The Gigabyte A7 tends to be slightly less expensive and has double the RAM of the MSI GF65 Thin, which may provide a smoother experience for multitasking and resource-intensive tasks. With a larger 17.3-inch screen and a beefier processor, the A7 suits those looking for a desktop replacement that excels in engineering applications and gaming, but at 5.58 pounds, it is less portable than the lighter GF65 Thin at 4.1 pounds. Both have the same GPU and storage, excellent for gaming and 3D applications; however, the GF65 Thin has a slightly higher portability factor with a smaller 15.6-inch screen, better for mobility but offering less workspace. 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
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
Advantages of the MSI GF65 Thin
Good portability
Key differences
General Use
7.3/10
6.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
318.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
4.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.5 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
6.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The Gigabyte A7 is good for general use, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.
The Gigabyte A7 offers better performance for general use with its higher RAM and superior screen quality, while the MSI GF65 Thin, though more portable due to lower weight and slightly smaller size, compromises on RAM and screen color reproduction, which are very important and somewhat important factors, respectively, for general use. Additionally, despite both laptops having comparable battery life, the Gigabyte A7's larger screen size might be more desirable for multimedia tasks, but the MSI GF65 Thin's higher portability score could be favored by users frequently on the move.
Gaming and AI
7.3/10
6.8/10
7.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.1/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The Gigabyte A7 is good for gaming and AI, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.
The Gigabyte A7 is better equipped for gaming and 3D tasks due to its more powerful AMD Ryzen 7 processor and superior screen quality with higher brightness and color coverage compared to the MSI GF65 Thin which, while still capable with the same Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU, is held back by a less powerful Intel i5 processor and lower screen quality. Both laptops have the same GPU and screen refresh rates, but the A7's advantages lend to an overall better performance in visually demanding tasks.
Engineering and Design
7.6/10
6.7/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
7.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Gigabyte A7 is good for engineering and design, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.
The Gigabyte A7 is equipped with a powerful AMD Ryzen 7 CPU and more RAM, which is beneficial for demanding engineering and design software, and its larger screen with higher brightness and color coverage suits detailed design work; however, it's heavier, making it less portable than the MSI GF65 Thin. The MSI GF65 Thin, while having a capable Intel i5 CPU and the same class of GPU for handling engineering tasks, offers a more compact form factor and lighter weight for easier transport, but with a smaller screen and less RAM, it might be less optimal for multitasking and high-resolution design work.
Software Development
7.0/10
6.3/10
7.4/10
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 A7 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
7.3/10
6.8/10
17.3in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
318.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
The Gigabyte A7 has a better screen than the MSI GF65 Thin for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
For general use, the Gigabyte A7's superior panel type, resolution, and brightness provide a clear, sharp display, whereas the MSI GF65 Thin's fair screen may lack some of the A7's clarity or brightness. Engineering and design professionals will find the A7 more suitable due to its wider color gamut, allowing for more accurate color representation, while the GF65 Thin offers less precision in color-sensitive tasks. However, both the A7 and GF65 Thin have poor screens for gaming and 3D because they lack high refresh rates that are crucial for smooth motion rendering and may not support the fine details and quick movements required in high-paced gaming scenarios.
Portability
Fair
Good
17.3in
SIZE
15.6in
5.5 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
1.1in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The MSI GF65 Thin has good portability, while the Gigabyte A7 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$940
$1,100
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
The Gigabyte A7 has a price of $940 and the MSI GF65 Thin costs $1,100.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Gigabyte A7 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.
Battery
4.5 Hours
4.5 Hours
The Gigabyte A7 has 4.5 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.
Build Quality
7.2/10
6.7/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Gigabyte A7 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.
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How the Gigabyte A7 and the MSI GF65 Thin 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."
"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 A7 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.
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