If performance is a priority and you focus on tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, or engineering software, the MSI Creator Z16P with its higher end graphics card and processor will provide more power. It also offers a higher resolution display with touchscreen, larger storage capacity, and a more color-accurate screen which is beneficial for creative work. However, it's usually more expensive. On the other hand, the Gigabyte A7 comes at a lower price, but with a less powerful processor and graphics card. It's heavier, has a lower resolution screen without touch capability, less storage, and a shorter battery life, but may still be sufficient for general gaming and use. If portability and screen quality are less critical to you, and you want to save money, the Gigabyte A7 could fulfill your needs. 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 A7
The Gigabyte A7 has no clear advantages over the MSI Creator Z16P.
Advantages of the MSI Creator Z16P
Very good for engineering and design
Very good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Good portability
Very good keyboard
Key differences
Engineering and Design
7.6/10
8.3/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.2/10
7.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Creator Z16P is very good for engineering and design, while the Gigabyte A7 is good.
The MSI Creator Z16P is better suited for engineering and design use due to its more powerful Intel i9 processor and superior Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti GPU, as well as a higher resolution touchscreen with better color accuracy, which are crucial for intensive tasks and detail-oriented work. Meanwhile, the Gigabyte A7, with a capable AMD Ryzen 7 processor and Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU, still handles demanding applications well, but falls short in screen resolution and GPU performance compared to the MSI, though it has the advantage of a number pad and might be preferred if keyboard layout is a priority.
Content Creation
7.3/10
7.9/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.2/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Creator Z16P and Gigabyte A7 are both good for content creation, though the MSI Creator Z16P is somewhat better.
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
7.6/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The MSI Creator Z16P and Gigabyte A7 are both good for software development, though the MSI Creator Z16P 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
7.3/10
8.3/10
17.3in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
318.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
394.0 nits
The MSI Creator Z16P has a better screen than the Gigabyte A7 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, the MSI Creator Z16P excels with its higher resolution and brighter display compared to the Gigabyte A7, ensuring crisper text and vibrant images. When it comes to engineering and design tasks, the MSI's advantages with broader color coverage, including DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB, make for more accurate color rendition which is crucial for professional work. However, for gaming and 3D applications where faster screen response times and higher refresh rates are paramount, neither laptop is optimal; their screens don't prioritize the quick refresh needed for smooth motion rendering.
Portability
Fair
Good
17.3in
SIZE
16.0in
5.5 lbs
WEIGHT
5.2 lbs
1.1in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The MSI Creator Z16P has good portability, while the Gigabyte A7 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.2/10
8.0/10
The MSI Creator Z16P has very good build quality, while the Gigabyte A7 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$940
$1,300
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Gigabyte A7 has a price of $940 and the MSI Creator Z16P costs $1,300.
The MSI Creator Z16P and Gigabyte A7 are both good for general use.
The Gigabyte A7, with its AMD Ryzen 7 CPU and 16GB of RAM, handles everyday tasks well and has a decently sized screen, but it's heavier and has shorter battery life compared to the MSI Creator Z16P, which not only provides higher processing power with its Intel i9 CPU and equivalent RAM but also offers a higher resolution touchscreen, longer battery life, and lighter weight, making it more portable and suitable for a range of creative tasks.
Gaming and AI
7.3/10
7.6/10
7.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.4/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.7/10
The MSI Creator Z16P and Gigabyte A7 are both good for gaming and AI.
The Gigabyte A7 with a Nvidia RTX 3060 and a 144Hz screen refresh rate offers robust gaming and 3D performance, though MSI Creator Z16P's higher-tier Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti and an even smoother 165Hz screen might appeal more to performance enthusiasts, despite a slightly higher cost.
Battery
4.5 Hours
5.0 Hours
The Gigabyte A7 has 4.5 hours of battery life. The MSI Creator Z16P has 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.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Gigabyte A7 and the MSI Creator Z16P compare to other laptops
"In terms of looks, the Gigabyte A7 X1 is certainly not a trendy, slim, and ultra-mobile gaming laptop. But it does what it's supposed to do, namely bringing games smoothly onto the screen, very well. Both the processor and the GeForce RTX 3070 are able to unleash their performance without restrictions thanks to the well-ventilated case. The Gigabyte A7 X1 brings modern games smoothly onto the screen and offers excellent maintenance options."
"There's almost nothing left to be desired with the MSI Z16P. The creator laptop offers enormous performance resources for image editing, video editing, rendering, and more. All this is presented on a precalibrated, adequately sized, and high-resolution display. Its color space, refresh rate, and panel technology are also perfectly suited for a device that specializes in video reproduction and editing."
Get a great deal on the Gigabyte A7 or the MSI Creator Z16P
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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