MSI GP66 Leopard 11UH review. The very "top for your money" that you were looking for

 

Our new review comes with an MSI GP66 Leopard 11UH laptop equipped with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 laptop with 8GB of memory and an 11th Gen Intel processor. Is this a game model? Let's figure it out.

This question arose before us for a reason. Indeed, in our version of the 11UH-229RU laptop, an SSD with a volume of only 512 GB is installed. Considering today's size of games, very soon such a disc will no longer suffice. The model also comes with 16GB of RAM and a 15.6-inch display supporting resolutions up to 1080p. Fans of 2K and 4K resolutions will have to pay attention to other models of this generation in the Leopard line.

Specifications

• Processor: Intel Core i7-11800H (10 nm, 8 cores / 16 threads, 2.3 / 4.6 GHz, 35-45 W)
• RAM: 16 (2 × 8) GB DDR4-3200 (SO-DIMM Samsung M471A1K43DB1-CWE), can be installed up to 64 GB in two modules
• Video: Integrated Intel UHD Graphics (Tiger Lake-H GT1), discrete NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Laptop (8GB GDDR6)
• Screen: 15.6 inches, 1920 × 1080, 144 Hz, IPS, semi-matte (LG Display LP156WFG-SPB3)
• Sound subsystem: Realtek ALC298 codec, 2 speakers
• Drive: SSD 512 GB (Kingston OM8PCP3512F-AI1, M.2, NVMe, PCIe 3.0 x4), it is possible to install a second drive in a free M.2 2280 slot
• Network interfaces: wired Ethernet 2.5 Gbps (802.3bz, Realtek RTL8125B)
• Wireless network: Wi-Fi 6 (Intel Killer AX1675x, 802.11ax, 2x2)
• Bluetooth 5.2
• Interfaces and ports: USB 3 x USB3 Gen1 Type-A, RJ-45, 1 x HDMI 2.1 (up to 8K @ 60 Hz / 4K @ 120 Hz), 1 x Mini-DisplayPort 1.4, universal minijack for microphone, headphones and headset
• Keyboard: SteelSeries with customizable per key RGB lighting
• Webcam: 720p @ 30 fps with activity indicator, 2 microphones
• Battery: 65 Wh, 4 cells, Li-Polymer
• Dimensions: 358 × 271 × 34 mm
• Weight without power supply: 2.32 kg (measured by us)
• Power adapter: 280W (20V 14A)
• Operating System: Windows 10 Home (upgradeable to Windows 11)

Appearance and ergonomics

The look of the new generation MSI GP66 Leopard 11UH repeats its predecessor 10UG. The laptop is made in matte black. The top cover is made of aluminum and all other parts are made of plastic. Note that the surface turned out to be quite a brand, so it will have to be wiped down frequently.

The lid opens easily with one hand, does not bend. This is helped by massive hinges hidden behind decorative overlays.

In the lower part there are ventilation slots through which the flow of cold air is carried out. The diversion occurs through the holes in the back and on the sides closer to the rear.

The set with the laptop includes documentation and a power adapter (power cord 1.8 m long, cable 1.2 m). The laptop itself weighs a little over 2.3 kg. The power adapter is a little over a kilogram. This weight is fully justified by the filling.

On the back are the following ports: Power, HDMI and Mini-DisplayPort, and RJ-45.

The left side houses a USB3 Gen1 Type-A port and a universal audio jack (3.5 mm minijack). There is also a Kensington lock hole and a small charge indicator.

On the right side, there are only two USB3 Gen1 Type-A and the same ventilation hole for exhausting hot air.

The top frame of the screen houses a webcam (720p @ 30 fps) with an activity indicator and two microphone holes.

The laptop uses the now classic SteelSeries membrane keyboard. Its surface is slightly recessed into the body. The total key travel is 1.4 mm. Such a short stroke for mechanical keyboard lovers can shock at first. There is no digital block. But typing or playing is quite comfortable. '

The SteelSeries keyboard comes with customizable RGB lighting for each key. Everything is easily tweaked for yourself in the pre-installed applications MSI Center and SteelSeries GG.

Performance. Synthetic tests

We tested the laptop in synthetic tests Cinebench R23, CPU-Z and CrystalDiskMark. The results are in the screenshots.

We also evaluated the laptop's power in 3DMark: Time Spy, Fire Strike Extreme, CPU Profile and Port Royale.

More recently, 3DMark also has the ability to test SSDs for video games. The result is in the screenshot.

Performance. Game tests

We ran all gaming tests in the maximum performance mode. The processor temperature occasionally exceeded 90 degrees. At such moments, the cooling system was turned on at full capacity, and the temperature dropped to 80-85 degrees. The video card, on the other hand, did not warm up to 90 degrees, and in general its operating temperature remained around 80 degrees.

We tested all games on ultra settings with ray tracing enabled. In large-scale and detailed scenes closer to the display, the laptop case began to noticeably heat up. Under such a load, it is already better to play on the additional keyboard.

Control . We used DLSS at a rendering resolution of 1280x720 pixels, the rest of the settings were all set to maximum, including ray tracing. In this mode, the FPS did not drop below 90, and on average the game showed 100-110 frames per second.

Cyberpunk 2077 . Large-scale cityscapes filled with a large number of NPCs still leave even the most top-of-the-line configurations choking. With ultra settings and DLSS in performance mode, we managed to get an average of 60 FPS.

By lowering the settings to the maximum and playing around with the DLSS mode, we got a more stable frame rate with 70-80 frames per second.

Metro Exodus Enhanced Edition . We tested the performance of the laptop in three built-in presets with ray tracing enabled.

With ultra settings and maximum ray tracing, the game averaged 61 FPS. At high settings, the average frame rate was 91. At medium settings, it was 98 FPS. Of course, for an ideal picture, I would like all 144 (display in a laptop with a refresh rate of 144 Hz), but this is a very decent result.

Results

MSI GP66 Leopard 11UH would like to be called a wonderful contender for the title of "top for my money". This model can now cover all gaming needs and show good performance.

The only drawback will be the volume of the built-in SSD: 512 GB is not serious, because only one Call of Duty can take up half of the disk. The good news is that the laptop supports the installation of an additional SSD in the M.2 slot. But you need to understand that these are additional expenses.

Faster than lightning . MSI GP66 Leopard 11UH pleased with its performance in games. Ray tracing and high settings are synonymous with this laptop.

Guardian of the treasury . In our opinion, this laptop could have been made even more expensive: install a 4K display, add backlights and style. But even now we have an excellent balanced version that can cope with modern projects.