MSI Stealth GS77 (2022)

MSI Stealth GS77 (2022)

Manufacturer	MSI
Release date	January 2022 (2022-01)
Discontinued	No
Operating system	Windows 11 Home Windows 11 Pro
CPU	Intel Core i7-12700H Intel Core i9-12900H
Memory	16 GB (2x8 GB) or 32 GB (2x16 GB) DDR5-4800 MHz SODIMM (supports up to 64 GB)
Memory slots	2 user accessible
Storage	1 TB NVMe SSD Gen4x4
Storage slots	2 user accessible
Removable storage	SD7.0
Display	Screen size: 17.3 inch Panel type: IPS Coating: Anti-glare (matte) Resolution: 1920 x 1080, 2560 x 1440, or 3840 x 2160 Refresh rate: 144 Hz, 240 Hz, or 120 Hz Brightness: up to 453 Nits sRGB: 100 % Adobe RGB: 45 % DCI-P3: 100 % Screen-to-body ratio:
Graphics	Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop 6 GB GDDR6 105 W w/ Dynamic Boost Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 Ti Laptop 8 GB GDDR6 105 W w/ Dynamic Boost Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Ti Laptop 16 GB GDDR6 105 W w/ Dynamic Boost
Sound	6 x 2 W stereo Dynaudio speakers
Camera	Front: 1080p with IR for Windows Hello
Touchpad	Large Mylar, 13.2 centimetres (5.2 in) x 8.2 centimetres (3.2 in)
Connectivity	Killer WiFi 6E AX1675 (2x2) Bluetooth 5.2 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 (Type-A) 1 x Thunderbolt 4 (Type-C) 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 (Type-C, DP 1.4, 100W PD) 1 x HDMI 2.1 1 x 3.5mm headphone/microphone jack 1 x SD card reader (SD7.0)
Dimensions	W: 15.63 inches (39.7 cm) D: 10.2 inches (26 cm) H: 0.79 inches (2.0 cm)
Mass	6.5 pounds (2.9 kg)
Power brick	240W slim AC adapter
Battery	4 cell Li-Polymer 99.9 Wh
Keyboard	Per-key RGB backlit
Chassis	Color: Core black Materials: CNC aluminum construction with sand-blasted finish Cooling: Dual heat pipes shared between CPU and GPU
Number pad	Yes
Fingerprint reader	Yes
Facial recognition	Yes
Predecessor	MSI Stealth GS76
Website	MSI

All statements attributed to reviews are the reviewer's own opinion. Note that these claims were accurate at the time of publication and may be dated when you are reading this article. Read more.

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   The MSI Stealth GS77 (2022) is a high-performance gaming laptop designed to offer a balance between power and portability. It features Intel 12th gen H-series processors and Nvidia GeForce RTX 30 series GPUs. The Stealth GS77 is positioned as a more affordable alternative to premium gaming laptops like the Razer Blade, while still offering high-end specifications.

Primary Hardware

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Processor

The MSI Stealth GS77 (2022) can be configured with the following processors:

• Intel Core i7-12700H with 14 cores (6 P-cores + 8 E-cores) and 20 threads, 24 MB cache and a max frequency of 4.7 Ghz.
• Intel Core i9-12900H with 14 cores (6 P-cores + 8 E-cores) and 20 threads, 24 MB cache and a max frequency of 5.0 Ghz.

The GS77's CPU performance is strong, but it experiences thermal throttling under heavy loads, which affects its overall performance compared to other laptops with similar specifications. The CPU can reach high power levels but tends to throttle when temperatures rise, impacting sustained performance during intensive tasks. The Intel Core i7-12700H offers excellent performance, with results that are within one or two percentage points of the average laptop in the database equipped with the same CPU. Multi-thread performance is consistently faster than the Blade 17 by 6 to 8 percent.

Benchmarks:

• Cinebench R15 Multi Loop: Ø2481 (2444.99-2563.45)

Graphics

In addition to the integrated Intel UHD Graphics, the Stealth GS77 (2022) ships with the following discrete GPUs:

• Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU with 6 GB GDDR6 memory, 1475 MHz boost clock, and 105 W Total Graphics Power (TGP) with Dynamic Boost.
• Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 Ti Laptop GPU with 8 GB GDDR6 memory, 1135 MHz boost clock, and 105 W TGP with Dynamic Boost.
• Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Ti Laptop GPU with 16 GB GDDR6 memory, 1225 MHz boost clock, and 105 W TGP with Dynamic Boost.

The GS77 performs well in gaming, but the lack of a MUX switch limits its potential compared to other laptops. It runs games smoothly at high settings, but the performance is close to lower-tier GPUs in some cases, particularly in titles that benefit from higher GPU power limits. The GPU can run up to 105 watts with Nvidia’s dynamic boost, but this is often reduced when the CPU is also under load. The RTX 3080 Ti offers a 12 to 15 percent performance increase over the previous generation RTX 3080. However, it is about 13 to 18 percent slower than the 165 W RTX 3080 Ti in the Blade 17, especially at higher resolutions.

Benchmarks:

• 3DMark Fire Strike: 24745 points
• 3DMark Time Spy: 10987 points

Memory

The Intel Alder Lake-P chipset used in the Stealth GS77 supports a maximum of 2 SO-DIMM sticks and the 12th Generation Intel H processors support up to 64 GB DDR5-4800Mhz memory.

Pre-configured SKUs come with either 16 GB (2 x 8) DDR5-4800 or 32 GB (2 x 16) DDR5-4800 Memory. The dual rank DDR5 memory provides a performance boost in certain tasks, particularly in content creation benchmarks. The memory configuration seems to enhance performance in multi-threaded applications, making it a strong choice for users who require high memory bandwidth.

Benchmarks:

• AIDA64 Memory Copy: Not specified

Storage

The Stealth GS77 can ship with a 1 TB NVMe SSD Gen4x4 depending on the seller. The OEM SSD only uses 1 slot in all configurations leaving the other slot open for upgrades.

Reviews note that the GS77 features two M.2 storage slots, allowing for good upgrade options. However, specific details about the storage speeds and configurations were not provided. The Micron 3400 SSD offers excellent performance sustainability when subjected to load, making it suitable for gaming and heavy applications.

Benchmarks:

• CrystalDiskMark: Sequential Read: 4682 MB/s, Sequential Write: 4019 MB/s

Co-processors

The Stealth GS77 does not have any dedicated NPUs or other co-processors.

Input Devices

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Keyboard

The Stealth GS77 comes with a SteelSeries per-key RGB backlit keyboard with Anti-Ghost key (99 Key). The keyboard has minor flex but is an improvement over previous models. Key presses feel a bit shallow, and the small right shift key might annoy some users. The keyboard features a shortcut to cycle through four brightness levels, but the brightness control keys are reversed, which can be confusing. Despite the power button being part of the keyboard, accidental presses do not trigger shutdown, requiring a long press to activate.

The keyboard keys are slightly softer and quieter than those on the Blade 17, which may appeal to users who prefer a quieter typing experience. However, the numpad, arrow keys, and top row of function keys are smaller and spongier, which may detract from the overall typing experience.

Touchpad

The Stealth GS77 comes with a large Mylar plastic clickpad that measures 13.2 centimetres (5.2 in) x 8.2 centimetres (3.2 in).

The touchpad is smooth and works well, but its positioning may take some getting used to as it can interfere with typing. The palm rejection is effective, preventing accidental clicks while typing. The clickpad offers smooth traction and firm feedback, making it easy to use for navigation. However, it lacks dedicated mouse buttons, which some users may find inconvenient.

Webcam

The Stealth GS77 comes with a 1080p webcam with IR for Windows Hello.

The webcam quality is decent for video calls, providing clear images, and the IR feature allows for facial recognition, enhancing security and convenience for logging in. The webcam has been upgraded from 720p on the GS76 to 1080p on the GS77, providing a sharper picture overall. It supports IR for Windows Hello and features an electronic shutter for privacy.

Microphone

The Stealth GS77 comes with an integrated microphone.

The microphone performs adequately for general use, capturing clear audio for video calls, but may pick up some noise from typing, especially during more aggressive typing sessions. The microphone quality is decent for video calls and recordings, providing clear audio without significant background noise.

Output Devices

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Display

MSI ships the Stealth GS77 with the following displays:

• 17.3" UHD, Anti-Glare Wide View Angle 4K 120Hz Thin Bezel, Adobe 100%
• 17.3" QHD, Anti-Glare Wide View Angle 240Hz 3ms DCI-P3 100%
• 17.3" Thin Bezel FHD, IPS-Level 144Hz, 45% NTSC

The display has decent color gamut and brightness, reaching up to 453 nits at full brightness, but lower contrast than expected. The average grey-to-grey response time is 8.1ms, which is below the threshold for smooth transitions, but some transitions were higher. There are no overdrive modes available, which limits the potential for faster response times. Backlight bleed is minimal, and the display is suitable for both gaming and content creation. The display features a high refresh rate and decent contrast ratio, but it is not factory calibrated, leading to noticeable color inaccuracies. The panel does not support G-Sync or adaptive sync due to the lack of Advanced Optimus or MUX support.

Benchmarks:

• Brightness: Maximum 453 cd/m², Average 304.7 cd/m², Minimum 16.55 cd/m²
• Contrast: 985:1 (Black: 0.34 cd/m²)
• Color accuracy: ΔE Color 4.1, ΔE Greyscale 5.6

Audio

The Stealth GS77 comes with six front-facing Dynaudio speakers near the keyboard.

The speakers sound above average for a gaming laptop but are not exceptional. They produce some bass and remain clear at higher volumes, but the placement near the keyboard can lead to palm rest vibrations. The speaker cutouts are larger, which may allow dirt to enter more easily. The system features six sets of 2 W speakers, which can play relatively loud (up to 84.8 dB). However, audio reproduction at higher frequencies is not as good as on the Blade 17, with reduced bass and average linearity.

Connectivity

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WiFi

MSI equips the Stealth GS77 with a Killer WiFi 6E AX1675 (2x2) WLAN module.

Wi-Fi performance is decent, but not as good as some previous models. The laptop supports the latest Wi-Fi standards, providing good connectivity options for gaming and streaming. The Wi-Fi performance is good, with no connectivity issues experienced during testing. The wireless network adapter supports a/b/g/n/ac/ax standards.

Bluetooth

The Stealth GS77 comes with a Bluetooth 5.2 module.

SD Card Reader

The Stealth GS77 includes a full-sized SD Express card slot.

The SD card slot offers decent speeds but protrudes when in use, which may be a concern for portability. Care should be taken to avoid bumping the card when inserted. The SD card reader has been downgraded from the previous generation, taking about 14 seconds to transfer 1 GB of pictures, compared to 5 to 6 seconds on the GS76.

USB

MSI equips the Stealth GS77 with the following USB ports:

• 2 x USB-A (USB 3.2 Gen 2, 10 Gbps)
• 1 x USB-C (USB 3.2 Gen 2, 10 Gbps) with DisplayPort 1.4 and 100W Power Delivery
• 1 x Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C)

The USB ports are well-placed, but the lack of rear port icons makes it difficult to identify connections without turning the laptop around. The Type-C ports provide versatility, but charging over USB Type-C was not successful during testing.

Display Outputs

The Stealth GS77 comes with 3 display outputs:

• 1 x HDMI 2.1
• 2 x DisplayPort 1.4 (via USB-C)

The HDMI port connects directly to the Nvidia graphics, providing a speed boost in games when using an external monitor. The HDMI version is not specified, but it supports variable refresh rate features. The laptop supports multiple external displays, making it suitable for gaming and productivity tasks.

Case

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The Stealth GS77 (2022) is available in a core black color with a CNC aluminum construction and sand-blasted finish. The chassis remains the same as the previous model except for the redesigned ventilation grilles at the bottom which are now hexagons instead of rectangles. The display lid is made out of anodized matte aluminum alloy while the keyboard deck and bottom cover are made out of PC-ABS plastic. The lid opens to the full 180 degrees however the hingerigidity weakens past ~160 degrees. Surfaces are slightly roughened to reduce fingerprint buildup; however, it still attracts dust and fingerprints. The rear is elongated beyond the display lid and is thicker as well to accommodate a larger internal cooling solution. This contributes to the heavy weight of 6.5 pounds (2.9 kg). There are two MSI logos - one on the lid on the bottom left and another on the palm rest on the right. There is one big Stealth logo on the top right side of the lid.

The chassis has a more professional look compared to the MSI Stealth GS76 with a uniform color instead of a two-tone silver and gray color scheme. There are fewer accents and angles as well.

Chassis rigidity is excellent with no audible creaking or weak points. The base and lid exhibit some twisting but not enough to be concerning.

Maintenance

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The bottom panel is held on by 13 Philips-head screws. The laptop is relatively easy to open for upgrades, with the camera disconnect switch being a notable design flaw as it can fall off during disassembly.

Upgradeable components:

• 99.9 WHr battery.
• Two M.2 2280 PCIe4 x4 SSDs each covered by an aluminum heatsink (most configurations only have one slot filled from the factory).
• Two DDR5-4800 SODIMMs covered by a single plastic shield (most configurations only have one slot filled from the factory).

Cooling System

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The Stealth GS77 is equipped with dual heat pipes shared between the CPU and GPU. The system intakes air from the side and bottom grilles and exhausts air through the back grilles.

Heat

Surface temperatures vary depending on the configuration.

The laptop runs warm under load, with the palm rest feeling hot during stress tests. The cooling system manages temperatures well, but the chassis conducts heat, leading to warm surfaces.

Benchmarks:

• Maximum upper side: ~61 °C
• Maximum bottom: ~55 °C
• Idle upper side: ~30 °C
• Idle bottom: ~34 °C

Noise

There is no electronic noise or coil whine. The laptop is effectively silent during undemanding loads like light browsing or video playback, hovering below 30 dB(A). During intensive tasks, the fans quickly ramp up even when set to balanced mode. Fan noise while gaming in balanced mode is identical to performance mode despite temperatures being noticeably lower in balanced mode. During intensive tasks, the laptop emits noise above 50 db(A) and is louder than most other gaming laptops. Most variants emit the same amount of noise with more powerful configurations being slightly louder.

Benchmarks:

• Load: > 50 db(A)
• Idle: ~23 db(A) (min), ~23 db(A) (avg), ~25 db(A) (max)
• Load: ~45 db(A) (avg), ~53 db(A) (max)

Energy Management

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Power Consumption

The Stealth GS77 ships with a large 240 W AC adapter.

The laptop consumes a significant amount of power, especially under load, but has a feature to lower the refresh rate to save battery life. The MSI Center software allows users to manage power settings effectively. The GS77 is not significantly more demanding than the GS76, with only a 5 percent increase in power consumption while gaming.

Battery Life

All Stealth GS77 SKUs come with a 99.9 WHr Li-Polymer battery that MSI claims can charge from 0-100 % in almost 2.5 hours using the provided power adapter.

The battery life is decent for an Intel-based laptop, lasting longer than its predecessor, but still falls behind some AMD models. The laptop features a power-saving mode that reduces the refresh rate when unplugged. Reviews verify the charging claims to be accurate.

Benchmarks:

• Idle (without WLAN, min brightness): 10h 47min
• WiFi Websurfing: 6h 9min
• Load (maximum brightness): 1h 24min

Biometrics

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The Stealth GS77 supports Windows Hello face recognition and has a fingerprint reader.

Software

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All SKUs ship with Windows 11 Home but the laptop can be upgraded to Windows 11 Pro, either manually or when buying directly from MSI.

Preinstalled Software

MSI Center

The MSI Center program acts as the primary control center in the Stealth GS77. In addition to the performance profiles, the program also handles keyboard lighting macro keys, hardware troubleshooting, always on USB settings, toggling flip to start (opening the lid starts the laptop), battery conservation mode (limit charge to 80 %), MUX switch, system updates and other things.

There are three preset performance profiles - quiet, balanced and performance. MSI supports adding an AI engine in balanced mode that automatically adjusts system parameters based on the context. There is also a customized mode where the user can manually set various parameters.

Most reviewers use performance mode for performance benchmarks and quiet mode for the battery tests unless otherwise stated.

Other Preinstalled Software

The Stealth GS77 also comes with other less useful software like Norton Security trial and MSI App Player.

Linux Support

Basic functionality works out of the box, but Wi-Fi requires additional setup. The keyboard, touchpad, speakers, ethernet, and camera all function correctly in Ubuntu 22.04, but some features may need manual configuration.

Accessories & Warranty

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The Stealth GS77 comes with a 240 W AC adapter and paperwork.

There is a one-year limited manufacturer warranty if purchased in the US.

Reviews Summary

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Overall Sentiment

The Stealth GS77 is considered a strong contender in the gaming laptop market, offering high CPU and GPU performance relative to competitors. It is suitable for people looking for a high-performance gaming laptop with a sleek design. The laptop also comes with a decent screen for gaming and is highly upgradeable. The primary downsides are the lack of a MUX switch, some design drawbacks, and the large size and weight which make it less portable.

Problems Summary

• Lacks a MUX switch.
• No SD card reader.
• Below average speakers given the form factor.
• Slow WiFi compared to other laptops with the same module.
• OEM SSD loses performance during sustained disk loads.
• Plastic touchpad does not provide the best tracking experience.
• High idle power consumption.
• Higher than average surface temperatures while idling and during intensive tasks.
• Below average battery life.
• Heavy.
• Large size.

Links

i9-12900H, RTX 3080 Ti, 32 GB RAM, 1 TB SSD: JarrodsTech

i7-12700H, RTX 3080 Ti, 32 GB RAM, 1 TB SSD: NoteBookCheck