MSI challenges Alienware with lightweight, 14-inch gaming laptop

[Dave LeClair]

The market for powerful and lightweight gaming laptops is heating up with companies like Alienware and Razer both pushing the envelope further in terms of the kind of raw power that can be squeezed inside a small package. MSI, a company typically known for its hulking devices, is jumping in the mix with the release of its GE40, equipped with specs that actually beat the larger names in the space.

The new laptop starts at $1,299 and its base configuration comes with a 2.9GHz Core i7-4702MQ processor, a 2GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX760M GPU, and 8GB of RAM. That is enough horsepower to handle even the most demanding games on the market today on medium to high graphics settings. It also comes with a 750GB 7,200RPM hard drive, and a 14 inch, 1600X900 resolution display. 

The company is offering a slightly upgraded model for $1,399 that switches out the aforementioned processor for an Intel Core i7-4700MQ, and adds a 128GB SSD to go alongside the 750GB HDD. 

Despite all this horsepower the GE40 is relatively light for a gaming machine, weighing in at 4.4 pounds, which compares favorably against the 6.1 pounds of Alienware's new 14 inch laptop. 

Some other notable features include a built-in HD webcam, Sound Blaster audio, a SD card reader, HDMI out, and the ability to output to three displays simultaneously (including the native notebook display). The company is shipping both options for the GE40 now, so interested buyers need not wait to get their hands on one.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/52892-msi-challenges-alienware-with-lightweight-14-inch-gaming-laptop.html

 

[amstech]

If it costs more then $1200 there is no excuse not to have atleast a 64GB-120GB SSD boot drive, I don't care what the rest of the specifications are. Just my .02

 

[BlueDrake]

If it costs more then $1200 there is no excuse not to have atleast a 64GB-120GB SSD boot drive, I don't care what the rest of the specifications are. Just my .02

I quite agree, but that's still a good bit of hardware. Also at that weight it's not going to bother you, carrying it around to places. Of course for all that it matters, I'm personally better off with a desktop. For the few places I go, there's no real need for a powerful laptop.

 

[Jad Chaar]

They could have easily added in a 1080P screen and upped the GPU to a 765M. The 760M has slow clock speeds. Also was Intel on crack when the named their CPUs lol. The 4702QM has a lower clock speed than the 4700QM despite having a larger number (4702 vs 4700). Yeah, the 2 represents 3.2 GHz, but that is pathetic lol.

 

[VitalyT]

Not much of a news. Newegg has been selling the complete MSI series for a week now or so: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100006740%2050001312%204804&IsNodeId=1&name=New%20Product

And yet they already dropped the price by $100 on each model, including GT40: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834152409

I guess they aren't selling that well after all...

 

[oldikes]

"The market for powerful and lightweight gaming laptops is heating up"

Intentional pun or not I thought that was funny.

 

[Tawhid]

Msi should get a nice design team, only specs cant win top range...

 

[Jad Chaar]

Msi should get a nice design team, only specs cant win top range...

The design is fine, the specs are the problem lol.

 

[Guest]

That pc seems to have crap cooling :/ its either under the pc or on the side, with is not good :/ who wants a computer that is only playable in the winter ?

 

[grvalderrama]

I don't understand why the specs are a problem, they seem pretty much good enough for a 4.4 pounds gaming laptop.

 

[Guest]

A snowman.