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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 12, 2024·
If you prioritize a lower price and need a laptop for basic tasks like web browsing and document editing, the HP Stream 14" is a practical choice, but it has limited performance and a low-resolution screen. On the other hand, if you require a powerful laptop for demanding activities such as gaming, 3D modeling, or machine learning, and are willing to invest more, the MSI Raider GE78 offers top-tier performance, a superior display, and a more robust build, but it is heavier and may have shorter battery life due to its high-end components. 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
Advantages of the MSI Raider GE78
- Very good for general use
- Excellent for engineering and design
- Best in class for gaming and AI
- Very good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Very good overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
- Best in class speakers
- Best in class keyboard
Key differences
General Use
6.5
8.7
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
220.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
384.0 nits
7.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.5/10
8.1/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
5.5/10
The MSI Raider GE78 is very good for general use, while the HP Stream 14" is only fair.
The MSI Raider GE78 outshines the HP Stream 14" in general use due to its significantly more powerful Intel i9 processor and double the amount of RAM, leading to vastly superior performance. Additionally, the Raider GE78 offers a higher-quality IPS display with better resolution, color coverage, and brightness, enhancing the overall user experience, although it is heavier and has a shorter battery life, making it less portable than the HP Stream 14".
Gaming and AI
5.7
9.5
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.9/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The MSI Raider GE78 is best in class for gaming and AI, while the HP Stream 14" is poor.
The HP Stream 14" is equipped with an Intel UHD Graphics 600 GPU and a screen that refreshes at 60 times per second, making it inadequate for gaming and 3D applications requiring high graphical performance and fluid motion. In contrast, the MSI Raider GE78 boasts a superior Nvidia RTX 4090 GPU and a high-refresh screen, refreshing 240 times per second, ideal for demanding gaming and 3D experiences.
Engineering and Design
5.7
9.4
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Raider GE78 is excellent for engineering and design, while the HP Stream 14" is poor.
The HP Stream 14" with its basic Intel Celeron processor and Intel UHD Graphics is less capable of handling demanding engineering and design tasks compared to the MSI Raider GE78, which boasts a top-end Intel i9 processor and Nvidia RTX graphics, delivering superior performance necessary for such workloads. Additionally, the HP's lower-quality TN screen and moderate resolution can't match the MSI's high-resolution IPS display, which offers better color accuracy and wider viewing angles, important for precision in design projects.
Content Creation
6.7
8.8
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Raider GE78 is very 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
8.5
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.5/10
The MSI Raider GE78 is very 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
8.6
14.0in
SIZE
17.3in
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
220.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
384.0 nits
The MSI Raider GE78 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 has a lower resolution and dimmer display, which means text and images may not be as crisp or vibrant as you'd like for any task, making it less suitable for general use and detail-oriented work like engineering and design. The MSI Raider GE78, with a very good screen quality, probably boasts a higher resolution and a brighter screen, providing clearer and more accurate visuals, which are essential for work in engineering and design due to the need for precise color representation and sharp details. However, for gaming and 3D applications, the MSI's lower refresh rate may lead to less fluid motion compared to laptops with higher refresh rates, which could detract from the immersive experience that high-speed action scenes require.
Battery
7.5 Hours
6.0 Hours
The HP Stream 14" has 7.5 hours of battery life. The MSI Raider GE78 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
Very Good
Poor
14.0in
SIZE
17.3in
3.5 lbs
WEIGHT
6.8 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
1.1in
The HP Stream 14" has very good portability, while the MSI Raider GE78 has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
5.5
8.5
The MSI Raider GE78 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
$4,386
$0
$1,000
$2,000
$3,000
$4,000
The HP Stream 14" has a price of $299 and the MSI Raider GE78 costs $4,386.
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How the HP Stream 14" and the MSI Raider GE78 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| HP Stream 14" | MSI Raider GE78 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$299 | $4,386 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2022 | May 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.8'' x 8.9'' x 0.7'' | 15'' x 11.7'' x 1.13'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.5 lbs | 6.83 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.76" | 14.97" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.86" | 11.73" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel Celeron N4120 | Intel i9-13980HX | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 32 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 320 GB | 2048 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 7.5 Hours | 6 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 41 Wh | 99.9 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 17.3" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | TN | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1366 x 768 | 2560 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 240Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 220 nits | 384 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 5.6/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.2/10 | 5.6/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 8.8/10 | 6.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 6/10 | 9.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 9.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | No | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 3 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 4 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | N/A | 4 | |
Shopping
HP Stream 14"
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Zachary Cuevas | November 2021
"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."
MSI Raider GE78
See more
Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Allen Ngo | March 2023
"Performance-wise, the GE78 offers a significant boost over the GE77 for just slightly higher power consumption. You'll have to get the RTX 4080 or 4090 configurations to see the performance advantages, however, as the RTX 4070 is closer in performance to the older RTX 3080 Ti. In terms of design, some users might prefer the 16:9 minimalistic look of the older GE77 over the 16:10 retro-inspired GE78 and vice versa. We wouldn't call one better than the other in terms of aesthetics, but we'll give the edge to the GE78 for its stronger hinges and larger keys and clickpad."
Get a great deal on the HP Stream 14" or the MSI Raider GE78
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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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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