CES 2021: MSI introduces new laptop series with RTX 3080 mobile GPUs

This year’s CES has seen a focus on mobile computing power. AMD revealed new, high-end mobile processors, and Nvidia announced that multiple laptops with RTX graphics are being produced. MSI seems to be one of those manufacturers, debuting a new line of high-end laptops, all powered by Nvidia’s powerful GeForce RTX 3080 laptop GPU.

By building in Nvidia’s RTX 3080 GPU, these laptops will be able to run any game or video with ease. However, a powerful GPU is just the beginning of what makes MSI’s RTX 30 Series gaming laptops so good. The laptops are also packed with other software and optimizations to provide unmatched mobile performance.

The first of these is what’s called “Resizable Bar technology.” MSI, collaborating with Nvidia and Intel, has brought a technique to its laptops allows the CPU to have full access to the GPU’s memory. If this sounds familiar, it’s because it’s the same concept revealed by AMD just a few months ago. AMD’s version of this tech, named Smart Access Memory, accomplishes the same task, but only between certain CPUs and GPUs. Regardless, with this technique implemented in its new laptops, MSI claims framerates can be boosted by 5% to 10%.

This new lineup of laptops from MSI also features the latest in Wi-Fi technology. Each laptop in the 30 Series line will head to market with support for Wi-Fi 6E. This new version of Wi-Fi connectivity allows computers to utilize the 6GHz band. In plain English, that means faster download and upload speeds for video streaming, VR, and other wireless experiences.

The mother of all laptops

Of course, when MSI spoke about its new top-of-the-line laptop, it got a bit dramatic. The MSI Ge 76 Raider Dragon Edition Tiamat is named after the dragon mother of all gods. Like its namesake, this might as well be the mother of all laptops. This behemoth of a laptop features a 17.3″ UHD monitor capable of running at 4K, and pairs an Intel Core i9 10980HK with its Geforce RTX 3080 Laptop GPU.

As it’s pre-release though, many of the specifics around this laptop’s specs are empty. It does sport two PCIe Gen3 NVME M.2 slots and can run up to 64GB of DDR4-3200 RAM. However, pricing for either any customization options are not available at the moment.

The same powerful specs are also available in a smaller package. The MSI GE66 Raider matches the Tiamat in performance, with the same storage and memory options, as well as a matching processor and GPU. However, the GE66 Raider arrives with a smaller 15.6″ 4K monitor, shaving half a Kg off its total weight. Much like the Tiamat, purchasing options aren’t available for the GE66 Raider at this time.

Low-profile, high performance

For an experience that isn’t as boisterous as the Tiamat, MSI is also introducing the GS66 Stealth. This low-profile laptop sports a professional outer look, forgoing the gamer-y aesthetics of the Tiamat and GE66 Raider for a more refined finish. Like its more powerful counterparts, the GS66 Stealth sports a GeForce RTX 3080 Laptop GPU, although with just 8GB of GDDR6 memory instead of 16. Likewise, the laptop comes with an Intel Core i9 10980H, a slightly weaker variant than what’s found in the Tiamat and GE66 Raider. With a 15.6″ monitor, and similar memory and storage support, the Stealth seemingly offers top-tier performance in a small, 2.1 Kg package.