Our review probably has the most powerful and heaviest laptop we’ve ever seen – this is the MSI Titan GT77. It is equipped with the best graphics card in the mobile segment at the time of publication, the GeForce RTX 3080Ti and the 12th generation i9-12900HX processor with 16 cores versus 14 cores in the H series.
Learn more about the laptop
The model is really far from the most compact and portable: the MSI Titan GT77 weighs a whopping 3.3 kg, and the Delta Electronics 330 W power supply with cables weighs the kit another one and a half kilograms. Not surprisingly, the manufacturer positions the laptop more as a mobile workstation.
Appearance
At the same time, the exterior of the MSI Titan GT77 still resembles a gaming laptop – the design uses futuristic elements and the multi-colored gaming backlight is generously built into all details. In addition to the Steelseries keyboard, the MSI logo on the lid, grille backplate, and top grill element behind the screen are also RGB-lit. Traditionally, all lighting is conveniently configured and synchronized in its own application.
The keyboard in the MSI Titan GT77 is one of the most interesting on the market. It uses Cherry MX Ultra Low Profile switches, which have long been synonymous with quality in mechanical keyboards. With this model you will hear the usual clicks during use, and this is a rarity for laptops.
The device is also equipped with a small fingerprint scanner and a webcam, which unfortunately is not something to praise. For some reason, the company installed a standard camera with a resolution of 720p in the top solution.
The 17.3-inch display supports 4K resolution and a refresh rate of 120 Hz. Now this is the most optimal solution, achieving higher frame rates in modern games is not an easy task. Only fans of session games and shooters who would be more satisfied with a faster screen will suffer. The screen itself isn’t outstanding – it’s fast, but in dark scenes you can see the backlight from below.
On the left side of the laptop are the following connections: power, two USB, SD Express card readers and a mini-jack for connecting a headset.
On the right side is another USB, two Thunderbolt connections, Mini-DisplayPort, HDMI and RJ45 for connection to the network.
The rear area and all the impressive space behind the screen is given over to the blowing of hot air. The model uses a Cooler Boost Titan system with four fans, seven heat pipes and a new Phase-Change Thermal Pad. It contains a phase change thermal pad in two forms: when the temperature reaches 58℃, the solid pad melts and fills the space between the CPU and the fuser, enabling more efficient heat transfer.
Powerful iron – huge cooling, otherwise it won’t happen. Note that at full load of the video card and processor, the noise is noticeable, but not critical – no howls or hums, just the fans are running at full speed.
Specifications
- Screen: 17.3 inches, 1920×1080, IPS, 360Hz.
- Processor: Intel Core i9-12900HX.
- Memory: 32 GB DDR5-4800 (expandable to 128 GB)
- Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti 16GB GDDR6 for Notebooks.
- Disk subsystem: 2 TB M.2 SSD (1 x PCIe Gen5, 3 x Gen4; expandable up to 8 TB).
- Connectivity: Gb LAN (up to 2.5G), Killer AX Wi-Fi 6E + Bluetooth v5.2.
- Connections: 2x Type-C (USB / DP / Thunderbolt™ 4), 3x Type-A USB3.2 Gen2, 1x RJ45, 1x (8K @ 60Hz / 4K @ 120Hz) HDMI, 1x Mini-DisplayPort, 1x SD Express .
- Battery: 4-cell, 99.9 Wh
- Dimensions: 397 (W) x 330 (D) x 233 (H) mm.
- Weight: 3.3 kg.
Performance. Synthetic testing
We tested the laptop in synthetic tests Cinebench R23, CPU-Z and CrystalDiskMark. Screenshot results.
We also evaluated the laptop’s performance in 3DMark: Time Spy, Time Spy Extreme, Port Royale, CPU Profile, and Storage Benchmark tests to check the speed of loading games on SSD.
Performance. Test game
All game tests were performed in maximum performance mode with ultra settings in games. The temperature of the processor and video card reached 90 degrees, but remained around 85 degrees in operating mode. The heating of the laptop surface is felt closer to the screen on the right, while the keyboard itself remains warm.
The Callisto Protocol. The new action horror cannot boast of the best optimization. It was all the more interesting to find out how our laptop would handle the project. The internal benchmark showed an average of 42 frames per second. Not the best result for a smooth game. You will therefore have to sacrifice ray tracing for a stable image.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. The updated version of the game makes even the best hardware strain. Ultra settings proved a manageable task for the laptop, but the frame rate remained in the 30-35 region. For a really smooth image you will have to lower the ray tracing or get rid of it completely. Then you will see the desired average 60-70 frames per second.
Cyberpunk 2077. An internal benchmark on ultra settings with maximum tracking showed an average of 30 frames per second. Quite the expected result with a completely twisted graphics. By playing with the settings and reducing the ray tracing, you can get the coveted 60 FPS.
The Intel Core i9-12900HX could handle the hunger of Cyberpunk 2077, which is known for its ability to put a good strain on the processor. The load rarely exceeded 60%, unlike the video card, which reached the ceiling in all projects. Still, 4K resolution, even with DLSS or FSR scaling, is still difficult for mobile graphics cards, including the best.
Separately, we note the MSI Overboost technology, which helps to squeeze the maximum and, at full load, increases the power limit of the video card to 175 W, and the processor to 75 W. You can activate this mode in the extreme performance mode in the MSI Center application.
Results and awards
Can the Titan GT77 handle today’s games? It’s even embarrassing to ask this question. Yes, yes and yes again! The only problem is the ultra-ray tracing settings. In all other cases, this is one of the most powerful and fastest solutions on the market, even at the end of 2022.
Who is this device suitable for? Probably only for gamers who want the most powerful hardware and professionals who need better application performance. And users rarely move – with its weight and dimensions it is difficult to call the mobile Titan GT77.
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4K 60FPS. A rare award for laptops rightfully goes to the Titan GT77. This model can produce a stable smooth image in 4K resolution.
Faster than lightning. A truly nimble laptop, no exaggeration. Every element, from the processor to the fast SSD, has been selected for only one purpose: to deliver the best performance.
Source: VG Times