If you need a laptop for tasks like gaming, 3D rendering, or other intensive workloads, the ASUS TUF Dash 15 with its more powerful processor and dedicated graphics card will handle these demands better. However, it is heavier and has shorter battery life, making it less ideal for frequent travel. Conversely, the MSI Modern 14 is more budget-friendly, lighter, and has a longer battery life, making it suitable for general use and better for portability, but it won't perform as well with demanding applications due to its integrated graphics and less powerful processor. 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 TUF Dash 15
Good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Good overall display quality
Advantages of the MSI Modern 14
Very good portability
Key differences
Gaming and AI
7.4/10
6.0/10
7.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.7/10
The ASUS TUF Dash 15 is good for gaming and AI, while the MSI Modern 14 is only fair.
The ASUS TUF Dash 15 offers a superior gaming experience due to its higher-end Nvidia RTX 3060 graphics, which is more powerful than the integrated Vega 7 graphics in the MSI Modern 14; additionally, its higher screen refresh rate of 144Hz provides smoother visuals compared to the 60Hz screen on the MSI Modern 14, enhancing gameplay and 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
7.8/10
6.6/10
8.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
7.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS TUF Dash 15 is good for engineering and design, while the MSI Modern 14 is only fair.
The ASUS TUF Dash 15 is equipped with a more powerful CPU and dedicated GPU, essential for demanding engineering and design software, while offering a high-refresh rate screen that enhances visual smoothness. In contrast, the MSI Modern 14 has a less capable integrated GPU and a lower power processor which could affect performance with complex tasks, even though it boasts a higher level of portability and better battery efficiency.
Screen Quality
7.0/10
6.4/10
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
272.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
311.0 nits
The ASUS TUF Dash 15 has a better screen than the MSI Modern 14 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The ASUS TUF Dash 15 delivers a crisp and vibrant display with ample brightness and resolution, enhancing visuals for everyday tasks and ensuring precision in design and engineering applications due to its wider color gamut. However, its lower refresh rate may not provide the smooth visuals preferred in high-paced gaming or 3D rendering. In contrast, the MSI Modern 14 offers adequate resolution and brightness for day-to-day activities and engineering software but falls short for gaming and 3D applications, not only in refresh rate but also in providing less color range and clarity.
Battery
9.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The ASUS TUF Dash 15 has 9 hours of battery life. The MSI Modern 14 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
Good
Very Good
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
4.4 lbs
WEIGHT
3.0 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The MSI Modern 14 has very good portability, while the ASUS TUF Dash 15 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,150
$525
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The ASUS TUF Dash 15 has a price of $1,150 and the MSI Modern 14 costs $525.
The ASUS TUF Dash 15 and MSI Modern 14 are both good for general use.
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
7.6/10
7.2/10
8.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS TUF Dash 15 and MSI Modern 14 are both 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.
Software Development
7.4/10
7.1/10
8.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The ASUS TUF Dash 15 and MSI Modern 14 are both good for software development.
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.
Build Quality
7.4/10
7.0/10
The ASUS TUF Dash 15 and MSI Modern 14 both have good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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How the ASUS TUF Dash 15 and the MSI Modern 14 compare to other laptops
"The Asus TUF Dash F15 FX517ZR is a laptop with mobile RTX 3070 and acceptable battery life. The Asus TUF Dash F15 was made for high-performance applications like video editing, rendering, and gaming. The laptop can manage the latter in QHD resolution and at high to maximum settings. However, the focus isn't on maximum performance, but instead, it's about a compromise between performance and portability."
Alexander Tozzi, Ryan Lim, and John Peroramas | October 2023
"The MSI Modern 14 is okay for school use. It's very compact, so it's easy to carry around. It has a sharp display, a spacious keyboard, and a reasonably large touchpad. Its Intel 13th Gen CPU and integrated graphics can handle general productivity tasks like text processing and web browsing; however, don't expect to do anything intensive like 3D modeling or physics simulations. Unfortunately, the battery lasts less than five hours of light use, and the display doesn't get bright enough to combat glare."
Get a great deal on the ASUS TUF Dash 15 or the MSI Modern 14
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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