The Gigabyte A5, being more expensive, offers high performance suitable for demanding tasks like 3D rendering, gaming, or intensive engineering software, thanks to its AMD Ryzen processor and Nvidia RTX graphics. On the other hand, the HP Stream 14" is more budget-friendly but has lower performance with its Intel Celeron processor and integrated graphics; it's geared toward basic tasks such as web browsing, document editing, and streaming media. The Gigabyte will also likely have a shorter battery life due to its powerful hardware, whereas the HP Stream's simpler specs help it last longer on a charge, making it more portable and convenient for on-the-go use. 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 Gigabyte A5
Good for general use
Good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Good for software development
Good for content creation
Good overall display quality
Good overall build quality
Very good speakers
Good keyboard
Advantages of the HP Stream 14"
Very good portability
Key differences
General Use
7.3/10
6.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
281.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
220.0 nits
6.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.5 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.0/10
7.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.1/10
The Gigabyte A5 is good for general use, while the HP Stream 14" is only fair.
The Gigabyte A5's stronger CPU and GPU provide better performance for a variety of tasks, and its IPS screen with higher resolution offers better image quality compared to the HP Stream 14's lower-end processor and screen. However, the HP Stream 14 is more portable due to its lighter weight and smaller size, and it also has a slight edge in battery life over the A5.
Gaming and AI
7.1/10
5.7/10
7.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.7/10
The Gigabyte A5 is good for gaming and AI, while the HP Stream 14" is poor.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Engineering and Design
7.3/10
5.7/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.4/10
7.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Gigabyte A5 is good for engineering and design, while the HP Stream 14" is poor.
The Gigabyte A5 is better suited for engineering and design because it has a strong AMD Ryzen CPU and Nvidia RTX GPU, paired with ample RAM and a quality IPS screen, essential for demanding applications and detailed visuals. In contrast, the HP Stream 14" has a lower-tier Intel Celeron CPU and integrated graphics, limited RAM, and a lower quality TN screen, making it less adept for intensive tasks and high-quality visual work.
Content Creation
7.3/10
6.7/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.4/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
The Gigabyte A5 is good for content creation, while the HP Stream 14" 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.
Screen Quality
7.2/10
5.2/10
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
281.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
220.0 nits
The Gigabyte A5 has a better screen than the HP Stream 14" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
If you prioritize a sharp and clear display for tasks like web browsing, streaming, and document editing, the Gigabyte A5’s higher resolution and brighter panel make it a superior choice for general use. For engineering and design work, color accuracy is crucial, and the A5 offers a wider color gamut, ensuring your designs and models look true to life. Gamers and 3D enthusiasts would find the A5 lacking due to its lower refresh rate, which is less suited for smooth, fast-paced action and rendering despite its acceptable resolution and panel type.
Portability
Good
Very Good
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
4.6 lbs
WEIGHT
3.5 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The HP Stream 14" has very good portability, while the Gigabyte A5 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.2/10
5.5/10
The Gigabyte A5 has good build quality, while the HP Stream 14" has poor build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$830
$299
$0
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Gigabyte A5 has a price of $830 and the HP Stream 14" costs $299.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Gigabyte A5 to be good for software development, while the HP Stream 14" 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
6.5 Hours
7.5 Hours
The Gigabyte A5 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The HP Stream 14" has 7.5 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.
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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Gigabyte A5 and the HP Stream 14" compare to other laptops
"Ignoring price, the Gigabyte A5 has a hard time against the similarly fast competition. Besides the loud noise in 3D mode (performance mode), the high temperature development of the components should be mentioned on the downside. Despite the relatively thick case, the laptop gets very warm and loud under load, which does not exactly speak for the cooling system. The plastic surfaces look rather cheap and also tend to rattle. In most other disciplines - be it the input devices, the screen, the connectivity or the battery runtime - the Gigabyte laptop does not stand out from the crowd, neither positively nor negatively. However, those who primarily pay attention to the price-performance ratio will get a pretty good offer with the Gigabyte A5."
"With half of the main system memory and a fraction of the storage that we recommend in any budget Windows laptop, the HP Stream 14 does not impress. Perhaps it doesn't need to, depending on your reference point. For the price, you're getting a functional laptop with Windows 10, which already places the HP Stream 14 above most Chromebooks on that merit alone. Still, in this price range, you can't do much worse, but you can do better. In fact, for just $100 more, you can grab the much superior budget option, the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14."
Get a great deal on the Gigabyte A5 or the HP Stream 14"
About Gigabyte
Gigabyte is a Taiwanese computer hardware manufacturer. While Gigabyte mainly focuses its business on desktop hardware, Gigabyte is known for its value-oriented G series laptops, thin and light Aero series, and performance-oriented Aorus series. Gigabyte laptops offer a strong value proposition to compete with mainstream alternatives.
About HP
HP, also known as Hewlett-Packard, is an American technology company that develops personal computers and computer peripherals. In the laptop industry, HP is known for its entry level Essential series laptops, its mid-range Pavilion, Envy, and Victus series, and high-end Omen and Spectre series, in addition to its business-oriented EliteBook, ProBook, and Dragonfly series laptops. HP laptops generally undercut other mainstream competitors in terms of price, placing itself as the value-oriented mainstream brand.
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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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.
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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.
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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.