The GT725 sports 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi networking, Bluetooth and Gigabit Ethernet. MSI also throws in a copy of Windows Vista Home Premium and a two-year collect-and-return warranty.
Performance
The GT725 refused to run our full PCMark05 and 3DMark06 benchmark tests, but we were able to test the speed of the CPU in isolation. In the CPU suite component of PCMark05, the Q9000 quad-core CPU romped its way to a score of 6,077 -- an impressive tally. We were, understandably, expecting big things with the turbo button pressed, but were disappointed to see a clock speed improvement of just 80MHz, which translated to a CPU suite test result of 6,313. That's certainly slightly faster, but to use the word 'turbo' is to overstate the case.
The GT725 isn't any good away from the mains. It lasted a paltry 38 minutes in Battery Eater's intensive Classic test, which is designed to run the battery down as quickly as possible. It should last just over an hour with more sedate use, but we recommend keeping the power brick nearby just in case.
Conclusion
The MSI GT725 is a fast and well-equipped laptop, with a relatively low price tag. It's definitely worth considering if gaming or media playback is a priority, but there's no getting away from the fact its closest rivals, such as the Alienware M17, are more aesthetically pleasing.
Edited by Charles Kloet
Android App 
RSS Feeds 
iPhone App 
Newsletters
User reviews1
Add your review
diesel13 28 May 2009
Good: Amazing Performance
Bad: Hard to find XP Drivers
Comment: GT 725 OWNER: Im delighted to see that my recently purchased laptop is on this review with stuff magazine. This is an amazing laptop. I was lucky enough to get the higher spec model noted as the 2.53 Core 2 Duo, funny enough though mine came with a 500 GIG Western Digital HD and not the 320 GIG Western Digital One. So the specs do vary considerably ( I reside in the UK) and got it from Micro Anvika who were according to MSI UK Sales the only reps for this unit in the UK.
XP Installation and Drivers: This is the tricky bit: It took me ages to find the drivers for this baby, but after bickering with MSI continually I finally managed to get one of the Tech Heads to e-mail me a link to beleive it or not a rapidshare based download of the certfied MSI XP HD 4850 drivers, the other ones ara a doddle as the drivers can be installed off of the Vista Restore Drivers CD, although not stated for the most part work, some however require googling, and some jsut require right clicking on Windows Drivers for a standard Update which it manages to find. ANOTHER IMPORTANT POINT: You will need to slip stream AHCI ICH9 drivers so as to be able to support SATA in XP using Nlite into the actual Windows XP installation and burn the modified CD with the newer drivers. If you dont do this the machine continually boots into a Blue Screen while trying to install XP :P "good one MSI". Oh and bizarrely enough the SD card reader cant read SDHC ( I have done all respective firmware updates as well).
All in all a Labour of LOVE and worth every hard earned Sterling. Please ask me anything you like about this baby and I will be happy to help.
THANK YOU
PS: Below is the XP ATI 4850 Drivers for MSI GT725, as for the installation of ICH9 you have to learn how to slip stream using NLITE.
http://rapidshare.com/files/196361266/8.56-081112a-072696C-MSI-xp-cert.zip
ENJOY
See all user reviews