If cost is a major factor for you, the HP 15" Laptop offers general computing capabilities at a more budget-friendly price point. However, if you require high performance for tasks such as 3D modeling, machine learning, or gaming, the MSI GP66 Leopard, despite being more expensive, is better equipped to handle these intensive tasks with its advanced processing and graphics capabilities. Keep in mind that the MSI may also have a shorter battery life due to its powerful components and is typically heavier, making the HP a more portable option with likely longer battery life for everyday tasks. 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 HP 15" Laptop
Good portability
Good battery life
Advantages of the MSI GP66 Leopard
Good for general use
Good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Good for software development
Good for content creation
Good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Good speakers
Very good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
6.7/10
7.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
250.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
362.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
5.0 Hours
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
7.8/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.8/10
The MSI GP66 Leopard is good for general use, while the HP 15" Laptop is only fair.
The HP 15" Laptop offers satisfactory performance for general use with its Intel i3 processor and 8GB of RAM, but falls short in battery life and color reproduction compared to the MSI GP66 Leopard, which despite its superior Intel i7 processor, 16GB of RAM, and better screen quality, is less portable due to its heavier weight and larger size.
Gaming and AI
5.9/10
7.8/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.7/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The MSI GP66 Leopard is good for gaming and AI, while the HP 15" Laptop is poor.
The MSI GP66 Leopard offers superior gaming and 3D performance with its Nvidia RTX 3080 graphics card and higher screen refresh rate, compared to the HP 15" Laptop's Intel UHD Graphics and lower refresh rate. Additionally, the MSI's high-quality screen and powerful CPU are better suited for intensive tasks than the more modest offerings of the HP.
Engineering and Design
6.2/10
7.9/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.7/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI GP66 Leopard is good for engineering and design, while the HP 15" Laptop is only fair.
The HP 15" Laptop has a lower-powered Intel i3 processor and integrated graphics, which makes it less suited for demanding engineering and design tasks, whereas the MSI GP66 Leopard features a high-performing Intel i7 processor and a powerful Nvidia RTX 3080 graphics card, providing superior performance for such applications.
Content Creation
6.9/10
7.4/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI GP66 Leopard is good for content creation, while the HP 15" Laptop is only fair.
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
6.7/10
7.2/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The MSI GP66 Leopard is good for software development, while the HP 15" Laptop 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
6.3/10
7.5/10
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
250.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
362.0 nits
The MSI GP66 Leopard has a better screen than the HP 15" Laptop for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The HP 15" Laptop's screen is adequate for everyday tasks thanks to its resolution and brightness, but falls short for engineering and design as it lacks wide color gamut support, essential for precise color work, and for gaming or 3D work, the lower refresh rate hampers smooth visuals. The MSI GP66 Leopard, with better resolution and brightness, offers a more vivid and detailed experience suitable for general tasks and more precise color representation for engineering and design, yet its refresh rate isn't high enough for the most fluid experience in fast-paced 3D applications. The disparity in screen performance for each use case stems from the specific technical aspects that cater to the varying requirements of general computing, color-critical work, and the fast motion handling necessary for immersive gaming and 3D rendering.
Portability
Good
Fair
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
3.7 lbs
WEIGHT
5.2 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The HP 15" Laptop has good portability, while the MSI GP66 Leopard has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.0/10
8.0/10
The MSI GP66 Leopard has very good build quality, while the HP 15" Laptop has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$378
$1,400
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The HP 15" Laptop has a price of $378 and the MSI GP66 Leopard costs $1,400.
"Chances are high that the HP 15 is one of the first laptops to pop up when you search for an inexpensive notebook. Indeed, its price tag is very tempting for many, and of course, this is the reason for its popularity. However, the HP 15" suffers from poor performance due to low power consumption. On the bright side, one of the good things about it is the port selection. On the inside, this includes two SODIMM slots for memory, an M.2 PCIe x4 slot for storage, and a SATA drive bay. However, the TN panel, and mediocre input devices are not ideal."
"The MSI GP66 Leopard is a good budget high-performance gamer. The MSI also does a lot right outside of the pure performance despite it's low price. For example, the adaptive cooling system really surprised us positively, even in Extreme Performance Mode. And the display is not a budget panel either, but at least outshines the competition in terms of brightness. Of course, you also have to accept a few compromises in this price category. These include the Leopard's poor battery runtimes and the less than optimal build quality, which is also noticeable in the more complicated maintenance."
Get a great deal on the HP 15" Laptop or the MSI GP66 Leopard
About HP
HP, also known as Hewlett-Packard, is an American technology company that develops personal computers and computer peripherals. In the laptop industry, HP is known for its entry level Essential series laptops, its mid-range Pavilion, Envy, and Victus series, and high-end Omen and Spectre series, in addition to its business-oriented EliteBook, ProBook, and Dragonfly series laptops. HP laptops generally undercut other mainstream competitors in terms of price, placing itself as the value-oriented mainstream brand.
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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