If you're looking for a budget-friendly option that can handle gaming and demanding tasks, the Gigabyte G5 might be the right choice. However, if you need a laptop for creative work like video editing or graphic design, and value a high-quality display and build, the MSI Creator M14 is worth the extra cost. Keep in mind the MSI is also likely to be lighter and more portable, with potentially better battery life, making it more suitable for on-the-go use. 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 G5
Very good speakers
Advantages of the MSI Creator M14
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Good for software development
Very good for content creation
Good overall display quality
Very good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.1/10
8.0/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
248.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
350.0 nits
3.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.5 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
7.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.8/10
The MSI Creator M14 is very good for general use, while the Gigabyte G5 is good.
The Gigabyte G5 offers a strong CPU and ample RAM crucial for multitasking and everyday tasks, yet the MSI Creator M14 outshines with a superior screen quality and greater portability, enhancing both the visual experience and ease of use on the go. However, the MSI's focus on a lightweight design and higher-caliber display may come at the expense of shorter battery life compared to the Gigabyte G5, which might suit users needing longer unplugged periods.
Engineering and Design
7.6/10
8.4/10
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
7.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.5/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Creator M14 is very good for engineering and design, while the Gigabyte G5 is good.
The Gigabyte G5, with a robust GPU and sufficient RAM, handles engineering software well, but the MSI Creator M14, with a superior CPU, more RAM, and a higher screen quality, offers an enhanced experience for more demanding engineering and design tasks. Though the Gigabyte G5 is a solid choice, the MSI is more tailored for professionals, despite being less portable and potentially having a louder operating noise.
Content Creation
7.2/10
8.0/10
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Creator M14 is very good for content creation, while the Gigabyte G5 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
6.8/10
7.8/10
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The MSI Creator M14 is good for software development, while the Gigabyte G5 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
6.8/10
7.5/10
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
248.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
350.0 nits
The MSI Creator M14 has a better screen than the Gigabyte G5 for general use, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, the MSI Creator M14's screen offers better resolution and brightness, making daily tasks like browsing and watching videos more enjoyable, while the Gigabyte G5's screen provides sufficient clarity but might not be as vibrant. When focusing on engineering and design, the MSI's wider color gamut ensures more accurate color representation, which is crucial for professionals, whereas the Gigabyte's narrower color range may lead to less precise color work. As for 3D applications and gaming, the Gigabyte's lower refresh rate hampers the smoothness of fast-moving images, while the MSI, despite also having a lower refresh rate, offers better visual fidelity due to its superior panel quality and resolution.
Battery
3.5 Hours
4.5 Hours
The Gigabyte G5 has 3.5 hours of battery life. The MSI Creator M14 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
7.8/10
The MSI Creator M14 and Gigabyte G5 both have good build quality, though the MSI Creator M14 has somewhat better build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$868
$1,500
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Gigabyte G5 has a price of $868 and the MSI Creator M14 costs $1,500.
The Gigabyte G5 and MSI Creator M14 are both good for gaming and AI.
The Gigabyte G5 excels in gaming and 3D tasks with its high-performing GPU and fast screen refresh rate, both of which are key for smooth visuals and responsive gameplay. In comparison, the MSI Creator M14, while also equipped with a strong GPU suitable for gaming and 3D applications, prioritizes screen quality alongside a capable CPU, appealing to creators who need both performance and high-quality displays for detailed work.
Portability
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
4.1 lbs
WEIGHT
3.5 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The MSI Creator M14 and Gigabyte G5 both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Gigabyte G5 and the MSI Creator M14 compare to other laptops
"The Gigabyte G5 KE is a midrange gaming laptop that checks most boxes. Gigabyte makes good use of the Core i5-12500H and RTX 3060 Laptop GPU combo, and we find no untoward issues with overall performance. The dual-fan quad-heatpipe cooling arrangement does well to ensure that the underlying hardware doesn't throttle under load. That being said, the display is below par when compared to 2023 standards, especially when competing devices."
Get a great deal on the Gigabyte G5 or the MSI Creator M14
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.
By the numbers
380
Laptops evaluated
48,640
Laptops stats compiled
13
Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
99,795
Recommendations made
21,623
Consumer hours saved
About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Craig Russell
Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.