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The new MSI Vector GP66 laptop series is one of the more surprising newcomers to the world of gaming. It manages to strike a balance between performance and price in a world where good products often cost too much, but that doesn’t mean it’s perfect. It has an amazing set of hardware that can compete with some of the best gaming laptops from Razer and Lenovo.
This makes it one of the best MSI gaming laptops on the market, if not the best. The Vector GP66 comes with high-end parts like the latest 12th Gen Intel processors, an Nvidia RTX 30-series graphics card, and up to 64GB of DDR4 RAM. As is common with gaming laptops, models seem to be different based on where you live. However, MSI has a well-balanced selection that includes both a cheap, bare-bones machine and a very powerful beast.
MSI Vector GP66 Specifications
| Specifications | Details |
|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Core i7-11800H 2.3GHz (up to 4.6GHz) |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 |
| RAM | 16GB DDR4-3200MHz |
| Storage | 512GB NVMe SSD |
| Display | 15.6-inch FHD IPS (1920×1080) |
| Refresh Rate | 240Hz |
| Battery Life | Up to 6 hours |
Design and Build Quality
SteelSeries made the per-key RGB game keyboard on the laptop, which lets you change the color of the lights on each key as you see fit. But the keyboard’s shallow depth leaves something to be desired, especially when playing FPS games with a lot of movement like the Overwatch 2 test.
You can also use one of the Vector GP66’s three Type-A USB 3.2 ports to add a gaming keyboard or mouse that you already have. The Vector GP66 also has a 3.5mm audio jack and a single Type-C USB 3.2 port on the left side of the device. You can buy this laptop from its official website
MSI Vector GP66: Display
The power port, as well as the Mini Display and HDMI ports, are all on the back of the laptop. Both can output video at 8K at 60Hz and 4K at 120Hz, so you can connect external game monitors to improve your experience.
Speaking of monitors, the default 165Hz QHD display and 2560 x 1440p resolution of the Vector GP66 is a great feature that gives you a smooth visual experience in most games, even though it doesn’t support Nvidia G-Sync. Gamers who are willing to give up resolution for a faster refresh rate can also choose a configuration with a 1920 x 1080 FHD 240Hz monitor.
Keyboard and Trackpad
The MSI Vector GP66 has one of the best keyboards we’ve ever used to type on. It’s not a mechanical keyboard like some gaming laptops have, so the keys don’t move as far and don’t make as much noise. However, the keys are soft and responsive, so you won’t get tired of typing for long amounts of time. Some gamers will want keys that are bigger and stand out more, but we’re happy with these.
SteelSeries helped make the keyboard and the software that controls its RGB lights. You can have a lot of fun with these and choose from many different effects, but the keyboard doesn’t light up around the edges like some game laptops do. When you get the MSI Vector GP66 out of the box, everything is already set up, so you don’t have to waste time getting utilities.
MSI Vector GP66: Performance
Choose between Performance, Balanced, and Quiet cooling modes with the help of MSI Center’s downloadable modules, which cover everything from Wi-Fi optimization to artificial intelligence-powered noise reduction and picture tagging. For most of our benchmark testing, including battery life, I had the device set to Performance mode. However, as I will explain below, the improvement was minimal at best, and battery life remains disappointingly brief. Music Maker Jam and a trial version of Norton Security are included with the preinstalled software for Windows 11 Home.
MSI Vector GP66: Battery Life
Since the Vector only has a 65Wh battery, it should never be taken far from a wall outlet. The battery died in the same amount of time as the Acer Predator Helios 500, which is 2 hours and 47 minutes when we played a movie. If you try to play games on battery power, the lights will go out in well under an hour, even if the performance is worse.
Price and Availability
The MSI Vector GP66 can now be bought in different ways and from different stores. At the time of writing, you can buy the model we reviewed from Overclockers and Scan for around £2,300 in the UK. However, check the widgets on this page for the most recent online prices.
Final Words
Regular readers know that we’re big fans of MSI’s best gaming laptops because they’re usually well-designed, full of features, shine with RGB details, and work very well. But MSI Vector GP66 is not the same. It skips the bells and whistles to keep the price down, but it still plays games well where it counts, which will please many people who don’t want to spend a lot or stand out.
MSI Vector GP66 review: The god and The bad
The Good
- Fantastic gaming performance
- Decent value for high-end specs
The Bad
- Shocking battery life
FAQS
The GP66 Leopard has the strongest build to date because of its premium, bold design and brand-new metal frame.
MSI is a name that you can trust. It is one of the best names that makes high-quality computer hardware and products, such as laptops. Also, the high-end computers last for a long time.
