The MSI Pulse GL66 is a mid-tier gaming laptop and is probably the type most people should buy. It’s a smart choice, as you can upgrade to the next GPU class without spending any more money by cutting a few corners. But is this the one to get, the Pulse GS66 also has an impressive screen, its 1440p panel makes much better use of the power on tap here than the 1080p one you would have seen on almost every laptop like this a few years ago The MSI Pulse GS66 is a great example of this.
The MSI Pulse GS66 is a classic gaming laptop design, for better or worse. It is a little bulky to use as an ultra-portable and the materials used are not at that high end. Most of the chassis is plastic. However, the lid is made of aluminium, with a few little touches we’ve seen on mid-range gaming models: instead of an interesting design like the Asus Zephyrus G14, Lenovo’s Legions looks more tasteful to our eyes. However, if you don’t care about the look and feel of your PC for a long time, it sounds good enough.The MSI Pulse GS66 also features an unusually large airflow gap at the bottom. You can see the copper pipelines that move heat away from the inside and even read the SSD labels – without removing the bottom cover.
[content-egg-block template=offers_logo hide=price]MSI has not followed the industry trend towards slim gaming laptops, and the Pulse GL66 is indeed a huge machine: at 2.25kg, this is one of the heaviest new products to hit the shelves in recent months, and it is certainly not a fun thing to carry in a backpack . However, it’s important to weigh this design against its power. （By the end of my testing (which I’ll discuss later), I was willing to trade portability and style for the cooling and performance offered by a larger chassis.
The performance of the MSI Pulse GL66 makes it clear who this machine is aimed at. It may not be pretty, and it certainly doesn’t move well, but if you keep the machine stacked on your desk, you’ll find some stunning gameplay at your fingertips. The rig doesn’t spook my Asus TUF Dash F15 playing Planet Coaster on scorching maps for long periods of time, and the chunky design keeps everything cool. Of course, you need all this space to make it sound as if it’s 90% fan. It’s the loudest gaming laptop I’ve ever used, but with a gaming headset on, it’s barely noticeable, and the speakers do their best to keep up with the volume.
The MSI Pulse GL66 is squarely aimed at those who prioritise substance over style. This is one heavy machine, with a footprint to match, and its outdated aesthetic won’t wow in quite the same way as some of the more streamlined rigs we’re seeing these days. Its performance, however, is eclectic. There’s a fair bit of guts in this space, and it’s working hard to hit some serious numbers when it comes to smooth frame rates and fast load times.