For general use, both the ASUS TUF Gaming F17 and MSI GF65 Thin offer similar capabilities with ample screen size and performance for everyday tasks. If you prioritize a larger screen and better keyboard quality, the ASUS might serve you well, but it is heavier, affecting portability. The MSI comes with a more powerful GPU which enhances performance for 3D rendering, machine learning, and gaming, and it's also lighter, making it more portable. For tasks like intensive engineering, gaming, or 3D work, the MSI could provide an edge, while the ASUS balances cost and performance for casual gaming and general productivity. Give Feedback
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Advantages of the ASUS TUF Gaming F17
Good for general use
Good for content creation
Good overall build quality
Good speakers
Advantages of the MSI GF65 Thin
Good portability
Key differences
General Use
7.1/10
6.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
264.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
4.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.5 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
6.4/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The ASUS TUF Gaming F17 is good for general use, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.
The ASUS TUF Gaming F17 and MSI GF65 Thin are both equipped with mid-range CPUs and a sufficient amount of RAM for general tasks, but their relatively large screen sizes and gaming-oriented hardware can impact their portability and battery life negatively compared to more general-purpose laptops. While both laptops have IPS screens with decent resolution and refresh rates, the TUF's larger screen and slightly heavier weight may be less convenient for mobility than the smaller, lighter GF65 Thin, but neither is ideal for long periods away from power sources due to limited battery capacity.
Screen Quality
6.9/10
6.8/10
17.3in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
264.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
The ASUS TUF Gaming F17 has a better screen than the MSI GF65 Thin for general use, software development, and content creation.
When considering general use, the screen quality on the ASUS TUF Gaming F17 likely offers a balance of decent resolution and adequate brightness, which would make for a comfortable viewing experience for everyday tasks such as browsing and streaming. For engineering and design, the display might not cover the wider color gamuts like DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB as comprehensively as specialized monitors, which means colors may not be as accurate for professional creative work. As for Gaming and 3D, the lower refresh rate on the ASUS can result in less fluid motion during fast-paced games or 3D rendering, compared to displays designed with higher refresh rates for those specific purposes.
Portability
Fair
Good
17.3in
SIZE
15.6in
5.7 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The MSI GF65 Thin has good portability, while the ASUS TUF Gaming F17 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,000
$1,100
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
The ASUS TUF Gaming F17 has a price of $1,000 and the MSI GF65 Thin costs $1,100.
The MSI GF65 Thin and ASUS TUF Gaming F17 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The ASUS TUF Gaming F17, with a Nvidia RTX 3050 Ti GPU and a 144 Hz screen refresh rate, offers solid gaming performance, while the MSI GF65 Thin steps up with a stronger Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU and an equal 144 Hz refresh rate, suggesting smoother gameplay and better 3D rendering capabilities. However, the ASUS's larger screen could provide a more immersive experience at the cost of portability when compared to the lighter and more compact MSI GF65 Thin.
Engineering and Design
6.9/10
6.7/10
6.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
5.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.1/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The ASUS TUF Gaming F17 and MSI GF65 Thin are both only fair for engineering and design.
The ASUS TUF Gaming F17, with its larger screen and capable RTX 3050 Ti GPU, is suitable for design tasks that can benefit from a spacious display and good graphics processing, while the MSI GF65 Thin's more powerful RTX 3060 GPU and lighter weight make it ideal for demanding engineering applications where portability and high GPU performance are essential.
Content Creation
7.1/10
6.8/10
6.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers ASUS TUF Gaming F17 to be good for content creation, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.
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
6.7/10
6.3/10
6.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The ASUS TUF Gaming F17 and MSI GF65 Thin are both only fair 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.
Battery
4.5 Hours
4.5 Hours
The ASUS TUF Gaming F17 has 4.5 hours of battery life. The MSI GF65 Thin has 4.5 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.
Build Quality
7.2/10
6.7/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers ASUS TUF Gaming F17 to have good build quality, while the MSI GF65 Thin has only fair 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 Gaming F17 and the MSI GF65 Thin compare to other laptops
"One of the Asus TUF Gaming F17’s highlights is without a doubt its excellent gaming performance. The fact that Asus configured the RTX 3060 GPU for its specified maximum of 140 W is became immediately noticeable in our benchmarks. For a 17-inch notebook the F17 also offers a very long battery life, which makes it somewhat portable. On the flip side is the display. It may be saved by its good overall contrast ratio, but its overall brightness is simply too low, and its response times are too slow for a gaming device. The F17’s successor needs to improve upon this."
"The MSI GF65 Thin offers a GeForce RTX 3060 on a budget. The MSI GF65 is a relatively inexpensive RTX 3060 laptop and, perhaps not coincidentally, it also comes with a slower-than-average RTX 3060 GPU. Other laptops we've tested thus far with the same GPU are about 10 to 15 percent faster. CPU performance is also slightly slower than average unless if users decide to enable Cooler Boost mode. Colors, black-white response times, Thunderbolt, and DisplayPort are either average or completely omitted. Gamers who want to maximize performance-per-dollar without sacrificing RAM or SSD upgradeability will find the lightweight MSI GF65 attractive."
Get a great deal on the ASUS TUF Gaming F17 or the MSI GF65 Thin
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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