MSI GE72 Apache (078, 027, Pro-077) 17.3″ Gaming Laptop
The MSI GE72 Apache (078, 027, Pro-077) is a mid-range 17.3-inch gaming notebook. The aluminum skinned mobile gaming rig with 1.1″ thick profile and weight of 5.9 pounds packs the mid-tier and upper-mid-range Nvidia GeForce GTX 960M 2GB, GTX 965M 2GB, or GTX 970M 3GB video cards. These are combined with the powerful Intel Core i7 “Haswell” i7-4720HQ or “Broadwell” i7-5700HQ quad-core processors, 16GB of RAM memory, and a 1-Terabyte 7,200prm hard drive plus optional 128GB M.2 solid state drive. For displaying games and other stuff, the laptop uses a Full HD panel with anti-glare coating. MSI advertises it as a display with wide viewing angles, but it isn’t clear whether if it’s IPS enabled or not.
Here’s a breakdown of specs differences between the available MSI GE72 Apache models:
| MSI GE72 Apache Models | 078 (9S7-179211-078) | 027 (9S7-179111-027) | Pro-077 (9S7-179111-077) |
| Nvidia GeForce Video Card Model | GTX 960M 2GB GDDR5 | GTX 965M 2GB GDDR5 | GTX 970M 3GB GDDR5 |
| Processor | Intel Core i7-5700HQ | Intel Core i7-4720HQ | Intel Core i7-5700HQ |
| Storage | 1TB 7200rpm Hard Drive | 1TB 7200rpm Hard Drive | 1TB 7200rpm Hard Drive + 128GB M.2 Solid State Drive |
| RAM | 16GB | 16GB | 16GB |
| Video Output | HDMI + mini DisplayPort | HDMI + VGA | HDMI + mini DisplayPort |
| Price (as of 06/09/2015) | $1,199.99 | $1,499.99 | $1,499.99 |
For a good gaming experience, MSI has provided a SteelSeries keyboard with programmable keys and backlight, stereo speakers accompanied with subwoofer, Nahimic virtual surround sound technology, and Wi-Fi and Gigabit LAN connections enhanced by Killer technology for lower network lags.
Specifications of the MSI GE72 Apache (078, 027, Pro-077)
Here are the specs of the MSI GE72 Apache (078, 027, Pro-077) with descriptions of its features. For comparison against other laptops, you can use the "Compare Specs" button.
| Brand | MSI |
|---|---|
| Screen Size | 17.3-inch The 17.3-inch screen diagonal means the laptop's display is a large one in comparison to screens of the most laptops. |
| Screen Resolution | 1920x1080 pixels Full HD Full HD is the most common laptop screen resolution today. It provides a good image sharpness and a decent amount of space on the display for the user interface and programs. However, it isn't as good as the top-tier 4K Ultra HD. |
| Touchscreen | No This laptop doesn't support touchscreen input. |
| Other Display Specs | |
| Processor (CPU) | Intel Core i7-4720HQ 4th Gen quad-core 2.6-3.6GHz 6MB cache (~8,200 PassMark benchmark points) Intel Core i7-5700HQ 5th Gen Broadwell Quad-Core 2.7-3.5GHz 6MB Cache |
| Graphics (GPU) | Nvidia GeForce GTX 960M 2GB GDDR5 dedicated video card (for light gaming, but with improved smoothness) Nvidia GeForce GTX 965M 2GB GDDR5 "Maxwell" dedicated video card (for light gaming, but with improved smoothness) Nvidia GeForce GTX 970M "Maxwell" 3GB GDDR5 dedicated video card (able to run all games, but may not be smooth on high detail settings in heavy games) |
| System Memory (RAM) Size | 16GB RAM 16GB and greater RAM sizes are recommended for heavy multitasking, gaming, and specialized programs that require a lot of RAM. |
| Data Storage | 1000GB (1TB) HDD 1TB is an excellent storage capacity, but HDD is a slow type of storage. 1000GB (1TB) HDD + 128GB SSD This is an excellent capacity, but the HDD portion is a slow type of storage. |
| DVD Optical Drive | DVD writer |
| Keyboard & Input | Backlit keyboard with dedicated number pad The keyboard has backlit keys and a separate numeric pad on the right side of the keyboard. Touchpad with separate physical click buttons The touchpad features physical left and right click buttons, as opposed to click buttons integrated into the touchpad surface. |
| Speakers & Audio | Stereo speakers with subwoofer Besides the standard stereo speakers, the laptop additionally features a built-in subwoofer speaker for a better bass sound. Separate mic and headphones audio jacks This laptop has separate headphones and microphone 3.5mm audio jacks. Laptops usually have a single combo jack for headphone output and microphone input. |
| Camera | Front-facing web camera Laptops usually feature a frontal webcam located on the display bezel. This laptop is no exception. |
| Wi-Fi Wireless | 802.11AC The 802.11AC is the previous-generation wireless networking standard. It's also known as Wi-Fi 5. 802.11AC is succeeded by 802.11AX Wi-Fi 6 with data transfer speed and multi-device connectivity improvements. |
| Ethernet Network Port | Yes This laptop has an Ethernet LAN port for wired internet and networking connectivity. |
| Mobile broadband (4G LTE) | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes This laptop has a built-in Bluetooth module. It enables you to connect the computer to Bluetooth mice and other Bluetooth peripherals, smartphones, and other Bluetooth-equipped devices. |
| USB Ports | 2 x USB 3.0 + 2 x USB 2.0 A total of four full-size Type A USB ports. |
| Video Output Ports | 1 x HDMI HDMI is a widely used digital video output port. You can find HDMI-in ports on most computer monitors and TVs. 1 x HDMI + 1 x VGA HDMI is a widely used digital video output port. You can find HDMI-in ports on most computer monitors and TVs. VGA is an old analog type of video connectivity used on older computers, monitors, TVs, and projectors. 1 x mini DisplayPort DisplayPort is a digital video output port. It is not as widely used as HDMI. The laptop has a compact "mini" version of DisplayPort on its side. |
| Media Card Reader | SD card reader The laptop has a slot for full-size SD memory cards, used in many digital cameras. You can also use microSD cards with a card adapter. |
| Battery | 6-Cell |
| Weight | 5.9 pounds |
| Height | 1.1" |
| Width | 16.5" |
| Depth | 11" |
| Windows Version | Windows 8.1 Windows 8.1 is eligible for free upgrade to Windows 10 Home. Check Windows.com for more info. |
| Warranty | 2-year The 2-year warranty period is an extended one in comparison to the typical 1 year. Some laptops come with an even longer 3-year warranty. |
User Reviews and Q&A on the MSI GE72 Apache (078, 027, Pro-077)
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Question
Anthony Matias –
how do you switch between integrated graphics and the gtx 960m
Notify me of replies Unwatch this thread
Dan –
If the Nvidia drivers are installed properly, there should be an Nvidia control panel option on the menu when you right-click on the desktop. Inside the Nvidia panel, there’s an option to select the integrated graphics, Nvidia graphics, or allow the software to automatically switch between the two depending on a task.