The HP Stream 14" is more budget-friendly and suitable for basic tasks like browsing the web and using office applications. If you're looking for a laptop that is easy on the wallet and primarily for general use, it's a solid pick. However, if you require a laptop for more intensive tasks such as 3D design, machine learning, gaming, or engineering software, the MSI Stealth GS77, while more expensive, offers significantly better performance and is built to handle such demanding applications. It also typically has a more robust build quality, better display and graphics capabilities, and a more powerful processor and memory configuration, but it will be heavier and might have a shorter battery life than the HP Stream, making it less ideal for frequent travel. Therefore, consider what you'll primarily use your laptop for and whether the increase in cost is justified by the need for higher performance and features. 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 Stealth GS77
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
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
Very good speakers
Very good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
6.5/10
8.4/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
220.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
305.0 nits
7.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
8.1/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.4/10
The MSI Stealth GS77 is very good for general use, while the HP Stream 14" is only fair.
The HP Stream 14" offers basic performance with an Intel Celeron processor and is lightweight, which enhances portability, but it has a lower-quality TN screen and modest battery life. On the other hand, the MSI Stealth GS77 provides high performance with an Intel i7 processor and superior screen quality on a larger IPS display, but it is heavier and despite having a much larger battery, it offers less battery life due to its powerful components.
Gaming and AI
5.7/10
7.9/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.8/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Stealth GS77 is good for gaming and AI, while the HP Stream 14" is poor.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Engineering and Design
5.7/10
8.7/10
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Stealth GS77 is very good for engineering and design, while the HP Stream 14" is poor.
The HP Stream 14" has a low-end CPU and GPU, basic screen quality, and it is more portable due to its lighter weight and smaller size, making it less suited for demanding engineering and design work. On the other hand, the MSI Stealth GS77 offers a high-end CPU and GPU, superior screen quality with a higher resolution and refresh rate, but it is heavier and larger, which is ideal for intensive tasks but compromises portability.
Content Creation
6.7/10
8.3/10
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Stealth GS77 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
6.5/10
8.1/10
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The MSI Stealth GS77 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
5.2/10
8.3/10
14.0in
SIZE
17.3in
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
220.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
305.0 nits
The MSI Stealth GS77 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" has a screen that lacks high resolution and brightness, making it less suitable for any usage that requires clarity and vibrancy, such as browsing or video streaming. For engineering and design, the screen's limited color gamut means it won't accurately display the full spectrum of colors, which is essential for precise visual work. The MSI Stealth GS77, with its superior resolution and color coverage, caters well to general and professional uses, but its lower refresh rate may not deliver the smooth visuals desired by gamers and those working with fast-moving 3D graphics.
Battery
7.5 Hours
6.0 Hours
The HP Stream 14" has 7.5 hours of battery life. The MSI Stealth GS77 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
Fair
14.0in
SIZE
17.3in
3.5 lbs
WEIGHT
6.1 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The HP Stream 14" has very good portability, while the MSI Stealth GS77 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
5.5/10
8.0/10
The MSI Stealth GS77 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
$2,499
$0
$1,000
$2,000
$3,000
$4,000
The HP Stream 14" has a price of $299 and the MSI Stealth GS77 costs $2,499.
"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 Stealth GS77 is better than the GS76... mostly. The GS77 is a few steps forward and a few steps back from the GS76. Improvements are numerous including the stronger and more rigid skeleton, higher resolution webcam, larger clickpad, easier serviceability, relatively similar battery runtimes, newer display options, and higher performance at about the same TDP and TGP levels as before. CPU performance is better than expected even when compared to other laptops with Core i7 or Core i9 processors. The newer model feels more substantial than the outgoing one for higher quality impressions as well."
Get a great deal on the HP Stream 14" or the MSI Stealth GS77
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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