Similarly, in Comfort mode, which runs
the CPU at 4GHz, the MSI’s application
performance is also behind the Alienware.
The MSI was a little quicker in our image editing test
but slower in most other benchmarks. The MSI’s overall
score of 200,848 lagged behind the Alienware’s 223,481.
The MSI has CPU and GPU overclocking through its Sport and
Turbo modes, but neither are transformative. In Sport mode, the
GPU ramps up to 1875MHz to deliver a couple of extra frames
per second in games, and the CPU ran between 4.4GHz and
4.7GHz to improve the application benchmark result to 217,751.
The Turbo mode proved too much for this machine’s thermal
hardware though. The GPU ran at 1900MHz but gaming results
either remained static or declined. The CPU also then throttled
to around 3.6GHz, which reduced the application benchmark
result to 188,415. Technically, the i9-9900K can reach 5GHz, but
it never attained that frequency here.
The MSI’s CPU and GPU delta Ts of 74°C and 68°C are high
as well – the former result is within a couple of degrees of the
Alienware, but the latter is far hotter. The base stayed cool, but
the area above the keyboard was extremely hot. Noise levels
were modest, and match the Alienware in the Comfort andSport modes, but the MSI was far too loud in Turbo mode.
Meanwhile, the storage array is good, with read and write
speeds of 3,188MB/sec and 2,884MB/sec respectively, but
we’re not sure why MSI has used a RAID array – a single 1TB
NVMe drive would be just as fast and would come with less risk.
The screen is great though. The 4K IPS panel has a
middling refresh rate of 60Hz and no active sync, but its
brightness level of 407cd/m² is massive, its black level of
0.35cd/m² is reasonable and its contrast measurement
of 1,163:1 is decent enough to deliver great vibrancy and
depth. The colour temperature of 6,672K is great, the
delta E of 3.33 is solid and the display handles 99.8 per
cent of the SRGB gamut. It’s a good screen, with better
contrast and brightness than the Alienware – and that 4K
resolution makes everything look crisp. However, the
Alienware has 144Hz G-Sync and a more realistic gaming
resolution for the hardware.
Meanwhile, the speakers are loud and bassy in their
default Music mode, but with a muddy high end and
dominant treble that lacks detail. The Movie mode has less
clarity and the Gaming mode sounds tinny. As usual, don’t
expect much battery life here either – the MSI lasted for just
under an hour in a gaming test.Conclusion
The MSI has huge power, good storage, lashings of memory
and a decent screen, alongside superb wired and wireless
connection options. Despite that, though, it’s less than the
sum of its parts. The Alienware is cheaper, slimmer, lighter,
quieter and faster. It’s easy to see why people want laptops
with desktop components – they scythe through games
and productivity tasks. However, there are better options
available for less money elsewhere.
MIKE JENNINGSVERDICT
A fast powerhouse with a great screen, but you can get
better top-end gaming laptops for less money elsewhere.OVERALL SCORE
76 %%
PERFORMANCE
23 / 25DESIGN
17 / 25
HARDWARE
21 / 25VALUE
15 / 25TITAN
+^ Very fast in games
and applications
+^ High-quality^
4K screen
+^ Superb connection^
options
TITANIC-^ Expensive
-^ Very large^
and heavy
-^ Gets hot
-^ Rivals are quicker
BENCHMARK RESULTS
GIMP IMAGE
EDITING58,557
HANDBRAKE H.264
VIDEO ENCODING514,462
HEAVY MULTI-
TASKING205,777
SYSTEM
SCORE200,848
LUXMARK
OPENCL122,999
INTEL PERFORMANCE
INDEX175.49%
Minimum Average3,840 x 2,160, Highest Detail, TAA
SHADOW OF THE TOMB RAIDER0 30 60 90 120MSI GT76 Titan DT 9SG 34fps 42fps3,840 x 2,160, Ultra Detail, AA on
TOTAL WAR: WARHAMMER II0 30 60 90 120MSI GT76 Titan DT 9SG 33fps 42fps3,840 x 2,160, Ultra settings, DX12, High DXR, TAA
BATTLEFIELD V0 30 60 90 120MSI GT76 Titan DT 9SG 34fps 39fpsSimilarly, in Comfort mode, which runs
the CPU at 4GHz, the MSI’s application
performance is also behind the Alienware.
The MSI was a little quicker in our image editing test
but slower in most other benchmarks. The MSI’s overall
score of 200,848 lagged behind the Alienware’s 223,481.
The MSI has CPU and GPU overclocking through its Sport and
Turbo modes, but neither are transformative. In Sport mode, the
GPU ramps up to 1875MHz to deliver a couple of extra frames
per second in games, and the CPU ran between 4.4GHz and
4.7GHz to improve the application benchmark result to 217,751.
The Turbo mode proved too much for this machine’s thermal
hardware though. The GPU ran at 1900MHz but gaming results
either remained static or declined. The CPU also then throttled
to around 3.6GHz, which reduced the application benchmark
result to 188,415. Technically, the i9-9900K can reach 5GHz, but
it never attained that frequency here.
The MSI’s CPU and GPU delta Ts of 74°C and 68°C are high
as well – the former result is within a couple of degrees of the
Alienware, but the latter is far hotter. The base stayed cool, but
the area above the keyboard was extremely hot. Noise levels
were modest,andmatchtheAlienwareintheComfortand
Sport modes, but the MSI was far too loud in Turbo mode.
Meanwhile, the storage array is good, with read and write
speeds of 3,188MB/sec and 2,884MB/sec respectively, but
we’re not sure why MSI has used a RAID array – a single 1TB
NVMedrivewouldbejustasfastandwouldcomewithlessrisk.
Thescreenisgreatthough.The4KIPSpanelhasa
middlingrefreshrateof60Hzandnoactivesync,butits
brightnesslevelof407cd/m²ismassive,itsblacklevelof
0.35cd/m²isreasonableanditscontrastmeasurement
of1,163:1isdecentenoughtodelivergreatvibrancyand
depth.Thecolourtemperatureof6,672Kisgreat,the
deltaE of3.33issolidandthedisplayhandles99.8per
centoftheSRGBgamut.It’sa goodscreen,withbetter
contrastandbrightnessthantheAlienware– andthat4K
resolution makes everything look crisp. However, the
Alienware has 144Hz G-Sync and a more realistic gaming
resolution for the hardware.
Meanwhile, the speakers are loud and bassy in their
default Music mode, but with a muddy high end and
dominanttreblethatlacksdetail.TheMoviemodehasless
clarityandthe Gaming mode sounds tinny. As usual, don’t
expect much battery life here either – the MSI lasted for just
under an hour in a gaming test.Conclusion
The MSI has huge power, good storage, lashings of memory
and a decent screen, alongside superb wired and wireless
connection options. Despite that, though, it’s less than the
sum of its parts. The Alienware is cheaper, slimmer, lighter,
quieter and faster. It’s easy to see why people want laptops
withdesktopcomponents– theyscythethroughgames
andproductivity tasks. However, there are better options
available for less money elsewhere.
MIKE JENNINGSVERDICT
A fast powerhouse with a great screen, but you can get
better top-end gaming laptops for less money elsewhere.OVERALLSCORE
76 %%
PERFORMANCE
23 / 25DESIGN
17 / 25
HARDWARE
21 / 25VALUE
15 / 25TITAN
+ Very fast in games
andapplications
+ High-quality^
4Kscreen
+ Superbconnection
options
TITANIC- Expensive
- Verylarge
andheavy - Getshot
- Rivals are quicker
BENCHMARK RESULTS
GIMPIMAGE
EDITING58,557
HANDBRAKEH.264
VIDEO ENCODING514,462
HEAVYMULTI-
TASKING205,777
SYSTEM
SCORE200,848
LUXMARK
OPENCL122,999
INTELPERFORMANCE
INDEX175.49%
Minimum Average3,840x2,160,HighestDetail,TAA
SHADOW OF THE TOMB RAIDER0 30 60 90 120MSI GT76 Titan DT 9SG 34fps 42fps3,840x2,160,UltraDetail,AAon
TOTAL WAR: WARHAMMER II0 30 60 90 120MSI GT76 Titan DT 9SG 33fps 42fps3,840x2,160,Ultrasettings,DX12,HighDXR,TAA
BATTLEFIELD V0 30 60 90 120MSI GT76 Titan DT 9SG 34fps 39fps