The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 offers high refresh rates for gaming and general performance, suitable for intensive tasks. However, its battery life is shorter and it's less portable than the MSI Stealth GS77, which has a higher-resolution display, additional RAM for better multitasking and engineering tasks, and a slightly better battery life. While both have similar high-end processors and graphics cards, the MSI provides a more premium experience with Windows 11 Pro, a slimmer design, and a slightly lighter weight, which could suit professionals seeking a balance between performance and portability. Both are at a premium price point and have similar storage 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 Scar 17
Very good for gaming and AI
Excellent keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Stealth GS77
Very good for general use
Very good for software development
Key differences
Software Development
7.5/10
8.1/10
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The MSI Stealth GS77 is very good for software development, while the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 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
8.1/10
8.3/10
17.3in
SIZE
17.3in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
360Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
292.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
305.0 nits
The MSI Stealth GS77 has a better screen than the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 for general use, engineering and design, and content creation.
Considering your request, the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 may provide a balance between resolution and brightness, making it suitable for everyday tasks, with colors that are satisfactory for engineering and design work, but lack the high refresh rate crucial for a smooth gaming and 3D animation experience. The MSI Stealth GS77 likely boasts better color accuracy and range to meet the precision needed for professional engineering and design, along with superior brightness and resolution for an overall sharp and clear display during regular use, but, similarly to the ASUS, it may fall short in delivering the high refresh rates gamers desire for fluid motion. For gaming and 3D, you'll want a laptop with a much higher refresh rate which neither of these models provides.
Portability
Poor
Fair
17.3in
SIZE
17.3in
6.3 lbs
WEIGHT
6.1 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The MSI Stealth GS77 has only fair portability, while the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Stealth GS77 to be very good for general use, while the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 is good.
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 is favored for general use due to its top-tier processor and high screen refresh rate, which promise smooth multitasking and fluid visuals, but it has less RAM and lower screen resolution compared to the MSI. On the other hand, the MSI Stealth GS77, while also having a robust processor, offers more RAM, better screen resolution, and a slightly better battery life, enhancing work and entertainment experiences, although it may not be as portable as the ASUS due to its larger size and weight.
Gaming and AI
8.4/10
7.9/10
8.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
360Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 to be very good for gaming and AI, while the MSI Stealth GS77 is good.
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 is highly regarded for gaming and 3D due to its top-tier Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti GPU paired with an exceedingly high screen refresh rate, ensuring smooth, responsive gameplay. The MSI Stealth GS77 also excels in these areas, with the same GPU for excellent graphics performance and a higher screen quality, although its refresh rate is a step below the ASUS.
Engineering and Design
8.6/10
8.7/10
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
8.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Stealth GS77 and ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 are both very good for engineering and design.
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 with its high-end CPU and GPU is well-suited for demanding engineering and design software, but has a lower resolution and slightly less RAM than the MSI Stealth GS77, which offers a balance of powerful components and a high-quality display crucial for detailed designs. While both laptops have ample storage and screens with good color accuracy, the MSI might edge out in screen quality, but remember the ASUS could win in raw performance due to its superior CPU; both are relatively low in portability given their sizes and weights.
Content Creation
8.2/10
8.3/10
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Stealth GS77 and ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 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.
Battery
7.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 has 7 hours of battery life. The MSI Stealth GS77 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
8.5/10
8.0/10
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 and MSI Stealth GS77 both have very good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$2,499
$2,499
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 has a price of $2,499 and the MSI Stealth GS77 costs $2,499.
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How the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 and the MSI Stealth GS77 compare to other laptops
"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."
"The MSI Stealth GS77 is better than the GS76... mostly. The GS77 is a few steps forward and a few steps back from the GS76. Improvements are numerous including the stronger and more rigid skeleton, higher resolution webcam, larger clickpad, easier serviceability, relatively similar battery runtimes, newer display options, and higher performance at about the same TDP and TGP levels as before. CPU performance is better than expected even when compared to other laptops with Core i7 or Core i9 processors. The newer model feels more substantial than the outgoing one for higher quality impressions as well."
Get a great deal on the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 or the MSI Stealth GS77
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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