As the name implies, the MSI GF65 Thin 10SDR does offer portability to make it easier to carry around. Of course, by still presenting a qualified hardware composition to run AAA games. Curious as to what sophistication? Come on , just take a look at:
MSI GF65 Thin 10SDR design
The exterior appearance of the GF65 Thin 10SDR still puts forward a design that can be said to have become MSI’s DNA in the mainstream segment. When viewed at a glance from the outside, for us the design looks quite minimalist. Well , if you are a gamer but don’t want a device that is too futuristic with RGB lights, this laptop can be an option.
The MSI GF65 Thin 10SDR uses a hair-brushed aluminum pattern with a predominantly black color. On the cover, MSI only decorates it with their flagship dragon logo. The corners are sharp and sharp, giving it a fierce impression.
Because it promises portability, the MSI GF65 Thin 10SDR weighs only 1.86 kilograms. Its thickness is only 21.7 mm, thin enough for the size of a gaming laptop in its class. Even so, because it carries a 15.6-inch screen, of course the dimensions are still wide.
In our opinion, the design quality of the MSI GF65 Thin 10SDR is quite good. Nothing special, but it is up to the standards of a gaming laptop in its price segment. The hinges also feel sturdy and comfortable when opened with one hand. One thing we don’t like is the finishing, which is easily dirty by finger marks.
On the inside you will find a keyboard with a red LED light. Yes, no RBG keyboard here. During use for gaming and typing, we feel the MSI GF65 Thin 10SDR keyboard is able to provide a pretty good tactile sensation. The travel distance is okay too.
As for connectivity, you will be presented with an HDMI port on the left along with a port for the charger. While on the right there are two USB 3.2 gen 1 Type-C ports, two USB 3.2 gen 1 Type-A ports, a combo audio jack, kensington lock, and ethernet. Interestingly, this laptop is equipped with WiFi 802.11ax Dual-Band MU-MIMO and Bluetooth 5.0.
MSI GF65 Thin 10SDR display
As a mainstream gaming laptop, the MSI GF65 Thin 10SDR turns out to be armed with a screen with quite interesting specifications. As mentioned above, it measures 15.6 inches IPS Level with a brightness level of up to 250 nits. The resolution is Full HD and is supported by a high refresh rate of 144Hz.
In our opinion, the technology combination is very adequate to support daily gaming needs, as well as for other needs such as watching movies or light photo and video editing. The colors displayed look great, and the images look sharp.
A little discussing the audio sector, the MSI GF65 Thin 10SDR supports Hi-Res Audio to accompany those of you who like to listen to music. There is also Nahimic 3 with 3D surround sound effects that can lift the audio quality so that it sounds more powerful and realistic.
MSI GF65 Thin 10SDR performance
Continuing to discuss performance, the MSI GF65 Thin 10SDR relies on an Intel Core i7-10750H processor paired with a 6GB Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti GDDR6 graphics card. The available storage is in the form of a PCIe NVMe SSD with a capacity of 512 GB.
The variant we reviewed already uses 16 GB dual-channel RAM. As for the cooling system, this laptop relies on Cooler Boost 5 technology with two fans, six heat pipes and three exhausts.
Just like most other MSI gaming laptops, the MSI GF65 Thin 10SDR has the MSI Dragon Center software to make it easier for you to access various features, such as Gaming Mode. With just one click, you can get optimal performance when running games, or vice versa, which is more power efficient. You can also monitor the CPU and GPU from here.
Here are some games that we run to test the performance of the MSI GF65 Thin 10SDR:
Shadow of the Tomb Raider: The first game we tried was SOTR, either played directly or by running the built-in benchmark tool. As a result, SOTR can get an average FPS of 84 with a High resolution of 1080p. For more details, see the screenshot below.
Valorant: This competitive style game can be played smoothly in Full HD resolution with maximum graphics settings (right aligned ). The frame rate that is obtained ranges from 180-200 fps, and feels very stable even though it is played for a long duration.
Call of Duty Warzone: This free-to-play game with fairly heavy graphics requirements can also run quite well in low to medium settings. The frame rate obtained ranges from 50-70 fps, depending on the settings used.
Metro Exodus: Just like SOTR, we also played Metro Exodus and also ran the built-in benchmark tool. At 1080p resolution with Ultra graphics settings, the average frame rate is at 46fps and the maximum is at 76fps. Good enough!
During playing these games, in our opinion the cooling system of the MSI GF65 Thin 10SDR is able to handle hot temperatures quite well. The fan is quite noisy and it still feels warm in certain parts. But the plus point, the palm rest area and the keyboard that is usually used when playing does not feel annoying hot.
Conclusion
MSI GF65 Thin 10SDR is a mainstream gaming laptop that is able to provide satisfying performance in its class. Some of the top games we tried ran smoothly without a hitch. For jobs such as video editing, this laptop can be an attractive alternative. Its relatively thinner and lighter design is a plus compared to some of its competitors.
One thing that needs to be underlined, it looks like the default RAM configuration of the MSI GF65 Thin 10SDR is only 8GB, not 16GB dual-channel like in the unit we tested. Therefore, you must set aside extra money to upgrade RAM so that its performance is more optimal.
For those who are interested, the MSI GF65 Thin 10SDR is sold at IDR 15,999,000.
The advantages of MSI GF65 Thin 10SDR:
- Fairly light and thin, quite portable
- Okay screen with 144Hz refresh rate
- Great audio
- Powerful performance to play the latest games
- The cooling system is able to work properly
- Storage tight
- The keyboard is quite comfortable
- WiFiax
Lack of MSI GF65 Thin 10SDR:
- The body is easily dirty by finger marks
- The default RAM is only 8 GB, not dual-channel like the product we reviewed
- The sensation of clicking on the touchpad button is uncomfortable
- The red keyboard may not be the dream of many gamers today
The MSI GF65 Thin 10SDR is ideal for: Gamers who want to play the latest games. A content creator who needs a fast laptop to work mobile.
The MSI GF65 Thin 10SDR is less than ideal for: Gamers who are enthusiasts of RGB lights.
