The Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 X3D is a top-tier gaming and engineering powerhouse with a high-end price to match. It boasts an impressive 32GB of RAM, a cutting-edge AMD Ryzen 9 processor, and the formidable Nvidia RTX 4090 GPU, ensuring exceptional performance for the most demanding tasks, including gaming, 3D rendering, and machine learning. Its large 17.3-inch IPS display with a 2560 x 1440 resolution and a 240Hz refresh rate is ideal for fast-paced gaming and detailed visual work, though it's not a touchscreen. The laptop's premium features include a backlit keyboard with a number pad, advanced cooling system, and support for the latest Thunderbolt standards, but it's heavy and not very portable.
In contrast, the MSI Bravo 15 is a more budget-friendly option with a lower midrange price, designed for general use and light gaming. It has a modest 8GB of RAM and an AMD Ryzen 5 processor paired with an Nvidia RTX 4050 GPU, which will handle everyday tasks with ease and allow for some gaming, albeit not at the highest settings. The 15.6-inch IPS screen with a 1920 x 1080 resolution and a 144Hz refresh rate is suitable for casual use and gaming. It's also more compact and lighter, making it a better choice if you prioritize portability. However, its performance and features are significantly scaled back compared to the Asus, with fewer ports and a less advanced cooling system.
In summary, if you need a high-performance machine for intensive tasks and gaming, and portability is not a concern, the Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 X3D is the way to go. However, if you're looking for a more affordable and portable laptop for general use with some gaming capabilities, the MSI Bravo 15 would be a suitable choice. 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 X3D
Very good for general use
Excellent for engineering and design
Excellent for gaming and AI
Good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Good overall build quality
Good speakers
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Bravo 15
Good battery life
Key differences
General Use
8.1/10
7.1/10
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
350.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
267.0 nits
3.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
5.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.9/10
The Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 X3D is very good for general use, while the MSI Bravo 15 is good.
PerfectRec’s General Use Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for general productivity, web browsing, streaming, video calls, and running a wide variety of apps and programs.
Gaming and AI
9.2/10
7.2/10
9.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.1/10
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 X3D is excellent for gaming and AI, while the MSI Bravo 15 is good.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Engineering and Design
9.1/10
7.2/10
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.0/10
9.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.1/10
32.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 X3D is excellent for engineering and design, while the MSI Bravo 15 is good.
PerfectRec’s Engineering and Design Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for graphic design and 3D rendering work.
Content Creation
8.2/10
7.1/10
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.0/10
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
32.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 X3D is very good for content creation, while the MSI Bravo 15 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.
Software Development
7.9/10
6.8/10
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.0/10
32.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
The Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 X3D is good for software development, while the MSI Bravo 15 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
8.3/10
6.9/10
17.3in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
350.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
267.0 nits
The Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 X3D has a better screen than the MSI Bravo 15 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
PerfectRec’s screen quality scores take into account various important factors that are relevant for different use cases.
Battery
3.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 X3D has 3 hours of battery life. The MSI Bravo 15 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
17.3in
SIZE
15.6in
6.6 lbs
WEIGHT
4.9 lbs
1.1in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The MSI Bravo 15 has only fair portability, while the Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 X3D has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.4/10
6.7/10
The Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 X3D has good build quality, while the MSI Bravo 15 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$3,500
$862
$0
$1,000
$2,000
$3,000
$4,000
The Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 X3D has a price of $3,500 and the MSI Bravo 15 costs $862.
"Overall, the MSI Bravo 15 C7U is a great gaming device for the masses that isn’t too pricey. The capable hardware (for the price range), the 144Hz display, and the comfortable keyboard are one of the things that should attract buyers who don’t want to spend a fortune on a new gaming laptop."
Get a great deal on the Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 X3D or the MSI Bravo 15
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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