When choosing between the ASUS ROG Strix G17 and the MSI Thin GF63, consider how you’ll use the laptop. The ASUS ROG Strix G17 offers higher performance for gaming or demanding tasks but is less portable and more expensive. In contrast, the MSI Thin GF63 is more affordable, offers decent performance for general use or lighter engineering tasks, and is easier to carry around. If you prioritize gaming or intensive work and don’t mind the higher cost and weight, go for the ASUS. If you want something for everyday tasks, casual use, and easier portability at a lower price point, the MSI might be the better fit. 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
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for gaming and AI
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 Thin GF63
Good portability
Key differences
General Use
7.9/10
7.4/10
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 and MSI Thin GF63 are both good for general use, though the ASUS ROG Strix G17 is somewhat better.
The ASUS ROG Strix G17 and MSI Thin GF63 are suitable for general use due to their capable processors and ample RAM, which ensure smooth operation for common tasks. The Strix G17 stands out with a larger, higher-resolution and brighter screen, superior color coverage, and a better battery life, albeit at the cost of greater weight and lower portability, while the Thin GF63 offers a more compact and lighter design with satisfactory screen quality, making it easier to carry around.
Gaming and AI
8.4/10
6.9/10
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
5.6/10
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
8.0/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G17 is very good for gaming and AI, while the MSI Thin GF63 is only fair.
The ASUS ROG Strix G17 boasts a more powerful Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU and a faster 240 Hz screen refresh rate for smoother gaming and more detailed 3D work, while the MSI Thin GF63 features a Nvidia RTX 4050 GPU and a 144 Hz refresh rate offering solid performance for gamers and creators looking for a more portable and budget-friendly option.
Engineering and Design
8.8/10
7.5/10
9.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
5.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS ROG Strix G17 is very good for engineering and design, while the MSI Thin GF63 is good.
The ASUS ROG Strix G17 stands out for engineering and design uses with a high-performance CPU and GPU, ample RAM, and superior screen quality, benefiting tasks that demand intense computation and high-resolution graphics; although its size and weight compromise portability. Conversely, the MSI Thin GF63, while offering decent performance capabilities, falls short in screen resolution and size, and it trades off some GPU performance and screen quality for better portability and a lighter form factor, making it convenient for on-the-go use but less ideal for the most demanding engineering tasks.
Content Creation
8.3/10
7.4/10
9.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS ROG Strix G17 is very good for content creation, while the MSI Thin GF63 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.
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 Thin GF63 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
If you prioritize a vibrant and sharp display for your daily tasks and professional design work, the ASUS ROG Strix G17's high-resolution screen with broad color coverage ensures crisp and accurate visuals. However, for immersive gaming and 3D experiences, its slower refresh rate might make fast-paced action less smooth compared to screens optimized for those purposes. On the other hand, the MSI Thin GF63 offers adequate display quality for casual use and non-demanding design tasks, but its color range and refresh rate may not satisfy those seeking high fidelity in visuals for professional editing or fluidity in gaming.
Battery
3.0 Hours
4.5 Hours
The ASUS ROG Strix G17 has 3 hours of battery life. The MSI Thin GF63 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 Thin GF63 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
6.5/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G17 has good build quality, while the MSI Thin GF63 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
The ASUS ROG Strix G17 and MSI Thin GF63 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.
Cost
$1,391
$1,400
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The ASUS ROG Strix G17 has a price of $1,391 and the MSI Thin GF63 costs $1,400.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the ASUS ROG Strix G17 and the MSI Thin GF63 compare to other laptops
"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 GF63 Thin 11SC can be an admirable value for gamers and power users on a minimal budget. For just $599 as reviewed in its base model, its Intel Core i5 H-class processor and Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 graphics perform much better than low-wattage CPUs and integrated graphics. That said, this is a light-class gaming laptop. Low scores in our demanding gaming benchmarks indicate using lower visual-quality settings will be required for playable performance."
Get a great deal on the ASUS ROG Strix G17 or the MSI Thin GF63
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.
By the numbers
380
Laptops evaluated
48,640
Laptops stats compiled
13
Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
101,595
Recommendations made
22,013
Consumer hours saved
About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Craig Russell
Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.