Page 39 - Computer Power User - February 2017

Laptop Leadership

MSI’s GT83VR TITAN SLI Sets The Bar For Portable Power

tter the words “desktop replacement
notebook” to any power user who’s
U been around the block once or twice,
and he’ll immediately know what you’re
talking about. These mighty mobiles focus
more on might and less on mobile, as
they’re built to have all the horsepower
of a desktop system while maintaining
portability (technically). You wouldn’t
take a desktop replacement notebook to
Starbucks to work on your Tumblr page,
but they’ll fit right in at a LAN party.
Because mobile components ad-
vance almost in lockstep with their
desktop counterparts, DTR notebook
manufacturers must constantly figure out
new ways to pack the latest and greatest
hardware into roughly the same physical
shell. After all, the mammoth coolers
bolted onto today’s graphics cards and
CPUs don’t exactly fit inside a laptop. It’s
a challenge that has existed for as long as Boasting a new 7th Generation Intel Core i7 CPU and two—count ’em, two—NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080
DTRs have been around. GPUs in SLI, it should be obvious to enthusiasts that MSI’s GT83VR TITAN SLI will crush any benchmark,
Recently, MSI has led the DTR charge, game, or other high-intensity task you put in front of it.
releasing a slew of new units you could
easily mistake for high-end desktop PCs
based only on their specs. Among this handle game designs, and run any other SLI, further cementing the DTR as a true
squadron of high-flying laptops is the relevant programs. workhorse for virtually anyone who uses it.
GT83VR TITAN SLI, which is armed with “This laptop could function as a mobile
an array of advanced weaponry. In order workstation or desktop replacement Core Components
for this imposing DTR to take flight, MSI when hooked up to multiple external 4K MSI has assembled a murderers’ row
called in its top engineers and launched a monitors,” he adds. of components for the GT83VR TITAN
skunkworks project of epic proportions. MSI’s goal of making an insanely SLI. Although mobile variants are used
strong laptop for enthusiasts, gamers, and in the case of the CPU and GPUs, these
Lofty Ambitions professionals is realized in a number of chips are within striking distance of their
From the beginning, MSI set out to features included in the GT83VR TITAN corresponding desktop components. For
create a laptop that would excel in a SLI. Its 18.4-inch screen is a 94% NTSC example, in the case of the GT83VR
variety of roles, not just gaming. Lenny panel, which helps accurately reproduce TITAN SLI’s twin GTX 1080 GPUs,
Tang, MSI associate marketing manager, colors on screen, a vital capability for visual Tang notes, “the [performance] difference
explains that the “VR” in “GT83VR artists, graphic designers, and others. The between true desktop and mobile is less
TITAN SLI” means the DTR is not only laptop also includes a Thunderbolt 3 port, than 5%.”
capable of playing virtual reality games which is quickly becoming the preferred The brains of the operation is Intel’s
but designing them, as well. According to interface among creative professionals. brand-new Core i7-7920HQ, which is
Tang, MSI wanted to give VR developers MSI also deployed its proprietary True essentially the company’s most powerful
a system that could render 3D models, Color Technology in the GT83VR TITAN mobile processor. Part of the Kaby Lake

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