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 17.3-inch display with a resolution of 2560 x 1440 and a blazing-fast 240Hz refresh rate, making it ideal for fast-paced gaming and detailed visual work. The combination of the AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX3D processor and Nvidia RTX 4090 graphics ensures exceptional performance for the most demanding tasks, including gaming, 3D rendering, and machine learning. However, its larger size and weight make it less portable, and the battery life is relatively short, which is typical for high-performance laptops.
In contrast, the MSI Stealth 14 Studio offers a more balanced approach, catering to users who need a blend of performance and portability at a midrange price. Its 14-inch screen with a 16:10 aspect ratio is more comfortable for productivity tasks, and the resolution of 1920 x 1200 is sufficient for general use and casual gaming. The Intel i7-13620H processor and Nvidia RTX 4060 graphics provide solid performance for everyday tasks, light gaming, and some creative work, but it won't match the Asus in more intensive scenarios. The MSI's smaller form factor and longer battery life make it a better choice for users who prioritize mobility and need a laptop that can last through a full day of use.
Ultimately, if raw power and a superior gaming and engineering experience are what you seek, and you're willing to compromise on portability and battery life, the Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 X3D is the way to go. However, if you value a lighter, more travel-friendly device with decent performance for everyday use and better battery life, the MSI Stealth 14 Studio is the more suitable option. 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
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Stealth 14 Studio
Good portability
Best in class speakers
Key differences
Gaming and AI
9.2/10
7.8/10
9.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.1/10
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
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 Stealth 14 Studio 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
8.5/10
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
9.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.1/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 X3D is excellent for engineering and design, while the MSI Stealth 14 Studio is very 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.
Software Development
7.9/10
7.4/10
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 X3D and MSI Stealth 14 Studio are both good for software development, though the Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 X3D is somewhat better.
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
7.6/10
17.3in
SIZE
14.0in
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
350.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
300.0 nits
The Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 X3D has a better screen than the MSI Stealth 14 Studio 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
5.0 Hours
The Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 X3D has 3 hours of battery life. The MSI Stealth 14 Studio has 5 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
14.0in
6.6 lbs
WEIGHT
3.7 lbs
1.1in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio has good portability, while the Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 X3D has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$3,500
$1,432
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 X3D has a price of $3,500 and the MSI Stealth 14 Studio costs $1,432.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 X3D to be very good for general use, while the MSI Stealth 14 Studio 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.
Content Creation
8.2/10
7.9/10
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 X3D to be very good for content creation, while the MSI Stealth 14 Studio 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.
Build Quality
7.4/10
7.6/10
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio and Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 X3D both have good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 X3D and the MSI Stealth 14 Studio compare to other laptops
"You'll find a versatility in the MSI Stealth 14 Studio that isn’t matched by many content-creator laptops we've tested of late. The small frame allows you to (potentially) work from anywhere with an outlet and, if noise isn’t a concern, run your most demanding of programs, thanks to some powerful hardware inside. The MSI Stealth 14 Studio is an attractive and powerful option if you want a portable laptop to be the center of your content work setup."
Get a great deal on the Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 X3D or the MSI Stealth 14 Studio
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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