If you're looking for a budget-friendly option for everyday tasks like browsing the web, using office applications, and watching videos, the HP Pavilion 15 is a sensible choice as it offers good value for general use without a high price tag. However, if you're into gaming, 3D modeling, or require a machine capable of handling more demanding engineering or machine learning tasks, the MSI GE66 Raider stands out with its superior performance, though it comes at a higher cost and is less portable. The Raider also typically features a better screen and gaming-specific enhancements but has shorter battery life than the HP due to its high-performance components. Choose the Pavilion 15 for portability and value, and the Raider if performance is a priority and you're willing to invest more. 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 Pavilion 15
Good portability
Advantages of the MSI GE66 Raider
Very good for general use
Excellent for engineering and design
Very good for gaming and AI
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Good battery life
Good speakers
Excellent keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.0/10
8.4/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
220.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
347.0 nits
3.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
6.2/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
7.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.8/10
The MSI GE66 Raider is very good for general use, while the HP Pavilion 15 is good.
The MSI GE66 Raider excels in general use largely due to its superior main processor, double the RAM, and a high-quality IPS display with significantly better resolution, which contribute to its overall performance and screen clarity; however, its higher weight and lower portability score reflect a trade-off in portability. In comparison, the HP Pavilion 15 offers modest CPU and RAM for everyday tasks and a TN screen with standard resolution that provides adequate display quality, paired with light weight and excellent portability, making it a practical choice for users who value mobility and battery life over top-tier performance.
Gaming and AI
6.0/10
8.6/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.2/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.2/10
The MSI GE66 Raider is very good for gaming and AI, while the HP Pavilion 15 is only fair.
The HP Pavilion 15 has a less powerful integrated GPU and a standard screen refresh rate, making it fair for gaming and 3D tasks, while the MSI GE66 Raider boasts a high-end dedicated GPU and a higher refresh rate, contributing to its excellent gaming and 3D performance.
Engineering and Design
6.2/10
9.1/10
4.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.4/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI GE66 Raider is excellent for engineering and design, while the HP Pavilion 15 is only fair.
The HP Pavilion 15 has a basic processor and integrated graphics, making it suitable for lighter engineering tasks, but its screen quality and lower RAM limit its design capabilities. On the other hand, the MSI GE66 Raider, with its high-end processor, top-tier dedicated graphics card, and a superior, high-resolution screen, offers robust performance and detailed visuals for demanding engineering and design applications, though it is less portable and generates more noise.
Content Creation
7.1/10
8.4/10
4.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.4/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI GE66 Raider is very good for content creation, while the HP Pavilion 15 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
6.6/10
8.4/10
4.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
6.2/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The MSI GE66 Raider is very good for software development, while the HP Pavilion 15 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
5.3/10
8.2/10
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
220.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
347.0 nits
The MSI GE66 Raider has a better screen than the HP Pavilion 15 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The HP Pavilion 15's screen may not offer the sharpness and clarity needed for everyday tasks, detailed engineering work, or the vibrant visuals desired in gaming due to its lower resolution and brightness. In contrast, the MSI GE66 Raider's display boasts high resolution and brightness, enhancing the user experience for both general and professional design tasks by providing crisp images and accurate colors. However, for gaming and 3D applications, the Raider's screen might disappoint due to a less optimal refresh rate, which is crucial for smooth motion rendering in fast-paced visuals.
Battery
3.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The HP Pavilion 15 has 3 hours of battery life. The MSI GE66 Raider has 6 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
Fair
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
3.7 lbs
WEIGHT
5.2 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The HP Pavilion 15 has good portability, while the MSI GE66 Raider has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.2/10
8.5/10
The MSI GE66 Raider has very good build quality, while the HP Pavilion 15 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$600
$3,199
$0
$1,000
$2,000
$3,000
$4,000
The HP Pavilion 15 has a price of $600 and the MSI GE66 Raider costs $3,199.
"The HP Pavilion 15 carries a fair amount of power and a sharp display in its handsome slimline shell. It's not perfect, but it's a hard worker. This is wonderfully designed and totes a heck of a lot of desktop power, with the added benefit of a decent webcam and a full-sized keyboard. If you're getting down to business on a budget, it's a great fit."
"The MSI Raider GE66 12UHS notebook passes with flying colors. The GE66 is a high-end notebook with strong performance. The keyboard and trackpad are still very good and score well with precise inputs as well as high build quality. Thanks to a new liquid metal cooling solution, the Intel Core i9 12900HK brings a performance increase of around 50 percent over the predecessor's Intel Core i9 10980HK. The installed graphics card in our device delivers up to 30 percent higher frame rates than the RTX 2070 Super in the MSI GE66 10SFS."
Get a great deal on the HP Pavilion 15 or the MSI GE66 Raider
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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