The Gateway 14.1" is a budget-friendly option suitable for basic tasks like web browsing and document editing, with moderate portability thanks to its lighter weight and smaller size. However, its performance for general use and tasks like 3D modeling or machine learning is limited due to its less powerful processor and lower RAM. The MSI Raider GE77Hx, with a higher price, offers robust performance for intensive gaming, 3D rendering, and engineering software thanks to its advanced processor, ample RAM, and high-end graphics card. It's less portable but features a larger, higher-resolution display for superior image and video quality. Choose the Gateway for casual use and the MSI for demanding applications and better multimedia experience. 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 14.1"
Very good portability
Good battery life
Advantages of the MSI Raider GE77Hx
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for gaming and AI
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
8.0/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
208.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
350.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
5.5 Hours
5.3/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
8.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
5.8/10
The MSI Raider GE77Hx is very good for general use, while the Gateway 14.1" is poor.
The Gateway 14.1" laptop offers limited performance with its basic CPU and low RAM, which impacts its overall capability for general use, and it also has a lower-quality keyboard and speakers, while the MSI Raider GE77Hx, with its high-end CPU, ample RAM, and superior screen quality, excels in these areas, making it very good for general use. However, the MSI has a bulkier form factor and shorter battery life which affects its portability compared to the more lightweight Gateway.
Gaming and AI
5.4/10
8.7/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.8/10
1920 x 1080
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 GE77Hx is very good for gaming and AI, while the Gateway 14.1" is poor.
The Gateway 14.1" laptop is not suitable for gaming and 3D applications because it has an entry-level Intel UHD Graphics 600 GPU and a basic 60Hz screen refresh rate, limiting its ability to handle demanding graphics and provide smooth motion. In contrast, the MSI Raider GE77Hx excels with a high-end Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti GPU and a much higher 240Hz screen refresh rate, ensuring powerful graphics processing and fluid visuals for an immersive gaming experience.
Engineering and Design
5.5/10
8.8/10
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.8/10
4.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Raider GE77Hx is very good for engineering and design, while the Gateway 14.1" is poor.
The Gateway 14.1" laptop, with its basic Intel Celeron processor, minimal RAM, and integrated Intel graphics, is not equipped for demanding engineering and design software, while its screen offers modest quality and size. Conversely, the MSI Raider GE77Hx boasts a high-end Intel processor, ample RAM, a powerful Nvidia GPU and a larger, higher-resolution screen, making it very capable for engineering and design tasks, although it is heavier and less portable.
Content Creation
5.8/10
8.2/10
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
4.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Raider GE77Hx is very good for content creation, while the Gateway 14.1" 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
5.8/10
7.9/10
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
4.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
5.3/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The MSI Raider GE77Hx is good for software development, while the Gateway 14.1" 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
6.0/10
8.4/10
14.1in
SIZE
17.3in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
208.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
350.0 nits
The MSI Raider GE77Hx has a better screen than the Gateway 14.1" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, the Gateway's screen offers basic clarity and visibility, but if you're willing to invest more, the MSI Raider GE77Hx provides a much sharper and brighter display, enhancing everyday tasks like browsing and video streaming. Engineers and designers will appreciate the MSI Raider's superior color accuracy and wider color range, crucial for precision work, while the Gateway's color performance may be adequate but not ideal for professional design tasks. However, for gaming or 3D applications, the MSI Raider, despite its excellent resolution and panel quality, falls short due to a lower refresh rate, which means that fast-paced visuals may not be as smooth as with laptops designed specifically for gaming.
Battery
8.0 Hours
5.5 Hours
The Gateway 14.1" has 8 hours of battery life. The MSI Raider GE77Hx has 5.5 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
Very Good
Poor
14.1in
SIZE
17.3in
3.3 lbs
WEIGHT
6.3 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
1.0in
The Gateway 14.1" has very good portability, while the MSI Raider GE77Hx has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
5.1/10
8.5/10
The MSI Raider GE77Hx has very good build quality, while the Gateway 14.1" has poor build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$99
$2,140
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
The Gateway 14.1" has a price of $99 and the MSI Raider GE77Hx costs $2,140.
"The Gateway Ultra Slim 14" is surprisingly quiet with long battery life. The inexpensive Gateway excels at maximizing performance per dollar with lots of RAM and storage, super-quiet fan, and a long battery life. It can even house up to two M.2 SSDs which we weren't expecting from such a cheap system. However, the iffy reliability of the keyboard and USB-C port on our test unit means users should double-check for these potential issues immediately after purchasing."
"The MSI Raider GE77 offers a lot of power for a lot of money. The main components consist of a Core i9-12900HX CPU, a GeForce RTX 3080 Ti Laptop GPU (175 watts TGP, 16 GB VRAM), and 64 GB of RAM, which makes for a high overall performance level. The GeForce GPU in particular scores some of the highest scores we have seen from this chip. Both the CPU and the GPU are able to run at continuously high clock speeds. The relatively high heat and noise emissions match our expectations for this device class. With approximately 5.5 to 6.5 hours, the battery life is good for a powerful 4K laptop."
Get a great deal on the Gateway 14.1" or the MSI Raider GE77Hx
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.
By the numbers
380
Laptops evaluated
48,640
Laptops stats compiled
13
Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
98,595
Recommendations made
21,363
Consumer hours saved
About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Craig Russell
Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.