The MSI GF63 is a gaming laptop that’s friendly on your budget, but still offers some impressive features given its price. It has Intel i5-12450H processor, Nvidia RTX 4050 graphics, 16GB DDR4 dual-channel memory, and a 15.6-inch 144Hz screen. However, it’s worth noting that the power consumption of the RTX 4050 graphics card can vary significantly, ranging from 35 to 115 watts. Unfortunately, the GF63 tends to operate on the lower end of this scale, using only 45 watts. This could potentially mean that it might not perform as well as more expensive laptops that have the RTX 4050 with higher power limits.
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Design and Ports
The MSI GF63 design and build quality seem similar to last year’s model, boasting an all-black brushed aluminum finish on both the lid and interior. However, despite its metal exterior, the construction feels flimsy, with more flexibility than usual. The brushed finish makes it challenging to clean and prone to fingerprints, resulting in a perpetually untidy appearance. While the hinge isn’t remarkable, it appears to be an improvement over the previous model, making the laptop easier to open. Though it still tilts back somewhat due to weight distribution, it’s less prone to tipping than last year’s version.
The laptop itself weighs almost 4.1lb or 1.85kg, increasing to 5.1lb or 2.3kg with the included 120-watt charger. Nonetheless, it’s relatively lightweight compared to many other 15-inch gaming laptops, partially due to the lower wattage graphics, eliminating the need for a massive power brick and enhancing portability. Additionally, the lower power consumption permits a smaller cooler, further contributing to the laptop’s overall portability.
While the laptop features a 720p camera in the middle of the screen, it lacks an IR sensor for Windows Hello face unlocking.
![MSI GF65 Laptop Keyboard](https://www.clearcrypt.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/MSI-GF65-Laptop-Keyborad.jpg)
MSI GF63 keyboard boasts red backlighting that illuminates all keys and secondary functions. You can adjust the brightness to three settings by holding the function key and using the page up and down keys. However, even with the backlighting off, the keys remain red. They feel flat and lack tactile feedback, which may not be ideal for long typing sessions, but they’re still functional. The plastic touchpad performs adequately but feels slightly undersized compared to modern laptops.
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![MSI GF65 Ports](https://www.clearcrypt.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/MSI-GF65-Ports.jpg)
![MSI GF65 Right Side Ports](https://www.clearcrypt.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/MSI-GF65-Right-Side-Ports.jpg)
The MSI GF63 Thin 10UCXR-096US laptop features ports mainly on the right side with a few on the left. On the left, you’ll find the power input and a USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A port. On the right side, there are separate 3.5mm headphone and mic jacks, two more USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports, a USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C port, gigabit ethernet, and a Kensington lock. While the Ethernet port’s positioning might not be ideal, it’s still accessible without lifting the laptop.
The HDMI port on the back supports 4K 30Hz and connects to the Intel integrated graphics, unlike the newly added DisplayPort support over USB Type-C, which connects directly to the RTX 4050 graphics and allows bypassing optimus. However, the Type-C port doesn’t support laptop charging.
Having most ports on the right might inconvenience right-handed mouse users, but if only connecting a mouse over USB Type-A, it could be connected to the left side without any issue.
Display and Audio
![MSI GF65 Screen](https://www.clearcrypt.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/MSI-GF65-Screen.jpg)
The screen on the GF63 has always been a bit of a weak point, as budget-friendly laptops often skimp on display quality to keep costs down. So Did 2023 model improve on this?
Unfortunately, not really. Despite still having a 1080p 144Hz panel, it’s the cooler range has actually decreased compared to the previous model, which had better coverage at 61% sRGB. Although maximum brightness remains similar, anything below 300 nits is still too dim. The response time is also not impressive, clocking in at around 19.5ms, slightly worse than last year’s model.
Moreover, there’s no option for features like MUX switch, advanced optimus, or G-Sync at this price point. Despite these downsides, the overall system latency is faster than the older model, because of the RTX 4050 graphics. While backlight bleed isn’t too bad, it can vary between different units. All in all, the screen remains one of the most noticeable compromises of the GF63.
The speakers located underneath towards the front on the left and right sides. While they do the job, the sound quality is a bit muffled and not great, especially at higher volumes. Regarding latency results, they weren’t stellar, but there’s a known Nvidia bug at the moment that might be contributing to this.
Upgrade Options
![MSI GF63 Review: Internals Part Image](https://www.clearcrypt.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/MSI-GF65-Internals.jpg)
Inside, there’s the battery located at the front, a 2.5” SATA drive bay for an SSD (or hard drive if you prefer), two DDR4 memory slots positioned near the middle, one PCIe Gen 4 M.2 SSD slot, and the Wi-Fi 6 card situated in the top corner.
All | Read (MB/s) | Write (MB/s) |
---|---|---|
SEQ1M Q1T1 | 3638.93 | 2512.81 |
SEQ1M Q1T1 | 2697.72 | 2322.60 |
RND4K Q32T1 | 684.72 | 489.64 |
RND4K Q1T1 | 77.42 | 239.80 |
The Wi-Fi speed on it was decent, performing similarly to the older GF63 model that had the same Wi-Fi card. Additionally, the 512GB SSD on it showed improvement, with a sequential write speed about one gigabyte per second faster compared to last year’s model. These performance upgrades are definitely appreciated.
It has space for a larger double-sided drive, but to access it, you need to remove the included pads. Two memory sticks are installed for dual-channel, which is an improvement over last year’s models that only had one stick. Using just one stick of DDR4 can reduce performance. However, upgrading the laptop by opening it up was a bit annoying, so half a point was deducted from its upgradeability score.
Performance
Although the GPU power maxed out at 45 watts, which is 5 watts higher than what the older version of the laptop with RTX 3050 graphics had, the CPU power was slightly lower, closer to 25 watts.
There isn’t much of a performance difference between the different modes when running an actual game. Even though balanced and extreme modes had the same CPU and GPU power levels in the stress tests, extreme mode was 5 FPS faster than balanced here.
- Single-core Score: 1114
- Multi-Core Score: 3296
It’s CPU can boost slightly higher when the GPU isn’t active, such as during tasks like Cinebench. Initially, it operates at 60 watts in extreme mode but quickly drops to 50 watts, leading to thermal throttling at this level. Over time, the power further decreases to 45 watts. Even in balanced mode, thermal throttling occurs, although the laptop runs relatively quietly under these conditions.
This marks the first testing of the i5-12450H processor, which resembles a 10th-gen 8-core 16-thread CPU from previous generations. However, its single-core performance surpasses that of any nearby laptops in multi-core tasks, with a 10% improvement over the older version in multi-core performance and a 12% boost in single-core tasks.
Performance decreases when the GF63 operates solely on battery power without being plugged into the charger. In this scenario, the older version slightly outperforms the newer one in multi-core tasks, while the performance gap in single-core tasks has narrowed.
![MSI GF65 Laptop Keyboard Temperature](https://www.clearcrypt.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/MSI-GF65-Laptop-Keyboard-Temperature.jpg)
Most laptops typically maintain a keyboard temperature in the low 30 degrees Celsius range during idle periods, and this one follows suit. Under stress tests, the keyboard warms up slightly, but it doesn’t feel excessively hot to the touch. In the higher balanced mode, only the back section above the keyboard on the left side feels warm, but it’s not an area you usually touch. Surprisingly, extreme mode runs cooler because the fan operates louder, despite the CPU and GPU running at the same power levels as in balanced mode.
When the fan is maxed out, the temperature drops slightly, but the noise level increases as well. Interestingly, the fan remains off and completely silent at times during idle periods, but it randomly turns on for about 10 seconds every minute or so. It becomes louder in the higher performance modes, and even at maximum, it remains fairly loud despite the absence of a second fan. However, we can reduce both fan noise and temperatures by using a cooling pad.
Game Performance
The performance of the low-powered RTX 4050 graphics in games. We tested Cyberpunk 2077 on all laptops using the same method, with the GF63 highlighted in red. At 1080p resolution, the 4050 in the GF63 performed nearly as well as the RTX 3060 in the Alienware x14, despite consuming less power. Surprisingly, even with just 45 watts, it exceeded the performance of an RTX 2060 from the previous generation, which operates at 110 watts.
Similarly, in Red Dead Redemption 2, tested using the game’s benchmark, the 4050 in the GF63 almost matched the performance of the 3060 in the x14. It even outpaced the RTX 3070 in ASUS’s TUF Dash F15, which was hindered by its quad-core processor. Control, a game known for its GPU intensity, showed the 4050 performing closer to the 2060, although with more performance dips, noticeable in its lower 1% low.
Overall, it surpassed all 3050Ti results but was outperformed by all 3060 results, which was expected considering the differences in power consumption.
Content Creation Performance
- Port Royal: 3,808
- Time Spy – CPU: 7,435
- Time Spy – Graphics: 6,568
- Time Spy – Overall: 6,684
- Fire Strike – Physics: 19,934
- Fire Strike Graphics: 18,455
- Fire Strike – Overall: 16,013
Now, moving on to some content creator tests. Adobe Premiere was evaluated using the Puget Systems benchmark tool, where the more affordable MSI GF63 performed better than last year’s Legion 5, which had a better CPU and a higher-powered 3060. This test seems to favor Intel-based laptops.
Adobe Photoshop generally favors single-threaded performance. While the i5-12450H showed improvement over last year’s i5-11400H, older laptops with the latter processor still had a slight edge. In DaVinci Resolve, GPU power usually takes precedence. However, unlike in games, the 4050 now trails behind higher-powered 3050 and 3050 Ti laptops. It’s essentially scoring on par with similarly powered 3050 Ti laptops, so its performance here isn’t as impressive as in games.
Blender heavily relies on GPU performance. Similar to gaming benchmarks, the GF63 lags behind most of the higher-powered 3060 laptops. Additionally, we conducted SPECviewperf tests, which evaluate various professional 3D workloads.
Temperature and Clock Speed
![MSI Center Performance options](https://www.clearcrypt.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/MSI-Center-Performace-options.jpg)
The cooling system in MSI GF63 remains largely the same as last year’s model, with a single fan. However, there’s a change in the heatpipe design – now it covers both the CPU and GPU. Also, the intake holes on the bottom panel are now strategically placed over these components, potentially enhancing airflow. The single fan then exhausts air out from the left side and one corner at the back.
With the MSI Center software, users have several performance modes to choose from: silent, balanced, and extreme performance. In extreme performance mode, GPU overclocking is possible, although it’s not enabled by default. Users can also activate Cooler Boost, which ramps up the fan to full speed, or customize settings in advanced mode.
![MSI GF65 Temperature and Speed](https://www.clearcrypt.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/MSI-GF65-Temperature-and-Speed.jpg)
During idle, the internal temperatures stayed cool. But during stress tests that combined CPU and GPU tasks, even in extreme mode with just one fan, the temperatures remained relatively low. Increasing the fan speed to the maximum helped a bit to reduce temperatures, but it also increased noise levels. On the other hand, using a cooling pad was slightly more effective than maxing out the fan while keeping noise levels lower.
Interestingly, whether the laptop’s lid was open or closed didn’t significantly affect its performance, making it suitable for docking setups. Higher fan speeds or using a cooling pad resulted in slightly higher clock speeds, although it’s unclear why this happened since the temperatures remained relatively cool, and the power levels were consistent in both balanced and extreme modes.
BIOS and Linux Support
![MSI GF65 BIOS](https://www.clearcrypt.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/MSI-GF65-BIOS.jpg)
The though a lower-end gaming laptop, still grants full access to its advanced BIOS. You can easily access it using a keyboard shortcut. Once inside, you’ll discover a wide array of customization options, such as thermal and power limits, memory speeds, and more. However, exercise caution when making changes as you could potentially damage the machine. So, ensure you’re knowledgeable about what you’re doing before making any adjustments.
We tested Linux support using an Ubuntu 22.10 live CD. By default, everything worked smoothly, including the keyboard, touchpad, camera, speakers, Ethernet, and Wi-Fi. Additionally, all the keyboard shortcuts for adjusting screen brightness, key brightness, and volume functioned as expected, which was a positive outcome.
Battery Life
The MSI GF63 comes with a 3-Cell 51Wh battery, and it performed well in tests. By default, the MSI Center software includes a display power saver feature that kicks in when you unplug the charger. This feature reduces the screen’s refresh rate to 60Hz to save power. When you plug the charger back in, the screen flickers black briefly and reverts to its original 144Hz refresh rate.
During the YouTube video playback test, the battery lasted 10% longer compared to last year’s GF63 model with an older CPU and GPU. In the gaming test, the battery lasted at least 38% longer. This improvement makes sense since the RTX 4050 is more power efficient.
Final Thought
In my opinion, I wouldn’t recommend the MSI GF63, especially when you can get the Acer Nitro 5 for the same $1000 price. The Nitro 5 comes with a better CPU and GPU power limit, which is more than double that of the GF63. Not just that, but the Nitro 5’s chassis is superior too. Even last year, with $1000, you could get a fully powered RTX 3060 laptop on sale, like the Lenovo Legion 5 or Acer Helios 300. Both of these options offer better build quality, a superior screen, larger batteries, and more.
It’s an entry-level gaming laptop that offers full access to advanced BIOS settings via a keyboard shortcut. Users can customize thermal and power limits, memory speeds, and more within the BIOS. We tested its Linux support using an Ubuntu 22.10 live CD, and all default features including the keyboard, touchpad, camera, speakers, ethernet, and Wi-Fi worked properly. Additionally, keyboard shortcuts for adjusting screen brightness, key brightness, and volume functioned as expected.
Priced at $1000 USD on Amazon, the MSI GF63 shares the same price point as Acer’s Nitro 5. However, the Nitro 5 offers a superior CPU with four additional E cores and a GPU power limit over twice as high, making it a more attractive option at the same price. Moreover, the Acer Nitro 5 chassis offers better build quality compared to the GF63.
Although the GF63 does introduce some minor enhancements such as an additional heat pipe for improved cooling, a 5-watt higher GPU power limit, better CPU and GPU performance due to its 12th gen and RTX 40 series components, and the inclusion of DisplayPort on Type-C, it remains relatively pricey for its feature set. At this price point, there are more compelling alternatives available.
For those on a tighter budget, opting for a GF63 model equipped with GTX 1650 or RTX 3050 graphics may offer a more sensible choice.