If you're looking for more memory right off the bat, the MSI Raider GE66 comes with twice the RAM of the Gigabyte Aorus 17, which is better for multitasking and memory-intensive tasks. The MSI also has a higher resolution display, which offers sharper images, though this can affect battery life more than the Gigabyte's lower resolution display. The Gigabyte Aorus 17 has a larger screen and a higher refresh rate, which is good for fast-paced gaming, but it's heavier and less portable than the MSI laptop. Both have powerful processors and graphics, making either suitable for gaming, 3D rendering, and engineering software, but the MSI might deal with heat and noise a bit more efficiently. If a higher-resolution screen and extra memory are priorities, and you don't mind a smaller screen, the MSI could be the better option. However, if you prefer a larger display and can manage with less built-in RAM, the Gigabyte could be your choice. 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 17
Very good speakers
Advantages of the MSI Raider GE66
Very good for general use
Very good for software development
Very good overall build quality
Excellent keyboard
Key differences
Engineering and Design
8.4/10
8.9/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
8.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Raider GE66 and Gigabyte Aorus 17 are both very good for engineering and design, though the MSI Raider GE66 is somewhat better.
The Gigabyte Aorus 17 stands out for engineering and design with a solid processor, a high-end GPU suitable for demanding tasks, and a large, fast-refreshing screen though with lower resolution, which can be particularly appealing for fast-paced design work that requires fluid motion and less on detail.
Software Development
7.5/10
8.0/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The MSI Raider GE66 is very good for software development, while the Gigabyte Aorus 17 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
8.0/10
8.4/10
17.3in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
360Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
267.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
300.0 nits
The MSI Raider GE66 has a better screen than the Gigabyte Aorus 17 for general use, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Gigabyte Aorus 17 and MSI Raider GE66 both offer displays with resolutions and panel types that provide clarity and detail, making them suitable for everyday tasks and complex engineering applications where precision is key. Additionally, both laptops have displays that cover a wide range of colors, ensuring that designers see accurate and vibrant hues essential in their work. However, for gaming and 3D applications that demand fluid motion, the lower refresh rates on these models may not deliver the smooth visuals preferred by enthusiasts in those fields.
Portability
Fair
Fair
17.3in
SIZE
15.6in
5.9 lbs
WEIGHT
5.2 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The MSI Raider GE66 and Gigabyte Aorus 17 both have only fair portability, though the MSI Raider GE66 has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.4/10
8.5/10
The MSI Raider GE66 has very good build quality, while the Gigabyte Aorus 17 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,700
$2,499
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The Gigabyte Aorus 17 has a price of $1,700 and the MSI Raider GE66 costs $2,499.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Raider GE66 to be very good for general use, while the Gigabyte Aorus 17 is good.
The MSI Raider GE66 stands out for general use mainly because of its superior screen quality, featuring a higher resolution and screen pixel density for sharp and vivid images, complemented by its excellent keyboard quality which enhances the overall user experience. In comparison, the Gigabyte Aorus 17, while also equipped with a high-quality screen and very good keyboard, is slightly less portable and has a larger screen size, which may be less convenient for mobility but offers a larger viewable area for productivity and entertainment.
Gaming and AI
8.1/10
8.5/10
8.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
360Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.2/10
The MSI Raider GE66 and Gigabyte Aorus 17 are both very good for gaming and AI.
The MSI Raider GE66 offers a higher screen resolution and better color coverage than the Gigabyte Aorus 17, making it more suitable for detailed gaming and 3D work, while both laptops sport powerful Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti GPUs and share the same CPU, enhancing their performance in demanding tasks.
Content Creation
8.0/10
8.3/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Raider GE66 and Gigabyte Aorus 17 are both very good for content creation.
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
6.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Gigabyte Aorus 17 has 6 hours of battery life. The MSI Raider GE66 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.
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How the Gigabyte Aorus 17 and the MSI Raider GE66 compare to other laptops
"The Gigabyte Aorus 17 is a powerful high-end gaming machine. The Aorus 17 is a potent gaming notebook in a 17.3-inch format designed for FHD gaming at maximum settings. A Core i7-12700H processor and GeForce RTX 3070 Ti Laptop GPU make this possible. A lightning-fast PCIe 4 SSD (1 TB) provides the necessary storage space and ensures short loading times. With the Aorus 17 XE4, Gigabyte delivers a well-rounded, high-performance gaming notebook."
"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 Aorus 17 or the MSI Raider GE66
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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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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