Our review model, priced at $830 (as of September 27, 2011), came packed with a Core i5-2410M processor, 6GB of RAM, a 500GB Seagate hard drive (spinning at 7200 rpm), and an Nvidia GeForce GT 540M discrete graphics card with Optimus auto-switching technology. The X460DX also features built-in 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, stereo speakers, and a webcam. Our review model ran the 64-bit version of Windows 7 Home Premium.
The MSI X460DX managed a decent WorldBench 6 benchmark score of 120. Although that isn't the best WorldBench 6 score we've seen, especially in the X460DX's category of , it is a fairly high mark considering the price and weight of the machine. The , for instance, earned a WorldBench 6 score of 136, but it also costs about $3000. And the $1500 reached a mark of 134--but at 5.6 pounds, it's more than a pound heavier than the 4.3-pound X460DX.
Using its discrete GeForce GT 540M graphics card, the X460DX achieved okay scores in our graphics tests. In our Dirt 2 tests, the X460DX managed a respectable but not impressive frame rate of 40.1 frames per second (high quality settings, 1024-by-768-pixel resolution). Yes, it isn't even close to a gamer's dream portable (for that, check out the $2400 gaming laptop, which ran at 121 fps in the same test), but the X460DX is fine for high-def video streaming and nongaming graphical tasks. In addition, the X460DX's battery lasts for a reasonable amount of time, about 6 hours--unlike the EX-L 15, which lasts less than 3 hours.
The X460DX's black, brushed-aluminum cover is appealing, but unfortunately it attracts lots of fingerprints. The brushed-aluminum look carries over to the wristrest, though the remainder of the interior sports shiny plastic with faux-chrome accents. Aside from the power button, two buttons--one for quickly switching between battery settings, and one for configuring the Function keys--sit above the keyboard. The chassis feels pretty sturdy overall, despite the fact that the laptop is slim and light at just 1 inch thick and 4.3 pounds.
On the X460DX you'll find a nice selection of ports, including two USB 3.0 ports on the left edge. Alongside are HDMI- and VGA-out, an ethernet port, one USB 2.0 port, and headphone/microphone jacks. Multimedia ports include a two-in-one card reader, as well as a DVD burner. The ports are entirely located on the left and right sides of the computer--the X460DX has nothing in the front except for several blue status lights.