, it's clear that MSI's exceptional range of gaming laptops which caters towards different demographics has become a resounding success. Whether you're seeking a luxurious ultra-slim laptop with gaming credentials or require something with extra horsepower, there's a product designed for your specific requirements. MSI's imperious reputation in this sector is thoroughly deserved because their creations feature extraordinary build quality. Not only that, MSI has pushed the technological boundaries to include higher-fidelity audio solutions and attractive RGB lighting. When you add into the frame, MSI's unique software package which includes really useful applications such as a 12-month XSplit license, it's difficult to find many flaws. Historically, gaming laptops have lingered behind traditional desktops in the performance stakes and required the end-user to make significant concessions. For example, mobile variants of various NVIDIA graphics solutions struggled to offer anywhere near the same frame rates and end-users were punished for selecting a portable form factor. Thankfully, the latest Pascal architecture has transformed the technical capabilities of gaming laptops and narrowed the deficit to discrete GPUs. This is made possible by efficient 16nm TSMC FinFet manufacturing process which can easily be integrated into modern gaming laptops. MSI's marketing banner of "shatter the desktop performance cliche" is correct and explains the huge change Pascal has enacted rather well. MSI's organisational skills in preparing for the Pascal mobile launch has paid dividends and they've already compiled a huge range of gaming laptops sporting a number of powerful graphics chips. The first model sent for review purposes is the MSI GE72VR 6RF Apache Pro which utilises an Intel Core i7-6700HQ processor, 16GB of dual-channel DDR4 2133MHz and the GTX 1060 6GB. Also, the unit incorporates a 256GB M.2 SSD from Kingston and a secondary 1TB mechanical disk with a 7200RPM read rate to store games and other large sums of data. The laptop's display measures 17.3-inches and employs "IPS-Level" technology with superior colour reproduction. Other great additions include the Dynaudio speaker system, Cooler Boost 4 technology and Killer E2400 NIC. Priced at £1499, the MSI GE72VR 6RF Apache Pro is a considered purchase and I'm expecting there to be a good performance boost compared to the previous generation. Specifications Name: MSI GE72VR 6RF Apache Pro Processor: Intel Core i7-6700HQ up to 3.5GHz System Memory: 16GB (2x8GB) DDR4 2133MHz Main Boot Drive: Kingston 256GB M.2 SSDNow Additional Storage Drive(s): HGST Hitachi Travelstar 1TB 7200RPM Graphics card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6GB Dimensions: 419.9mm x 287.8mm x 29.8mm (W x D x H) Weight: 2.7Kg with Battery Display: 17.3-inch 1920x1080 (FHD) eDP "IPS-Level" Optical Drive: HL-DL-ST DVD-RAM GUD0N Wireless: Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165 Battery: 6-Cell 51Wr Speakers: 4x 2-watts + 3-watts Subwoofer OS: Windows 10 Home 64-Bit Warranty: 2 Years Price: £1499.99 Packing and Accessories The laptop's box is dominated by the company's iconic Gaming Dragon emblem which looks spectacular and creates a sense of intrigue. Furthermore, the fiery molten lava background complements the product's theme and provides a great contrast. As you can see, the packaging also contains awards from various publications and a VR Ready logo. Honestly, the box's aesthetic design is a work of art and the best I've seen by a considerable margin. The finish is bold, unique and features a high-quality print. On the rear section, the end-user is presented with a huge array of information discussing the laptop's core features. This ranges from the device's support for PCI-E Gen 3 SSDs all the way to the low latency Killer networking. Even though the packaging proudly mentions the 120Hz 5ms display, this is an optional extra and clarified with a small disclaimer. Saying that, I'd prefer MSI to remove this addition unless the product in question opts for a high-refresh display to improve transparency. Overall, the thematic categories and attractive images act as a wonderful way of learning more about the laptop's functionality. After the top flap has been removed, you can see the laptop is held firmly in place and protected with a soft cover. As per usual for most modern laptops, the power adapter is stored in a dedicated compartment to prevent it from brushing against the unit and causing cosmetic damage. This arrangement also improves the unboxing experience and makes it easier to re-package the power adapter just in case any technical mishaps arise. In terms of accessories, the laptop is supplied with a warranty card, competition notice, recovery instructions, CE compliance booklet, quick start guide, power adapter and AC cord. Instead of relying on optical media, MSI integrated a simple method of restoring the system's factory settings via a recovery partition. This is more environmentally-friendly and speeds up the repair time when re-installing the operating system. The power adapter has an input range of 100-240V and rated at 2.43A, 50-60Hz while the output specification is 19.5V, 9.23A. CPU-Z GPU-Z A Closer Look The MSI GE72VR 6RF Apache Pro has a gorgeous brushed aluminium finish which looks astounding and resists fingerprints surprisingly well. Not only that, the product's sublime red and black colour scheme is the perfect match for the core gaming demographic and should appeal to most users considering a high-end gaming laptop. Additionally, the sleek contoured lines positioned near the edges blend into the matte surface rather nicely and greatly enhances the laptop's aesthetic appeal. This combination has a certain level of finesse and makes it a suitable fit for an office environment. On another note, the MSI gaming badge injects some colour without overpowering the understated design. I particularly enjoyed the way the dragon logo lights up in a glorious white shade. Here we can see the underneath section contains four rubber feet with a large surface area which prevents the laptop from sliding around. These feet are made to a high standard and can withstand a good amount of force. Despite my best efforts, I couldn't dislodge the feet or cause the adhesive to slacken. The feet's durability is impressive and some of the strongest I've encountered. As you might expect, the laptop contains a number of ventilation grills to improve airflow and reduce thermal loads in a fairly constricted chassis. The ventilation helps to direct the airflow and ensure heat is transferred at key points around the laptop. From the image below, you can also make out the integrated subwoofer and large speakers. Removing the bottom cover to access the core components is relatively simple and I'm pleased to see MSI using standard Philips screws. Unlike models like the Vortex, the product can be opened without owning a set of Torx screwdrivers and this makes the dismantling process slightly less daunting. Saying that, there is a screw hidden below a warranty void sticker but the viability of this notice is debatable. I'd argue that the warranty remains valid even if you pierce a hole through the sticker. Whatever the case, all you have to do is remove all the 18 visible screws and the one under the warranty sticker. In contrast to the GE62, there aren't any screws hidden in the optical bay tray. Once removed, gently pry between the laptop's housing and the rear cover and apply pressure at specific points. This will take some time and the key to success is patience. Overall, it's a painless task but it does require a gentle approach and the use of a plectrum. The cover piece is constructed from hard plastic which doesn't flex too much and holds its structural integrity under stress. As you can see, there's some industrial shielding tape and various cut-outs for the hard drive, battery and cooling apparatus. MSI's Cooler Boost 4 technology is an engineering marvel and designed to perfectly balance the thermal output of both the CPU and GPU. The laptop's cooling hardware consists of six thick copper heat pipes, two compact fans and two aluminium heatsinks with a dense fin array. The heat pipes are able to manage system temperatures without suffering too much from major throttling which is impressive given the form factor. MSI's ability to fit so many heat pipes without negatively impacting on the PCB design deserves praise and it's certainly one of the most comprehensive cooling setups I've witnessed. From this angle, we can see the two DIMM slots are populated with 2133MHz modules which employ Hynix memory. Also, the massive subwoofer positioned to the left of the PCB is astonishing and really enhances the user-experience when playing games featuring sudden explosions. Even though it's not entirely clear, the large unused space is where the optical drive slides into place. On another note, the battery isn't overly large and the size seems constricted by the mammoth cooling solution. Sadly, this means the battery life isn't brilliant and has a lower capacity than you might see from some competing laptops. This situation is almost unavoidable and I wouldn't begrudge MSI for compiling a PCB layout with a smaller battery. When it comes to storage, the boot M.2 drive neatly slots into the appropriate connector and can easily be replaced with a higher-end NVMe solution like the Samsung SM951. Also, the secondary SATA drive doesn't rely on a flex cable which makes the PCB design look much neater. Additionally, it shouldn't be too tricky to remove the drive and upgrade it with a higher capacity model. The laptop utilises two large vents at the rear to effectively manage temperatures under load and eject hot air outside of the housing. On a less practical note, the Apache logo and stunning red lines have a superb synergy and upholds a great level of colour coordination. Connectivity-wise, the GE72VR 6RF Apache Pro includes a USB 2.0 port, SD card reader, DC in and optical drive. The laptop also houses a Kensington lock, Gigabit Ethernet, two USB 3.0 ports, HDMI 1.4 port, Mini-DisplayPort, USB 3.1 Type-C and gold-plated audio jacks. This is a very solid selection of ports although I would have liked Thunderbolt 3 support to be added because GPU enclosures employ this protocol. Even though Thunderbolt 3 enclosures are clunky and ruin the portability factor, it's a nice option to have and allows games in the future to run better when the GTX 1060 becomes outdated. I'm perplexed by MSI's decision to employ an HDMI connector which has limited bandwidth and can only connect to a 4K display at 30Hz. It's frustrating because videographers are beginning to adopt 60 frames-per-second footage much more and it's likely that streaming services will have content at this frame-rate while running a high-resolution. By default, the laptop features a 17.3-inch 1920x1080 display running at a 60Hz refresh rate. Interestingly, the panel isn't classified as IPS, but according to MSI, offers an equivalent colour reproduction and viewing angles. From my own testing, I'd agree with this and couldn't tell the difference from traditional IPS or PLS panels. The display is capable of a very rich, vivid colour gamut which doesn't have a noticeable shift when viewing from extreme angles. Also, the panel's input latency remains fairly low and I couldn't detect any backlight bleed. MSI's True Colour technology involves an extensive factory calibration process which ensures each panel is extremely close to achieving 100% sRGB coverage. Furthermore, you can select from an array of presets such as sRGB, Office and Gamer which alters the contrast, brightness and sharpness depending on the usage scenario. The panel has an anti-glare coating which eliminates reflections and manages to achieve this without the colours lacking definition. Additionally, the screen doesn't wobble thanks to the strong bezels and sturdy hinges. Overall, the display is marvellous and the only real glaring flaw is the lack of G-Sync. The laptop's speaker system created by Dynaudio revolves around four 2-watt speakers and a 3-watt subwoofer. These elements combine to create a stellar listening experience characterised by a rich tonal range. Unlike most laptop speakers, the balance doesn't overemphasise the mid-range to make up for a lack of bass. Not only that, the speakers are able to output a surprisingly loud volume without compromising on audio fidelity. In my opinion, these are some of the best sounding speakers you can find on a gaming laptop and they continue to impress during gaming, streaming and other forms of entertainment. This laptop contains a power button which is self-explanatory, a Steelseries keyboard button and fan profile button. The SteelSeries button allows you to quickly cycle between different lighting options such as breathing, colour shift and more. This is quite useful when you're playing a game and want to modify the lighting without having to pause the action. The fan profile button can be deployed to prioritise silent running or utilise a fan curve which focuses on performance. All of the buttons cannot be pressed accidently and remain within arms reach. The keyboard is based on a chiclet design which aids comfort while typing and encourages you to adopt a more ergonomic posture. The keys have a good amount of travel and a soft, tactile feel which should improve your typing speed. During my time with the review sample, I adjusted to the keyboard really quickly although the USA enter key did pose some problems. Saying that, this isn't an issue with the keyboard itself and down to my own personal preference. MSI has used a silver lining print for each key which reduces light leakage and allows you to gaze at the full colour spectrum. Essentially, this means the backlighting can pierce through the lettering without any light being stuck under the keys. Also, the silver lining print shouldn't fade over time in a similar way to laser etching. As previously mentioned, the lighting is fully customisable using the SteelSeries Engine 3 software and looks fantastic. Unfortunately, pictures struggle to do the illumination the justice it deserves. The GE72VR 6RF Apache Pro's touchpad has a brushed aluminium surface which makes your fingers less prone to slippage than a perfectly smooth coating. In theory, this could have affected the tracking accuracy as you hover over the brushed lines. Thankfully, this isn't the case and the tracking is absolutely flawless. Furthermore, the left and right click respond in a really satisfying manner even if you press near the edges. Included with the laptop is a software package entitled MSI Dragon Center which neatly stores a host of essential utilities. On the first page, the end-user is greeted with a screen to quickly access a wide range of applications. Of course, it's possible to add other programs yourself such as Steam and MSI Afterburner. The System Monitor tab displays key statistics regarding your laptop's health and helps you to diagnose the source of any strange performance problems. While the amount of information is fairly brief, it's presented in a wonderful way which keeps things simple. Next up is the LED Wizard which can be deployed to alter the keyboard's illumination and configure numerous scenarios. Personally, I didn't find this very useful and would recommend SteelSeries' software instead because there's greater functionality. In the System Tuner, the software can automatically optimise the laptop to create the best possible VR experience, although I couldn't test what this entailed because there wasn't any VR equipment in the office. The Shift sub-menu contains different modes which change the laptop's behaviour. For example, the Sport profile offers maximum performance while the ECO option reduces the screen brightness and other aspects to improve battery life. As you can see, it's possible to create a custom profile and manually adjust each setting. Another great feature is the ability to modify the fan speed based on your own requirements. As its name suggests, the Auto mode detects system loads and finds a good balance between temperatures and the noise output. The basic option sticks to a particular fan setting and doesn't dynamically adjust values too much. Initially, I was perplexed by the difference between the Auto and Cooler Boost profiles since both appeared to serve similar functions. Apparently, the Cooler Boost has the potential to run at a more aggressive curve for maximum performance. The True Colour section is really straightforward and allows you to modify the colour hue based on different scenarios. The Mobile Center is a fairly intriguing creation and allows you to control the laptop with any Android mobile device once the Dragon Center application has been installed. This isn't something I'd use and struggle to understand why anyone would want to access their PC via a smartphone. However, it may be a decent tool for some people. On the final page, you can burn recovery media from an ISO, ask directly for technical help. calibrate the battery, access the user manual and register your purchase. This is a great selection of options for beginners who require some assistance and haven't got the expertise to know where to find technical answers. Testing & Methodology To test each system or notebook, we want to stress every component of the system to check stability and performance, giving us an idea as to why those particular components were picked for this particular system. We use a wide variety of applications to gain a broad spectrum of results for comparing diverse aspects of system performance. Unless specifically stated, all games are running at maximum settings but any vendor-exclusive features such as TressFX or PhsyX have been disabled to make the results fair. There are some titles where the maximum preset can be altered further in regards to AA, AF, Tessellation, and Draw Distance. To allow our readers to make the most informed decision, any additional options will be clearly labelled in this section. Please note each benchmark is run three times to maintain the highest level of accuracy. Hardware Acoustic dBA meter AC "Killawatt" power meter Software 3DMark AIDA64 Engineer Cinebench R15 CrystalDiskMark CPU-Z GPU-Z HW-Monitor MSI Afterburner Passmark PerformanceTest 8.0 PCMark 8 Prime95 WPrime Unigine Heaven 4.0 Grand Theft Auto 5 Rise of the Tomb Raider Hitman Far Cry Primal PC Mark 8 The PCMark 8 Home benchmark includes workloads that reflect common tasks for a typical home user. These workloads have low computational requirements making PCMark 8 Home suitable for testing the performance of low-cost tablets, notebooks, and desktops. Home includes workloads for web browsing, writing, gaming, photo editing, and video chat. The results are combined to give a PCMark 8 Home score for your system. Download here. 3D Mark The new 3DMark includes everything you need to benchmark your hardware. With three all new tests you can bench everything from smartphones and tablets to notebooks and home PCs, to the latest high-end, multi-GPU gaming desktops. Download here. Grand Theft Auto V Our GTA5 Benchmark is run on the standard benchmark with MSAA=Off, FXAA=On, Advanced Graphics Disabled and everything else set to their maximum values: Rise of the Tomb Raider Even though Rise of the Tomb Raider recommends graphics cards above 4GB for the Very High preset, we believe it's the best option to stress graphics cards and distinguish between systems opting for different hardware. Of course, lower-end hardware can struggle with the benchmark and output some unusual results. FXAA is also enabled. Hitman To properly test DirectX 12 performance, the integrated Hitman benchmark is used and everything is set to maximum with FXAA set to on. Far Cry Primal In this game, the Ultra preset is selected with the HD texture pack and FXAA. Once the settings have been dialled in, the game's built-in benchmark is run on multiple occasions before recording the average data. Cinebench R15 Cinebench is a widely respected benchmark for testing the performance of x86 CPUs. The program allows you to test single and multi-threaded performance as well as GPU performance by rendering with Open GL. Download here. WPrime WPrime is a computer program that calculates a set number of square roots using Newton's method for estimating functions verifying the results by squaring them then comparing them with the original numbers. Download AIDA64 Engineer Edition AIDA64 Engineer is a streamlined Windows diagnostic and benchmarking software for engineers. It has unique capabilities to assess the performance of the processor, system memory, and disk drives. AIDA64 is compatible with all current 32-bit and 64-bit Microsoft Windows operating systems, including Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012. Memory and cache benchmarks are available to analyse system RAM bandwidth and latency. Download here. CrystalDiskMark CrystalDiskMark is a portable storage drive benchmark utility that enables you to measure sequential and random read/write speeds on different block size data. CrystalDiskMark will work with any storage drives including hard drives, SSDs and USB flash drives. Download here. Passmark The PassMark Advanced Network Test (which is part of PerformanceTest) is designed to test the data transfer rate between two computers both of which must be running PerformanceTest. One of the computers must act as the server and will sit waiting for a connection. The other computer acts as a client. It connects to the server machine and sends data to it for the duration of the test. You can download a trial version of PerformanceTest from here. Acoustic Performance The amount of noise produced by any computer is a vital consideration for most buyers, even gamers don't really want a noisy PC because less noise is always better. We use an acoustic dBA meter held 2 feet behind our test system at idle and under load to get the idle and load noise levels for the system. For idle we allow the system to sit at the Windows desktop, for load we let Unigine Heaven 4.0 and Prime95 to loop together - we take the acoustic measurements 5 minutes into both of these scenarios. Battery Life To accurately test battery life, the Powermark benchmark is run in balanced mode which emulates the typical usage scenario including web browsing, photo editing, light gaming and other basic tasks. From my experience, this is a pretty reliable tool and provides a great insight into a laptop's battery life. Power Consumption To test power consumption we measure the total system power draw during idle and load scenarios. For idle we allow the system to sit at the Windows desktop, for load we let Unigine Heaven 4.0 and Prime95 to loop together – we take the power measurements from the “Killawatt” AC power meter 5 minutes into both of these scenarios at the same point. Temperatures To test thermal performance we measure average CPU and GPU core temperatures during idle and load scenarios. For idle we allow the system to sit at the Windows desktop, for load we let Unigine Heaven 4.0 and Prime95 to loop together - we take the temperature measurements from within CPUID HWMonitor 5 minutes into both of these scenarios at the same point. For load we take the average of the maximum temperatures, for idle we take the average of the minimum temperatures. Synthetic Benchmarks PC Mark 8 In PC Mark 8, the laptop obtains a very respectable score and showcases its fantastic performance in a wide range of common tasks including photo editing, web browsing and light gaming. 3DMark The MSI GE72VR 6RF Apache Pro's synthetic 3D performance is marvellous given the form factor and a significant boost compared to Aero 14's previous generation, GTX 970. Interestingly, the 3DMark figures are quite close to a highly-rated desktop utilising the Gigabyte G1 Gaming GTX 1060. It's important to remember the Gigabyte model features a good factory overclock which makes the results even more impressive. Honestly, it's impossible to overstate the importance of Pascal and the effect this new architecture has made to gaming laptop performance. Gaming Performance Grand Theft Auto 5 While running the Grand Theft Auto V on the Very High preset, the laptop performed admirably and easily surpassed the 60 frames-per-second mark at 1920x1080. Even when the unit was paired with a 1440p display, the frame-rate remained solid and didn't drop below an average of 60. Of course, major frame dips between 30-45 are more prevalent so I'd recommend using the default resolution or scaling back the settings. As expected, the GPU doesn't have the capability to uphold a fluid frame-rate alongside a 4K monitor. However, the performance is solid given the demanding preset and even managed to defeat the desktop GTX 1060. This is a surprising result and probably stems from both graphics solutions encountering major difficulties. Rise of the Tomb Raider In Rise of the Tomb Raider, the MSI GE72VR 6RF Apache Pro attains a superb frame-rate during 1080p testing and contends with the strenuous graphics settings rather well. This time, I wouldn't retain the Very High preset even though the average frame-rate just edges past 60. This is because the frame-rate drops are substantial when heavy rain effects scatter all over the screen. Thankfully, the frame-rate is much more consistent when employing the High preset. Once the resolution is increased to 2560x1440, the system maintains a good showing and the experience remains playable. Evidently, very few graphics cards can run the game at extreme details on a 4K display, and the laptop is no different. Hitman Hitman provides a great insight into DirectX 12 performance and many levels are awash with a huge number of NPCs. During 1920x1080 benchmarking, the laptop wasn't too far away from a 60 frames-per-second average and enjoyed a large lead over the Aero 14. While the experience lacks a certain level of smoothness, it's easily resolved by changing the odd setting. After the system was teamed up with a 1440p monitor, the performance remained extremely close to a factory overclock GTX 1060. This is nothing short of outstanding and easily surpassed my initial expectations. Sadly, 4K is a stretch and as shown by the sub-30 frames-per-second result. Far Cry Primal Here we can see the MSI GE72VR 6RF Apache Pro continues to excel throughout 1080p testing and almost reached the magical average figure of 60 frames-per-second. When you consider, this is possible using the HD texture pack and Ultra preset, you cannot help but be impressed. After the resolution was set to 2560x1440, the performance was good but you're likely to witness frame drops and some minor stuttering. Thankfully, it's easily fixed by selecting the Medium or High preset. As expected, the laptop cannot cope with the extreme settings when using a 4K display. CPU & Memory Performance Cinebench R15 The laptop's i7-6700HQ operating at a maximum turbo of 3.5GHz is capable of superb multi-threaded performance and isn't too adrift of the i5-6600K. Even though the MSI GE72VR 6RF Apache Pro is beaten by the Aero 14, it's only by a tiny amount and the ranking order could change with additional runs. WPrime Despite recording the slowest time thus far, there's very little to choose between a number of rival configurations and the laptop still manages to achieve a commendable result. AIDA64 Engineer The MSI GE72VR 6RF Apache Pro outputs good memory bandwidth figures and maintains a consistent range between the read, write and copy rates. While it's not quite able to edge past the Aero 14, the memory speeds are more than ample for most usage scenarios. Storage and USB Performance CrystalDiskMark - Sequential Read Moving onto storage, the laptop's boot M.2 SSD offers marvellous read speeds and competes with other high performing SATA-based SSDs extraordinary well. Of course, it's no match for NVMe storage but this is to be expected and the massive speed increase comes with a hefty premium. The mechanical hard disk performed brilliantly and managed one of the best results I've seen from a 2.5-inch unit. Also, the USB 3.0 read rate was good and faster than two premium desktops. CrystalDiskMark - Sequential Write While the Kingston M.2 SSD excels in read benchmarking, the write performance is mediocre. To be fair, this isn't a shocking revelation because it's an affordable drive and hasn't been designed to compete with popular SATA solutions like the Samsung 850 EVO. Nevertheless, the testing process showcases the clear deceit to alternative storage options. The mechanical disk drive obtained wonderful speeds and managed to break the 130MB/s barrier. Once again, the USB 3.0 performance was good and within the area I anticipated. Networking Performance Passmark PerformanceTest 8.0 Ethernet (LAN) The laptop's Killer E2400 networking chip provides exceptional bandwidth numbers and maintains a very small range between the minimum and maximum results. Therefore, the network traffic is very reliable and you're unlikely to experience any huge fluctuations. WiFi The WiFi performance is a different story though and the networking bandwidth left me feeling underwhelmed. Despite running the benchmark numerous times, analysing router settings and using different hosts, the performance couldn't improve and the laptop struggled to uphold speeds above 200MB/s. Acoustic, Battery, Power & Thermal Performance Acoustic Performance During scenarios which don't require a lot of processing power, the laptop is extremely quiet hardly emits any noise. Once stressed, the fan RPM values increase considerably but it's not enough to sound overly distracting or obnoxious. Granted, it's far from quiet and not going to please those who value silent running. However, it's a pretty good effort for a gaming laptop and the fans revolve around a gentle curve which is easy to accept. Battery Life The laptop's battery life is passable and you should be able to achieve around 3 hours of use with the Eco mode enabled. Please note, this prediction is only when the end-user aims to do some basic work and any video watching or gaming will dramatically reduce the length per charge. Overall, it's a decent showing in lieu of the battery's rated capacity. However, it's no match for the Aero 14's exemplary battery. Power Consumption As expected, the laptop consumes very little power while idling and is remarkably efficient. Rather surprisingly, the load power draw was higher than the Aero 14 which features the previous generation GTX 970M. As this is my first experience with the new GTX 1060 mobile version, the higher power consumption could be the norm or simply down to a margin of error. Whatever the case, the power requirements under stress remain well under 200-watts which is astonishing when you consider the performance on offer. Thermal Performance Even though the MSI GE72VR 6RF Apache Pro's cooling apparatus is substantial, it's not enough to prevent the CPU from downclocking to 3.1GHz during the AIDA64 Stress Test. As you can see, the CPU load temperature hovers around the 92C degree mark and often rises to 95C. It's quite common for gaming laptops utilising the Intel Core i7-6700HQ to throttle which means the result should be analysed from that perspective. For example, the Aero 14's processor scales all the way back down to 2.5GHz. Thankfully, the 400MHz drop isn't going to impact on performance and AIDA64's benchmark is a worst case scenario. In games, I'm pretty confident that the thermal loads will be lower by a good amount. On another note, the GPU runs relatively cool and has loads of headroom in case the environmental temperatures rise sharply. Final Thoughts Pricing The MSI GE72VR 6RF Apache Pro sporting a 256GB M.2 boot SSD isn't available just yet but it should be in stock during the next 2-3 weeks. Please note, this particular configuration will be exclusive to Currys/PC World in the UK and retail for £1499.99. If you can accept a 128GB primary SSD, then it's possible to save some money and buy the laptop from a wide range of respected retailers including Overclockers UK for the grand total of £1399.99. Judging the value proposition of either version is tricky because there isn't a huge number of GTX 1060 laptops on the market. The only competing model which comes to mind is Gigabyte P57W v6 which has practically the same specification and a price tag of £1499.99. Evidently, this is the going rate for premium GTX 1060 laptops and I should be receiving the Gigabyte unit soon to offer a direct comparison. Given the current pricing of the competition, it's hard to argue with MSI's RRP, especially since the laptop is packed with innovative features. Overview The MSI GE72VR 6RF Apache Pro revolves around an understated design philosophy which manages to have enough exuberant elements to please users who enjoy a more ostentatious approach. In particular, the laptop's brushed aluminium finish looks very expensive and the surface's ability to resist fingerprints should allow the system to maintain a pristine appearance. Additionally, the graceful lines and red Apache branding enhances the unit's aesthetic charm without detracting from the elegant styling. Even though beauty depends on subjective preference, I highly doubt anyone would perceive the laptop's visual aspect in a critical manner. MSI's decision to employ an "IPS-Level" screen initially caused a sense of bewilderment and I wasn't entirely convinced why existing IPS panels had to be dismissed. Perhaps, the reasoning behind this unusual move is down or cost or production issues of certain panels featuring a high-refresh rate. Thankfully, there's nothing to be concerned about because the 17.3-inch 1920x1080 display outputs a vibrant colour palette and benefits from astounding viewing angles. To my eyes, I couldn't tell the difference between a traditional IPS panel and MSI's custom creation. Not only that, the screen seemed less prone to backlight bleed and didn't suffer from any ghosting. Another highlight is the Dynaudio speaker system which utilises four 2-watt speakers and a 3-watt subwoofer. The end result is spectacular and the integrated speakers uphold a rich, balanced sound all the way up to 100% volume. Impressively, the subwoofer adds a real kick and ensures the sound mix isn't too flat. Clearly, it's not going to contend with a pair of premium headphones, but the audio fidelity is good enough for non-audiophiles. As previously mentioned, I cannot commend the speakers enough and think they're a great asset. The laptop's keyboard features an island-style chiclet design which has become the standard for the majority of portable products. This layout allows you to glide your fingers over each key with great accuracy and feels very comfortable even during marathon gaming sessions. The keys have a pleasant travel distance which makes the typing experience rather satisfying. Also, the Silver Lining print should prevent the lettering from fading over time and ensure the RGB backlighting can be used to its full potential. The RGB illumination is extremely bright and pierces through the keys without any light leakage. MSI's trackpad has a brushed aluminium coating which feels very pleasant and remains highly accurate. The textured surface acts as a tactile point and it makes slippages less prominent. Also, the buttons can withstand a heavy actuation force rather well. Connectivity-wise, the laptop is pretty good and houses a number of useful ports including USB 3.0, USB 3.1 Type-C, HDMI and a Mini-DisplayPort. Saying that, the HDMI port is only able to output 4K at a measly 30HZ which limits the device's flexibility. As stated earlier, you're not able to enjoy 60 frames-per-second videos on an external 4K display which is a shame because this format is becoming more popular. Additionally, the lack of Thunderbolt 3 prevents the end-user from utilising a GPU enclosure in the future. By default, the MSI GE72VR 6RF Apache Pro comes with a number of applications designed to enhance the user-experience. The company's Dragon Center is quite useful and allows you to adjust system parameters and customisable the keyboard's lighting. It's even possible to ask for technical help without having to search through forums in the hope that someone encountered a similar problem. While the software is basic, it's great for beginners. Unfortunately, the laptop is also bundled with some irritating third-party software such as WinZip and Norton Anti-Virus. WinZip often displays a message about registration and Norton continuously bombards the screen with notifications. This is very annoying and I'd recommend MSI to remove these applications. In terms of performance, the laptop is for the most part, superb and excels throughout a number of intensive benchmarks. Firstly, the GTX 1060 is nothing short of a revolution and provides a wonderful boost compared to the Gigabyte Aero 14's GTX 970M. According to my testing, the graphics card is able to contend with extreme presets and maintains a fluid frame-rate at the native 1920x1080 resolution. The laptop consistently hovers around the 60 frames-per-second mark and doesn't suffer from hitching or substantial frame dips. This is remarkable when you consider the visual fidelity has been set to such a high standard. Also, the system's graphics card remains with an acceptable distance of a desktop Gigabyte G1 Gaming GTX 1060 which features an overclocked specification. In theory, you can enjoy demanding titles on an external 2560x1440 monitor, but there are moments when the frame-rate plummets under 30. Thankfully, it's easy to downscale the settings and uphold a smooth 1440p gaming experience. As you can see, this is mindblowing and a major step forward for gaming laptops. Sadly, there are some areas where the product falls short. For instance, the WiFi networking speeds lingered behind the competition and didn't improve despite conducting an investigation into the router settings. Also, the battery life was average and has some room for improvement. That's not to say it's poor because other gaming laptops offer a similar lifespan per charge. On a more positive note, the boot SSD offers superb read speeds although the write rate wasn't great. This is normal though and a result of the drive being cheaper than premium alternatives. Also, the secondary storage device outputted astonishing figures considering the 2.5-inch format. MSI's cooling solution opts for 6 copper heat-pipes and two relatively powerful fans. This is a beautifully engineered setup but it's not enough to prevent the CPU from throttling back to 3.1GHz during stress tests. As previously mentioned, the CPU at the full 3.5GHz turbo frequency reaches 95C. Once scaled back to 3.1GHz, the temperatures are steady and remain within an 88-93C window. Upon first inspection. you might consider this a worrying result, but it's not uncommon because laptops sporting the I7-6700HQ usually struggle to maintain the maximum speed. One good example is the Aero 14 which exhibits the same throttling and runs at a lower frequency of 2.5GHz. This puts the cooling into perspective and makes you realise that it's a solid showing. Please note, the stress tests are designed to check for stability and the gaming thermals will be lower. Finally, it's time to look at the noise output. During idle scenarios, the laptop is remarkably quiet and maintains silent running. Even if you're accustomed to Noctua fans and passive cooling hardware, it's still going to sound very quiet. Under load, the noise output increases by a large margin and is far from being classified as quiet. However, it's decent for a gaming laptop and a huge improvement over the Aero 14. Although this is to be expected given the Aero 14's slimline frame. While the laptop isn't silent, it's good for a portable device and you should be able to tune out to the noise levels quite easily. Pros Comfortable keyboard Excellent gaming performance Fantastic mechanical HDD performance Gorgeous brushed aluminium design Great LAN speeds Impeccable build quality Magnificent speakers Packaging is flawless Quiet in idle conditions Relatively potent cooling hardware Stunning RGB illumination Wonderful display with a rich colour gamut Cons Disappointing WiFi results Norton Anti-Virus is extremely irritating due to constant pop-ups Neutral Battery life is acceptable but it could be better Might be a little too loud for some users, but the noise output is decent for a gaming laptop "The MSI GE72VR 6RF Apache Pro offers a phenomenal gaming experience in a fairly portable shell. Furthermore, the laptop has a sleek, sophisticated design and looks breathtaking from every conceivable angle. While there are some flaws, the overriding experience is very positive." MSI GE72VR 6RF Apache Pro GTX 1060 Gaming Laptop Review Thank you MSI for providing us with this sample.