If you prioritize affordability and basic tasks like web browsing and word processing, the HP Stream is a cost-effective choice but with limited performance for demanding applications. On the other hand, the MSI GP66 Leopard, while more expensive, offers high performance suitable for gaming, 3D modeling, and intensive engineering software; however, it's heavier and may have shorter battery life, making it less portable. Decide based on whether price sensitivity or the need for advanced capabilities is your top priority. 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 Stream 14"
Very 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
6.5/10
7.5/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
220.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
362.0 nits
7.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
5.0 Hours
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
8.1/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.8/10
The MSI GP66 Leopard is good for general use, while the HP Stream 14" is only fair.
The HP Stream 14 is equipped with a lower-end Intel Celeron processor, less storage, a lower resolution TN panel display which is less sharp and vibrant than an IPS panel, and it is lighter and has longer battery life, making it more portable but less powerful and with lower screen quality than the MSI GP66 Leopard.
Gaming and AI
5.7/10
7.8/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.7/10
1366 x 768
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 Stream 14" is poor.
The HP Stream 14", with an Intel Celeron processor and Intel UHD Graphics 600, offers basic performance and a screen with a standard refresh rate, making it unsuitable for gaming and 3D applications. In contrast, the MSI GP66 Leopard is equipped with a high-end Intel i7 processor and Nvidia RTX 3080 graphics, plus a high refresh rate screen, providing powerful performance and smooth visuals crucial for gaming and 3D tasks.
Engineering and Design
5.7/10
7.9/10
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI GP66 Leopard is good for engineering and design, while the HP Stream 14" is poor.
The HP Stream 14" has a basic Intel Celeron processor and integrated graphics, whereas the MSI GP66 Leopard boasts a high-end Intel i7 processor and a powerful Nvidia RTX 3080 graphics card, making the latter significantly better suited for demanding engineering and design tasks that require robust processing power and superior graphics capabilities.
Content Creation
6.7/10
7.4/10
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI GP66 Leopard is good for content creation, while the HP Stream 14" 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
6.5/10
7.2/10
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1366 x 768
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 Stream 14" 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
5.2/10
7.5/10
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
220.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
362.0 nits
The MSI GP66 Leopard has a better screen than the HP Stream 14" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The HP Stream 14" likely provides insufficient resolution and low brightness, resulting in less clarity and vibrancy for general tasks, and it lacks the color range necessary for precision in engineering and design, while its likely standard refresh rate isn't suitable for the smooth visuals required in gaming and 3D. The MSI GP66 Leopard, with better resolution and brightness, offers a more immersive experience for everyday use and precise color representation crucial for engineering and design works. However, its refresh rate, while potentially adequate for general computing, may fall short for the high frame rates desired in fast-paced games and 3D applications.
Battery
7.5 Hours
5.0 Hours
The HP Stream 14" has 7.5 hours of battery life. The MSI GP66 Leopard has 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.
Portability
Very Good
Fair
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
3.5 lbs
WEIGHT
5.2 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The HP Stream 14" has very good portability, while the MSI GP66 Leopard has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
5.5/10
8.0/10
The MSI GP66 Leopard has very good build quality, while the HP Stream 14" has poor build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$299
$1,400
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The HP Stream 14" has a price of $299 and the MSI GP66 Leopard costs $1,400.
"With half of the main system memory and a fraction of the storage that we recommend in any budget Windows laptop, the HP Stream 14 does not impress. Perhaps it doesn't need to, depending on your reference point. For the price, you're getting a functional laptop with Windows 10, which already places the HP Stream 14 above most Chromebooks on that merit alone. Still, in this price range, you can't do much worse, but you can do better. In fact, for just $100 more, you can grab the much superior budget option, the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14."
"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 Stream 14" 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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