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Updated January 12, 2024·
The ASUS Vivobook Go 12 is a budget-friendly option suited for basic tasks like browsing and office applications, with modest performance due to its Intel Celeron processor and limited storage. The MSI GF65 Thin, although pricier, offers far superior gaming and multitasking performance with its Intel i5 processor and NVIDIA graphics card. The MSI also features a larger, sharper display with a higher refresh rate, ideal for gaming and video content. However, it is heavier, making it less portable than the ASUS. Consider the MSI if you need high performance for gaming or demanding applications and don't mind the extra cost and weight; choose the ASUS for everyday tasks and greater portability at a lower price point. 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 Vivobook Go 12
- Excellent portability
- Very good battery life
Advantages of the MSI GF65 Thin
- Good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
5.6
6.5
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
200.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.5 Hours
5.3/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
9.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The MSI GF65 Thin is only fair for general use, while the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 is poor.
The ASUS Vivobook Go 12 is disadvantaged for general use due to its lower-end CPU, less RAM, and a lower resolution screen, which affects performance and display quality, while its excellent portability and battery life make it a lightweight option. In contrast, the MSI GF65 Thin offers a stronger CPU, more RAM, and a higher resolution screen, improving performance and image quality for general use, but its heavier weight and shorter battery life trade portability for enhanced capabilities.
Gaming and AI
5.4
6.8
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.1/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The MSI GF65 Thin is only fair for gaming and AI, while the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 is poor.
The ASUS Vivobook Go 12 has an Intel UHD Graphics 600 GPU with a screen refresh rate of 60Hz, which limits its gaming and 3D capabilities, whereas the MSI GF65 Thin features a much more powerful Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU and a higher screen refresh rate at 144Hz, making it more suitable for such tasks. Additionally, the MSI's CPU and screen quality are superior to those of the ASUS, further influencing its better performance in gaming and 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
5.3
6.7
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.1/10
4.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The MSI GF65 Thin is only fair for engineering and design, while the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 is poor.
The ASUS Vivobook Go 12, with its more basic Intel Celeron processor, less RAM, and integrated graphics, is less capable of handling the demanding workloads typical in engineering and design, plus its TN screen offers lower quality visuals compared to higher-end displays.
Content Creation
5.7
6.8
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
4.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI GF65 Thin is only fair for content creation, while the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 is poor.
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
5.7
6.3
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
4.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
5.3/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI GF65 Thin is only fair for software development, while the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 is poor.
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
5.1
6.8
11.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
200.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
The MSI GF65 Thin has a better screen than the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The ASUS Vivobook Go 12's lower resolution and dim display detract from everyday tasks like browsing and watching videos, making it less suitable for general use. Its limited color gamut and less vivid screen can hinder the accuracy required for engineering and design work. The MSI GF65 Thin, though offering a fair display for regular activities and somewhat more accurate colors for creative work, falls short for gaming and 3D due to its average refresh rate that may not deliver the smooth visuals avid gamers or professionals in 3D modeling seek.
Battery
10.0 Hours
4.5 Hours
The ASUS Vivobook Go 12 has 10 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.
Portability
Excellent
Good
11.6in
SIZE
15.6in
2.3 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The ASUS Vivobook Go 12 has excellent portability, while the MSI GF65 Thin has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
5.1
6.7
The MSI GF65 Thin has only fair build quality, while the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 has poor build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$267
$1,100
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The ASUS Vivobook Go 12 has a price of $267 and the MSI GF65 Thin costs $1,100.
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How the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 and the MSI GF65 Thin compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| ASUS Vivobook Go 12 | MSI GF65 Thin |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$267 | $1,100 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2021 | January 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 11'' x 7.5'' x 0.67'' | 14.1'' x 10'' x 0.85'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.31 lbs | 4.1 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 10.98" | 14.13" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 7.52" | 9.99" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel Celeron N4020 | Intel i5-10500H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 4 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 64 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 10 Hours | 4.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 38 Wh | 51 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 11.6" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | TN | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1366 x 768 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 200 nits | 262 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 5.1/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 9.3/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7/10 | 6.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 5.3/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 480p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | No | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
MSI GF65 Thin
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Allen Ngo | March 2021
"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 Vivobook Go 12 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.
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