MSI GE76 Raider Gaming Laptop Review | BlizzardWares

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MSI GE76 Raider Gaming Laptop

MSI GE76 Raider is a top-of-the-line gaming laptop based on 11-generation Core processors and NVIDIA GeForce RTX Ampere graphics cards. It has enough capacity to run any game or program that is currently available, and among its great attractions is a Full HD screen, which works at 360 Hz.

The MSI GE76 Raider line of laptops represents the top segment of the gaming industry, combining powerful hardware with a fast screen, backlighting, and other attributes of a gaming PC. And the MSI GE76 Raider 11UH with its GeForce RTX 3080 graphics card confidently claims to be one of the fastest gaming laptops on the market. You will get to know it in this review.

MSI GE76 Raider Gaming Laptop Specifications

Laptop model	MSI GE76 Raider 11UH-613UA
Products webpage	GE76 Raider 11UH
CPU	Core i9-11980HK 2.6 GHz (up to 5 GHz in Boost mode)
RAM	64GB DDR4-3200
Display	17.3″, 1920×1080, 360Hz (AUO B173HAN05.4)
video card	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 16GB (150+5W)
Disk subsystem	2TB SSD NVMe M.2 Samsung PM9A1 MZ-VL22T00
I/O ports	2x USB 3.2 Gen.1 Type A, USB 3.2 Gen.2 Type A, USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, Thunderbolt 4, HDMI 2.1, mini-DisplayPort 1.4, Ethernet RJ45, combo audio jack
Communications	Gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi 6 802.11ax, Bluetooth 5.2
Multimedia	1080p webcam, stereo system, noise-canceling microphones
card reader	SD (UHS Express)
Safety	Kensington Lock
Battery, mAh	6250
Power adapter, W	280
Weight, kg	3
Price	$3,399

Pros

Cons

Top-tier CPU and GPU

Strong gaming performance

Quiet fans for a gaming laptop

RGB light bar

Fast SSD speeds

1080p webcam

Robust speakers

Huge port selection

Decently heavy

Short battery life

Appearance

MSI GE76 Raider gaming laptop has a notably iconic design. Visually, it does not differ from the previous model GE66 Raider 10UG, just a little larger and heavier.

The top cover and main body are made of metal, and the bottom part is made of plastic.

The strict outlines of the body are combined with prominent elements in the hinge area. Also, at the back of the laptop and on the sides, there are large slots for blowing out the hot air. On this side are mini-DisplayPort, Thunderbolt, HDMI, Ethernet ports, and a power cable connector. There are also Kensington Lock connectors on the left side of the laptop, USB 3.2 Gen.2 and USB 3.2 Type-C ports, and a headset audio jack. On the right side are two USB 3.2 Gen.1 connectors. There is a card reader, which some modern laptops lack. The bottom has a specific structure with “honeycombs.” Some combs have extra slots for airflow. The large rubber bolster and feet keep the laptop securely on any surface.

The screen flips to a pretty wide-angle. Above the screen is a webcam lens and two built-in microphones. The camera supports 1080p at 30 frames.

The laptop also has a full-fledged RGB-backlit keyboard with different effects and customization options for each key. The brightness of the backlight is at a level where all the characters are clearly visible, but the glow does not create unnecessary glare on the screen and does not irritata your eyes while playing the game. The touchpad with keys is made in the form of a single panel.

Large Display and Tech Advancements

Gone are the days when laptops with a 17.3-inch screen were considered large devices, Especially after the thin-bezel display technology that has become popular. The device is placed inside the case, in fact, a 15-inch counterpart. Therefore, in transportation and use, this device is quite comfortable and convenient. The screen matrix has been further improved. Previously, even within the described series, 120 Hz was considered the standard refresh rate. But now, in the top modification of the MSI GE76 Raider 11th Gen laptop, 360 Hz is offered: a triple increase.

The speed of dynamically changing scenes is largely supported by a low response time. The smoothness of the gameplay in the games is apparent. 360 Hz is better for long sessions, especially if there is a choice between such a model and an analog.

The cooling system is so essential for a gaming laptop. The highest peak load was achieved during the launch of benchmarks. Even at these moments, overheating of the main nodes was not recorded. The declared frequencies of the processor and video card were confirmed. I was especially pleased with the 3DMark test, in which almost the best scores for this kind of video card were given. It is almost on par with its desktop version in terms of capabilities and power.

Thanks to the built-in Resizable BAR technology, the manufacturer has achieved an increase in the frame rate in computer games. The owner can customize the backlight through the proprietary application Mystic Light. A big plus is a reliable and durable case made of a strong metal alloy. By weight, it is 2.9 kg with a thickness of 26 mm. The controls and input are very convenient as well. The machine is so solid its difficult to comment further.

MSI GE76 Raider 11th Gen Performance

There are two key points in terms of performance. First, MSI GE76 Raider is a powerful eleventh-generation Intel processor. It has eight cores and sixteen threads. Secondly, an NVIDIA RTX 3080 graphics card with 16 GB of GDDR6 video memory with a TGP of 155 W. Thanks to these parameters, you don’t have to worry about the so-called “mobile graphics card restrictions.” In the process of testing, profile benchmarks (special software) confirmed the high computing power of the video card and the system as a whole.

The maximum supported RAM is 64 GB (clock frequency 3200 MHz). It is this amount of RAM that is present in the maximum configuration. Tests in profile programs confirm: so far, all games at high graphics settings will run perfectly on this gaming laptop. If you want to save money, you can focus on 2 bars of 8 GB. Almost all models have 2 GB SSD (M.2 PCIe) solid-state drives.

MSI GE76 Raider gaming laptop also holds fast under excessively large and hard to process systems. It is also useful not only during standard operation and functions, but also for applications and games. If interested, here are a few examples: Red Dead Redemption 2 = 50-55 FPS; Resident Evil 3 (Remake) = 200-210 FPS; Cyberpunk 2077 = 80-85 FPS Metro Exodus = 55-60 FPS. All of these are at high graphics settings.

A model with integrated 802.11 Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth v5.2 standards is responsible for wireless communication in the device. There is also an input for a network cable (Killer Gb LAN). Of the ports, there is a full-size HDMI 2.0, a 3.5 mm audio jack, RJ45, SD, Mini-DisplayPort, and as many as 5 USD inputs, including 2 Type-C USB3.2.

Conclusion

The MSI GE76 Raider 11UH-613UA is a top-performance laptop for demanding gamers. A real gaming monster with outstanding performance. The top-of-the-line Core i9, massive 64GB of RAM, record-breaking NVMe storage, and top-of-the-line GeForce RTX 3080 mobile make it one of the fastest gaming laptops on the market. A screen with good color reproduction and calibration is installed, the main advantage of which is an impressive refresh rate of 360 Hz.

If you want a higher resolution, MSI has similar models available with other screens. Such a powerful laptop is subject to high heat, which is to be expected. In today’s realities, any top-end laptop will be hot and noisy, and the MSI GE76 Raider is no exception. It is better to purchase a good cooling pad for it. Additional features are provided by the MSI Center application, with which you can increase the speed of the fans. A big plus is the smooth adjustment, which allows you to maintain acoustic comfort at low loads.

This laptop is a good alternative to a large gaming PC. At the same time, the MSI GE76 Raider 11UH-613UA will provide the maximum that you can get from a laptop.