We've known the GTX 570M was coming for a while now, but MSI is the first to start shipping notebooks with the new GPU. Sitting between the GTX 560M and GTX 580M, the GTX 570M packs 336 CUDA Cores clocked at 1150MHz, with 3GB of  GDDR5 running on a 192-bit bus and clocked at 3GHz (72GB/s of bandwidth). That compares to 192 cores clocked at 1550MHz with 2.5GHz GDDR5 (60GB/s) for the GTX 560M, giving the 570M 20% more bandwidth and 34% more processing power. The big brother GTX 580M on the other hand comes with 384 cores clocked at 1240MHz, with 3GHz GDDR5 on a 256-bit bus (96GB/s), so it has 33% more bandwidth and 23% more processing power.

Like all the 500M GPUs (and the 400M parts before them), the 570M supports NVIDIA's Optimus graphics switching technology, though it's up to the notebook manufacturers to actually use it or not. Unfortunately, it appears MSI has decided to not support Optimus with their G-series updates, so we'll have to wait for a future model to get that feature.

That brings us to MSI's new notebooks. The GT683DXR and GT780DXR update the GT680R and GT780R respectively. We reviewed the GT580R a few months back, and it sits in the middle of a bunch of similarly specced notebooks. The new model upgrades the GPU along with packing in 12GB RAM (2x4GB + 2x2GB), keeps the 2x500GB RAID 0 hard drive setup, and continues to offer a GPU overclocking tool dubbed Turbo Drive Engine (TDE) that boosts GPU clocks 3-5%. Newegg and Amazon already have the GT683DXR in stock, priced at $1600 and $1594 respectively.

The larger GT780DXR sports roughly identical specs, with the chief difference being the larger chassis and 17.3" display. The GT780DXR also includes a third USB 2.0 port and a VGA port, to go along with the two USB 3.0 ports and the HDMI port offered on the GT683DXR. and it has a backlit keyboard with three color zones. We haven't had a chance to look at the GT780 series before, so we can't comment on the display quality, but it can hardly be worse than the panel we tested in the GT680R. Considering it costs an extra $100 for a larger notebook with otherwise identical specs, not to mention the use of a matte LCD, we're hopeful that display quality is substantially better on the GT780DXR. The GT780DRX is also available at Newegg for $1700, or at Amazon for $1700.

Source: MSI Press Release

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  • MonkeyPaw - Wednesday, September 7, 2011 - link

    Sad that they put a glossy LCD on it. Most desktop monitors sport a matte finish and just make up for it with more brightness. It's not like you're expecting mobile computing on this 7.7lb beast that uses a 150W(!) AC brick.

    Anyway, I guess it's cool for the select few that would buy one. All the bling lighting seems kinda cool.
  • JarredWalton - Wednesday, September 7, 2011 - link

    That's why I'm more interested in the GT780DXR. Sure, it's bigger, but if the display is better -- plus keyboard backlighting and an aluminum shell -- it could more than make up for that. It's not like either of these are particularly portable anyway!
  • arvee - Wednesday, September 7, 2011 - link

    I'm writing this on my GT780R, the model before this new release. I'm *really* happy with the screen on this, it's really nice to look at but I'm not a big screen-snob though and I certainly haven't done any testing, I just know it's very nice to spend hours looking at.

    Don't get too excited about the keyboard though, even though I'm a happy MSI GT780 owner the 2 failings on this otherwise great laptop are the keyboard and the power adapter. The power connector on the laptop could really do with some work, it's too easy to knock out and looks like it's waiting for a good knock one day to complete wreck it (ah how I wish the magnetic power connectors on Macs would make their way to other machines but I'm guessing there is a stupid patent in the way).

    The keyboard requires more pressure than I'd like and I seem to have a slightly buggy build because the left side has particular problems registering my keystrokes, particularly around Ctrl, Shift, Tab and up in to z and x and as a programmer who uses this area a *log* this is a problem. I'll be sending it back for a replacement keyboard when I can spare the time out.

    Other than that, I'd love to see Anand take a good look at this machine, out of all the similarly speced machines I chose this one and I'm pretty happy with my choice.
  • DanNeely - Wednesday, September 7, 2011 - link

    Apple does have a patent. Unless "on a computer" is seen as innovative the existence of deep frier's with similar plugs as a safety feature is probably sufficient prior art to kill the patent if someone with sufficiently deep pockets wanted to. The risks in corporate lawfare are high enough that it's unlikely anyone will take the risk since the bayonet design works well enough for 99% of consumers.

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