A comparison of specs, key information, reviews, and best pricing from top retailers
Last updated -- hours ago | Report incorrect information
Company ProductName Specs
Company ProductName Specs
What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 12, 2024·
If you're looking for more computing power and memory, which can be beneficial for more demanding tasks or future-proofing, the MSI Katana 17 is equipped with a more potent processor and more RAM. It also has a larger screen, which might be preferable if you value screen real estate for multitasking or immersive experiences. However, the larger size means it's heavier and may not be as easy to transport as the Gigabyte G5, which is more compact and lightweight. The Gigabyte G5 stands out for its affordability, making it a sensible choice for those on a tighter budget but still offers respectable performance for everyday usage and moderate gaming. Ultimately, your decision should be based on your specific needs regarding performance, portability, and how much you're willing to invest. 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
- Good portability
- Very good speakers
Advantages of the MSI Katana 17
- Very good for engineering and design
- Good for software development
Key differences
General Use
7.1
7.9
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
248.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
256.0 nits
3.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
3.0 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
7.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.2/10
The MSI Katana 17 and Gigabyte G5 are both good for general use, though the MSI Katana 17 is somewhat better.
The MSI Katana 17 offers a more powerful CPU and larger RAM, enhancing multitasking and processing capabilities for general use, whereas the Gigabyte G5, with lesser RAM and a lower-tier CPU, may handle routine tasks but could lag in more demanding scenarios.
Gaming and AI
7.3
7.9
7.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI Katana 17 and Gigabyte G5 are both good for gaming and AI, though the MSI Katana 17 is somewhat better.
The MSI Katana 17 edges ahead for gaming and 3D due to its larger screen and more RAM, which enhance playability and multitasking, while both laptops include a Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU for high quality graphics and have screens with the same refresh rate for smooth visuals. The Gigabyte G5, however, provides a solid alternative with a competitive GPU and suitable refresh rate, but its smaller screen and lesser RAM may not deliver the same expansive and fluid experience as the MSI Katana 17 for demanding tasks.
Engineering and Design
7.6
8.4
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
7.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Katana 17 is very good for engineering and design, while the Gigabyte G5 is good.
The MSI Katana 17 is very good for engineering and design tasks due to its more powerful Intel i7 processor, larger RAM capacity, and superior screen quality, whereas the Gigabyte G5, with a less advanced Intel i5 processor and lesser RAM, is only considered good in this respect. Although both laptops have similar GPUs and screen resolutions, the Katana's larger screen and slightly better contrast ratio offer a more suitable workspace for detailed tasks, but it is less portable and has a lower portability score compared to the Gigabyte G5.
Content Creation
7.2
7.8
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Katana 17 and Gigabyte G5 are both good for content creation, though the MSI Katana 17 is somewhat better.
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
7.5
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Katana 17 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
6.9
15.6in
SIZE
17.3in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
248.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
256.0 nits
The MSI Katana 17 has a better screen than the Gigabyte G5 for general use, content creation, and software development.
For general use, the MSI Katana 17's superior panel type, resolution, and brightness offer clearer and sharper visuals, making text and images more vibrant compared to the Gigabyte G5. In the context of engineering and design, while both laptops may lack in extensive color gamut coverage which is vital for color-accurate work, the MSI Katana 17 maintains a slight edge. However, for gaming and 3D applications where the refresh rate is crucial for a smooth experience, both the Gigabyte G5 and MSI Katana 17 fall short, as their refresh rates don't meet the high standards required by fast-paced visual content.
Portability
Good
Fair
15.6in
SIZE
17.3in
4.1 lbs
WEIGHT
5.7 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Gigabyte G5 has good portability, while the MSI Katana 17 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$868
$1,367
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Gigabyte G5 has a price of $868 and the MSI Katana 17 costs $1,367.
Let Us Help Find Your Perfect Laptop
Find your new laptop
Key similarities
Battery
3.5 Hours
3.0 Hours
The Gigabyte G5 has 3.5 hours of battery life. The MSI Katana 17 has 3 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
7.2
The Gigabyte G5 and MSI Katana 17 both have good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Gigabyte G5 and the MSI Katana 17 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Gigabyte G5 | MSI Katana 17 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$868 | $1,367 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | May 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.2'' x 9.4'' x 0.89'' | 15.7'' x 10.8'' x 0.99'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.19 lbs | 5.73 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.2" | 15.67" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.4" | 10.75" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-12500H | Intel i7-13620H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 32 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 3.5 Hours | 3 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 54 Wh | 53.5 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 17.3" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 144Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 248 nits | 256 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.2/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.4/10 | 6.2/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 6.5/10 | 7/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Gigabyte G5
See more
Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Vaidyanathan Subramaniam | April 2023
"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."
MSI Katana 17
See more
Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Benjamin Herzig | February 2023
"The MSI Katana 17 B13V laptop impressed us in its main area of competency - gaming. The Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 ensures high-performance levels which can compete with the previous generation's RTX 3070 Ti. In addition to the speedy GPU, the MSI comes with a 144 Hz display as well as an RGB keyboard and provides a very good typing experience. Despite the power at hand, the laptop remains comparatively cool."
Get a great deal on the Gigabyte G5 or the MSI Katana 17
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.
Give feedback
We're constantly perfecting our model
Laptop guides you might be interested in
More comparisons for you
FAQs
FAQs about laptops
Why trust us
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.
Featured in
