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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 17, with its large screen, high RAM, and powerful AMD processor, is a sound option for intensive tasks like 3D rendering and engineering, but it's more expensive and less portable due to its size and weight. Alternatively, the MSI GF63 Thin is more budget-friendly, lighter, and has a smaller screen, making it convenient for portability and general use, but with less storage, it may struggle with performance-demanding applications and isn't ideal for heavy gaming or professional creative work. 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 Zenbook Pro 17
- Very good for general use
- Very good for engineering and design
- Good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Good overall display quality
- Good overall build quality
- Good battery life
- Very good speakers
Advantages of the MSI GF63 Thin
- Good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
8.3
6.0
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
400.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
249.0 nits
9.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.2 Hours
6.7/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.1/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 is very good for general use, while the MSI GF63 Thin is only fair.
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 is superior for general use due to its robust CPU and larger RAM, which ensure faster and more efficient performance, alongside a high-quality screen that displays vibrant colors and is complemented by long battery life for extended use without frequent charging. The MSI GF63 Thin, while more lightweight and thus slightly more portable, has a less powerful CPU, less RAM, and a screen that is less bright and covers fewer colors, impacting multitasking capabilities and the overall visual experience, and it also falls behind with a significantly shorter battery life.
Gaming and AI
6.9
6.0
5.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.0/10
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 and MSI GF63 Thin are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 is somewhat better.
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 offers superior gaming and 3D capabilities thanks to its more robust Nvidia RTX 3050 GPU and a high-performing AMD Ryzen 9 processor, which can better handle graphically demanding tasks compared to the MSI GF63 Thin's Nvidia GTX 1650 Max-Q GPU and Intel i5 processor. Both laptops have the same refresh rate, but the ASUS's stronger GPU and CPU are better suited for smoother gameplay and 3D work.
Engineering and Design
8.1
6.0
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.3/10
5.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
32.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 is very good for engineering and design, while the MSI GF63 Thin is only fair.
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 is better suited for engineering and design due to its more powerful AMD Ryzen 9 processor, greater RAM, and superior Nvidia RTX GPU, which collectively handle intensive tasks and complex graphics more efficiently than the MSI GF63 Thin with its older Intel i5 processor, less RAM, and less powerful Nvidia GTX GPU. Additionally, the Asus features a screen with higher color accuracy, vital for design work, while the MSI, being lighter and thinner, offers greater portability and is a fair option for those who prioritize ease of transport over raw performance..
Content Creation
8.2
6.0
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.3/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
32.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 is very good for content creation, while the MSI GF63 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
7.9
6.0
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.3/10
32.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.7/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 is good for software development, while the MSI GF63 Thin 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.
Screen Quality
7.2
6.1
17.3in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
400.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
249.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 has a better screen than the MSI GF63 Thin for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 17's higher resolution and brightness, along with a strong panel type, provide vivid and clear images for general use, and its wide color gamuts make it suitable for engineering and design tasks where color accuracy is vital. However, its lower refresh rate limits its appeal for 3D applications, where fast motion rendering is crucial. Conversely, the MSI GF63 Thin's average resolution and brightness, along with acceptable color ranges, make it adequate for general tasks and some design work but fall short for the high-speed demands of gaming and 3D modeling.
Battery
9.0 Hours
4.2 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 has 9 hours of battery life. The MSI GF63 Thin has 4.3 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
6.5
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 has good build quality, while the MSI GF63 Thin has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,500
$599
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 has a price of $1,500 and the MSI GF63 Thin costs $599.
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Key similarities
Portability
Good
Good
17.3in
SIZE
15.6in
5.1 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The MSI GF63 Thin and ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 and the MSI GF63 Thin compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 | MSI GF63 Thin |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,500 | $599 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 1, 2022 | May 1, 2019 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 15.6'' x 10.2'' x 0.74'' | 14.1'' x 10'' x 0.85'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.18 lbs | 4.1 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 15.55" | 14.13" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.18" | 9.99" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX | Intel i5-10300H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 32 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 256 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 9 Hours | 4.25 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 76 Wh | 51 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 17.3" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 400 nits | 249 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.2/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.1/10 | 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 | 7.5/10 | 8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 6.8/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
MSI GF63 Thin
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Florian Glaser | January 2020
"If you leave aside the meagre port selection (no card reader, no DisplayPort, no Thunderbolt 3 or USB 3.1 Gen2), the fan control that could be improved (idle mode!) and the relatively dark and slow display, the MSI GF63 Thin 9SC does not have any major weaknesses. The 15-inch gamer is compact, has a low weight and offers a good price-to-performance ratio, which should please gamers that are looking for both a portable and an affordable gaming notebook. Input devices, battery life, case quality and performance are all appropriate for this purchase price."
Get a great deal on the ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 or the MSI GF63 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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