When it comes to PC gaming, it's safe to say that the bulk of the market centers around desktops. After all, part of the appeal of PC gaming is the ability to upgrade one's rig as necessary, adding new components over time to ensure that it can play the latest game releases. But that's not really viable when it comes to laptops, and so when someone decides to purchase a gaming laptop, they will want to get something that's future-proof, and will be compatible with the biggest new game releases for years to come. The MSI GE66 Raider 10SGS-057 gaming laptop certainly fits that description.
Under the hood, the MSI GE66 Raider 10SGS-057 boasts a 10th Gen Intel Core i9 processor, along with a powerful GeForce RTX 2080 graphics card. As far as gaming laptops go, it's hard to beat, and is most certainly capable of playing virtually all the latest games at max settings. We tested a variety of modern games on the platform, and found that everything ran perfectly. The MSI GE66 is really built with gaming in mind, and that's apparent from its graphics card to its monitor, which can display at a blistering 300 Hz refresh rate.
One might think that a laptop with so much going on would be big and bulky, but that couldn't be further from the truth when it comes to the MSI GE66 Raider 10SGS-057. It's a sleek, lightweight gaming laptop, and it achieves this without making any notable sacrifices. It's completely decked out, with enough ports that it is even capable of supporting virtual reality headsets. And even with Facebook phasing out the standard Oculus Rift S in favor of the Oculus Quest, there should still be plenty of PC VR experiences that truly benefit from the kind of performance the MSI GE66 Raider 10SGS-057 delivers.
Virtual reality gaming is a sort of luxury gaming experience at this point, with those who decide to jump in having to spend hundreds of dollars on headsets and other equipment. But virtual reality gaming is getting more affordable, and as more must-play VR experiences like Valve's Half-Life: Alyx hit the market, one has to imagine that demand for VR is only going to increase. In this way, the MSI GE66 is future-proofed, as it should be able to play all upcoming VR games and do so at high settings.
Another way the MSI GE66 Raider is future-proofed is thanks to its support of ray-tracing technology. Ray-tracing is one of the major selling points for the next-generation of gaming. While console games will have to wait for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S to try ray-tracing, PC gamers have already been able to see what all the fuss is about. The MSI GE66 Raider is powered by a GeForce RTX 2080 graphics card, making the laptop capable of displaying games with full-blown ray-tracing effects at max settings.
As those that have already used a PC capable of ray-tracing already know, it really is a game-changer in terms of graphics. Having realistic, natural shadows and lighting makes a huge difference, even in games that aren't all that graphically intensive. The Quake 2 RTX demo is perhaps one of the easiest ways to show off the benefits of ray-tracing technology, with laser blasts realistically illuminating dark hallways, and showing how a decades-old game can be made to look significantly better.
Other current games capable of ray-tracing include blockbuster hits like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Battlefield 5, as well as what is quite possibly the world's most popular free-to-play game, Fortnite. While games like Call of Duty and Battlefield get a bit more out of ray-tracing because of their realistic graphics, the benefits are also apparent in cartoony games like Fortnite, with dynamic shadows and reflections greatly enhancing the game's overall look.
At the time of writing, the number of games that actively support ray-tracing is admittedly pretty small, but that is set to change in the months ahead. Even so, the MSI GE66 Raider is future-proofed in that regard as well, and the machine should have no issue supporting high-end games for years to come. It's a next-generation gaming machine in laptop form that has more power packed in than most gamers will even conceivably need.
But with this kind of premium power comes a premium price tag. The MSI GE66 Raider 10SGS-057 retails at a heart-dropping $2,999. As far as gaming laptops go, the price is arguably justified by the specs, but many consumers can find a gaming laptop with slightly weaker specs (or build a desktop) that would still be more than capable of running all the new games. The MSI GE66 Raider 10SGS-057 is a laptop for gamers who want to enjoy benefits like ray-tracing and being able to play games at max settings and aren't afraid to spend a lot of money to do so.
These super-souped up specs also have some other drawbacks that potential buyers should keep in mind. While it may be obvious, the MSI GE66 Raider 10SGS-057 battery life is pretty abysmal, with it lasting a little over 1 hour with a full charge, even when doing something as simple as playing Solitaire. This somewhat limits its appeal as a portable gaming machine, and so anyone planning to play long sessions will likely want to stay plugged in most of the time.
The laptop also tends to run pretty hot, with the cooling system working overtime when playing demanding games at high settings. The laptop's fan is just as loud if not louder than a PlayStation 4, which once again somewhat limits its appeal as a portable gaming machine that one would want to play in public. Users will also want to use it on a tabletop instead of their actual lap, as it can get seriously hot. But even though the laptop heats up quick, it never actually over-heated or shutdown during our time with it.
The MSI GE66 Raider 10SGS-057 is a premium machine with a premium price tag to match. PC gamers can achieve a perfectly acceptable gaming experience with a much weaker device, but those wanting a future-proofed laptop that will have no problem running next-gen games for years to come, and are willing to shell out $2,999, should look no further.
Game Rant was provided with an MSI GE66 Raider 10SGS-057 review unit on loan for this review.