In-Depth Review of MSI GS76 Stealth i9-11900H, RTX 3080: The Perfect Choice for Professional Gamers

With the evolving society and consumer demands, the majority now seek laptops for various purposes. When it comes to gaming laptops that meet all customer expectations, MSI, particularly MSI GS76 Stealth, stands out – the elder sibling of MSI GS66 Stealth. This laptop comes with a new generation of CPU and GPU, powerful enough to handle all games yet remarkably lightweight. But does MSI GS76 Stealth truly live up to being the ultimate gaming and work laptop? Let's explore in this article!

1. MSI GS76 Stealth Design: A Bold Statement

A notable aspect of MSI GS76 Stealth is its overall compactness despite featuring a massive 17.3-inch screen. With top-notch hardware and a large cooling system, MSI GS76 Stealth isn't the lightest gaming laptop out there. However, this ultra-thin laptop with premium hardware weighs just 2.45 Kg, making it relatively lightweight.

MSI GS76 Stealth's chassis design looks incredibly sleek! You can see this device boasts a full metal design, and you can't help but admit that the MSI GS76 resembles a decorative object when placed on an office desk or anywhere else, thanks to its deep black appearance, right?!

It's not hard to spot MSI's classic 'Dragon Shield' emblem with the matte black color used for the entire top cover of the machine. Moreover, on the side of the lid, there's a silver U-shaped lining (on both left and right sides). Can you guess its significance? Well, it's actually a sign indicating the gaming capability of the laptop. Just adding a little mystery, but I'm sure we're all quite savvy in this field, aren't we?!

An interesting feature is that the MSI GS76 Stealth's screen can be opened with one hand, with a maximum opening angle of about 130° being the usual angle. The entire screen surfaces are favorably designed to be ultra-thin, especially the top and bottom bezels which are thicker on both sides. We see the top bezel contains a webcam supporting Windows Hello face recognition, and the bottom bezel has the 'MSI' inscription. What's great about this laptop is that users can log in faster thanks to Windows Hello and the infrared camera. Plus, in low light or darkness, it also supports instant unlocking of the laptop.

The screen design serves both gaming and work purposes, making it very convenient! Additionally, the device's slim bezels allow this 17.3-inch laptop to have the form factor of an average 15-inch laptop. Besides, the screen resolution is very high at 4K, and the GS76 Stealth also supports a high refresh rate of up to 120 Hz. The dominant black design is used beneath the keyboard containing the touchpad, and it has no stickers to display the processor and GPU.

A plus point for gamers choosing this GS76 Stealth is the large palm rest area on both sides, providing a comfortable feeling. Moreover, the wide and smooth glass touchpad will be very suitable for those who love smoothness. Another interesting aspect of the keyboard area is the two openings on the left and right sides of the touchpad. Many of you may wonder why there are two openings for the touchpad? Don't rush, let's wait and see, these openings are for the versatile gaming audio system that we will discuss later.

Typically, the drives will dissipate heat through the vents at the bottom of this device. The bottom of the machine also uses metal material like the rest of the device. We notice that the studs on the bottom are low and seemingly not very high, partly to reduce the thickness of the machine. However, this will not support good heat dissipation, but in return, it provides a very special slim and beautiful appearance!

2. Cutting-edge Maximized Display and Immersive Audio

Regarding the display, the machine boasts a 17.3-inch screen with model number B173ZAN06.1 supporting 4K resolution (3840 x 2160). Additionally, we can observe that the bottom bezel is quite thick; however, this is not an issue with the large 17.3-inch screen suitable for a 15-inch laptop body.

Overall, this gaming laptop utilizes a high-quality display that can meet both gaming and work needs. In fact, the GS76 Stealth supports up to 99.9% sRGB color gamut, 98.9% DCI-P3 color gamut, and brightness of about 500 nits on the screen. Due to factory color calibration, the average Delta E is only 0.24 and the maximum Delta E is only 1.01. Nevertheless, I rate it as extremely convenient!

Moreover, depending on different purposes, MSI also provides exclusive true-color technology with multiple color schemes, allowing you to choose any color scheme depending on the usage scenario. Furthermore, this screen comes with five viewing modes (sRGB mode, Office mode, Movie mode, blue light reduction mode, and Gamer mode).

Additionally, one particularly interesting mode that cannot be overlooked is the delightful feeling when browsing the web with vibrant colors in sRGB mode. Furthermore, the Office viewing mode is designed to enhance productivity in the workplace, while the Movie mode enhances the movie-watching experience.

The MSI GS76 Stealth also comes with blue light reduction mode and Gamer mode. This design will bring optimization! With the blue light reduction mode - completely providing comfort when using the laptop for extended periods, while enjoying the best gaming experience possible in Gamer mode.

It can be said that gaming laptops are a type of computer that requires top-notch audio because sound is a powerful force that stimulates strong feelings. In fact, most manufacturers do not focus on audio. However, there is something we cannot deny, just think if there is no good sound, would gaming still be fun? Certainly not. Don't worry! In this regard, the MSI GS76 Stealth has significantly upgraded its audio components.

The MSI GS76 Stealth features Dynaudio, Nahimic, and Hi-Res audio, which are three popular audio options for different scenarios. If you want the sound close to you, then you need to use the Dynaudio audio system, which activates the front speakers. This is also an option that I feel is quite suitable for the desires of gamers. The immersive sound feeling because the front speakers provide clear and sharp sound with deep bass makes us feel ecstatic. On the other hand, the new Nahimic audio mode brings 3D surround sound and is ideal for movies and conference calls. Conversely, if you love music, then the popular Hi-Res audio provides premium sound that is perfect for music because it combines all types of sounds.

3. Multi-color Keyboard 

The MSI GS76 Stealth can be said to be the perfect combination of work and gaming needs. We can evaluate the design as well as the appearance, specifically, the screen will cater more to work needs, but the keyboard is practical for gamers. My gamer friends, let's bring her home right away! Moreover, the machine responds quite sensitively when pressed, and we can observe that the full keyboard combined with RGB backlighting is reasonable.

Under each button of the laptop, there are independent RGB backlighting. You can customize the color you prefer and display various lighting effects through the software. Especially, while experiencing games, these colors will react to the in-game status in real-time, and it's great that we can set these lights to change according to the sound rhythm from the speakers. The keyboard software is customizable for hundreds of games, and RGB works perfectly for any game. On the left and right sides of the keyboard are a pair of speakers that support NAHIMIC 3 audio software.

4. Hassle-free access to ports & Wi-Fi without worrying about lag

Similar to other gaming laptop models, the MSI GS76 Stealth comes with a very rich connectivity option on both sides of the device to meet the needs of gamers and content creators. We have DC-in, RJ45, two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports, and a combo audio jack (3.5 mm) on the right side. And on the left side, we have a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C / DP port, an SD card reader, Thunderbolt™ 4 (supporting PD 100W charging), and HDMI (8K 60Hz / 4K 120Hz).

The 2.5G E3100G network card and the wireless network card are AX1675. Both are leading gaming network cards and support the latest Wi-Fi 6E. Additionally, a major advantage of the network card is its user-friendly stream control driver.

While gaming online, the LAN network reaches up to 2.5 GB and provides users with seamless connectivity. The good thing about this feature is that it ensures users never experience disturbances like lag or network stuttering. With the user-friendly 'Killer Control Center' driver, users can easily manage the bandwidth of each application through the controller.

5. CPU & GPU performance enhancements for better efficiency

Paired with the combination of the Core i9-11900H CPU and RTX 3080 GPU, the MSI GS76 Stealth stands out as one of the most powerful and lightweight gaming laptops on the current market! The I9-11900H is currently Intel's top processor, boasting 8 cores, 16 threads, and a maximum turbo frequency of up to 4.90 GHz.

However, the new GPU is a highlight as the NVIDIA RTX 3080 (16G) is currently the most powerful gaming graphics card on Nvidia's laptop devices. The RTX 3080 GPU is configured with a maximum power of 80W. However, we can automatically adjust power consumption by an additional 15W with Dynamic Boost 2.0 technology, reaching a maximum power consumption of 95W.

Furthermore, this GPU comes with different modes for various situations. We can almost choose between the Discrete mode or MSHybrid Graphics mode (NVIDIA Optimus) to optimize for gaming to enhance performance and efficiency.

Within the MSI Center, there's an overclocking option allowing users to adjust the GPU core clock as well as VRAM frequency, surprisingly enabling users to further enhance graphics power.

The RTX 3080 comes with new RT cores, Tensor cores, and multi-processors, and the author has tested some advanced GPU features like ray tracing, NVIDIA DLSS, RTX On, and Dynamic Boost 2.0 technology.

While the MSI GS76 Stealth comes with a top-tier cooling system, in real-world performance, can it handle the i9-11900H + RTX 3080 combo? To answer this question, the author conducted several tests to verify.

The initial test involved using AIDA64 for FPU stress testing. After 15 minutes, the CPU temperature stabilized at 94°C. At this point, power consumption reached 59W, and the frequency remained stable at 3 GHz. The performance was decent.

Next, the author utilized FurMark to stress test the GPU. With Dynamic Boost 2.0 technology, the GS76 Stealth's RTX 3080 operated steadily at 95W power and maintained a stable temperature of 66.5°C. The results indicate the effectiveness of the three cooling fans!

Finally, assuming the maximum settings and running tests for 15 minutes, the author concurrently ran the two aforementioned software. After 15 minutes, the CPU stabilized at 52W and 93°C, while the GPU stabilized at 81W and 74°C. In summary, both the CPU and GPU can operate at a basic power consumption level.

Practical testing reveals that when the three fans operate simultaneously at maximum power, the emitted sound measures only 49.8 decibels. Surprisingly, the MSI GS76 Stealth remains remarkably quiet, almost silent, compared to other gaming laptops on the market, making it significantly quieter.

The GPU score in 3DMark Time Spy reaches 9365 points, while its Firestrike score is 19988 points.

In CineBench R20, the obtained results are 599 points for single-threaded and 4498 points for multi-threaded performance.

In CineBench R23, the results are 1569 points for single-threaded test and 11982 points for multi-threaded test. Overall, the single-core performance of this laptop ranks at the top.

6. SSD & Battery - the Best Choice for You

Upon observation, we can see an M.2 slot located on the right side of the motherboard, which is upgradeable. The installed internal hard drive is the Samsung PM9A1 2T - currently the most powerful consumer-grade drive. It supports the latest PCIe 4.0 protocol.

To significantly boost multimedia loading speeds across various programs and enhance multitasking efficiency, the author used AS SSD Benchmark, achieving a read speed of 5010 MB/s and a write speed of 3820 MB/s to test its performance.

The device is equipped with a 99.9 Wh battery, which is the maximum capacity allowed for air travel, and additionally, this battery supports PD charging, helping to significantly reduce the overall weight of the device.

There's an option for you: if you need extended battery life for office use throughout the day, then you have to switch to hybrid mode. However, for full gaming immersion, you can enjoy gaming sessions of up to 11 hours, which is quite impressive!

7. Cooling System - Remarkable Performance

Typically, an efficient cooling system would require a large chassis. However, the MSI GS76 Stealth boasts a compact form factor. The question arises: can such a petite frame handle the powerhouse duo of CPU and GPU?

Fear not! Upon disassembling the laptop, you'll find the entire setup essentially encased in a black electromagnetic shielding layer. There are 6 heat pipes with 3 Cooler Boost Trinity cooling fans + module beneath the shielding layer.

To make the laptop slimmer, this laptop utilizes the world's thinnest 0.1mm fan blades exclusively. Enhanced Cooling Boost technology ensures perfect heat dissipation with sufficient airflow, ultimately guaranteeing a premium gaming experience for consumers. Therefore, to cool the remarkable performance of the Core i9-11900H and RTX 3080, the gaming laptop's cooling system with thin fan blades generates sufficient airflow (increased by 15% compared to the previous generation).

8. Maximizing Efficiency with State-of-the-Art ITBM 3.0 Technology in Gaming Tests

In theoretical performance analysis, the combination of i9-11900H + RTX 3080 on the MSI GS76 Stealth is outstanding.

Hence, the author had to run several games to test its real-world performance. The author tested two resolutions: 4K (DLSS) and 1080P (DLSS off). For all tests, image quality was set to the highest quality level.

Based on the tests, most e-sports and AAA games can run at over 60 frames at the highest 4K image quality. Therefore, the overall gaming experience is excellent.

So, how does performance fare with ray tracing enabled? Let's test out some games to see how it performs!

Overall, MSI GS76 Stealth brings a significant boost in core frequencies to make the most out of the processor, thus enhancing gaming performance. Additionally, it maximizes efficiency in gaming with the latest Intel Turbo Boost Max 3.0 (ITBM 3.0) technology.

9. Conclusion: MSI GS76 Stealth is definitely the right choice for you

It can be said that MSI GS76 Stealth is a perfect combination of gaming and productivity. However, everything comes with a price, with its sleek design, this device is priced at around $4,000, which may seem a bit steep for many potential customers. The 17.3-inch GS76 Stealth is about 2 cm thick and weighs 2.45 kg. When considering its hardware and performance, this is always a plus point for this device.

MSI GS76 Stealth boasts the latest hardware like the 11th generation Intel Core i9 processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 graphics card. It also features a 99.9 WHr battery and the latest Wifi 6E. Despite its slim and portable design, the cooling system is top-notch. If you're passionate about gaming, have a moderate budget, and need a high-quality display and performance for gaming and office work while also requiring mobility, then MSI GS76 Stealth is definitely your compatible choice. So, what are you waiting for? Hurry up and get yourself an MSI GS76 now!

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