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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated March 21, 2024·
If you're looking for powerful performance for gaming or engineering software, the Acer Nitro may be worth the extra cost; however, if you prioritize portability and are mainly doing general use tasks or less demanding creative work, the MSI Creator's lighter design and lower price could be more appealing, even if it may not handle intensive tasks as smoothly. Keep in mind, a larger 17-inch laptop like the Acer is less convenient to carry than a smaller 14-inch one, and the higher performance may also affect battery life. 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 5 17
- Very good overall display quality
- Good battery life
Advantages of the MSI Creator M14
- Very good for general use
- Very good for content creation
- Good portability
- Very good keyboard
Key differences
Screen Quality
8.2
7.5
17.3in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
360Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
307.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
350.0 nits
The Acer Nitro 5 17 has a better screen than the MSI Creator M14 for general use, and gaming and AI, while the MSI Creator M14 has a better screen for content creation, and software development.
The Acer Nitro 5 17 and MSI Creator M14 both have screens with resolutions and brightness levels that meet the needs of everyday tasks, making them suitable for general use. They have color ranges that cater to engineering and design professionals, ensuring accurate color representation which is crucial for their work. However, both laptops have lower refresh rates, which is less than ideal for gaming and 3D applications that require smoother motion and quicker screen updates for an optimal experience.
Battery
6.0 Hours
4.5 Hours
The Acer Nitro 5 17 has 6 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
Fair
Good
17.3in
SIZE
14.0in
5.9 lbs
WEIGHT
3.5 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The MSI Creator M14 has good portability, while the Acer Nitro 5 17 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.2
7.8
The MSI Creator M14 and Acer Nitro 5 17 both have good build quality, though the MSI Creator M14 has somewhat better build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$830
$1,500
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Acer Nitro 5 17 has a price of $830 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
307.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
350.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.5 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
6.0/10
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 5 17 is good.
The Acer Nitro 5 17, with a powerful CPU and ample RAM, excels in handling everyday tasks and offers a large screen, although its size can compromise portability and it typically has a shorter battery life, making it less ideal for on-the-go use. In contrast, the MSI Creator M14, while also providing strong CPU performance and sufficient RAM, boasts a higher screen quality that's especially beneficial for visual tasks, and its more compact design enhances portability and usually comes with a longer battery life, appealing to users needing a balance between performance and mobility.
Gaming and AI
7.7
7.3
7.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
360Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.7/10
The Acer Nitro 5 17 and MSI Creator M14 are both good for gaming and AI.
The Acer Nitro 5 17, with its high GPU performance and fast screen refresh rate, excels in delivering smooth gaming and effective 3D rendering, which are crucial for those intensive tasks. Meanwhile, the MSI Creator M14 also offers capable GPU abilities and a quality display, but with a focus on content creation, its color accuracy and GPU finesse complement tasks like video editing and graphic design alongside gaming.
Engineering and Design
8.0
8.4
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
7.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Creator M14 and Acer Nitro 5 17 are both very good for engineering and design.
The Acer Nitro 5 17 and MSI Creator M14 both come equipped with powerful CPUs and GPUs, ample RAM, and high-quality screens, which are essential for running complex engineering software and ensuring precise design work. While the Acer has a larger screen for detailed work, the MSI trades some screen size for better portability and a quieter operation which may appeal to users who move around frequently.
Content Creation
7.8
8.0
7.4/10
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 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
7.4
7.8
7.4/10
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 5 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.
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How the Acer Nitro 5 17 and the MSI Creator M14 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Nitro 5 17 | MSI Creator M14 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$830 | $1,500 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | February 1, 2023 | March 1, 2024 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 15.9'' x 11'' x 0.98'' | 12.4'' x 9.2'' x 0.88'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.95 lbs | 3.53 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 15.89" | 12.39" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 11.02" | 9.19" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 5800H | Intel i7-13620H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 32 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6 Hours | 4.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 57.5 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 | 360Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 307 nits | 350 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.2/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.1/10 | 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 | 7.5/10 | 7.8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 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 | 1 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Acer Nitro 5 17
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Sascha Mölck | August 2021
"The Acer Nitro 5 17 is a solid mid-range gamer. The Nitro 5 does not belong to the top group of RTX 3070 notebooks: Compared with the RTX 3070 notebooks tested so far, the computer delivers below-average frame rates - this is due to the 100-watt TGP. The GPU performance can be increased a bit with a firmware update. The device scores with a high level of CPU performance. Throttling is not a concern. CPU and GPU can produce their performance constantly. The laptop heats up moderately under load. The noise development is on the usual class level."
Get a great deal on the Acer Nitro 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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