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MSI GS65 Stealth: In-Depth Review

MSI GS65 Stealth

MSI GS65 Stealth: In-Depth Review

When the MSI GS65 Stealth burst onto the scene in 2018, it made a huge impression on the laptop gaming community. Finally, there was a sleek, lightweight gaming PC that still came packed with a ton of power. A lot has changed in the laptop gaming scene in the following years. So, how does the MSI GS65 Stealth hold up today? Is it still a good option for laptop gaming? We’re going to find out in this in-depth review of the MSI GS65 Stealth.

MSI GS65 Stealth
The MSI GS65 Stealth is known for its powerhouse graphics processing.

MSI GS65 Stealth: Summary

At the time of its release, the MSI GS65 Stealth was the lightest premium gaming laptop on the market. Not to mention it had a killer FHD display, impressive performance, and a host of features like a SteelSeries RGB backlit keyboard. This all came in at the reasonable price of $1,899 which was a very competitive price at the time.

Between GS65’s initial release and now, MSI has released the GS66, the next iteration in the GS series. The GS66 is also a stylish, powerful machine that does improve on several GS65 in several ways like the more storage options and longer battery life. However, the GS66 was not the breakout its predecessor was. What improvements are made aren’t enough to separate it from the pack and with its much steeper price the GS65 Stealth is still a great option for thin and light gaming laptops.

Best Deal Today

Unfortunately, the GS65 Stealth is sorta hard to find, no doubt due to its age and the current shortage of inventory. If you are hoping to buy it new you will have some trouble, but if you don’t mind buying used you can pick one up for around $865-$2,300 on Amazon.

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03/13/2024 12:19 am GMT

Overview

Design

Arguably the most stand-out feature the MSI GS65 Stealth has to offer. It is incredibly thin and light, weighing 4.14 pounds and it is only 0.69 inches thick. On top of its lightweight is very sleek and stylish. It has slim bezels that give you more screen but still leave room for a webcam. The frame is outlined in copper trim that pulls the design together with a subtle MSI logo on the top.

While the design is beautiful it doesn’t leave a lot of room for some features. The fans in the MSI GS65 are pretty low quality which makes the machine run hotter than other devices in the same class.

Display

The GS65 comes with a stunning 15.6-inch FHD display. With a 144Hz refresh rate, 7ms response time, and IPS paneling technology there is little to no screen tearing or artifacting even when pushing games on Ultra settings. It has a rich, vibrant color that supports multiple gaming profiles and blue light protection. Overall, it is one of the best displays you can find on a thin and light gaming laptop.

4k laptops
The proliferation of 4K displays is making it even easier to get a high-resolution laptop for a reasonable price.

 Performance and Specs

Despite its sleek design, there was a lot of power under the hood. It has a six-core Intel Core i7 processor, a GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q, and 16 GB of memory. This laptop is perfect for 1080p gaming and can easily handle most AAA games. The 1070 Max-Q features 8 GB of GDDR5 VRAM making the GS65 a powerhouse at graphics processing. It also has 512 GB of M.2 SSD storage and excellent connectivity so fans of online games like Fortnite have a smooth experience. Below is the full performance spec sheet for the GS65 Stealth

Size:14.08 x 9.75 x 0.69 inches
Weight:4.14 pounds (1.88kg)
CPU:9th Gen Intel Core i7, 3.9GHz, up to 4.2GHz
GPU:Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q, 8GB GDDR5
Storage:512GB M.2 SSD
RAM:16GB
Connectivity:Killer N1550 Combo 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0
Display:15.6-inch FHD Display, IPS, anti-glare, 144Hz, 7ms response time, 100% Adobe RGB

MSI GS65 Stealth: Review

So, what’s the big deal? What makes the MSI GS65 Stealth such an amazing gaming laptop. It isn’t just one thing, it is everything. The GS65 just feels good to use and game on. The aluminum chassis is lightweight but still feels sturdy. The SteelSeries keyboard has great throw and returns and the trackpad.

Gaming on the GS65 is a triumph. It handles Ultra settings at high framerates on even the toughest of games with little or no drops. The 144Hz refresh rate removes any of the chops and the screen renders one of the clearest brightest pictures I’ve seen on a laptop of this age.

The GS65 also does a solid job with professional programs like Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator but it has a much harder time with more processor-intensive programs like Premiere Pro or After Effects. If you are just looking to use the GS65 with low-impact programs like Office you are in good shape.

The six-hour battery life gets outmatched by most newer models on the market but is still decent for low-intensity work. Gaming is a different story and running when running a game on Ultra settings you will want to have the charger close at hand. Also, the slim design still leaves room for all the ports you could need. It has three USB 3.1 ports, a Thunderbolt 3, HDMI, and DisplayPort so you have plenty of options for external monitors.

There are a few drawbacks to the GS65 that are worth mentioning. As stated earlier, the fans work well enough but when pushing Ultra/High settings the GS65 does generate a lot of heat. It’s never unbearable but it can get hotter than other laptops in its class. The speakers also aren’t great. They have a bit of a thin sound with very little low end. This can steal the punch from some games. Probably best to invest in some good headphones for gaming.

Pros!Cons!
Great priceHard to find
Excellent for gamingWeak speakers
Thin, stylish, and lightweight 
Beautiful Display 

Is It a Buy?

Buy it if…

If you are looking for a lightweight, affordable laptop that’s great for gaming, the MSI GS65 is perfect for you. While the newer GS66 does have some slight improvements it doesn’t outpace the GS65 by much. For the price, the GS65 is well worth it.

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03/13/2024 12:19 am GMT

Don’t buy it if…

You are looking for a workhorse machine for video/photo editing. It has some great features for gaming but the hardware just can’t hang with the newest creative programs. There are also better options for 4K gaming out there. The GS65 renders 1080p beautifully but if you are looking for 4K you will struggle with the GS65.

Next Up…

Frequently Asked Questions

What is MSI GS65 Stealth used for?

This laptop is perfect for 1080p gaming and can easily handle most AAA games. The 1070 Max-Q features 8 GB of GDDR5 VRAM making the GS65 a powerhouse at graphics processing.

Is MSI GS65 Stealth a good laptop?

So, what’s the big deal? What makes the MSI GS65 Stealth such an amazing gaming laptop. It really isn’t just one thing, it is everything. The GS65 just feels good to use and game on.

Is the MSI GS75 Stealth worth it?

If you are looking for a lightweight, affordable laptop that’s great for gaming, the MSI GS65 is perfect for you. While the newer GS66 does have some slight improvements it doesn’t outpace the GS65 by much. For the price, the GS65 is well worth it.

What features does the MSI GS65 Stealth have?

Despite its sleek design, there was a lot of power under the hood. It has a six-core Intel Core i7 processor, a GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q, and 16 GB of memory. This laptop is perfect for 1080p gaming and can easily handle most AAA games. The 1070 Max-Q features 8 GB of GDDR5 VRAM making the GS65 a powerhouse at graphics processing. It also has 512 GB of M.2 SSD storage and excellent connectivity so fans of online games like Fortnite have a smooth experience.

GS65 Stealth?

If you are hoping to buy it new you will have some trouble but if you don’t mind buying used you can pick one up for around $865 – $1000. If you have your heart set on buying new Amazon does have some limited stock but you can expect to pay around $1200.

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