The ASUS TUF Gaming F17 is typically less expensive and offers a larger screen size with a number pad on its keyboard, which is beneficial for long typing sessions and certain types of work. However, the MSI Pulse GL66 has a higher-performance processor and graphics card pairing, making it more suitable for intensive gaming, 3D rendering, and machine learning applications. If portability is important to you, the MSI is lighter, but it also has a smaller screen. The choice depends on whether you prioritize cost and a larger display, or if you need stronger performance and a more travel-friendly laptop. 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 Gaming F17
The ASUS TUF Gaming F17 has no clear advantages over the MSI Pulse GL66.
Advantages of the MSI Pulse GL66
Good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Good for software development
Good portability
Very good speakers
Very good keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.6/10
7.2/10
5.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.1/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The MSI Pulse GL66 is good for gaming and AI, while the ASUS TUF Gaming F17 is only fair.
The MSI Pulse GL66 provides better gaming and 3D performance due to its more powerful Nvidia RTX 3070 GPU compared to the ASUS TUF Gaming F17's Nvidia RTX 3050 Ti, despite both laptops having the same screen refresh rate. While both have quality IPS displays with a max refresh rate of 144Hz, the superior GPU in the MSI will deliver better graphics processing power for demanding tasks.
Engineering and Design
6.9/10
7.5/10
6.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
5.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.1/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Pulse GL66 is good for engineering and design, while the ASUS TUF Gaming F17 is only fair.
The ASUS TUF Gaming F17 provides a strong foundation for engineering and design thanks to its capable Nvidia RTX 3050 Ti GPU and Intel i5 processor, but the MSI Pulse GL66 steps it up with a superior Nvidia RTX 3070 GPU and a more powerful Intel i7 processor, which could translate to better performance in demanding applications. Despite both laptops featuring quality IPS displays for accurate color representation, the MSI offers more RAM out of the box, enhancing multitasking and complex task handling, although the ASUS counters with a larger screen potentially improving productivity for design tasks.
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
245.0 nits
The ASUS TUF Gaming F17 has a better screen than the MSI Pulse GL66 for general use, while the MSI Pulse GL66 has a better screen for content creation.
The ASUS TUF Gaming F17 offers a good visual experience for tasks like web browsing and video streaming because of its adequate resolution and brightness, which are essential for clarity and visibility in various lighting conditions. For engineering and design work, it falls short in reproducing a wide range of colors, a limitation when precision color work is essential. However, its refresh rate is not optimal for 3D gaming, where smoother motion and quick screen updates are key to an immersive experience.
Portability
Fair
Good
17.3in
SIZE
15.6in
5.7 lbs
WEIGHT
4.6 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The MSI Pulse GL66 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
$1,399
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The ASUS TUF Gaming F17 has a price of $1,000 and the MSI Pulse GL66 costs $1,399.
The MSI Pulse GL66 and ASUS TUF Gaming F17 are both good for general use.
The ASUS TUF Gaming F17 has a less powerful CPU and half the RAM of the MSI Pulse GL66, impacting its ability to handle multitasking and demanding applications efficiently. Additionally, the MSI has a slightly more portable form factor and longer battery life, making it better suited for on-the-go use compared to the heavier and shorter battery life of the ASUS.
Content Creation
7.1/10
7.2/10
6.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Pulse GL66 and ASUS TUF Gaming F17 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
6.7/10
7.0/10
6.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Pulse GL66 to be good for software development, while the ASUS TUF Gaming F17 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.
Battery
4.5 Hours
4.0 Hours
The ASUS TUF Gaming F17 has 4.5 hours of battery life. The MSI Pulse GL66 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.
Build Quality
7.2/10
7.4/10
The MSI Pulse GL66 and ASUS TUF Gaming F17 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 Gaming F17 and the MSI Pulse GL66 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 Pulse GL66 has a lot of potential for improvement. Although the RTX 3060 is only able to use 105 watts, we still liked the gaming performance, particularly since this also makes the Pulse comfortably efficient but not slow by any means. Neither the dark display with its lame response times, nor USB 2.0 or the lack of Thunderbolt will please real gamers. The use of a sticker factory seal, which is at least questionable, also won't inspire any enthusiasm. It is obvious that the laptop is really designed for price-conscious gamers."
Get a great deal on the ASUS TUF Gaming F17 or the MSI Pulse GL66
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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