The Gigabyte A5 is more budget-friendly and delivers good performance for general use with its Ryzen processor and RTX 3060 graphics. Despite a lower screen resolution, it offers solid gaming capabilities. The MSI GE66 Raider, on the other hand, is more expensive but features a powerful i9 processor and RTX 3080 Ti graphics, ideal for intensive engineering, 3D and machine learning tasks. It also boasts a higher resolution screen, which enhances both gaming and work applications. However, higher performance comes with less portability due to increased weight. Choose Gigabyte for budget-friendly general gaming or MSI for top-tier performance in demanding applications. 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 portability
Very good speakers
Advantages of the MSI GE66 Raider
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
Excellent keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.3/10
8.4/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
281.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
347.0 nits
6.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
7.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.8/10
The MSI GE66 Raider is very good for general use, while the Gigabyte A5 is good.
The Gigabyte A5 offers a balance of solid CPU and ample RAM for everyday tasks, with a screen that provides satisfactory visuals for general use, all while being easier on the wallet and more portable with decent battery life. The MSI GE66 Raider, on the other hand, boasts superior CPU performance and higher RAM, leading to smoother multitasking and gaming experiences, with a premium screen that enhances this further, although it is heavier and has a shorter battery life, making it a bit less convenient for on-the-go users.
Gaming and AI
7.1/10
8.6/10
7.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.2/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.2/10
The MSI GE66 Raider is very good for gaming and AI, while the Gigabyte A5 is good.
The Gigabyte A5 comes with an Nvidia RTX 3060 graphics card and a refresh rate of 144Hz, making it a solid choice for gaming and 3D tasks, although the MSI GE66 Raider surpasses it with a more powerful Nvidia RTX 3080 Ti graphics card and its high screen resolution, which is ideal for immersive gaming and complex 3D work even if the refresh rate is slightly lower at 120Hz.
Engineering and Design
7.3/10
9.1/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.4/10
7.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI GE66 Raider is excellent for engineering and design, while the Gigabyte A5 is good.
The MSI GE66 Raider is equipped with a more powerful Intel CPU and double the RAM compared to the Gigabyte A5, along with a higher-end GPU and a high-resolution screen, making it more suitable for demanding engineering and design tasks. However, these enhancements also make the Raider less portable than the A5, along with a slightly higher operating noise, which are factors to consider for those who prioritize mobility and a quieter working environment.
Content Creation
7.3/10
8.4/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.4/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI GE66 Raider 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
8.4/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The MSI GE66 Raider is very good for software development, while the Gigabyte A5 is good.
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
8.2/10
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
281.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
347.0 nits
The MSI GE66 Raider has a better screen than the Gigabyte A5 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Gigabyte A5's screen, with its respectable resolution and brightness, offers clarity and comfort for everyday tasks, while its color coverage caters well to engineering and design work where accurate color representation is crucial. The MSI GE66 Raider's display, providing high resolution and superior brightness, enhances visual comfort for general use, and its wider color gamut supports professionals in engineering and design who need precise color accuracy. However, for gaming and 3D applications where smooth motion is key, neither laptop's screen is ideal because they lack the high refresh rates which are necessary to provide fluid visuals in fast-paced scenarios.
Build Quality
7.2/10
8.5/10
The MSI GE66 Raider has very good build quality, while the Gigabyte A5 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$830
$3,199
$0
$1,000
$2,000
$3,000
$4,000
The Gigabyte A5 has a price of $830 and the MSI GE66 Raider costs $3,199.
The Gigabyte A5 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The MSI GE66 Raider 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
Good
Fair
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
4.6 lbs
WEIGHT
5.2 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.9in
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Gigabyte A5 to have good portability, while the MSI GE66 Raider has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the Gigabyte A5 and the MSI GE66 Raider 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."
"The MSI Raider GE66 12UHS notebook passes with flying colors. The GE66 is a high-end notebook with strong performance. The keyboard and trackpad are still very good and score well with precise inputs as well as high build quality. Thanks to a new liquid metal cooling solution, the Intel Core i9 12900HK brings a performance increase of around 50 percent over the predecessor's Intel Core i9 10980HK. The installed graphics card in our device delivers up to 30 percent higher frame rates than the RTX 2070 Super in the MSI GE66 10SFS."
Get a great deal on the Gigabyte A5 or the MSI GE66 Raider
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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