The MSI GL62 6QF-628 is a good entry to mid-range gaming notebooks. It offers good performance not only in regards to its processor, which is a proper quad-core, but the graphics card. Gaming at the native resolution of 1920x1080 with maxed out settings is only just barely out of reach for this notebook. Drop a few graphics settings down a notch and most games will become completely fluid. So, if you need a workhorse laptop with the option to take a break and do some gaming, it fits the bill nicely. Its SteelSeries keyboard is definitely a step above the typical chiclet style keyboards used in most laptops, while the touchpad feels alright.

When it comes to features, MSI's "Cooler Boost" function should prove useful to those in hotter climates as it ramps up the dual-fan cooler, which drops temperatures significantly. With Cooler Boost off, the unit is fairly quiet under typical loads. When it comes to bloatware, MSI does fairly well. Some bundled software is installed, but most of it is actually useful, offering monitoring capabilities, OS recovery image creation upon first boot, software audio enhancement, etc. Overall, there is a great deal to like about the MSI GL62 6QF-628.

A few issues do standout. The biggest is the lack of access hatches for the HDD, RAM, and battery. Worse yet, gaining access to those components voids the warranty. I expect there to be readily available access points for user-changeable components on a notebook that has an MSRP of $899.99. While the frame feels solid overall, the screen bezel has a good amount of flex to it, which is a bit concerning, but no deal breaker. Finally, battery life isn't awful as it lasts almost 4 hours while running a looped DVD of Ted. However, once you start doing some heavy gaming, you can expect battery life to plummet to about an hour or less.

While I myself feel that the battery could last longer, it's no deal breaker for a gaming notebook. Not to mention that if you are doing some word processing or simple web browsing, you can definitely get close to 4 hours or possibly more by tweaking various power settings. Gaming performance was a bright spot as far as I am concerned; drop a setting or two and reduce the resolution and you can easily play most AAA titles with their settings at High. The MSI GL62 6QF is essentially the equivalent of an older Core i5 paired with a GTX 750 Ti, which, again, is more than enough as long as one doesn't expect maxed out settings and 1080p with anti-aliasing and the works. It really is just a damn good all-round notebook.

The MSI GL62 6QF-628 is a compelling option if you need a workhorse of a notebook that still lets you game.