If affordability is a priority and you need a basic laptop for simple tasks, the Gateway 11.6" could be a suitable choice with its budget-friendly price and compact size, making it easy to carry around, but bear in mind that it has a smaller screen with lower resolution and modest performance due to a less powerful processor and graphics. On the other hand, the MSI Raider GE76, while more expensive, offers superior performance with advanced graphics and a faster processor, a larger and higher resolution screen, which is excellent for intensive tasks like gaming, 3D work, or engineering software, but it is heavier and less portable with a shorter battery life compared to the Gateway. 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 Gateway 11.6"
Excellent portability
Advantages of the MSI Raider GE76
Very good for general use
Excellent for engineering and design
Very good for gaming and AI
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Good speakers
Excellent keyboard
Key differences
General Use
5.6/10
8.4/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
200.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
384.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
5.3/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
9.1/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
5.8/10
The MSI Raider GE76 is very good for general use, while the Gateway 11.6" is poor.
The Gateway 11.6" falls short for general use due to its limited RAM, basic CPU, and low-resolution screen, which hinder multitasking and visual clarity, though it is lightweight and offers better portability. In contrast, the MSI Raider GE76 excels with its powerful CPU, ample RAM, high-resolution screen, and superior graphics card, providing smooth performance and vivid images for more demanding tasks, though it is heavier and has a shorter battery life.
Gaming and AI
5.4/10
8.9/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.3/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The MSI Raider GE76 is very good for gaming and AI, while the Gateway 11.6" is poor.
The Gateway 11.6" laptop, with its basic Intel UHD Graphics and low screen refresh rate, is ill-suited for gaming and 3D tasks, whereas the MSI Raider GE76, equipped with a high-end Nvidia RTX 3080 Ti GPU and a much higher screen refresh rate, is built to excel in those areas. Additionally, the performance of Gateway is further limited by a lower-tier CPU and modest screen quality, while MSI's powerful CPU and superior screen support a more immersive and responsive gaming experience.
Engineering and Design
5.4/10
9.0/10
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.3/10
4.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Raider GE76 is excellent for engineering and design, while the Gateway 11.6" is poor.
The Gateway 11.6" has a weaker CPU, less RAM, and a lower-quality GPU, making it poor for engineering and design tasks that require intensive computing power and high-resolution graphics rendering. In contrast, the MSI Raider GE76 comes with a high-end CPU, more RAM, a powerful GPU, and a higher-quality screen, making it excellent for demanding engineering and design applications where performance and detailed visuals are crucial.
Content Creation
5.7/10
8.4/10
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
4.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Raider GE76 is very good for content creation, while the Gateway 11.6" 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
5.7/10
8.2/10
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
4.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
5.3/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The MSI Raider GE76 is very good for software development, while the Gateway 11.6" 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
5.7/10
8.6/10
11.6in
SIZE
17.3in
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
200.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
384.0 nits
The MSI Raider GE76 has a better screen than the Gateway 11.6" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
When considering general use that prioritizes panel type, resolution, and brightness, the Gateway's poorer screen doesn't provide the clarity and vibrancy that the MSI offers with its higher resolution and brightness, making the MSI more pleasing to work on for everyday tasks. For engineering and design work, accurate color representation is essential; the MSI's coverage of professional color gamuts surpasses the Gateway's limited range, ensuring that designers see more precise colors. Lastly, while the MSI has a very good display for most tasks, its lower refresh rate might not satisfy gamers or professionals working with 3D applications who typically look for very high refresh rates for smooth visuals during fast-paced action or rendering.
Battery
8.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Gateway 11.6" has 8 hours of battery life. The MSI Raider GE76 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
Excellent
Poor
11.6in
SIZE
17.3in
2.6 lbs
WEIGHT
6.3 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
1.0in
The Gateway 11.6" has excellent portability, while the MSI Raider GE76 has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
5.1/10
8.5/10
The MSI Raider GE76 has very good build quality, while the Gateway 11.6" has poor build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$89
$3,552
$0
$1,000
$2,000
$3,000
$4,000
The Gateway 11.6" has a price of $89 and the MSI Raider GE76 costs $3,552.
"The MSI Raider GE76: with Alder Lake and RTX 3080 Ti to gaming heaven. Yes, MSI could improve some aspects (like the quality of the webcam), but the manufacturer offers a very convincing and balanced overall package. The biggest advantage is definitely the immense performance potential. The combination of Core i9-12900HK, GeForce RTX 3080 Ti, 32 GB DDR5 RAM and two NVMe SSDs offers a lot of performance for the next couple of years and plenty of power for 3D applications. Most titles would run smoothly on an external 4K screen no matter the quality preset. We came away impressed with the integrated 360 Hz panel's fast response times and good color accuracy."
Get a great deal on the Gateway 11.6" or the MSI Raider GE76
About Gateway
Gateway is a laptop and tablet brand owned by Acer which sells budget-friendly laptops exclusively through Walmart. It was previously an American computer company until its acquisition by Acer in 2007, who then revived the brand in 2020. Gateway laptops are manufactured by Chinese company Shenzhen Bmorn Technology, which also makes EVOO-branded models.
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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