The Gigabyte A5, typically less expensive, offers more RAM, which is better for multitasking and demanding tasks. It's a bit heavier and has a shorter battery life compared to the MSI GF65 Thin. The MSI is somewhat more expensive and comes with less RAM but it's lighter and slightly thinner, making it more portable. Both share the same type of graphics card, making them similarly capable for gaming and graphics-intensive work, but if you require more power for engineering applications or multitasking, the Gigabyte A5 would be a better choice despite its reduced portability and battery life. 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
Good battery life
Very good speakers
Advantages of the MSI GF65 Thin
The MSI GF65 Thin has no clear advantages over the Gigabyte A5.
Key differences
General Use
7.3/10
6.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
281.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
6.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.5 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The Gigabyte A5 is good for general use, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.
The Gigabyte A5 outperforms the MSI GF65 Thin in general use primarily because it has more RAM, which is crucial for multitasking and overall performance; despite having a similar CPU and GPU, these resources allow for a smoother experience. In terms of portability and battery life, the Gigabyte A5 also offers better battery life, enhancing its usability on the go, while the MSI GF65, being lighter, might still appeal to those prioritizing a more transportable device despite its shorter battery duration.
Engineering and Design
7.3/10
6.7/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
7.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Gigabyte A5 is good for engineering and design, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.
The Gigabyte A5 is equipped with a more powerful AMD Ryzen CPU and double the RAM compared to the MSI GF65 Thin, which is essential for demanding engineering and design tasks. While both have high-quality screens and the same GPU, the A5 also has better overall build and speaker quality, although the MSI GF65 Thin excels in managing heat and is lighter, making it more portable.
Software Development
7.0/10
6.3/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Gigabyte A5 is good for software development, while the MSI GF65 Thin 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.
Screen Quality
7.2/10
6.8/10
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
281.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
The Gigabyte A5 has a better screen than the MSI GF65 Thin for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Gigabyte A5 has superior screen characteristics for general use and engineering, with better resolution, brightness, and color accuracy, ensuring crisp, vibrant images and more precise color representation for tasks like photo editing. However, the A5's lower refresh rate makes it less ideal for gaming and 3D applications, where smooth motion is crucial. In contrast, the MSI GF65 Thin's screen provides adequate resolution and color for day-to-day tasks and engineering software but falls short for gaming due to its subpar refresh rate.
Battery
6.5 Hours
4.5 Hours
The Gigabyte A5 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The MSI GF65 Thin 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.
Cost
$830
$1,100
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
The Gigabyte A5 has a price of $830 and the MSI GF65 Thin costs $1,100.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Gigabyte A5 to be good for gaming and AI, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.
The Gigabyte A5 outperforms the MSI GF65 Thin for gaming and 3D tasks largely due to its better GPU which is critical for such applications, and it also boasts a higher screen refresh rate that delivers smoother visuals, important for fast-paced gaming scenarios. While both devices have decent CPUs and screen quality, the superior GPU and refresh rate in the Gigabyte A5 make it a notably better option for those particular needs.
Content Creation
7.3/10
6.8/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Gigabyte A5 to be good for content creation, while the MSI GF65 Thin 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.
Portability
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
4.6 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The MSI GF65 Thin and Gigabyte A5 both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.2/10
6.7/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Gigabyte A5 to have good build quality, while the MSI GF65 Thin has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Gigabyte A5 and the MSI GF65 Thin 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 GF65 Thin offers a GeForce RTX 3060 on a budget. The MSI GF65 is a relatively inexpensive RTX 3060 laptop and, perhaps not coincidentally, it also comes with a slower-than-average RTX 3060 GPU. Other laptops we've tested thus far with the same GPU are about 10 to 15 percent faster. CPU performance is also slightly slower than average unless if users decide to enable Cooler Boost mode. Colors, black-white response times, Thunderbolt, and DisplayPort are either average or completely omitted. Gamers who want to maximize performance-per-dollar without sacrificing RAM or SSD upgradeability will find the lightweight MSI GF65 attractive."
Get a great deal on the Gigabyte A5 or the MSI GF65 Thin
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.
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.