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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Acer Aspire 5 17 is a better fit if you're looking for a laptop with a larger screen, longer battery life, and a more affordable price, making it suitable for general use. However, the MSI GF65 Thin, while slightly less portable due to its shorter battery life, offers superior graphics and performance for 3D rendering, machine learning, and gaming thanks to its dedicated Nvidia GPU. The MSI is also more apt for engineering applications, whereas the Acer leans towards everyday tasks. Choose the MSI for performance-heavy needs or the Acer for cost-effective, broader use. 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 for general use
- Good for software development
- Good for content creation
- Good battery life
Advantages of the MSI GF65 Thin
- The MSI GF65 Thin has no clear advantages over the Acer Aspire 5 17.
Key differences
General Use
7.3
6.5
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
266.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
7.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.5 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The Acer Aspire 5 17 is good for general use, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.
The Acer Aspire 5 17, with its larger screen and ample RAM, offers an enjoyable user experience for everyday tasks, while also being easier on the eyes due to its superior screen quality; however, its size can make it less portable, and battery life might be shorter than smaller laptops. Conversely, the MSI GF65 Thin, while capable of handling more demanding applications thanks to a robust CPU, sacrifices some screen real estate and battery efficiency, which may not be ideal for prolonged general use but could benefit users needing extra computing power on the go.
Gaming and AI
6.2
6.8
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.1/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The MSI GF65 Thin and Acer Aspire 5 17 are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the MSI GF65 Thin is somewhat better.
The Acer Aspire 5 17 features an integrated Intel GPU and a standard 60Hz screen refresh rate, which limits its gaming and 3D capabilities when compared to dedicated graphics options and higher refresh rates. On the other hand, the MSI GF65 Thin includes a more powerful Nvidia RTX GPU and a 144Hz screen refresh rate, enhancing its performance for gaming and 3D applications, despite both laptops having similar CPU and screen quality considerations.
Software Development
7.2
6.3
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Acer Aspire 5 17 is good for software development, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.
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
6.8
17.3in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
266.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
The Acer Aspire 5 17 has a better screen than the MSI GF65 Thin for software development, and content creation, while the MSI GF65 Thin has a better screen for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
For general use, both the Acer Aspire 5 17 and MSI GF65 Thin offer screens that are adequate in resolution and brightness, but may not have the most advanced panel types for exceptional clarity or viewing angles. When tackling engineering and design tasks, while the resolution might be suitable, their screens lack wide color gamuts, making them less ideal for color-critical work. In the realm of gaming and 3D environments, although the size and resolution are serviceable, their lower refresh rates can hamper the smoothness of fast-paced visuals that games and interactive 3D applications typically demand.
Battery
7.0 Hours
4.5 Hours
The Acer Aspire 5 17 has 7 hours of battery life. The MSI GF65 Thin 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.
Cost
$700
$1,100
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Acer Aspire 5 17 has a price of $700 and the MSI GF65 Thin costs $1,100.
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Key similarities
Engineering and Design
6.7
6.7
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.1/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The MSI GF65 Thin and Acer Aspire 5 17 are both only fair for engineering and design.
The Acer Aspire 5 17 is rated as fair for engineering and design use due to its adequate CPU and GPU, which can handle some demanding tasks but might struggle with more intensive applications commonly used in these fields. Meanwhile, the MSI GF65 Thin is rated as good as it has a more robust CPU and a superior dedicated GPU, better suited for the graphically-intensive software used in engineering and design, but it is less portable due to its gaming-oriented design.
Content Creation
7.2
6.8
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Acer Aspire 5 17 to be good for content creation, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.
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.
Portability
Good
Good
17.3in
SIZE
15.6in
4.6 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The MSI GF65 Thin and Acer Aspire 5 17 both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.5
6.7
The MSI GF65 Thin and Acer Aspire 5 17 both have only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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How the Acer Aspire 5 17 and the MSI GF65 Thin compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Aspire 5 17 | MSI GF65 Thin |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$700 | $1,100 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | April 1, 2023 | January 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 15.8'' x 10.1'' x 0.71'' | 14.1'' x 10'' x 0.85'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.61 lbs | 4.1 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 15.83" | 14.13" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.1" | 9.99" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-1335U | Intel i5-10500H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 7 Hours | 4.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 50.3 Wh | 51 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 17.3" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 266 nits | 262 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.3/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 6.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
Shopping
Acer Aspire 5 17
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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."
MSI GF65 Thin
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NotebookCheck
Allen Ngo | March 2021
"The MSI GF65 Thin offers a GeForce RTX 3060 on a budget. The MSI GF65 is a relatively inexpensive RTX 3060 laptop and, perhaps not coincidentally, it also comes with a slower-than-average RTX 3060 GPU. Other laptops we've tested thus far with the same GPU are about 10 to 15 percent faster. CPU performance is also slightly slower than average unless if users decide to enable Cooler Boost mode. Colors, black-white response times, Thunderbolt, and DisplayPort are either average or completely omitted. Gamers who want to maximize performance-per-dollar without sacrificing RAM or SSD upgradeability will find the lightweight MSI GF65 attractive."
Get a great deal on the Acer Aspire 5 17 or the MSI GF65 Thin
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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