Pros
- Full HD Display with 144 Hz refresh rate
- RGB backlit keyboard
- GeForce RTX 2070 graphics card
- USB-C, HDMI (4K), and miniDP 1.2
Cons
- Noisy fans
- Surface attracts fingerprints with ease
Finding the perfect gaming laptop is not a game - pun intended -. When you're a hardcore gamer looking to play AAA games fluently you know that you need high-end specs and you can't get away with less. It's with this in mind that MSI has managed to make a name for themselves in the market, by delivering laptops with high-end gaming specs at reasonable price points.
Proof and point is its latest MSI GL65 Leopard series, specifically the MSI GL65 Leopard 10SFK-062 model. This particular model has managed to become one of the best-selling gaming laptops, and one of the best-selling laptops overall for the better part of the last 12 months, and that's no easy feat, trust us.
Today we're going to do a thorough review and try to figure out if this laptop is worth your hard-earned money. And, more specifically, if it's worthy of its stellar reviews.
Index
- Who's it for?
- Technical specifications
- Design and Panel
- Processor and RAM
- Storage and Graphics
- Autonomy and Connectivity
- Bottom line: Is it worth it?
Who's it for?
The MSI GL65 Leopard 10SFK-062 is the perfect laptop for those who demand the highest levels of performance, not only when playing modern video games, but also when working with demanding graphic applications or demanding software in general.
It's also the best option for those who like to customize their laptops as it also allows for expansion both of the internal storage as well as the RAM, meaning you can always opt to upgrade these features down the line.
In addition, this model incorporates two video outputs (HDMI and MiniDP 1.2) to allow the connection of two external monitors simultaneously, through the Matrix Display function, and thus deliver a more immersive gaming experience, along with some more productive computing sessions.
Starting out with the design we've got a solid plastic chassis with a matte black finish, whose cover is decorated with two parallel lines and the Gaming Series logo backlit in red. Nothing new under the sun here.
In terms of portability, this isn't really what we'd call a portable laptop. It weighs over 8 pounds and measures over an inch.
In addition, this model incorporates two video outputs (HDMI and MiniDP 1.2) to allow the connection of two external monitors simultaneously, through the Matrix Display function, and thus deliver a more immersive gaming experience, along with some more productive computing sessions.
Technical specs for the MSI GL65 Leopard 10SFK-062
| Make model | MSI GL65 Leopard 10SFK-062 |
| Dimensions | 14.08 x 9.76 x 1.08 inches |
| Weight | 8.36 pounds. |
| Panel | IPS-Level LED (15.6 inches) | 144 Hz | 3 ms |
| Resolution | Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels) |
| Processor | Intel Core i7-10750H (6 cores at 5.00 GHz) |
| RAM | 16GB at 2666 MHz (DDR4) |
| Graphic Controller | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 (8GB) |
| Storage | 512GB (SSD) |
| Drums | 6 cells (Lithium) |
| OS | Windows 10 Home |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6 Bluetooth 5.1 RJ-45 USB 3.2 (x3) USB Type C HDMI (4K @ 30Hz) Mini DisplayPort 1.2 Audio combo connector HD webcam (720p) Digital microphone SD card reader |
MSI GL65 Leopard 10SFK-062 Review
A design that pleases the most demanding tastes
You feel the MSI signature quality as soon as you touch it
Starting out with the design we've got a solid plastic chassis with a matte black finish, whose cover is decorated with two parallel lines and the Gaming Series logo backlit in red. Nothing new under the sun here.
In terms of portability, this isn't really what we'd call a portable laptop. It weighs over 8 pounds and measures over an inch.
Then again, gaming laptops are not really designed for portability. If you want something more portable that's still suitable for gaming we would suggest something like the Acer Predator Helios 300 PH315-53-72XD. It features similar specs yet boasts a thinner footprint and stronger battery life, as well as double the storage capacity.
Back to our review, the integrated Steel Series keyboard has comfortable island keys for fast travel, whose RGB backlight function allows you to choose the same color, or alternate between different multi-color lighting modes, depending on your tastes and needs when playing games.
What about the screen?
When we think about gaming laptops we often get sidetracked into looking at the internals and don't stop to think much about the display. However, for those who will be using this laptop for gaming or graphical design, the display is a pretty big deal. Having a very good display is a VERY big deal.
MSI knows this and that's the other reason we love the 10SFK-062. Specifically, this model packs a 15.6-inch Full HD display with a 100% sRGB spectrum - perfect for photographers and designers - as well as an impressive 144 Hz refresh rate and a 3ms response time.
What does all of this mean?
Well, it means that you'll be able to play your favorite AAA games at with high settings at a high refresh rate without fear of your computer screen lagging behind. Believe me, at the end of the day, this makes all the difference.
Performance
The MSI GL65 Leopard 10SFK-062 mounts the high-end processor, Intel Core i7-10750H , consisting of 6 cores that reach a maximum clock speed of 5.00 GHz, 12 logical threads and a 12 MB SmartCache memory. That's an excellent processor that offers up to 15% better performance per core than its predecessor. For consumer-oriented laptops, we're talking about one of the best possible CPU's currently available in the market.Memory-wise we've got two 8 GB DDR4 modules - running at a speed of 2666 MHz - totaling 16 GB of RAM. That's more than enough for most intensive users.
However, you can also upgrade the RAM to a total of 64 GB down the line. We can't imagine a scenario where you would need that much RAM but the possibility is much appreciated nonetheless.
What does this all mean?
With this advanced hardware, it goes without saying how prepared this laptop is to handle very demanding tasks, including graphic and architectural design, 3D modeling and rendering, running virtual machines, programming, video editing, and photo retouching, amongst others. In short, this is a powerhouse laptop capable of dealing with pretty much anything you throw at it at amazing speeds. But don't take our word for it. We've gone ahead and created a link to how many customer reviews include the word 'fast' when talking about this model. Check them out on your own.
Thanks to the hardware power and 8 GB memory (GDDR6) of the next-generation graphics, GeForce RTX 2070, you can not only work with heavy applications, but also play titles of the caliber of Red Dead Redemption 2 in high definition (1080p ), and others as recent as Star Wars Squadrons and Valorant in 4K format.
A boot speed worthy of SSD disks
As far as storage is concerned, we've got a single 512 GB SSD unit. Now, that's more than enough for most users. However, if you like to store everything in sight then you'll also be glad to know that you can upgrade the storage with an additional unit, be it a regular hard drive or an SSD unit.
Update your catalog with the latest releases
Thanks to the hardware power and 8 GB memory (GDDR6) of the next-generation graphics, GeForce RTX 2070, you can not only work with heavy applications, but also play titles of the caliber of Red Dead Redemption 2 in high definition (1080p ), and others as recent as Star Wars Squadrons and Valorant in 4K format.
Here's a link to the full rundown, but we've summarized some notable mentions here:
- Hitman 3: 124 FPS at high settings
- CyberPunk 2077: 61 frames per second at high settings
- Call of Duty Black Ops Cold War: 80 FPS at high settings.
We could also go into talking about benchmarks for hours on end but we don't really feel it reflects real-world usage.
What's the battery life like?
After referring to the opinions of its buyers , we corroborated the performance of the 6-cell battery of this notebook. Specifically, if the use is for web browsing, office automation and little else, the duration is estimated at 3 to 4 continuous hours. When it comes to gaming sessions it is reduced to 1 hour of use.This is far from surprising considering the fact that it features a high-end processor and a power-hungry graphics card. That said, the Helios 300 PH315-53-72XD linked above does offer a better battery life if that's what you're looking for. However, when it comes to gaming laptops, there's hardly ever a model that features what would be defined as a 'good' battery life - ie: more than 6 hours-.
Ports and connectivity
Connectivity on the 10SFK-062 is quite good as it boasts the most recent wireless technologies, Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1 , as well as a USB-C port with reversible input and higher than average data transfer speed.In addition, it has an RJ-45 network connector, an HDMI output compatible with 4K monitors and a Mini DisplayPort 1.2, 3 USB 3.2 inputs, an SD (XC / HC) slot, a 3.5 mm audio jack, an HD webcam (720p) and a sound system consisting of two speakers of discreet sound quality.
Bottom line: Is the MSI GL65 Leopard 10SFK-062 a good laptop?
In short, this advanced laptop brings together the necessary hardware features so that you can play and work with that performance and efficiency that you were looking for, whilst also being backed by the computer giant, MSI, the undisputed leader in the gaming industry.
And unlike other models of the company, this computer is delivered with an operating system pre-installed (Windows 10), so you can start using it right out of the package with minimal bloatware.
Overall, if you're looking to buy a laptop with high-end specs that's suitable for anything from graphic design to video editing, software development, and gaming - duh! - at a competitive price it doesn't get any better than the MSI GL65 Leopard 10SFK-062 reviewed today. It simply doesn't.