When choosing between the Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 and the MSI Titan 18 HX, consider that the Asus is typically more budget-friendly and still delivers strong performance for most tasks, including gaming. On the other hand, the MSI Titan offers top-of-the-line performance with possibly better graphics and processing capabilities, making it well-suited for high-end gaming, 3D rendering, and intensive engineering software; yet, it comes at a higher cost and may be bulkier, reducing portability. Your choice depends on whether performance at a premium is more important to you than savings and ease of transportation. 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 battery life
Advantages of the MSI Titan 18 HX
Very good for general use
Best in class for engineering and design
Excellent for gaming and AI
Very good for software development
Excellent for content creation
Excellent overall display quality
Excellent speakers
Best in class keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.9/10
8.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
292.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
401.0 nits
7.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.0 Hours
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
10.0/10
5.8/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
5.0/10
The MSI Titan 18 HX is very good for general use, while the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 is good.
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 offers high performance with a strong CPU and ample RAM, making it suitable for demanding tasks, but its bulky design and shorter battery life may limit its portability for on-the-go use. In comparison, the MSI Titan 18 HX provides a larger screen and possibly better screen quality, with equally capable hardware and improved speaker quality, yet it's significantly heavier and less portable, also typically having a shorter battery life which may not be ideal for users needing mobility.
Gaming and AI
8.4/10
9.4/10
8.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
360Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
6.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI Titan 18 HX is excellent for gaming and AI, while the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 is very good.
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17, with its high refresh rate and powerful GPU, delivers smooth visuals and fast performance for gaming and 3D work. However, the MSI Titan 18 HX, while typically more expensive, offers even better graphics handling due to its top-tier GPU and CPU, alongside a comparable screen refresh rate and possibly superior screen quality for an enhanced experience.
Engineering and Design
8.6/10
9.9/10
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
8.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
128.0 GB
The MSI Titan 18 HX is best in class for engineering and design, while the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 is very good.
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17, with its powerful CPU, ample RAM, and high-quality GPU, provides smooth performance for demanding software often used in engineering and design tasks, while also having a screen that shows crisp and accurate visuals. However, the MSI Titan 18 HX surpasses it with even better performance components, ensuring faster processing for extremely intensive tasks and the most complex projects, albeit it's heavier and less portable, which might not suit someone who frequently moves around.
Content Creation
8.2/10
9.0/10
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
16.0 GB
RAM
128.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
The MSI Titan 18 HX is excellent for content creation, while the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 is very 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.
Software Development
7.5/10
8.9/10
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
128.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
10.0/10
The MSI Titan 18 HX 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
9.2/10
17.3in
SIZE
18.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
360Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
292.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
401.0 nits
The MSI Titan 18 HX has a better screen than the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 for general use, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
If you prioritize a clear and vibrant display for everyday tasks and professional design work, the MSI Titan's superior resolution and color accuracy will offer a more satisfying visual experience. However, for gaming and 3D applications where smooth motion is key, both laptops fall short due to low refresh rates, which might affect fast-paced visuals. While both laptops provide high-quality displays for general use and engineering tasks, neither is optimal for gaming or 3D modeling where fluidity and response are crucial.
Battery
7.0 Hours
4.0 Hours
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 has 7 hours of battery life. The MSI Titan 18 HX has 4 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
Poor
17.3in
SIZE
18.0in
6.3 lbs
WEIGHT
7.9 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
1.2in
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 and MSI Titan 18 HX both have poor portability, though the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$2,499
$4,800
$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 Titan 18 HX costs $4,800.
"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."
"With no new Nvidia GPU this year for laptops, MSI had to refresh everything surrounding the graphics card to make up for it. Users are getting a new 18-inch chassis design, new 14th gen Intel HX CPU, new AC adapter, larger keys, and a new 120 Hz HDR1000 mini-LED 4K display to accompany the high price tag. Most of these changes are a step up from last year's GT77, but users are ultimately getting the same gaming performance out of both models."
Get a great deal on the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 or the MSI Titan 18 HX
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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