Last month introduced MSI’s Pulse series laptop with a GeForce RTX 3060 graphics card. For the same review, MSI supplied a Vector line model—the MSI Vector GP66 12UGSO—equipped with a stronger GeForce RTX 3070 Ti and a 12th generation Intel Core i7-12700H processor.
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Characteristics
- Display: 15.6 inch, 1920 x 1080, IPS, 144Hz
- Processor: Intel Core i7-12700H, 2.3GHz (4.7GHz Turbo)
- Memory: 16GB DDR5-4800
- Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti 8GB GDDR6 Notebook
- Disk subsystem: 1 GB M.2 SSD
- Connectivity: Gb LAN (up to 2.5G), Killer AX Wi-Fi 6E + Bluetooth v5.2
- Connections: 1x Type-C USB3.2 Gen2, 3x Type-A USB3.2 Gen1, 1x RJ45, 1x (8K @ 60Hz / 4K @ 120Hz) HDMI, 1x Mini-DisplayPort, 1x DisplayPort (USB Type-C)
- Battery: 4-cell, 65 Wh
- Dimensions: 358 (W) x 267 (D) x 234 (H) mm
- Weight: 2.38 kg (without adapter)
Appearance
The Vector GP66 12UGSO-671RU presents a matte black exterior. Enthusiasts of flashy lighting won’t find a rainbow of accents here—the keyboard features customizable RGB lighting through the SteelSeries setup. Settings can also be tuned in the MSI Center app, allowing users to assign colors to individual keys.
The screen lid opens to roughly 130 degrees. The lid is metal, and hinges are discreetly hidden behind slim plastic overlays. A 720p webcam sits at the top edge, suitable for quick video calls.
On the left side, the notebook exposes a Kensington lock hole, a battery charge indicator, USB3 Type-A, USB3 Type-C ports, and a 3.5 mm combo audio jack.
On the right side, there are two USB3.2 Gen1 Type-A ports.
A row at the back houses power, Mini-DisplayPort, RJ-45 Ethernet and HDMI ports.
Visible from the bottom is the Cooler Boost 5 cooling system with copper tubes. Cold air flows in from the bottom and rear, while heat exits from the sides.
The battery capacity is 65 Wh, offering around two hours of usage, and a 280W Chicony power supply accompanies the pack.
Performance. Synthetic testing
The laptop was tested in synthetic benchmarks such as Cinebench R23, CPU-Z, and CrystalDiskMark to gauge processing and storage performance. Screenshots were captured for reference.
Additional runs used 3DMark in Time Spy, CPU Profile, and Storage Benchmark to assess game loading speeds on the SSD.
Performance. Test game
All gaming tests were conducted in MSI Center’s Game Mode. The native resolution was 1920×1080, with 1280×720 used for DLSS scaling. In gaming, the processor reached about 95 degrees and the GPU rarely exceeded 85 degrees, indicating solid cooling for sustained play.
The Core i7-12700H, with a 45 W base TDP and 115 W turbo mode, clearly stands out. A cooling pad becomes essential for long sessions.
The RTX 3070 Ti, rated at 125 W, generally stays away from critical temperatures during play.
Cyberpunk 2077 runs smoothly at high settings, with or without ray tracing. Enabling ray tracing brings a slight FPS drop but remains playable above a stable 60 FPS when some settings are adjusted.
Hogwarts Legacy shows strong results at high settings without ray tracing, achieving around 90–100 FPS.
With ray tracing enabled at high settings, the frame rate dips by about 20 FPS on average, yet remains a stable, enjoyable experience.
Atomic Heart is also demanding; at ultra settings with DLSS, the laptop manages roughly 100 FPS.
Results and awards
The MSI Vector GP66 delivers solid performance for modern titles at high settings, including ray-traced modes.
The combination of the Core i7-12700H and RTX 3070 Ti, along with fast DDR5 memory and a speedy Micron SSD, positions the Vector GP66 as a compelling option for gamers who want strong performance without breaking the bank. As the market awaits RTX 40-series deployments, this model remains a smart choice for enjoying current games with excellent efficiency.
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Astonishing is the smooth and stable image the Vector GP66 delivers in modern projects. While ultra settings are not its intent, the laptop handles today’s titles with ease.
Solid construction. The chassis feels sturdy and reliable. It sits comfortably in the hands and performs well in prolonged play sessions.