If performance during engineering tasks and a larger, touch-enabled display matter to you, the HP Envy 17 may be the better choice, although it is less portable due to its size and weight. For more gaming-oriented features like a high-refresh-rate screen and dedicated graphics, the MSI GF65 Thin offers better suitability for intensive gaming and 3D tasks, with a tradeoff in shorter battery life and smaller display. Both offer similar storage and main processor capabilities, with the HP having more RAM for smoother multitasking. The HP's slightly higher price reflects its larger screen and touch capabilities. 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 Envy 17
Good for general use
Good for engineering and design
Good for software development
Good for content creation
Good overall build quality
Good battery life
Advantages of the MSI GF65 Thin
The MSI GF65 Thin has no clear advantages over the HP Envy 17.
Key differences
General Use
7.5/10
6.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
329.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.5 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The HP Envy 17 is good for general use, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.
The HP Envy 17 offers a superior experience for general use due to its high-performance CPU, ample RAM, and quality screen, complemented by a large screen size and good battery life, although it is less portable due to its larger size and weight.
Engineering and Design
7.4/10
6.7/10
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
3.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The HP Envy 17 is good for engineering and design, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.
The HP Envy 17 is well-suited for engineering and design due to its high-performance CPU, ample RAM, and quality IPS screen, though it is less portable and has a GPU less optimal for tasks requiring advanced graphics. Conversely, the MSI GF65 Thin, while lighter and thus more portable, also integrates a superior GPU for graphics-intensive applications but compromises on CPU performance and screen size, beneficial for engineering and design workloads.
Content Creation
7.5/10
6.8/10
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The HP Envy 17 is good for content creation, while the MSI GF65 Thin 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
7.5/10
6.3/10
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The HP Envy 17 is good for software development, while the MSI GF65 Thin 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
6.8/10
17.3in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
329.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
The HP Envy 17 has a better screen than the MSI GF65 Thin for general use, engineering and design, software development, and content creation, while the MSI GF65 Thin has a better screen for gaming and AI.
The HP Envy 17 likely offers a higher resolution and brighter display, which enhances the visual experience for general use and detailed work in engineering and design but may lack the high refresh rates needed for smooth visuals in gaming and 3D applications. The MSI GF65 Thin’s display may provide adequate resolution and brightness for everyday tasks and professional work, yet it might not fully cover the color gamuts critical for precise engineering and design tasks. Moreover, its screen, despite being fair for day-to-day activities, falls short for gaming due to a lesser refresh rate, which is crucial for a fluid and immersive 3D experience.
Battery
8.0 Hours
4.5 Hours
The HP Envy 17 has 8 hours of battery life. The MSI GF65 Thin 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.
Cost
$1,000
$1,100
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
The HP Envy 17 has a price of $1,000 and the MSI GF65 Thin costs $1,100.
The MSI GF65 Thin and HP Envy 17 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The HP Envy 17 is classified as fair for gaming and 3D because it features an integrated GPU which is less powerful for these tasks and has a standard screen refresh rate of 60Hz. On the other hand, the MSI GF65 Thin also reaches a fair level for gaming and 3D with a dedicated gaming-grade GPU that offers better performance and a high screen refresh rate of 144Hz, although its overall capability may be affected by other factors like a less powerful CPU and lower screen quality.
Portability
Good
Good
17.3in
SIZE
15.6in
5.4 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The MSI GF65 Thin and HP Envy 17 both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.2/10
6.7/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers HP Envy 17 to have good build quality, while the MSI GF65 Thin has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the HP Envy 17 and the MSI GF65 Thin compare to other laptops
"In our test, the HP Envy 17-cr0079ng presents itself as a balanced multimedia laptop. Thanks to its solid CPU performance and dedicated entry-level GeForce, it can also be used for playing video games, as long as the demands aren't too high. Those looking for more can find it in the Dell XPS 17 for example."
"The MSI GF65 Thin offers a GeForce RTX 3060 on a budget. The MSI GF65 is a relatively inexpensive RTX 3060 laptop and, perhaps not coincidentally, it also comes with a slower-than-average RTX 3060 GPU. Other laptops we've tested thus far with the same GPU are about 10 to 15 percent faster. CPU performance is also slightly slower than average unless if users decide to enable Cooler Boost mode. Colors, black-white response times, Thunderbolt, and DisplayPort are either average or completely omitted. Gamers who want to maximize performance-per-dollar without sacrificing RAM or SSD upgradeability will find the lightweight MSI GF65 attractive."
Get a great deal on the HP Envy 17 or the MSI GF65 Thin
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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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.
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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.
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