For gamers seeking a powerful yet affordable gaming laptop, the MSI GP63 Leopard packs a punch without breaking the bank. Sporting a sleek black design with RGB keyboard backlighting, this 15.6-inch laptop combines solid performance with excellent graphics to deliver an immersive gaming experience.
Overview
The MSI GP63 houses a 2.2GHz Intel Core i7-8750H hexa-core processor and 16GB of 2666MHz DDR4 RAM, allowing you to smoothly run graphics-intensive games and multitask without lag. Storage comprises a speedy 256GB NVMe SSD paired with a spacious 1TB hard drive, giving you both fast boot times and ample space to install your game library.
Graphics are handled by a dedicated NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 GPU with 6GB of GDDR5 VRAM – plenty of pixel pushing power for playing modern titles on high settings in Full HD. The 1080p IPS display presents vivid, accurate visuals from wide viewing angles thanks to 100% sRGB coverage.
Connectivity includes the latest WiFi AC and Bluetooth 5.0 wireless alongside Gigabit Ethernet, USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports, USB-C, mini DisplayPort, an SD card reader, and audio jacks. The preinstalled Windows 10 Home operating system enables access to popular games.
Benefits for Gamers
Superb Performance: The 6-core i7 CPU and GTX 1060 GPU allow you to game smoothly with all details maxed out. No need to compromise on graphics settings.
Vivid Visuals: The 1920 x 1080 IPS screen delivers bright, colorful images with wide viewing angles – ideal for immersive gameplay.
VR Ready: With HDMI and mini DisplayPort connections plus ample graphics muscle, the GP63 Leopard meets requirements for hooking up VR headsets.
RGB Backlit Keyboard: Customize the per-key backlighting to suit your style with this gaming-centric SteelSeries keyboard. Anti-ghosting technology also ensures accurate control.
Cooling System: An advanced cooling system with multiple fans and several heat pipes prevents excessive temperatures during extended gaming sessions.
Gaming Software: Useful applications like MSI Dragon Center let you monitor system stats, customize performance profiles, prioritize game traffic and record gameplay.
Portable Form Factor: Weighing just 4.8 pounds, this is a fairly lightweight gaming laptop that you can conveniently carry around or take on trips without compromise.
Who It’s For
The GP63 Leopard is designed for:
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PC Gamers: With a potent CPU and GPU combo, advanced cooling and gaming-centric features, it delivers smooth frame rates for immersive play across top titles including shooters, RPGs, RTS games, racing sims and beyond in Full HD.
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Power Multitaskers: The hexa-core Intel processor and abundant RAM allow you to game while streaming, recording gameplay, chatting on Discord and listening to music simultaneously without slowdowns.
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Students: An affordable price makes this a great pick for students seeking a mobile battlestation for gaming, creative work and productivity between classes. Portability is a plus.
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Travelers: Whether LAN partying or playing on vacation, the GP63’s thinner footprint and lower weight make it easier to transport than bulkier gaming rigs without sacrificing power.
The Bottom Line
The MSI GP63 Leopard hits the sweet spot between price and performance with its Intel 8th gen hexa-core CPU and potent NVIDIA GTX 1060 graphics. Capable of running AAA games smoothly at high settings in Full HD, it delivers an excellent gaming experience in a fairly portable package.
Robust software features cater specifically to gamers while the customizable RGB keyboard adds flair. The display could be brighter but colors and viewing angles impress. Battery life is also unexceptional, but acceptable considering the power inside. For shoppers seeking an affordable portable gaming laptop capable of tackling modern titles without costing a fortune, the GP63 Leopard is a mighty fine choice.
Detailed Review
Let’s dig deeper into the design, performance, display quality, battery life, software, specs and pros/cons of the MSI GP63 Leopard gaming laptop:
Design
Sporting a black brushed aluminum hood with crimson red accents around the vents and edges, the GP63 Leopard looks sleek while allowing easy access to upgrade components like RAM and storage.
The smooth metal chassis feels rigid with a reinforced structure that protects internal parts from pressure. Despite packing some powerful hardware, the laptop’s 0.85 x 15 x 10.2 inch dimensions and 4.85 pound weight make it fairly portable.
Customize the comprehensive per-key RGB keyboard backlighting via SteelSeries Engine software. The Microsoft Precision touchpad provides a smooth, accurate pointing experience while the isolated gaming keys prevent accidental presses mid-game.
Performance & Hardware
Equipped with Intel’s 8th generation Core i7-8750H 6-core processor clocked at 2.2GHz alongside 16GB of 2666MHz DDR4 RAM, the GP63 delivers excellent performance for gaming, multimedia editing and general productivity. The hexa-core CPU turbos up to 4.1GHz to crunch through intensive workloads.
Games run super smooth thanks to the dedicated NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 GPU with 6GB of video memory. It has more than enough graphical horsepower to play modern titles in Full HD at high settings. Both CPU and GPU stay cool under heavy loads thanks to an advanced cooling system incorporating multiple fans and an array of heat pipes.
Booting up and loading games is rapid owing to the speedy 256GB M.2 NVMe solid state drive while there is ample space for a large library with the secondary 1TB hard disk drive. The GP63 also stays connected via Gigabit Ethernet, the latest WiFi AC and Bluetooth 5 wireless.
Overall hardware is easily upgradeable – handy for future proofing. The SO-DIMM slots and storage bays provide access to beef up RAM or storage down the line.
Gaming Performance
The GP63 Leopard’s gaming prowess enables it to handle popular titles like Gears Tactics, Forza Horizon 4, Doom Eternal, Cyberpunk 2077, Battlefront 2, Battlefield V and more at 40-60 FPS (frames per second) on high settings at native 1080p resolution.
Equipped with a potent CPU/GPU combination plus sufficient VRAM, it delivers solid frame rates without choppiness or input lag across AAA games for a seamless, immersive gaming experience – much smoother than entry level rigs. This level of performance makes gameplay recordings and live streaming eminently possible too.
Based on synthetic gaming benchmarks, the Leopard achieves a 3DMark TimeSpy score exceeding 5000 which is great for a GTX 1060 machine. Overall gaming performance matches up well with competing laptops packing the same graphics card. The advanced cooling setup keeps temperature spikes in check for stable long term operation.
Display & Audio
Images and videos look sharp and colorful on the GP63’s 15.6-inch IPS LCD with Full HD 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution and anti-glare coating. Though peak brightness is somewhat limited at around 270 nits, contrast and hues impress with 90% sRGB coverage – adequate for gaming and entertainment if not color critical work.
Wide 178° viewing angles prevent color shifting when seen from the sides or at extreme Vertical/horizontal tilts. Panel response measures at just 7ms for crisp gaming visuals devoid of prominent ghosting or motion blur. The matte screen surface reduces distracting reflections.
Giant 3W stereo speakers pump out loud, crisp audio with plenty of volume to hear game sounds and soundtracks clearly (though bass is understandably lacking). External headsets or speakers can also attach via the 3.5mm audio jack or Bluetooth.
Battery Life
One area where gaming laptops usually fall short is unplugged runtime courtesy power hungry components. Similarly, the 51Wh battery inside the GP63 Leopard lasts around 4 hours doing light tasks like web browsing or Office work. Gaming or intensive tasks drain it faster in under two hours.
While no match for all-day ultraportables, this mediocre battery life remains somewhat expected for a GTX 1060 rig focused on strongest performance. The compromises are worthwhile given the power packed inside that gives the GP63 an edge over systems with integrated graphics. Just remember to carry the beefy 230W power brick for gaming sessions and demanding loads.
Software
MSI includes some gamer-friendly applications that let you monitor component temperatures, optimize system performance, prioritize game traffic, customize keyboard lighting, record gameplay and more. Key highlights include:
MSI Dragon Center: Provides system monitoring functions and options to toggle between different performance profiles – varying CPU/GPU clocks and fan speeds to balance temperatures against max speed or battery runtime. Also configures keyboard backlighting.
Steel Series Engine 3: Customize every individual key’s RGB lighting color/effects and create/share illumination profiles. Tweak settings for programmable macro keys.
NVIDIA GeForce Experience: Updates Game Ready drivers and optimizes in-game settings for your GPU. Also enables recording/streaming gameplay video.
Besides these, Windows 10 Home features Microsoft’s gaming oriented Xbox app that consolidates titles bought from the Windows Store. The OS periodically receives cumulative updates and upgrades adding useful functionality.
| Specifications | Details |
|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Core i7-8750H Hexa-core 2.2GHz (4.1GHz Turbo), 9MB Cache |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6GB GDDR5 |
| Display | 15.6″, 1920×1080 IPS LCD, Anti-glare, 100% sRGB |
| Memory | 16GB DDR4 2666MHz |
| Storage | 256GB NVMe SSD + 1TB 5400RPM HDD |
| Connectivity | Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11ac WiFi, Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Ports | 2x USB 3.1 Gen1, 1x USB-C 3.1, 1x Mini DisplayPort, HDMI, SD card reader, mic/headphone jack |
| Battery | 51Wh, 230W power adapter |
| Dimensions | 0.85″ x 15″ x 10.2″ |
| Weight | 4.85 pounds |
| OS | Windows 10 Home |
| Warranty | 1 Year Limited |
Pros & Cons
What we liked:
- Great CPU and GPU provide smooth high FPS gameplay
- Superb cooling keeps temps in check during intense gaming
- 144Hz screen ensures fluid visuals devoid of tearing
- Per-key RGB backlit keyboard looks slick and functions well
- Tons of storage space for large game library
- Fairly portable form factor for a powerful gaming laptop
Where it could improve:
- Battery drains faster than lighter laptops when gaming unplugged
- Fans get quite loud when GTX 1060 is pushed hard
- Speakers sound hollow and tinny (use a headset)
- No Thunderbolt 3 support
- Collects fingerprints somewhat easily
Conclusion
If you desire desktop caliber graphics performance in a portable package without breaking the bank, the feature packed MSI GP63 Leopard checks all the right boxes. Equipped with capable Intel hexa-core processing and NVIDIA’s GTX 1060 GPU plus 144Hz display and RGB keyboard, it delivers ultra smooth immersive gameplay across AAA titles in Full HD resolution.
Adequate cooling prevents thermal issues under heavy gaming loads while the dual storage configuration boasts both rapid boots and ample capacity. Reasonable asking price coupled with high build quality and easy upgrades makes this an excellent value gaming platform. For the money, the GP63 Leopard is one of the most well rounded gaming notebooks out there.