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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Gigabyte Aorus 15X offers superior performance for 3D rendering, machine learning, and engineering tasks, with a high-refresh-rate display beneficial for fast motion, such as in gaming. However, it is heavier and has a shorter battery life, making it less portable. On the other hand, the MSI Modern 14 is more budget-friendly, lighter, and has a longer battery life, making it more portable and suitable for general use or business productivity. Its performance is less suited for intensive gaming or heavy computational tasks. Consider your priorities, whether it's top-tier performance and gaming capabilities or portability and price savings. 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 Aorus 15X
- Very good for engineering and design
- Very good for gaming and AI
- Very good for content creation
- Very good overall display quality
Advantages of the MSI Modern 14
- Very good portability
- Good battery life
Key differences
General Use
7.8
7.2
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
301.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
311.0 nits
5.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.6/10
The Gigabyte Aorus 15X and MSI Modern 14 are both good for general use, though the Gigabyte Aorus 15X is somewhat better.
The Gigabyte Aorus 15X has a high-end CPU and dedicated graphics, contributing to its superior performance for demanding tasks, alongside a high-quality display, but its larger size and heavier weight affect portability and it has a shorter battery life. Conversely, the MSI Modern 14, while adequately equipped with good CPU and RAM for general use, offers better portability due to its smaller size and lighter weight, and has a longer battery life, but its integrated graphics and quality of screen might not suffice for very intensive tasks.
Gaming and AI
8.5
6.0
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.7/10
The Gigabyte Aorus 15X is very good for gaming and AI, while the MSI Modern 14 is only fair.
The Gigabyte Aorus 15X is very good for gaming and 3D due to its powerful Nvidia RTX 4070 GPU and high screen refresh rate of 240Hz, while the MSI Modern 14, with its integrated AMD Vega 7 graphics and a standard refresh rate of 60Hz, offers fair performance, more suited for less demanding gaming and 3D tasks.
Engineering and Design
8.6
6.6
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Gigabyte Aorus 15X is very good for engineering and design, while the MSI Modern 14 is only fair.
The Gigabyte Aorus 15X surpasses the MSI Modern 14 in engineering and design use primarily due to its superior central and graphics processing units, and a higher resolution and refresh rate display, which are crucial for computational efficiency and detailed visual work. However, the MSI Modern 14 offers greater portability and a lighter weight, which could benefit users who need to move frequently and are less reliant on highly intensive computing tasks.
Content Creation
8.0
7.2
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Gigabyte Aorus 15X is very good for content creation, while the MSI Modern 14 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
7.7
7.1
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Gigabyte Aorus 15X and MSI Modern 14 are both good for software development, though the Gigabyte Aorus 15X 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
8.2
6.4
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
301.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
311.0 nits
The Gigabyte Aorus 15X has a better screen than the MSI Modern 14 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Gigabyte Aorus 15X offers a screen that's bright and clear, with resolution that makes it suitable for general purposes like browsing and watching videos. For engineering and design, its color accuracy is suitable for most tasks, but it may lack the broader color gamut professionals look for. However, for gaming and 3D work, its lower refresh rate can make fast-paced visuals less smooth compared to screens optimized for those activities.
Portability
Good
Very Good
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
5.7 lbs
WEIGHT
3.0 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The MSI Modern 14 has very good portability, while the Gigabyte Aorus 15X has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,600
$525
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Gigabyte Aorus 15X has a price of $1,600 and the MSI Modern 14 costs $525.
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Key similarities
Battery
5.5 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Gigabyte Aorus 15X has 5.5 hours of battery life. The MSI Modern 14 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.
Build Quality
7.4
7.0
The Gigabyte Aorus 15X and MSI Modern 14 both have good 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 Aorus 15X and the MSI Modern 14 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Gigabyte Aorus 15X | MSI Modern 14 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,600 | $525 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | October 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 10.8'' x 0.78'' | 12.7'' x 8.7'' x 0.63'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.73 lbs | 3.08 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.1" | 12.68" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.8" | 8.74" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i9-13900HX | AMD Ryzen 5 7530U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 1 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 5.5 Hours | 6 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 99 Wh | 39 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1440 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 240Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 301 nits | 311 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 7/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7/10 | 8.7/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 6.5/10 | 8.8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7/10 | 7/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
Shopping
Gigabyte Aorus 15X
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Dig into reviews and images
Tom's Hardware
Brandon Hill | February 2023
"The Gigabyte Aorus 15X is a strong showing of Raptor Lake and RTX 4000 series. While the Aorus had trouble keeping up in older games like Grand Theft Auto V, it nudged past the competition in Shadow of the Tomb Raider. It also flexed its next-generation muscle in Far Cry 6 and Borderlands 3. While we were impressed with the overall build quality and design of the Aorus 15X, the keyboard lacked good tactile feedback. The display performed well in real-world testing despite its on-paper shortcoming with brightness, but the speakers are lackluster at best."
MSI Modern 14
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Dig into reviews and images
Rtings
Alexander Tozzi, Ryan Lim, and John Peroramas | October 2023
"The MSI Modern 14 is okay for school use. It's very compact, so it's easy to carry around. It has a sharp display, a spacious keyboard, and a reasonably large touchpad. Its Intel 13th Gen CPU and integrated graphics can handle general productivity tasks like text processing and web browsing; however, don't expect to do anything intensive like 3D modeling or physics simulations. Unfortunately, the battery lasts less than five hours of light use, and the display doesn't get bright enough to combat glare."
Get a great deal on the Gigabyte Aorus 15X or the MSI Modern 14
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.
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