MSI launches ‘the world’s thinnest and lightest’ 17-inch gaming laptop

Labels like “the world’s thinnest and lightest” don’t seem to last for long in the tech industry. But MSI Computer has claimed that title for a nanosecond with the announcement of its GS70, the “world’s thinnest and lightest 17-inch portable gaming laptop.”

MSI GS70
MSI GS70

The company says the computer can play the most demanding games on the road. The machine is less than 1-inch thick and weighs 5.7 pounds. It uses the Haswell-based 4th generation Intel Core i7 processor, the Nvidia GeForce GTX 765M graphics chip, Killer DoubleShot networking, and a SteelSeries backlit keyboard with “anti-ghosting” keys. It can display images in high-definition 1920 x 1080 resolution, and it has a 2.1 speaker system with an integrated subwoofer. It has Sound Blaster Cinema software that is capable of delivering “the quality of 5.1 surround sound” from the 2.1 speakers. It comes with 16 gigabytes of DDR3L memory, 4 USB 3.0 ports, 3 audio jacks, and a 720p HD webcam. It is housed in a brushed aluminum chassis.

Computer peripheral maker Razer recently claimed the title of having the thinnest gaming notebook, the Razer Blade, back in May. But that one had a 14-inch screen.

The GS70 can drive up to three external displays via HDMI and mDP ports. It can also deliver 4K resolution output.  The laptop has dual fans and a thermal solution that pulls heat from the top side of the laptop and dissipates it at a 45-degree upward angle.

“The GS70 has the capability to crush the most demanding games and [has] feather-like portability for on-the-go multitasking or gaming,” said Andy Tung, vice president of sales for MSI US. “We understand the needs of our audience and are committed to delivering solutions that exceed even the highest expectations.”

Brian Choi, senior product manager at Nvidia, confirmed that the MSI machine has the thinnest chassis in the game sector. The machine starts at $1,799.

Dean Takahashi

Dean Takahashi is editorial director for GamesBeat at VentureBeat. He has been a tech journalist since 1988, and he has covered games as a beat since 1996. He was lead writer for GamesBeat at VentureBeat from 2008 to April 2025. Prior to that, he wrote for the San Jose Mercury News, the Red Herring, the Wall Street Journal, the Los Angeles Times, and the Dallas Times-Herald. He is the author of two books, "Opening the Xbox" and "The Xbox 360 Uncloaked." He organizes the annual GamesBeat Next, GamesBeat Summit and GamesBeat Insider Series: Hollywood and Games conferences and is a frequent speaker at gaming and tech events. He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.