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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated March 21, 2024·
If you prioritize gaming or performance-intensive tasks and don’t mind a larger, heavier laptop, the Acer Nitro 17 is a solid choice, especially if you’re also looking to save some money. On the other hand, if portability and a machine tailored for creative tasks such as video editing or design work is important, and you are willing to invest more, the MSI Creator M14 with its likely better color accuracy and lighter form might be the go-to, albeit at a higher price point and possibly less gaming performance. 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 Nitro 17
- Good battery life
- Very good speakers
Advantages of the MSI Creator M14
- Very good for general use
- Very good for engineering and design
- Very good for content creation
- Good portability
- Very good keyboard
Key differences
Engineering and Design
7.9
8.4
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
7.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Creator M14 is very good for engineering and design, while the Acer Nitro 17 is good.
The MSI Creator M14 typically offers a more powerful CPU and GPU, as well as better screen quality, which are crucial for demanding engineering and design software, giving it an edge over the Acer Nitro 17 in performance for these tasks. However, the Acer Nitro 17, while maybe slightly less powerful, usually balances performance with better portability, a quality keyboard, and lower operating noise, making it a more comfortable choice for extended use in varied environments.
Screen Quality
7.4
7.5
17.3in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
280.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
350.0 nits
The Acer Nitro 17 has a better screen than the MSI Creator M14 for gaming and AI, while the MSI Creator M14 has a better screen for general use, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, both the Acer Nitro 17 and MSI Creator M14 laptops have suitable resolution and brightness, offering clear visuals and vibrant displays that make everyday tasks pleasant. Engineers and designers will appreciate their wide color gamuts, helping ensure that the colors on screen match real-world hues for precise work. However, their lower refresh rates don't favor gaming and 3D applications, where smoother and more fluid motion is key for an immersive experience.
Battery
8.0 Hours
4.5 Hours
The Acer Nitro 17 has 8 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.
Portability
Poor
Good
17.3in
SIZE
14.0in
6.8 lbs
WEIGHT
3.5 lbs
1.1in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The MSI Creator M14 has good portability, while the Acer Nitro 17 has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$970
$1,500
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Acer Nitro 17 has a price of $970 and the MSI Creator M14 costs $1,500.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.8
8.0
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
280.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
350.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.5 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
5.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.8/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Creator M14 to be very good for general use, while the Acer Nitro 17 is good.
The Acer Nitro 17, with its large screen and solid CPU performance, is suitable for a range of tasks but isn't the most portable option and may have a shorter battery life, making it less ideal for on-the-go use. The MSI Creator M14, on the other hand, offers a balance between performance and portability with good screen quality and longer battery life, thus providing a more versatile solution for general use, especially for those who need to move around.
Gaming and AI
7.4
7.3
7.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.7/10
The Acer Nitro 17 and MSI Creator M14 are both good for gaming and AI.
The Acer Nitro 17 offers a strong GPU and high screen refresh rate, making it well-suited for immersive gaming and 3D applications where smooth visuals are key. The MSI Creator M14, while also having a robust GPU, focuses on screen quality in addition to refresh rate, catering to creators who need accurate colors and detail for design work alongside gaming performance.
Content Creation
7.8
8.0
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Creator M14 to be very good for content creation, while the Acer Nitro 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
7.4
7.8
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
16.0 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 Nitro 17 are both good for software development.
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.
Build Quality
7.4
7.8
The MSI Creator M14 and Acer Nitro 17 both have good 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 Nitro 17 and the MSI Creator M14 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Nitro 17 | MSI Creator M14 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$970 | $1,500 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | March 1, 2024 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 15.8'' x 11.6'' x 1.1'' | 12.4'' x 9.2'' x 0.88'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 6.83 lbs | 3.53 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 15.77" | 12.39" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 11.59" | 9.19" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS | Intel i7-13620H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 32 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 8 Hours | 4.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 90 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 | 165Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 280 nits | 350 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 5.6/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 6.8/10 | 7.8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 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 | 3 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Acer Nitro 17
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Mark Knapp | October 2023
"The Acer Nitro 17 isn't an exceptional gaming laptop; it's kind of chunky even among 17.3-inch notebooks, with a lackluster keyboard, and it doesn't outperform comparably priced machines. But there's a lot to like about it, including a good array of ports, a screen that's sharp and bright for work and play alike, and battery life that soundly beats the competition. All this comes at an affordable price. If size and weight aren't big concerns, you'll find the Nitro 17 a dependable big-screen gaming rig. If you crave higher quality, consider a slight step down or up in screen size with the Lenovo Legion Slim 5 Gen 8 or Alienware m18 respectively."
Get a great deal on the Acer Nitro 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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