You can tweak audio settings catered to games, movies and music through the included Sound Blaster Cinema software. While guitar licks sounded full, we didn't notice much bass. Without headphones, sound came through clearly and crisply, but didn't get too loud. The Audio Boost technology delivers subtle details that typically get lost in the background, such as backup vocals. When streaming "No One Knows" by Queens of the Stone Age, we noticed a deep, immersive sound with thumping bass and grungy guitar riffs. MSI brags that this tech enhances sound output to your headset by 30 percent, thanks to its integrated audio amplifier chip and gold flash audio jack. Windows 8 UltrabooksĬlick to EnlargeThe speakers MSI built in to the GE40 2OC-009US deliver boisterous and crisp sound, enhanced by Audio Boost technology. Still, the MSI is brighter than the 161 lux display you'll find on the Alienware 14. The panel registered 204 lux on our light meter, which is below the mainstream notebook 245 lux category average.
While the display renders colors well, it's not the brightest. When exploring the airborne city of Columbia in "Bioshock Infinite," we appreciated the lively blues and whites of the sky balanced against the more neutral and earthy tones of city buildings. Brighter outdoor scenes looked a little whitewashed, but colors were generally accurate.
In terms of gaming, the MSI GE40's 14-inch display fared better in scenes with high contrast.
The anti-glare panel offered wide horizontal viewing angles, but the screen looks washed out unless you push it back a fair amount. When watching the trailer for "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire," Jennifer Lawrence's crystal- blue eyes and facial details looked crisp and realistic.
Click to EnlargeThe MSI GE40 2OC-009US' 14-inch 1600 x 900 matte LCD display illustrated vibrant, deep colors and rich skin tones.