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Updated March 21, 2024·
If you're on a budget and mostly handle everyday tasks like browsing the web and working with office applications, the Acer Aspire 5 17 could serve you well and save you money. However, if your work involves more demanding activities such as 3D rendering, video editing, or using engineering software, the MSI Creator M14 offers better performance, which may justify the higher cost. Keep in mind that the MSI model will also be more portable due to its smaller size compared to the larger screen of the Acer, but this could mean shorter battery life and a premium on price. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Acer Aspire 5 17
- Good battery life
Advantages of the MSI Creator M14
- Very good for general use
- Very good for engineering and design
- Good for gaming and AI
- Very good for content creation
- Good overall display quality
- Good overall build quality
- Good speakers
- Very good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.3
8.0
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
266.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
350.0 nits
7.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.5 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
7.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.8/10
The MSI Creator M14 is very good for general use, while the Acer Aspire 5 17 is good.
The Acer Aspire 5 17 offers a larger screen and decent processing power which is suitable for everyday tasks, but its size makes it less portable and it may have a shorter battery life. The MSI Creator M14, while also providing competent performance for general use, typically features a high-quality screen and longer battery life, in a more portable design, catering to users needing mobility without significantly compromising on performance.
Gaming and AI
6.2
7.3
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.7/10
The MSI Creator M14 is good for gaming and AI, while the Acer Aspire 5 17 is only fair.
The Acer Aspire 5 17, while offering a decent GPU for moderate gaming, may have a lower screen refresh rate which isn't as smooth for fast-paced games compared to the MSI Creator M14, which not only has a stronger GPU that handles gaming better but also likely offers a higher refresh rate for a more fluid visual experience. The MSI's superior CPU and screen quality also contribute to better overall performance and display clarity, which enhances gaming and 3D tasks.
Engineering and Design
6.7
8.4
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.5/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Creator M14 is very good for engineering and design, while the Acer Aspire 5 17 is only fair.
The MSI Creator M14, with its superior CPU, RAM, and GPU, offers enhanced performance for demanding engineering and software design tasks, alongside a higher quality screen for better visual clarity. While the Acer Aspire 5 17 might be more budget-friendly and offer decent performance for less intensive use, it falls short in raw power and display fidelity compared to the MSI, and it may be bulkier to carry around.
Content Creation
7.2
8.0
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Creator M14 is very good for content creation, while the Acer Aspire 5 17 is good.
PerfectRec’s Content Creation Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for photo editing, video editing and other content creation tasks.
Software Development
7.2
7.8
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The MSI Creator M14 and Acer Aspire 5 17 are both good for software development, though the MSI Creator M14 is somewhat better.
PerfectRec’s Software Development Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for software developers.
Screen Quality
6.2
7.5
17.3in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
266.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
350.0 nits
The MSI Creator M14 has a better screen than the Acer Aspire 5 17 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Acer Aspire 5 17, with fair screen quality across the board, provides a balance suitable for everyday tasks and productivity in applications like engineering, due to acceptable resolution and brightness but may fall short for color-critical work given limited color gamut coverage. The MSI Creator M14, offering good screen quality, appeals more to professionals in fields like engineering and design where color accuracy and wider color gamut coverage align with the demands of precision work, but like the Acer, it's not ideal for gaming and 3D applications due to a lower refresh rate that can hinder fast-paced visuals. Gamers and 3D designers should seek screens with high refresh rates to avoid motion blur and ensure smooth rendering of rapid movements.
Battery
7.0 Hours
4.5 Hours
The Acer Aspire 5 17 has 7 hours of battery life. The MSI Creator M14 has 4.5 hours of battery life.
Battery life estimate is based on a mix of common use patterns. More portable and higher performing laptops tend to have less battery life.
Build Quality
6.5
7.8
The MSI Creator M14 has good build quality, while the Acer Aspire 5 17 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$700
$1,500
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Acer Aspire 5 17 has a price of $700 and the MSI Creator M14 costs $1,500.
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Key similarities
Portability
Good
Good
17.3in
SIZE
14.0in
4.6 lbs
WEIGHT
3.5 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The MSI Creator M14 and Acer Aspire 5 17 both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Acer Aspire 5 17 and the MSI Creator M14 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Aspire 5 17 | MSI Creator M14 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$700 | $1,500 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | April 1, 2023 | March 1, 2024 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 15.8'' x 10.1'' x 0.71'' | 12.4'' x 9.2'' x 0.88'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.61 lbs | 3.53 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 15.83" | 12.39" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.1" | 9.19" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-1335U | Intel i7-13620H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 32 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 7 Hours | 4.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 50.3 Wh | 53.5 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 17.3" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 2880 x 1800 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 266 nits | 350 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.3/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 7.8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
Shopping
Acer Aspire 5 17
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Marcus Schwarten | March 2021
"The Acer Aspire 5 17 laptop shows the expected strengths in the test. Besides the usual high build quality, the configuration convinces in most benchmarks and tests. The combination of CPU, GPU, and RAM is absolutely sufficient for the everyday office and browsing tasks of a laptop. It also renders the odd game passably if the requirements aren't too high. We liked the matte display in the test as well as the fairly manageable dimensions despite the screen size. It can also be used outdoors, even if it's certainly not a laptop designed for mobility."
Get a great deal on the Acer Aspire 5 17 or the MSI Creator M14
About Acer
Acer is a prominent Taiwanese electronics brand which makes a wide range of laptops, with multiple product lines catering to personal use, gaming, and business use. They are renowned for having exceptional value for money, as they frequently offer good specifications at a lower price than other manufacturers.
About MSI
MSI, also known as Micro-Star International, is a Taiwanese technology corporation. MSI is known for their wide range of gaming devices. Their series include the entry-level Cyborg/Thin and Sword/Katana series, the mid-range Bravo/Delta and Crosshair/Pulse series, and their high-end Vector, Raider, Stealth, and Titan GT series. At every performance level, MSI offers a variety of devices with varying balances between performance, battery life, weight, and price, making them a solid option to consider at every price point.
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This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec laptops team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest laptop information and makes it digestible for you.
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