If you're considering price and still want strong performance, the Gigabyte Aorus 17 offers substantial processing power at a lower cost, which may suit most gaming or demanding tasks well. However, while the MSI Titan 18 HX is pricier, it usually delivers top-tier performance ideal for the most intensive tasks like high-end gaming or heavy engineering software, and it could have a higher-quality build or additional features. Both laptops may be less portable due to size and weight; if battery life is crucial, smaller, less performance-focused options could be more suitable. Choose the Gigabyte for value or the MSI for peak performance where budget is less of a concern. 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
Good battery life
Advantages of the MSI Titan 18 HX
Very good for general use
Best in class for engineering and design
Excellent for gaming and AI
Very good for software development
Excellent for content creation
Excellent overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Excellent speakers
Best in class keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.9/10
8.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
267.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
401.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
10.0/10
6.2/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
5.0/10
The MSI Titan 18 HX is very good for general use, while the Gigabyte Aorus 17 is good.
The Gigabyte Aorus 17, with a less powerful CPU and smaller RAM, is suitable for everyday tasks but may struggle with very demanding applications; it also has decent screen quality and is easier to carry around with longer battery life, making it practical for on-the-go use. The MSI Titan 18 HX, on the other hand, with a top-tier CPU and more RAM, excels in handling intensive tasks and offers a superior screen experience, but is heavier and has a shorter battery life, limiting its mobility.
Gaming and AI
8.1/10
9.4/10
8.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
360Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI Titan 18 HX is excellent for gaming and AI, while the Gigabyte Aorus 17 is very good.
The Gigabyte Aorus 17 has a strong GPU and a high screen refresh rate, making it suitable for immersive gaming and 3D applications, but the MSI Titan 18 HX, with an even more powerful GPU and comparable refresh rate, delivers exceptional performance that can handle the most demanding games and 3D tasks. While both laptops have capable CPUs and good screen quality, the superior GPU in the MSI Titan 18 HX provides a notable edge for top-tier gaming experiences.
Engineering and Design
8.4/10
9.9/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
8.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
128.0 GB
The MSI Titan 18 HX is best in class for engineering and design, while the Gigabyte Aorus 17 is very good.
The Gigabyte Aorus 17, with its robust CPU, ample RAM, and high-quality GPU, offers solid performance and a great screen for detailed engineering tasks, but the MSI Titan 18 HX outshines it with even more powerful components and a superior display, making it the top choice for the most demanding engineering and design work. Considering the somewhat important factors, the Gigabyte Aorus 17 may be easier to carry around compared to the hefty MSI Titan 18 HX, which could have a slight edge in keyboard and speaker quality and may run quieter under load.
Content Creation
8.0/10
9.0/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
16.0 GB
RAM
128.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
The MSI Titan 18 HX is excellent for content creation, while the Gigabyte Aorus 17 is very 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
7.5/10
8.9/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
128.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
10.0/10
The MSI Titan 18 HX 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
9.2/10
17.3in
SIZE
18.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
360Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
267.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
401.0 nits
The MSI Titan 18 HX has a better screen than the Gigabyte Aorus 17 for general use, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, the MSI Titan 18 HX outshines the Gigabyte Aorus 17 because it offers a superior combination of panel type, higher resolution, and greater brightness, providing a clearer and more vibrant viewing experience. In the realm of engineering and design, color accuracy is crucial, and the Titan 18 HX excels with a wider color gamut, ensuring that professionals can see more precise shades and tones essential for their work. However, for Gaming and 3D applications, where smooth motion is key, both laptops fall short because they do not offer high refresh rates, which are essential for reducing motion blur and providing a fluid visual experience.
Battery
6.0 Hours
4.0 Hours
The Gigabyte Aorus 17 has 6 hours of battery life. The MSI Titan 18 HX has 4 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.
Portability
Fair
Poor
17.3in
SIZE
18.0in
5.9 lbs
WEIGHT
7.9 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
1.2in
The Gigabyte Aorus 17 has only fair portability, while the MSI Titan 18 HX has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.4/10
8.5/10
The MSI Titan 18 HX 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
$4,800
$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 Titan 18 HX costs $4,800.
"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."
"With no new Nvidia GPU this year for laptops, MSI had to refresh everything surrounding the graphics card to make up for it. Users are getting a new 18-inch chassis design, new 14th gen Intel HX CPU, new AC adapter, larger keys, and a new 120 Hz HDR1000 mini-LED 4K display to accompany the high price tag. Most of these changes are a step up from last year's GT77, but users are ultimately getting the same gaming performance out of both models."
Get a great deal on the Gigabyte Aorus 17 or the MSI Titan 18 HX
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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