MSI GT685-818US Core i5 GTX 580M 15.6" Gaming Notebook Unboxing & First Look Linus Tech Tips
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Description
CA: ncix.com This is a custom SKU that I asked MSI to create. Instead of over-building certain parts of the machine and skimping on the graphics card, I asked if they could build a notebook with a beast graphics card and more "value" components in the rest. Here it is :)
The video presents a detailed unboxing and first-look of a customized MSI GT685-818US gaming notebook, emphasizing the unique SKU created for Linus Tech Tips. Linus explains the concept of a stock keeping unit (SKU) and distinguishes between the notebook shell and its internal configuration, highlighting how this particular SKU pares down some high-end components in favor of a stronger graphics card. He notes that the notebook uses a GTX 580M GPU paired with a dual-core Core i5, along with 8 GB of RAM and the possibility to upgrade storage. Despite the dual-core CPU and lower RAM, Linus argues the setup is optimized for gaming, where fewer cores at higher frequencies can yield better performance, and he points out the inclusion of a dual-drive bay that allows room for an SSD upgrade. The unboxing reveals a large power brick, a Blu-ray-like optical drive, integrated audio features, LED lighting, and multi-port connectivity, including HDMI, VGA, eSATA, USB 3.0, and dedicated 5.1 audio outputs, all housed in a relatively thick chassis designed to accommodate the GTX 580M while maintaining a sub-$2,000 price target. Linus also discusses practical upgrade paths, such as accessing RAM and drives by removing a panel, and previews potential benchmarks and comparisons against other notebooks to be shown on ncixcom, including an Asus model with similar specs. The video concludes with a reiteration of the SKU’s purpose, a reminder of future testing, and an invitation to subscribe for more unboxings and laptop showdowns.
Topics · technology · hardware · gaming · unboxing · product-review
Questions answered
- What makes the Linus SKU for the MSI GT685-818US distinctive?
- The SKU balances high-end graphics with a downgraded CPU and RAM, using a GTX 580M in a Core i5 dual-core configuration and a dual-drive setup to maximize gaming performance while controlling cost.
- Which components are upgradeable in this notebook?
- The memory and hard drives are accessible via a removable panel, allowing RAM upgrades and the addition of an SSD, while the GTX 580M remains the key performance driver.