MSI Pulse GL76 review: great performance

MSI is hoping that the MSI Pulse GL76, a big, powerful laptop with a 12th-generation Intel Core i9 processor and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 graphics card, will land it another spot on the list of best gaming laptops. In our full MSI Pulse GL76 review, we’ll go over everything you need to know to decide if this is the next laptop for you.

This includes how well it runs the latest games, how it looks and feels, and how much it costs right now. You might need more than just this laptop, though, to have a full gaming setup. If you’re shopping for more tools, check out our guides to the best gaming desk, the best gaming chair, and the best gaming monitor.

MSI Pulse GL76 Specifications

Design and Display

If you’ve been paying attention to MSI gaming laptops over the past few years, you won’t be surprised by the Pulse GL76’s design. It follows the company’s history of mostly understated, subtle designs, even though this time MSI worked with 3D artist Maarten Verhoeven on the aesthetics. This is most clear on the lid of the laptop, which has a ridged, gunmetal grey finish.

The 17.3-inch screen determines the size of the laptop, which measures 398 x 273 x 27.3mm and weighs 2.8kgs. You wouldn’t buy a 17-inch game laptop if you needed something that would fit easily into a backpack, but this is a pretty big machine.

There are two Type-A USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, one Type-A USB 2.0 port, one Type-C USB 3.2 Gen 1 port, one HDMI 2.0 port, and an Ethernet port on the laptop. It’s not the most we’ve ever seen, but most people should be fine with it. There is also a 3.5mm port that can be used for both a microphone and a set of headphones. The bezel above the screen has a fairly normal 720p webcam built into it. You can buy this laptop from its official website

MSI Pulse GL76: Portability

The MSI Pulse GL76 is a powerful gaming laptop that has a 17.3-inch display and high-end components; yet, due to its weight of approximately 5.5 kilograms (12 pounds) and large design, it is not especially portable. It is better suited for stationary use or transportation on an irregular basis rather than for continuous use while traveling.

MSI Pulse GL76: Performance

A lot depends on the games you play and whether you stick with MSI’s Balanced or Smart Auto performance modes or use its MSI Center software to switch to the Extreme Performance mode. With Ultra settings and Smart Auto turned on, we got 79fps in Borderlands 3 and 88fps in Horizon: Zero Dawn. If we switched to Extreme Performance, I could get 81.99fps and 90fps, or 114fps in Horizon if we turned on DLSS Favor Quality. For a game laptop at this price point, these are good results, but they won’t push that 360Hz screen.

MSI Pulse GL76: Battery

In terms of battery life, an hour of viewing video over Wi-Fi at a low volume and maximum screen brightness drains 16% of the battery, which is about 6-7 hours of total video watching. The battery dies much faster when you play games, about 15% every 15 minutes, giving you less than two hours total. As with most game laptops on the market, you’ll need to keep it plugged into a power source most of the time.

Price and Availability

Right now, you can buy the MSI Pulse GL76 at a number of shops in the United Kingdom and the United States. If you want to find the best online deals, all you have to do is look at the tools we’ve put on this page. At the time of writing, the Pulse GL76 12UGK, which we tested, can be bought for about £1,900 in the UK from stores like Overclockers and Scan. In the United States, it costs close to $1,700 to sell.

Final Words

This is a great gaming machine if you play the games it was made for. High FPS counts, a refresh rate of 360Hz, and a big 1080p screen make a lot of sense if you’re a competitive FPS player who thinks that 144Hz or 240Hz isn’t quite enough, and the spec gives you enough power to meet those needs.

But gamers who aren’t as serious about winning might want something with a higher-resolution screen, better sound, more modern connections, and a slightly better build. A device that costs less than the Lenovo Legion 7 (2022) or the Acer Nitro 5 (2022).

MSI Pulse GL76 review: The good and The bad

FAQS