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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Acer Predator Helios 300 is often significantly less expensive than the MSI GE66 Raider and offers good performance for gaming and general use, making it a more budget-friendly choice with ample capability for many users. However, the MSI GE66 Raider has a noticeably higher price tag and is equipped with a more powerful processor, higher capacity storage, double the RAM, and a higher-tier GPU, making it better suited for intensive 3D rendering, machine learning, and engineering tasks. It also boasts superior build quality, better heat management, and a more vibrant and sharper display, but its portability is similar to the Acer. If your budget allows and you need top-tier performance and features, including an excellent screen for engineering and gaming, the MSI is an outstanding choice. However, for everyday use and less demanding gaming at a more moderate price, the Acer offers good value and 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 Predator Helios 300
- The Acer Predator Helios 300 has no clear advantages over the MSI GE66 Raider.
Advantages of the MSI GE66 Raider
- Very good for general use
- Excellent for engineering and design
- Very good for gaming and AI
- Very good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Very good overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
- Good battery life
- Excellent keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.4
8.4
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
294.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
347.0 nits
3.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
6.9/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.8/10
The MSI GE66 Raider is very good for general use, while the Acer Predator Helios 300 is good.
The MSI GE66 Raider is rated higher for general use than the Acer Predator Helios 300 because it has double the storage, twice the RAM for smoother multitasking, a more powerful main processor, and superior screen resolution, which enhances the visual experience. Despite these advantages, the Raider costs more, is very similar in portability and both have a gaming laptop appearance which might not suit all tastes.
Gaming and AI
7.2
8.6
6.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.2/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.2/10
The MSI GE66 Raider is very good for gaming and AI, while the Acer Predator Helios 300 is good.
The MSI GE66 Raider, with its more powerful Nvidia RTX 3080 Ti graphics card, outperforms the Acer Predator Helios 300 which has a Nvidia RTX 3060, making it excellent for gaming and 3D applications where GPU strength is very important. Moreover, despite a lower screen refresh rate than the Acer, the MSI's superior screen resolution and color accuracy enhance visual clarity and quality, which are somewhat important factors for gaming and 3D experiences.
Engineering and Design
7.6
9.1
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.4/10
6.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI GE66 Raider is excellent for engineering and design, while the Acer Predator Helios 300 is good.
The MSI GE66 Raider excels in engineering and design due to its superior Intel i9 processor, double the RAM, and a more powerful Nvidia RTX 3080 Ti GPU compared to the Acer Predator Helios 300's Intel i7 processor, less RAM, and Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU. Furthermore, the GE66 Raider boasts a higher resolution screen for finer detail, though it may be slightly less portable and louder under load than the Helios 300.
Content Creation
7.3
8.4
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.4/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI GE66 Raider is very good for content creation, while the Acer Predator Helios 300 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
7.1
8.4
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The MSI GE66 Raider is very good for software development, while the Acer Predator Helios 300 is good.
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
7.3
8.2
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
294.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
347.0 nits
The MSI GE66 Raider has a better screen than the Acer Predator Helios 300 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Acer Predator Helios 300 and MSI GE66 Raider both offer displays with sufficient resolution and brightness that enhance visual clarity and detail, making them suitable for general use tasks that typically don't demand extremely high color accuracy or refresh rates. However, for engineering and design fields, where color precision is crucial, these laptops provide screens that cover a wider range of colors, matching or exceeding the standard color gamuts used in professional environments, but they don't stand out for Gaming and 3D because they lack the high refresh rate needed to render fast-moving images smoothly. As a result, these laptops excel in applications where vibrant, consistent color representation is key but fall short for hardcore gaming or 3D work, where the fluidity of motion is a priority.
Battery
3.5 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Acer Predator Helios 300 has 3.5 hours of battery life. The MSI GE66 Raider has 6 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
7.4
8.5
The MSI GE66 Raider has very good build quality, while the Acer Predator Helios 300 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,204
$3,199
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The Acer Predator Helios 300 has a price of $1,204 and the MSI GE66 Raider costs $3,199.
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Key similarities
Portability
Fair
Fair
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
5.5 lbs
WEIGHT
5.2 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Acer Predator Helios 300 and MSI GE66 Raider both have only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the Acer Predator Helios 300 and the MSI GE66 Raider compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Predator Helios 300 | MSI GE66 Raider |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,204 | $3,199 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2021 | January 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.3'' x 10'' x 0.9'' | 14.1'' x 10.5'' x 0.92'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.51 lbs | 5.25 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.3" | 14.09" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10" | 10.51" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-11800H | Intel i9-12900HK | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 32 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 3.5 Hours | 6 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 59 Wh | 99 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 3840 x 2160 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 144Hz | 120Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 294 nits | 347 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.9/10 | 6.9/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 6.3/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 9/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 1080p | |
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 | 3 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 4 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | 4 | |
Shopping
Acer Predator Helios 300
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Christian Hintze | November 2022
"The Acer Predator Helios 300 review is an overclocked gaming laptop with a good display. The Predator is large, heavy, and loud, but also offers plenty of performance according to gamers. An overclocked gaming laptop - or its user - also has to struggle with the usual disadvantages we mentioned above. On the other hand, overclocking is optional, and those who like it quieter and can live with a few less frames per second can also switch to the significantly more moderate Standard mode. Then the Helios 300 won't be any louder than the competitors."
MSI GE66 Raider
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Patrick Schüdzig | June 2022
"The MSI Raider GE66 12UHS notebook passes with flying colors. The GE66 is a high-end notebook with strong performance. The keyboard and trackpad are still very good and score well with precise inputs as well as high build quality. Thanks to a new liquid metal cooling solution, the Intel Core i9 12900HK brings a performance increase of around 50 percent over the predecessor's Intel Core i9 10980HK. The installed graphics card in our device delivers up to 30 percent higher frame rates than the RTX 2070 Super in the MSI GE66 10SFS."
Get a great deal on the Acer Predator Helios 300 or the MSI GE66 Raider
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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