A comparison of specs, key information, reviews, and best pricing from top retailers
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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated March 21, 2024·
The HP 17" laptop offers affordability and satisfactory performance for everyday tasks, ideal if you prefer to save money and primarily use the device for general activities like browsing and office applications. On the other hand, the MSI Titan 18 HX, with its premium price tag, is designed for demanding applications like 3D rendering, machine learning, and high-end gaming; it provides exceptional performance but is less portable and has a shorter battery life compared to the HP. Choose the MSI if you need top-tier performance and the HP for cost-effective general 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 HP 17" Laptop
- Good portability
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
7.3
8.8
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
287.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
401.0 nits
5.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.0 Hours
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
10.0/10
7.1/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
5.0/10
The MSI Titan 18 HX is very good for general use, while the HP 17" Laptop is good.
The HP 17" laptop offers ample screen space and sufficient computing power through its CPU and RAM for everyday tasks, making it a solid choice for those prioritizing cost and general use, but its larger size and likely heavier weight reduce portability and may limit battery life. In contrast, the MSI Titan 18 HX, with its superior CPU and larger RAM, excels in screen quality and performance, ideal for more demanding applications, yet its high performance often means a tradeoff with greater weight, increased heat, and decreased battery life, making it less convenient for on-the-go use.
Gaming and AI
6.2
9.4
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
8.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI Titan 18 HX is excellent for gaming and AI, while the HP 17" Laptop is only fair.
The HP 17" Laptop has a decent GPU and screen quality that can run games and 3D applications, but the MSI Titan 18 HX, with its superior GPU and higher screen refresh rate, delivers a premium, more fluid visual experience crucial for high-end gaming and intense 3D tasks. While the CPU and screen quality in both laptops are capable, the MSI's advanced components give it a distinct edge for demanding graphics workloads.
Engineering and Design
6.8
9.9
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
3.6/10
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 HP 17" Laptop is only fair.
The HP 17" Laptop offers a balance of power and usability, with sufficient CPU, RAM, and a quality screen for most engineering and design tasks, but the MSI Titan 18 HX stands out with its superior CPU and GPU performance for the most demanding software, enhanced by an exceptional screen. While the HP is lighter, making it more portable, the Titan's larger size and weight reflect its focus on top-tier components and performance, potentially at the cost of a noisier operating experience and less convenient mobility.
Content Creation
7.2
9.0
6.9/10
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 HP 17" Laptop 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
7.1
8.9
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
128.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
10.0/10
The MSI Titan 18 HX is very good for software development, while the HP 17" Laptop 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
6.6
9.2
17.3in
SIZE
18.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
287.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
401.0 nits
The MSI Titan 18 HX has a better screen than the HP 17" Laptop for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The HP 17" Laptop's screen provides adequate resolution and brightness for everyday tasks and casual use, but may lack the color accuracy needed for professional engineering and design work, and its lower refresh rate detracts from the fast-paced visuals demanded by gaming and 3D modeling. In contrast, the MSI Titan 18 HX offers a superior display with high resolution and brightness, making it excellent for both daily use and detailed engineering tasks, while also providing a wide color gamut essential for precision in design; however, its screen falls short for gaming and 3D due to an underwhelming refresh rate that cannot keep pace with high-speed content. Despite its larger size which enhances user experience for productivity and creativity, the Titan falls short for gaming enthusiasts seeking fluid motion and split-second responsiveness.
Battery
5.5 Hours
4.0 Hours
The HP 17" Laptop has 5.5 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
Good
Poor
17.3in
SIZE
18.0in
4.5 lbs
WEIGHT
7.9 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
1.2in
The HP 17" Laptop has good portability, while the MSI Titan 18 HX has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.0
8.5
The MSI Titan 18 HX has very good build quality, while the HP 17" Laptop has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$850
$4,800
$0
$1,000
$2,000
$3,000
$4,000
The HP 17" Laptop has a price of $850 and the MSI Titan 18 HX costs $4,800.
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How the HP 17" Laptop and the MSI Titan 18 HX compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| HP 17" Laptop | MSI Titan 18 HX |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$850 | $4,800 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 1, 2023 | February 1, 2024 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 15.8'' x 10.2'' x 0.81'' | 15.9'' x 12.1'' x 1.26'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.58 lbs | 7.93 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 15.78" | 15.9" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.15" | 12.08" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 7730U | Intel i9-14900HX | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 128 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 4 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 4096 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 5.5 Hours | 4 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 41 Wh | 99.9 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 17.3" | 18" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | Mini LED | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 3840 x 2400 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 287 nits | 401 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.2/10 | 5.1/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 8/10 | 7/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 6/10 | 10/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6/10 | 9.1/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | No | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | N/A | 4 | |
Shopping
HP 17" Laptop
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Francisco Lahoz | November 2022
"As far as starter laptops go, the HP Laptop 17 is a sound investment. Sure, it might not be the lightest of options, but what you get for the price is a well-rounded machine that fits multiple niches. Whether it be office duties that require you to multi-task between multiple programs, or study tasks in which you’ll spend hours browsing online, this laptop does it all. Plus, when it's time to unwind, you can watch your favorite shows or movies on a super-wide display. What's best of all is that you can do all this for about half a day on a single charge."
MSI Titan 18 HX
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Allen Ngo | January 2024
"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 HP 17" Laptop or the MSI Titan 18 HX
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.
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