When it comes to the most powerful gaming laptops on the market, the MSI Titan GT77 is a force to be reckoned with. Armed with the Nvidia RTX 4090 GPU, this beast of a notebook has the potential to rival the top gaming laptops from both AMD and Intel.
The latest offering from MSI, the GT77 HX 13V, is a powerhouse that is equipped with the latest Intel processors. It goes head to head with the ASUS Strix Scar 17 with Ryzen 9 in the battle for the title of the most powerful gaming laptop of today.
But the new MSI GT77 has more to offer than just brute force. With features like a Cherry mechanical keyboard and a stunning miniLED 4K display, it has a lot going for it, although the price tag may be a deterrent.
MSI Titan GT77 review
- Outstanding gaming performance
- High-quality 4K display
- Cherry mechanical keyboard
- High price
- Weight and thickness
- Operating noise
Table of Specifications MSI GT77
| Specifications | MSI GT77 |
|---|---|
| Display | 17.3″ 144Hz, Mini LED, HDR 1000, 100% DCI-P3, IPS level panel UHD (3840×2160) |
| Processor | Intel® Core™ i9-13980HX |
| GPU | NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 4090 16 GB GDDR6 |
| Main Memory | Up to 128 GB DDR5 |
| Storage | 2x M.2 SSD slot (NVMe PCIe Gen4) 1x M.2 SSD slot (NVMe PCIe Gen5) |
| Connectivity | 3.5 mm combo audio connector 1x Type-C (USB / DP / Thunderbolt™ 4) with PD charging 1x Type-C (USB / DP / Thunderbolt™ 4) 3x Type-A USB3.2 Gen2 1x SD Express Card Reader 1x HDMI™ 2.1 (8K @ 60Hz / 4K @ 120Hz) 1x Mini-DisplayPort 1x RJ45 |
| Wireless Connectivity | Wireless Wi-Fi 6E AX211 (IEEE 802.11a/b/d/e/g/h/i/k/n/r/u/v/w/ac/ax/az) Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Sound and Webcam | 4 speakers Webcam 720p |
| Battery | 99.9 WHrs (4-cell lithium-ion) 330W power adapter |
| Operating System | Windows 11 |
| Weight and Thickness | 3.3 kg and 2.3 cm |
| Others | Cherry mechanical keyboard with key-to-key RGB from Steelseries Fingerprint reader Windows Hello webcam |
| Price |
A Powerful Gaming Laptop
From the moment you lay your eyes on the MSI Titan GT77 HX 13V, it’s clear that this gaming laptop means business. With a weight of 3.3 kg and a thickness of 2.3 cm, it’s not the most portable option out there, but its design screams power and performance.
The MSI GT77 HX 13V is more of a “mobile” desktop than a traditional laptop. It’s not meant to be carried around from place to place, but rather to be a stationary gaming powerhouse.
When it comes to design, MSI hasn’t focused on making the GT77 look sleek or lightweight. The emphasis is on functionality and performance. The rounded back gives it a robust and imposing look, while the overall construction is made of plastic, which doesn’t give it a high-end feel considering its price tag.
However, the design does have some standout features, such as the illuminated air vents on the back, which give the GT77 a unique and attractive appearance, especially in low-light conditions.
In terms of connectivity, the GT77 offers a generous selection of ports and outlets. We have a total of 9 main ports, including USB-C Thunderbolt 4, USB-A 3.2 Gen2, HDMI 2.1, miniDisplayPort, RJ45, and an SD Express card reader.
The GT77 HX 13V also features a built-in webcam, although its 720p resolution and basic quality leave much to be desired. However, it does come with a physical shutter for added privacy and security. Additionally, the laptop offers biometric identification options with a fingerprint reader and an IR sensor compatible with Windows Hello.
Wireless connectivity is covered by the Intel Killer AX1690i adapter, which provides Wifi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 capabilities.
Reference Display for Gaming
A major highlight of the MSI Titan GT77 is its display. The miniLED panel is truly impressive and perfectly complements its high-end gaming capabilities.
The 17.3-inch display boasts a 4K resolution, 144 Hz refresh rate, and miniLED technology with different dimming zones (K-Zone technology). This results in a theoretical contrast ratio of up to 1,000,000:1, a brightness of up to 1,000 nits, and certifications for VESA DisplayHDR 1000 and AmLED ACR (Ambient Contrast Ratio).
Not only does the display deliver stunning visuals with excellent brightness, contrast, and sharpness, but it is also individually calibrated at the factory. The screen frames have been reduced to enhance immersion, although the focus is more on gaming performance rather than minimal bezels.
As for audio, the GT77 features a sound system with 4 speakers, providing clear and immersive sound for gaming and multimedia consumption. However, the loud noise generated by the fans can be a hindrance to fully enjoying the audio experience without using noise-canceling headphones.
Intel Gets in on the Action
The MSI GT77 is powered by Intel’s flagship Core i9-13980HX processor, accompanied by the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 GPU with 16 GB of GDDR6 memory. This combination ensures impressive gaming performance, although it may fall slightly behind the Ryzen 9 in terms of raw performance.
The GT77 also offers excellent expandability options, with support for up to 128 GB of DDR5 RAM and three M.2 SSD slots (1 PCIe Gen5, 2 PCIe Gen4) for storage.
In terms of overall performance, the GT77 delivers outstanding results in benchmark tests and gaming. While it may not outperform the Ryzen 9 in certain scenarios, it excels in others, making it one of the most powerful gaming laptops on the market.
Cooling is a crucial aspect of any gaming laptop, and the GT77 doesn’t disappoint. With 6 heatsinks, 8 cooling tubes, and 4 fans, it ensures efficient heat dissipation while maintaining a comfortable keyboard and chassis temperature. However, the trade-off is the high noise level generated by the fans, especially under heavy load.
The GT77 is equipped with a large 99.9 Whr battery, providing decent battery life considering its gaming capabilities. However, users can expect around 4 to 5 hours of mixed-use with a more conservative power profile.
Cherry Mechanical Keyboard for an Enhanced Experience
One of the standout features of the MSI Titan GT77 is its Cherry mechanical keyboard. It features Cherry MX Ultra Low switches, offering a slim design without compromising on the mechanical keyboard experience. The keys have a low height of only 3.5 mm, providing a comfortable and precise typing experience.
The keyboard is fully customizable with individually RGB backlit keys, allowing users to create their desired lighting effects. The touchpad is also well-designed and responsive, complementing the excellent keyboard.
MSI Titan GT77: Our opinion
If you’re willing to invest in a high-performance gaming laptop, the MSI Titan GT77 HX 13V is an excellent choice. It may not have the absolute top performance compared to the Ryzen 9, but it offers a fantastic miniLED display, a great mechanical keyboard, and efficient cooling. However, the high operating noise and bulky design may be drawbacks for some users.
See MSI Titan GT77 price
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