[Review] MSI GV15 Thin 11SC-633: Shut Up And Take My Money

Looking for a fast gaming laptop that you can carry around without it costing you a fortune? If so, you might consider MSI's GV15 Thin lineup, which delivers the best of both worlds - a killer performance at a very competitive price packed in a lightweight computer you can take along with you everywhere you go.

In the following review of the MSI GV15 Thin 11SC-633 we'll dive deep into the most notable features of a well-reviewed laptop that will set you up not only where everyday gaming is concerned but also in intensive multitasking scenarios, thanks to its powerful 11th-Gen Core i5 processor, dedicated NVIDIA graphics card, and impressive 144 Hz IPS display.

Also, this laptop perfectly suits those needing a more lightweight model to replace an older desktop machine. Equipped with plenty of ports, the newest Wi-Fi protocol, and the latest release Windows operating system, the MSI GV15 Thin 11SC-633 is a force to be reckoned with.

However, if you're looking to play most Triple-A games in 4K resolution - through an external monitor - with Ray-Tracing technology in some of them, you should take a look at the recently reviewed MSI Pulse GL66 11UGK-001. A gaming laptop that steps things up with an Intel Core i7 processor and a GeForce RTX 3070 8 GB graphics card. 

The MSI GV15 Thin 11SC-633 rocks a sober black brushed aluminum chassis with a flashy red MSI logo located on the cover in the center of the lid.

It measures 0.85 inches in thickness and weighs 4.10 pounds, so it's clearly more portable than other MSI 15-inch gaming models, meaning you'll actually be able to carry this bad boy with you.

As for the cooling features, it boasts an efficient dual-fan system which helps the 11SC-633 avoid high temperatures while working on demanding tasks or playing intensive games. Also, it has four large rubber stops on the bottom to prevent unwanted sliding on most surfaces.

Regarding the screen, it comes with a thin-bezel 15.6-inch Full HD display that ensures a smooth and immersive gaming experience - as many users can attest to - thanks to its high refresh rate of 144 Hz. Something especially noticeable when playing fast-paced games rocking high FPS.

Also, its non-reflective layer and IPS technology allow you to work even under rough lighting conditions delivering crisp and colorful images regardless of the viewing angle of your preference.

We'd also like to highlight the build quality of the single-colored red backlit keyboard which assures you a comfortable gaming experience due to its wider keys, especially in dim environments. And even though it's a 15-inch model, we should note that there's no dedicated number pad on the right side.

On the other hand, although the touchpad provides pleasant feedback when navigating through Windows 11 Home's interface, you can always plug in a wireless gaming mouse if you want an even better user experience.

When it comes to the performance of the MSI GV15 Thin 11SC-633, this model has what it takes to improve your day-to-day productivity. The 11th-Gen Intel Core i5-11400H is powered by six cores, 12 threads, and a 12 MB SmartCache memory, at a base clock speed of 2.20 GHz and reaching up to 4.50 GHz in the most demanding scenarios.

It also has a decent 8 GB of DDR4 RAM memory clocked at 3200 MHz, which can be easily upgraded up to 64 GB using the two DDR4 slots available. 

Particularly, for this model you would need a DDR4 PC4-25600 3200 MHz NON-ECC SO-DIMM memory module. Since there's already 8 GB onboard you could easily remove the bottom case and install a second 8 GB compatible module to increase your total RAM to 16 GB working on dual channel mode inserting it as the picture below demonstrates, making sure that the pins align perfectly. 

And, as expected for a laptop of its range, you'll be able to work on multiple programs at a time (programming, creative work, virtualization, photo/video editing, web browsing, 4K streaming, and so on.), including the basic everyday office tasks as well. However, we would seriously encourage you to upgrade the RAM for more multitasking capabilities.

Moving onto the GPU, it packs a 4 GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 dedicated graphics card, which allows you to play many popular Triple-A games.

Games such as Cyberpunk 2077 1.5, Elex 2, GRID Legends, and Rainbow Six Extraction can be played with a solid framerate in Full HD resolution and high/ultra graphic settings in most of them.

In terms of storage, this model is equipped with a decent 256 GB SSD NVMe M.2 drive, which can reach up to 3200 Mb/s reading and writing speeds to access your personal data and finish your daily tasks in a flash. And if needed, you can add a SATA SSD unit to expand the storage or swap the NVMe M.2 SSD unit for a bigger one.

As for the connectivity, this model packs a good selection of terrestrial ports. There are three full-sized USB-A 3.2 ports, a single USB-C 3.2 port, an Ethernet port (RJ-45), an HDMI output, and an independent mic-in and headphone-out.

In order to offer the fastest wireless connection, this device comes with Bluetooth 5.2 and Wi-Fi 6 standards, assuring you up to 2.4 Gbps of download speed and 75% lower latency compared to the previous generation (Wi-Fi 5).

It's worth pointing out that if you haven't replaced your laptop in the last few years, you should know that the new Wi-Fi 6 technology corresponds to the previously known 802.11b/g/n/ax, while Wi-Fi 5 is equivalent to the well-known 802.11b/g/n/ac protocol.

There's also a decent built-in HD webcam at the top-center of the screen and a pair of stereo speakers, providing good sound quality when playing games and streaming content.

When it comes to the battery life of the MSI GV15 Thin 11SC-633, like most gaming laptops on the market, this model is limited to the typical range of 3-5 hours - depending on the usage and power-saving settings - even though MSI claims 7-hour battery life on its official website. However, you don't need to take our word for it. You can check out the customer reviews that talk about the battery life here.

In any case, a short battery life is a staple of gaming laptops at this point, with the only exception we can think of being the Asus TUF Dash F15 ‎TUF516PE-AB73. This model features an 11th-Gen Intel Core i7 processor, a high refresh rate of 144 Hz, Full HD display, NVIDIA GeForce RTX graphic card, and an impressive 8-9 hours battery life.

Verdict: Is the MSI GV15 Thin 11SC-633 worth buying?