If portability is essential, the MSI Raider GE66 is lighter and slightly easier to carry than the ASUS ROG Strix G18, but the ASUS has a marginally better battery life. For engineering, 3D rendering, or machine learning tasks, the ASUS stands out due to a more powerful CPU and GPU. However, the MSI offers double the memory, which could be a significant advantage for multitasking and complex workloads. If gaming is a priority, both are suitable, with the ASUS potentially providing a slight edge in performance. Despite these differences, both are priced similarly, so choosing between them requires weighing specific needs such as performance for heavy tasks against portability and memory capacity. 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 G18
Best in class speakers
Advantages of the MSI Raider GE66
Very good overall build quality
Excellent keyboard
Key differences
Screen Quality
8.7/10
8.4/10
18.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
422.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
300.0 nits
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 has a better screen than the MSI Raider GE66 for general use, gaming and AI, and content creation.
If you're focused on general use, including web browsing, productivity tasks, and media consumption, both the ASUS ROG Strix G18 and the MSI Raider GE66 come with panels that offer pleasing resolution and brightness levels that enhance visibility and clarity. For engineering and design professionals who need accurate color representation for their work, these laptops deliver with their wide color gamuts, crucial for tasks like photo editing or CAD work. However, gamers and 3D artists who require smooth motion and high frame rates might find the lower refresh rates on these screens less ideal, as they can result in less fluid on-screen movement.
Battery
8.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 has 8 hours of battery life. The MSI Raider GE66 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.
Portability
Poor
Fair
18.0in
SIZE
15.6in
6.6 lbs
WEIGHT
5.2 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The MSI Raider GE66 has only fair portability, while the ASUS ROG Strix G18 has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.8/10
8.5/10
The MSI Raider GE66 has very good build quality, while the ASUS ROG Strix G18 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,900
$2,499
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 has a price of $1,900 and the MSI Raider GE66 costs $2,499.
The MSI Raider GE66 and ASUS ROG Strix G18 are both very good for general use.
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 stands out for general use due to its high-end CPU, abundant RAM, and superior screen quality, but it's less portable and has a shorter battery life. On the other hand, the MSI Raider GE66, while also having a strong CPU and excellent screen quality, offers more RAM for multitasking and slightly more portability with a longer battery life, but it's been on the market for a longer time compared to the ASUS.
Gaming and AI
8.7/10
8.5/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.8/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.2/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.2/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 and MSI Raider GE66 are both very good for gaming and AI.
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 is equipped with a powerful Nvidia RTX 4070 GPU and a high screen refresh rate of 240 Hz, making it excellent for gaming and 3D applications; meanwhile, the MSI Raider GE66 also provides a seamless gaming experience with its Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti GPU and an identical refresh rate, though it differs in CPU performance and screen size.
Engineering and Design
8.9/10
8.9/10
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 and MSI Raider GE66 are both very good for engineering and design.
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 is equipped with a high-end CPU and a powerful GPU, which makes it suitable for demanding engineering tasks and design work, although its larger screen and heavier weight compromise its portability compared to smaller laptops. On the other hand, the MSI Raider GE66, while also boasting a robust CPU and high-quality GPU, offers twice as much RAM for multitasking and has a higher portability due to its smaller size and lighter build, but it may have a slightly lower screen resolution and smaller display than the ASUS model.
Content Creation
8.6/10
8.3/10
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 and MSI Raider GE66 are both very good for content creation.
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
8.1/10
8.0/10
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 and MSI Raider GE66 are both very 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 ASUS ROG Strix G18 and the MSI Raider GE66 compare to other laptops
"With the ROG Strix G18, Asus has made an almost consistently good debut in the still quite new 18-inch laptop segment. The base unit case shows a few signs of weakness in the area of stability and is something which has an effect on the perceived quality of the input devices (the chassis tends to rattle a bit). Nevertheless, thanks to generous port features (incl. Thunderbolt 4), a striking design, and extensive lighting (keyboard, LED strip on the front), gamers get a fitting gaming platform."
"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 ASUS ROG Strix G18 or the MSI Raider GE66
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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