When considering the ASUS ROG Strix G17 and the MSI GF65 Thin, the ASUS offers more robust performance with a stronger processor and better graphics capabilities, which makes it well-suited for intensive engineering tasks, 3D rendering or gaming. It also has a larger screen with higher resolution and refresh rate, but these features contribute to it being larger and heavier, reducing portability. On the other hand, the MSI is more portable due to its smaller size and lighter weight, making it easier to carry around. However, it has less storage, less powerful processing and graphics, and a shorter battery life, which may limit its suitability for more demanding tasks. If you require a machine for general use and prioritize portability and cost, the MSI might serve you well, whereas if you need heightened performance for demanding applications and can accommodate a less portable device, the ASUS could be the better choice. 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 ASUS ROG Strix G17
Good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for gaming and AI
Good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Good overall build quality
Best in class speakers
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI GF65 Thin
Good portability
Key differences
General Use
7.9/10
6.5/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
320.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
3.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.5 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
5.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G17 is good for general use, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.
The ASUS ROG Strix G17 offers a more powerful CPU and double the RAM capacity, leading to smoother performance in demanding tasks and multitasking, while also providing a higher resolution and larger screen for better viewing experiences; however, its heavier weight and larger size compromise portability and it has a shorter battery life compared to the MSI GF65 Thin. On the other hand, despite its smaller and more portable form factor, along with longer battery life, the MSI GF65 Thin is equipped with a less powerful CPU and lesser RAM which may affect performance, and its lower resolution display impacts screen quality for general use.
Gaming and AI
8.4/10
6.8/10
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.1/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.2/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G17 is very good for gaming and AI, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Engineering and Design
8.8/10
6.7/10
9.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The ASUS ROG Strix G17 is very good for engineering and design, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.
The ASUS ROG Strix G17 is better for engineering and design due to its superior AMD processor and a more powerful Nvidia GPU, along with more RAM, which aid in more complex tasks and visual computations. Although the MSI GF65 Thin is more portable and has a competent Intel CPU and Nvidia GPU, the screen and overall power don't match the ASUS, making it suitable for less demanding engineering and design applications.
Content Creation
8.3/10
6.8/10
9.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS ROG Strix G17 is very 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.
Software Development
7.7/10
6.3/10
9.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G17 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
8.4/10
6.8/10
17.3in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
320.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
The ASUS ROG Strix G17 has a better screen than the MSI GF65 Thin for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The ASUS ROG Strix G17 offers a sharp, bright display with good color accuracy, making it suitable for general use and detailed engineering tasks, but its relatively lower refresh rate detracts from the immersive experience desired in gaming and 3D applications. The MSI GF65 Thin provides an adequate display for everyday tasks and some level of engineering work without the vibrancy and precision of higher-end displays, yet this too falls short for gaming due to its limited refresh rate. Both laptops' screens lack the high refresh rates that ensure smooth motion in fast-paced games and 3D rendering, which is especially critical for those applications.
Battery
3.0 Hours
4.5 Hours
The ASUS ROG Strix G17 has 3 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.
Portability
Poor
Good
17.3in
SIZE
15.6in
6.1 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
1.2in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The MSI GF65 Thin has good portability, while the ASUS ROG Strix G17 has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.8/10
6.7/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G17 has good build quality, while the MSI GF65 Thin has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,391
$1,100
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The ASUS ROG Strix G17 has a price of $1,391 and the MSI GF65 Thin costs $1,100.
"The Asus ROG Strix G17 is an attractive but unbalanced gaming laptop. Its potent AMD Ryzen 9 processor excels in 1080p gaming, but playing at 1440p leaves the middling GeForce RTX 4060 GPU shouldering most of the burden. The display is exceptionally colorful, which is handy for content creators, but since this is a gaming laptop it would be better served with improved HDR capabilities. If battery life isn't a priority, the Strix G17 could serve as a designer by day and a gamer by night."
"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 ASUS ROG Strix G17 or the MSI GF65 Thin
About ASUS
ASUS, a Taiwanese electronics brand, is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. The majority of their laptops are targeted towards personal use or gaming. Their most popular product lines include the budget-friendly VivoBook, more premium ZenBook, and their TUF and ROG gaming laptops, the latter of which has a reputation for excellent gaming performance.
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.
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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