MSI GT660R Laptops

Not quite big enough to be considered a desktop-replacement laptop—yet slightly larger than most mainstream-size notebooks—the MSI GT660R offers gamers the best of two worlds. This slick-looking 16-inch machine delivers solid gaming and productivity performance and features one of the better audio subsystems around. Our gripes with this notebook are few and relatively minor; when the cooling fans kick in, they are noisy, and MSI’s Turbo Drive Engine+ (TDE+) feature does little to boost the machine's DirectX 10 graphics performance, despite MSI’s claims that it uses the Nvidia overclocking utility to boost graphics performance. The GT660R comes with lots of RAID-configured storage and a Blu-ray optical drive; the parts list rings up to a list price of $1,849, which is quite reasonable for a system of this caliber. (Plus, for $200 less, you can get the step-down GT660 model, which comes with a DVD-only drive and a smaller hard drive, if Blu-ray and massive storage aren't essentials.)

The GT660R delivers the flash that gamers crave without going overboard. The lid is done up in a shiny black finish with just a trace of sparkle to it. Beveled edges give it a sleek, sculpted look. A backlit MSI badge is planted in the middle of the lid, and the sides and back of the lid sport thin strips of orange LEDs that you can set to be always on or off, or to pulse with the rhythm of human breathing. These lights also illuminate two grilles at the front of the chassis, as well as two smaller strips on the sides of the wrist rest.
Elaborate lighting schemes like these are usually found only on weighty, bulky gaming rigs, but the GT660R doesn't quite fit that mold. Weighing 7.7 pounds and measuring 1.8 inches thick, the GT660R isn’t exactly thin and light, but it is much easier to tote around than a typical 17-inch gaming notebook, such as the 12.7-pound Alienware M17x or the 11.9-pound Eurocom D900F Panther. And what's so nice about this machine's relatively light weight is that you don't have to forfeit having a fairly huge screen.
Beneath the lid, the 16-inch display is framed by a two-tone (glossy/matte) black bezel. The panel has a maximum resolution of 1,366x768 and can display HD content at 720p, which is pretty much the norm for notebooks of this size, though a little low for a gaming rig. You’ll have to move up to a larger model, like the Eurocom D900F Panther, if you want full high-definition at 1080p—and you’ll have to pay quite a bit more for the privilege. That said, the GT660R’s display looked crisp and clear while romping through the jungles in Far Cry 2, and the movie 2012, viewed on Blu-ray disc, looked excellent. Image detail was sharp, and color quality was excellent. We noted some reflectivity from the screen's glossy coating, but not enough to be distracting.
At the top of the deck are two round speaker enclosures, which work in tandem with a subwoofer to produce a robust wall of sound powered by Dynaudio's sound-processing technology. The speakers, considering they're planted in a laptop, are incredibly loud and crisp, and the subwoofer does an excellent job of delivering booming bass tones. Granted, you won’t feel the bass in your gut as you would if you had a big subwoofer planted under your desk, but the overall audio quality is much better than what you get with most notebooks and makes the movie and gaming experience all the more enjoyable.
The full-size black Chiclet keyboard has a dedicated number pad and red labeling for the W, A, D, and S keys, which are commonly used as gaming controls. The arrow keys also have red labeling, as do the 2, 4, 6, and 8 number-pad keys, so you’ll no trouble identifying them as additional gaming controls. The keyboard is firm, and the keys are evenly spaced for comfortable typing. It would be nice if they were backlit for nighttime gaming, though (or even if just for the cool factor alone).