If you're looking for top performance in gaming, 3D, or engineering software, the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 is the superior option with its more powerful processor and high-end graphics card, but it's heavier and more expensive. For tasks like web browsing, office applications, and lighter gaming, the MSI GF63 Thin is more than capable and much more affordable. It's also lighter and thus easier to carry around, but it has less storage and a less powerful processor and graphics card. The ASUS has a larger and higher refresh rate screen, better for fast-paced games, while the MSI offers decent performance at a lower price point. 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 Scar 17
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
Very good overall build quality
Good battery life
Very good speakers
Excellent keyboard
Advantages of the MSI GF63 Thin
Good portability
Key differences
General Use
7.9/10
6.0/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
292.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
249.0 nits
7.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.2 Hours
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
5.8/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 is good for general use, while the MSI GF63 Thin is only fair.
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 offers superior performance with a stronger CPU and more RAM than the MSI GF63 Thin, making it better for demanding tasks, and its higher-quality screen enhances the viewing experience. However, the MSI GF63 Thin is lighter and thus more portable, and despite its lower performance, may suffice for users prioritizing ease of carrying and travel over raw power and display excellence.
Gaming and AI
8.4/10
6.0/10
8.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
360Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.0/10
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 is very good for gaming and AI, while the MSI GF63 Thin is only fair.
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 has a more powerful GPU and a higher screen refresh rate, making it well-suited for demanding gaming and 3D applications, offering smoother visuals and better performance. On the other hand, the MSI GF63 Thin, while still capable, has less graphical power and a lower refresh rate, leading to a fair experience that's more suitable for lighter gaming and less intensive 3D tasks.
Engineering and Design
8.6/10
6.0/10
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.3/10
8.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 is very good for engineering and design, while the MSI GF63 Thin is only fair.
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 outperforms the MSI GF63 Thin for engineering and design tasks due to a higher-end CPU and GPU, more RAM, and a superior screen quality, which all contribute to better handling of intensive computational and graphical demands. While the MSI GF63 Thin is lighter and more portable, its lower-tier CPU and GPU, less RAM, and less impressive screen capabilities make it less suited for demanding engineering and design applications.
Content Creation
8.2/10
6.0/10
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.3/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 is very good for content creation, while the MSI GF63 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
7.5/10
6.0/10
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 is good for software development, while the MSI GF63 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
8.1/10
6.1/10
17.3in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
360Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
292.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
249.0 nits
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 has a better screen than the MSI GF63 Thin for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17, with its superior resolution and brightness, enhances user experience for general tasks and provides crisp visuals for detailed engineering and design work thanks to wider color gamuts. On the other hand, for gaming and 3D rendering, its lower refresh rate could hinder the smoothness and responsiveness required for an optimal experience. The MSI GF63 Thin, while offering adequate resolution and acceptable brightness for everyday use and satisfactory color gamut for engineering tasks, also falls short for gaming and 3D purposes due to a less impressive refresh rate, which is crucial for fast-paced visuals.
Battery
7.0 Hours
4.2 Hours
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 has 7 hours of battery life. The MSI GF63 Thin has 4.3 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
6.3 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The MSI GF63 Thin has good portability, while the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5/10
6.5/10
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 has very good build quality, while the MSI GF63 Thin has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$2,499
$599
$0
$1,000
$2,000
$3,000
$4,000
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 has a price of $2,499 and the MSI GF63 Thin costs $599.
"Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 laptop review: liquid metal 7 nm AMD Zen 3 is stunning. The raw performance increase is absolutely bonkers if you're upgrading from a laptop on Coffee Lake-H or older. The 45 W Ryzen 9 5900HX is neck-to-neck with the thicker, heavier, and hotter Schenker Ultra 17 running on a desktop-class Core i9-11900K despite their wide TDP differences. The performance-per-watt advantages can make Intel Rocket Lake feel like a last generation platform at times. As for the chassis itself, it's a huge light show with RGB LEDs on almost all sides of the system."
"If you leave aside the meagre port selection (no card reader, no DisplayPort, no Thunderbolt 3 or USB 3.1 Gen2), the fan control that could be improved (idle mode!) and the relatively dark and slow display, the MSI GF63 Thin 9SC does not have any major weaknesses. The 15-inch gamer is compact, has a low weight and offers a good price-to-performance ratio, which should please gamers that are looking for both a portable and an affordable gaming notebook. Input devices, battery life, case quality and performance are all appropriate for this purchase price."
Get a great deal on the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 or the MSI GF63 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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