Meet the MSI GE75 Raider
This model raises the bar over the outgoing GE73 Raider, integrating much-improved gaming performance into a sleeker design. A six-core processor and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 graphics card in our topped-out tester have no trouble pushing triple-digit frame rates in today's AAA titles.
An Edgy Lid
MSI's backlit dragon shield logo and flanking, red-striped ridges on the lid ensure that the GE75 Raider is recognized as a gaming notebook from 50 paces.
A Very High-Refresh Screen
A 1080p/144Hz display makes this MSI an ideal platform for esports titles and other fast-action games.
A Colorful Keyboard
The SteelSeries-designed keyboard on the GE75 Raider is a step above the similar-looking keyboards on less-expensive MSI gaming notebooks. This one offers per-key RGB (16.7-million-color) backlighting instead of single-color.
The Raider's Layout
Gamers should have no issue with the keyboard layout on the GE75 Raider. Avid text editors, on the other hand, might take issue with things like the two-thirds-size number-pad keys, and the arrow keys not being separated into their own cluster.
A Clicky Touchpad
The spacious touchpad is of the traditional variety, with dedicated left- and right-click buttons.
Light-Up USB Ports!
Dig the two on the right edge of this machine. Also, notice the large cooling exhaust vents on either side of the chassis.
The Raider's Left Edge
Another light-up USB port is joined here by a cable-lockdown notch, a Killer E2500 Ethernet jack, HDMI 2.0b and mini-DisplayPort video-out connectors, a USB Type-C 3.1 port, and separate headphone and microphone jacks.
Underside of the Raider
You can see here the intake vents for the two cooling fans inside the chassis.
We'd Like to See More Grunt
While our GE75 Raider performed fine in our tests, it didn't put up quite the performance pyrotechnics we expected.