Our test system is formatted and a fresh version of Windows is installed with just drives in place - no additional applications. Windows is then updated to the latest release and the drivers are installed.

Included in the list of benchmarks are the following applications:

Benchmarks


Our usual test system is as follows, but due to the unique nature of this review, with the Samsung X5 requiring a Thunderbolt 3 port, unfortunately we’ve been forced to use a different system. MSI don’t currently support Thunderbolt 3 on the Z270 Gaming M7, even via add-in card. This means our test results are not a perfect like-for-life with the rest of our results but we believe they’ll be more than close enough to include in the graphs but please do not compare them exactly.

Test system


For today’s review, MSI have kindly loaned us their MSI GS65 Stealth Thin 8RF laptop, equipped with Thunderbolt 3. The specs are as follows.