The Gigabyte Aorus 7 is more budget-friendly and suitable for less demanding tasks with its mid-tier processor and graphics card, while the MSI Raider GE78's high-end processor and superior graphics card offer significantly better performance for intensive 3D, machine learning tasks, and gaming. However, the Raider GE78 is less portable due to its heavier weight and usually costs a lot more. If saving money and having a decent performance for everyday use is your priority, go for the Gigabyte Aorus 7. But if you need top-notch performance and are prepared to invest more, the MSI Raider GE78 would be the better option. 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 7
The Gigabyte Aorus 7 has no clear advantages over the MSI Raider GE78.
Advantages of the MSI Raider GE78
Very good for general use
Excellent for engineering and design
Best in class for gaming and AI
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall build quality
Best in class speakers
Best in class keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.6/10
8.7/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
351.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
384.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.5/10
6.2/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
5.5/10
The MSI Raider GE78 is very good for general use, while the Gigabyte Aorus 7 is good.
The MSI Raider GE78 offers superior performance with a higher-end CPU and double the RAM, a more vibrant and sharper display, and overall better build quality, which includes the keyboard, but it is less portable and just as limited in battery life as the Gigabyte Aorus 7. Although the Gigabyte Aorus 7 is lighter and scored higher on portability, making it more convenient to carry, it features a lower-tier CPU and less RAM, which may impact multitasking and demanding tasks, but it has a good keyboard and manages heat well.
Gaming and AI
7.8/10
9.5/10
8.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
360Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The MSI Raider GE78 is best in class for gaming and AI, while the Gigabyte Aorus 7 is good.
The MSI Raider GE78 has a significantly more powerful GPU, the Nvidia RTX 4090, and a higher-quality screen with better resolution and color accuracy, making it better for gaming and 3D applications than the Gigabyte Aorus 7, which has a lower-tier GPU, the Nvidia RTX 4060, and a lower resolution screen but offers a higher screen refresh rate.
Engineering and Design
8.1/10
9.4/10
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
8.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Raider GE78 is excellent for engineering and design, while the Gigabyte Aorus 7 is very good.
The MSI Raider GE78 surpasses the Gigabyte Aorus 7 in engineering and design due to its superior main processor, double the RAM, a more powerful GPU, and a higher resolution screen, which are critical for intensive tasks and detailed graphics work.
Content Creation
7.6/10
8.8/10
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Raider GE78 is very good for content creation, while the Gigabyte Aorus 7 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
7.4/10
8.5/10
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.5/10
The MSI Raider GE78 is very good for software development, while the Gigabyte Aorus 7 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
8.3/10
8.6/10
17.3in
SIZE
17.3in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
360Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
351.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
384.0 nits
The MSI Raider GE78 has a better screen than the Gigabyte Aorus 7 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
When considering general use, both the Gigabyte Aorus 7 and the MSI Raider GE78 offer high-resolution displays with impressive brightness and clarity, delivering crisp and vivid visuals suitable for everyday tasks and media consumption. For engineering and design, the MSI Raider GE78 stands out with a wider color gamut coverage, providing more accurate and nuanced color reproduction crucial for detail-oriented work. However, for gaming and 3D purposes, both laptops fall short as their lower refresh rates don't lend themselves to the smooth visuals and responsiveness demanded by high-speed gaming and rapid 3D rendering.
Portability
Fair
Poor
17.3in
SIZE
17.3in
5.9 lbs
WEIGHT
6.8 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
1.1in
The Gigabyte Aorus 7 has only fair portability, while the MSI Raider GE78 has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.4/10
8.5/10
The MSI Raider GE78 has very good build quality, while the Gigabyte Aorus 7 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,190
$4,386
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The Gigabyte Aorus 7 has a price of $1,190 and the MSI Raider GE78 costs $4,386.
"The Gigabyte Aorus 7 is a gaming laptop that is pitched at perhaps the hardest market to get right: the mid-range. So, unlike high-end gaming laptops that can throw the latest and greatest components together in a bid to attract gamers with plenty of money to spend, or budget gaming laptops that can make wise cuts that are justified as long as the price is low enough, mid-rangers like the Gigabyte Aorus 7 have to balance the two."
"Performance-wise, the GE78 offers a significant boost over the GE77 for just slightly higher power consumption. You'll have to get the RTX 4080 or 4090 configurations to see the performance advantages, however, as the RTX 4070 is closer in performance to the older RTX 3080 Ti. In terms of design, some users might prefer the 16:9 minimalistic look of the older GE77 over the 16:10 retro-inspired GE78 and vice versa. We wouldn't call one better than the other in terms of aesthetics, but we'll give the edge to the GE78 for its stronger hinges and larger keys and clickpad."
Get a great deal on the Gigabyte Aorus 7 or the MSI Raider GE78
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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