Inside the X-Slim X460

Equally mentioned before, the MSI X460 is powered by Intel's Core i7-2630QM, while some models may come up configured with the slightly slower Core i5-2410M processor. The mobile Sandy Bridge Core i7 range is divided into a number of categories including dual and quad-cadre models.

The dual-cadre range features low, ultra-low and standard power CPUs. Although the quad-core range simply contains standard power chips, there'due south still some diversity. Some models are just designed for a specific socket (Socket G2 or BGA-1224), while others accept a reduced 6MB or total size 8MB L3 cache.

The Core i7-2630QM used past the X-Slim operates at 2.0GHz, which can exist additional as loftier as 2.9GHz when using a unmarried core using Turbo Boost. The 32nm bit can also support up to eight threads with Intel'south Hyper-Threading technology.

The Core i7-2630QM is a 6MB L3 cache processor which uses the Socket G2 connector, making it the slowest of the quad-core mobile range. Nevertheless, nosotros still expect information technology to deliver solid functioning.

Accompanying the Intel processor is an unspecified amount of DDR3-1333 memory. The review sample we received came with a pair of Elixir 2GB PC3-10600 (DDR3-1333) memory modules for a total capacity of 4GB. However, the retail versions of the X460 nosotros've institute online are all advertised with 6GB of RAM.

Those hoping to kicking back, relax and play a few games on the MSI X460 demand to pay careful attention to the specifications. As we understand it, the X460 volition only employ Intel's Hard disk Graphics 3000. Every bit demonstrated by the Core i7-2600K desktop chip, this integrated solution is near useless for serious gaming.

Instead, gamers should focus on the X460DX, which has Nvidia's GeForce GT 540M (a 40nm GPU codenamed GF108). Information technology'due south equipped with 1024MB of GDDR3 memory clocked at i.80GHz while the cadre is clocked at 672MHz. The result is a bandwidth of 28.8GB/s and a texture fill charge per unit of x.7GT/s.

HDD, USB & LAN

MSI as well advertises the X460 with a 500GB SATA 5400RPM hard drive, but our unit came with a 500GB 7200RPM Western Digital Scorpio Black. Interestingly, the $one,100 versions establish online characteristic a larger 750GB hard drive -- the exact model and specifications are unknown.

MSI's press release made some noise about support for a second internal hard drive. The company claimed that both the X460 and X460DX could enlarge storage capacity by installing a second drive, while thrill seekers could drastically raise performance with a solid state bulldoze.

Although this was not bad news and certainly not a feature we expected from such a meaty notebook, we were a lilliputian confused afterward examining our review unit that didn't have whatsoever space for adding a second drive. After contacting MSI, they explained that certain versions of the X460 would ship without an optical drive, and those versions could be fitted with a secondary storage drive. So to epitomize, whatever X460 notebook that features an optical drive cannot be configured with a secondary difficult drive.

Something all MSI X460 models have in common is the Intel HM65 chipset. Codenamed "Cougar Point-1000," this chipset supports eight PCI Limited 2.0 lanes, two 6Gb/southward SATA ports, four 3Gb/south SATA ports and a dozen USB two.0 ports. That existence said, the HM65 is fairly underutilized in the X460 every bit it uses a unmarried USB 2.0 port and 1 of the SATA ports (presumably the 6Gb/s port). The additional USB support comes from the NEC PD720200 controller, which provides two USB 3.0 ports.

The X460 includes both wired and wireless network back up via one Gigabit Ethernet port and an Intel Centrino Wireless-N 1030 mini-PCIe adapter with Bluetooth. The Bluetooth three.0 support is capable of upwards to 24Mbps throughput and uses less power than Bluetooth ii.0.