MSI GX630 Notebook

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With MSI exclusive Turbo Drive Engine Technology, while the MSI GX630 is in AC mode, just touch the turbo button above the keyboard and you can increase the speed of your CPU. Your computer will run smoothly to the very best of its abilities.

The MSI GX630 selects the brand new ECO Engine, the outstanding and unique power saving function by MSI Notebook, as the power management function to extend the battery running time while performing different tasks. Touch the ECO quick launch touch sensor repeatedly to switch among the 5 different modes – Gaming mode, Movie mode, Presentation mode, Office mode, and Turbo Battery mode while performing game applications, playing multimedia applications, performing presentation applications, dealing with office documentation tasks, or looking forward to minimizing the battery power consumption.



MSI GX630 Specifications:

• Dimensions: 14.7 x 9.7 x 1.4 inches
• Weight: 6 lbs
• Processor: 2.0 GHz AMD Athlon X2
• RAM: 4 GB DDR2 RAM
• Hard Drive: 250 GB SATA HDD, 5400 RPM
• Optical Drive: 8X DVD ± RW Optical Drive
• Display Size: 15.4 inch TFT Display, 1280 x 800 pixels with 2.0 MP Webcam
• Graphics: Nvidia GeForce M 9600 GT with 512 MB VRAM
• Wireless: Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.0
• Operating System: Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium
• Ports: 3 USB 2.0, Ethernet, HDMI, Headphone and Microphone Jacks, VGA out, eSATA, 4 in 1 card reader, ExpressCard slot
• Price: $800 (Approx)

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Design and Build Quality:

The MSI GX630 is a powerful machine with nice sleek design, eerily similar to the older MSI GX 720, just slightly compressed. It has dimensions of 14.7 x 9.7 x 1.4 inches, it has the same width as the MSI GX720 but is an inch less in the other two. The build quality is stellar and sturdy, the chassis being the same used in the MSI GX720. There is vey less flex in the display and keyboard areas. The red and black color combination is also the same as the MSI GX720 - looks sleek and will definitely appeal to the younger masses. It has a nice feel all over. It weighs around 6 pounds or 2.7 kgs which is quite normal for a notebook of this form factor. It is the perfect candidate, in terms of design, build quality and portability as a portable gaming machine.

Keyboard and Touchpad:

The MSI GX630 sports a nice standard keyboard with adequate key spacing and travel. The keyboard has the standard key placement with little changes, and is very ergonomic. The W, A, S, D keys have been highlighted in red to mark its gaming roots and to assist gamers in their fragging experiences. The keys offer good tactile feedback and are ideal for touch typists. The touchpad is nice and responsive. It also has good sensitivity levels. The touchpad buttons have a nice feel too. Just above the keyboard, there is an array of touch sensitive controls which offer an easy way to perform basic functions. The touch sensitive buttos have been arranged very stylishly and blend in with the overall design of the keyboard.

Rich Audio Experience
- 7.1 Channel Output
3D 360º surround sound gives you the sensation of being enveloped in audio as you listen to music. Whether you use the front-mounted speakers or support 7.1 channel output, the GX630 presents rich sound effects ideal for multimedia applications. Recognized and approved by the highest standards of Dolby®, the GX630 guarantees to enable the enthusiasts to experience the thrill and excitement of movies, music, games, and TV in stunning surround sound.

Abundant Entertainment
- High-Definition Multimedia Interface
Via a single cable, HDMI output connector not only enables 5Gbps data transfers, but also provides pristine transmission of high-definition digital video and digital audio up to 1080p resolution- allowing easy connection of HD enabled equipment such as HD monitor, HD TV, or HD projector for the best multimedia experience. With this impeccable video quality, the GX630 offers you the best way to enjoy your favorite movie titles and TV programs.

Featuring E- SATA Support
GX630 supports the next-generation hard drives based on the Serial ATA (SATA) 3Gb/s storage specification, delivering enhanced scalability and doubling the bus bandwidth for high-speed data retrieval and saves. So, this external SATA allows easily sharing and transfer of entertainment content and digital media on external devices.

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Performance:

The MSI GX630 is powered by a 2.0 GHz AMD Athlon X2 processor, which is rare these days, due to the market domination by Intel’s high performing Core 2 Duo range. It comes with 4 GB DDR2 RAM, which coupled with the processor is totally capable of running and multitasking normal applications. The storage part is handled by a 250 GB SATA HDD at 5400 RPM while the graphics part is handled by a Nvidia GeForce M 9600 GT with 512 MB VRAM. The overall configuration is very able, and can run the bundled Windows Vista easily at full blast. It can also handle most games, atleast at low settings. The performance should improve considerably with a GPU driver update, as the bundled drivers are a bit outdated. The hard drive has nice data transfer speeds.

Battery Life, Wi-Fi and Ports:

The MSI GX630 can run for about 2 hrs with moderate usage with Wi-Fi in use on a full charge. The battery life is a bit too low compared to other notebooks in its range. To maximise battery life you may switch off Wi-Fi and lower speaker volume and display brightness or use the Eco Mode options. The Wi-Fi reception is quite good had has a decent range.

The MSI GX630 comes with an array of expansion ports - it is equipped with 3 USB 2.0 ports, Ethernet, HDMI, Headphone and Microphone Jacks, VGA out, eSATA, 4 in 1 card reader and an ExpressCard slot

Pros:

• Nice Design and Build Quality
• Relatively Inexpensive
• Nice Performance

Cons:

• Low battery life

Conclusion:

The MSI GX630 is a good low budget notebook especially for gamers and offers nice value for money. It is suited for gaming sessions and watching multimedia content, but doesn’t offer much of an improvement over existing notebooks. It is a nice low end alternative to the Dell XPS M1530. However if you can spend a few bucks extra, you would recommend the Dell XPS M1530 as it features better hardware. You could also lookout for the HP DV5T.