When choosing between the Gigabyte A5 and the MSI Creator M14, consider your primary needs. The Gigabyte A5 generally offers a more wallet-friendly option, with decent performance for everyday tasks and some gaming, but it may have a bulkier build and shorter battery life. On the other hand, the MSI Creator M14 targets creative professionals with a focus on portability, longer battery life, and possibly a higher quality display. If your work involves design or video editing, the MSI might justify its higher price, but for more casual use, the Gigabyte could suffice and save you money. 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 battery life
Very good speakers
Advantages of the MSI Creator M14
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for content creation
Very good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.3/10
8.0/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
281.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
350.0 nits
6.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.5 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
7.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.8/10
The MSI Creator M14 is very good for general use, while the Gigabyte A5 is good.
The Gigabyte A5 offers satisfactory performance and adequate memory for routine tasks, but the MSI Creator M14 surpasses it with superior screen quality and longer battery life, enhancing the experience for users who prioritize a sharp display and less frequent charging. However, the A5 might appeal to those seeking more portability and lower cost, despite its limitations in CPU power and screen resolution compared to the M14, which also offers a quieter and cooler operation.
Engineering and Design
7.3/10
8.4/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
7.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Creator M14 is very good for engineering and design, while the Gigabyte A5 is good.
The Gigabyte A5 offers a solid CPU and GPU combination which is crucial for engineering and design tasks, and it comes with ample RAM, but the MSI Creator M14 stands out with a superior screen quality which is key for detailed visual work. While both have the horsepower needed for demanding applications, you'll find the MSI Creator M14 to be more travel-friendly and quieter under load, though it may command a higher price.
Content Creation
7.3/10
8.0/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Creator M14 is very good for content creation, while the Gigabyte A5 is good.
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
7.0/10
7.8/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The MSI Creator M14 and Gigabyte A5 are both good for software development, though the MSI Creator M14 is somewhat better.
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
7.2/10
7.5/10
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
281.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
350.0 nits
The Gigabyte A5 has a better screen than the MSI Creator M14 for gaming and AI, while the MSI Creator M14 has a better screen for general use, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, both the Gigabyte A5 and MSI Creator M14 offer displays with clear resolution and suitable brightness, making them a good fit for everyday tasks such as browsing and video streaming. When it comes to engineering and design, these laptops provide adequate color accuracy and range, essential for professionals who rely on precise color representation for their work. However, for gaming and 3D applications, the lower refresh rates on these models mean less fluid motion and responsiveness, which are critical for a high-quality visual experience in fast-paced games and 3D simulations.
Battery
6.5 Hours
4.5 Hours
The Gigabyte A5 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The MSI Creator M14 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
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
4.6 lbs
WEIGHT
3.5 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The MSI Creator M14 and Gigabyte A5 both have good portability, though the MSI Creator M14 has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.2/10
7.8/10
The MSI Creator M14 and Gigabyte A5 both have good build quality, though the MSI Creator M14 has somewhat better build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$830
$1,500
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Gigabyte A5 has a price of $830 and the MSI Creator M14 costs $1,500.
The MSI Creator M14 and Gigabyte A5 are both good for gaming and AI.
The Gigabyte A5 has a robust GPU and high screen refresh rate, making it well-suited for smooth gaming and 3D work, while the MSI Creator M14, also with a capable GPU and quality screen, might appeal more to creators needing good color accuracy for their projects alongside decent gaming performance. Both laptops will handle the tasks well, but the Gigabyte A5 leans slightly more towards dedicated gamers due to the refresh rate advantage.
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How the Gigabyte A5 and the MSI Creator M14 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."
Get a great deal on the Gigabyte A5 or the MSI Creator M14
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 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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