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Updated January 12, 2024·
The HP Victus 15 is often significantly less expensive and could be suitable for general use and lighter gaming, as it features a mid-tier graphics card. However, if you're looking for more robust performance for demanding tasks such as 3D rendering, machine learning, or high-end gaming, the MSI Pulse GL66 offers higher specifications with a more powerful graphics card and processor, at a higher cost. Consider the benefits of the MSI's performance against the savings from the HP, and remember that performance demands also impact battery life and portability, with more powerful laptops often being heavier and having shorter battery life. 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 Victus 15
- The HP Victus 15 has no clear advantages over the MSI Pulse GL66.
Advantages of the MSI Pulse GL66
- Good for engineering and design
- Good for gaming and AI
- Very good speakers
- Very good keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.4
7.2
3.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.1/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The MSI Pulse GL66 is good for gaming and AI, while the HP Victus 15 is only fair.
The MSI Pulse GL66 offers a stronger graphics card which is crucial for smooth gameplay and detailed 3D work, as well as a higher screen refresh rate that makes fast-paced visuals appear more fluid. Meanwhile, the HP Victus 15, while still decent for these tasks, has a less powerful graphics setup and a lower refresh rate, which might reduce the crispness and responsiveness during gaming or 3D modeling.
Engineering and Design
6.7
7.5
8.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
3.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.1/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Pulse GL66 is good for engineering and design, while the HP Victus 15 is only fair.
The HP Victus 15, with an Intel i5 CPU, 8GB RAM and Nvidia RTX 3050 GPU, provides suitable power for design and engineering tasks, along with a good quality screen and decent portability. The MSI Pulse GL66 steps up with a more powerful Intel i7 CPU, double the RAM at 16GB, and a superior Nvidia RTX 3070 GPU, ensuring smoother performance for demanding applications, although it's slightly less portable due to its weight.
Screen Quality
6.9
6.8
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
262.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
245.0 nits
The HP Victus 15 has a better screen than the MSI Pulse GL66 for general use.
The HP Victus 15 has a display that offers clear visuals and sufficient brightness for tasks like web browsing and office work, making it suitable for general use. However, for engineering and design professionals who require precise color representation, its color gamut coverage may not meet their needs for accuracy. When it comes to 3D applications and gaming, the refresh rate of the HP Victus 15 is lower, resulting in less smooth visuals which can be a drawback for fast-paced action or detailed animation work.
Battery
5.5 Hours
4.0 Hours
The HP Victus 15 has 5.5 hours of battery life. The MSI Pulse GL66 has 4 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
$575
$1,399
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The HP Victus 15 has a price of $575 and the MSI Pulse GL66 costs $1,399.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.3
7.3
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
262.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
245.0 nits
5.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.0 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
7.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI Pulse GL66 and HP Victus 15 are both good for general use.
The HP Victus 15 offers balanced performance for general use with an Intel i5 processor, 8GB RAM, and a screen that provides good color accuracy and brightness, while weighing a tad heavier but offering slightly longer battery life. In contrast, the MSI Pulse GL66 boasts a more powerful Intel i7 processor, double the RAM for smoother multitasking, and superior keyboard and speaker quality, but this comes at the cost of lower battery life and a bit less portability due to its weight.
Content Creation
7.2
7.2
8.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The HP Victus 15 and MSI Pulse GL66 are both good for content creation.
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
7.0
7.0
8.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The MSI Pulse GL66 and HP Victus 15 are both good for software development.
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.
Portability
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
5.0 lbs
WEIGHT
4.6 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The MSI Pulse GL66 and HP Victus 15 both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.4
7.4
The HP Victus 15 and MSI Pulse GL66 both have good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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How the HP Victus 15 and the MSI Pulse GL66 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| HP Victus 15 | MSI Pulse GL66 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$575 | $1,399 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | April 1, 2023 | March 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 10.4'' x 0.93'' | 14.1'' x 10.2'' x 0.94'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.06 lbs | 4.63 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.09" | 14.13" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.4" | 10.2" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-13420H | Intel i7-11800H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 5.5 Hours | 4 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 52.5 Wh | 53 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 144Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 262 nits | 245 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7/10 | 7.1/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7/10 | 6.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7/10 | 8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
HP Victus 15
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Rtings
Olivier Martin, Ryan Lim, and Yannick Khong | March 2023
"The HP Victus 15 is great for gaming. It's available with Intel 12th Gen. CPUs and NVIDIA discrete graphics, which are powerful enough to provide a smooth gaming experience in demanding AAA titles at 1080p. It has a nice keyboard and a fast SSD, as well as Wi-Fi 6 and Ethernet connectivity for low-latency online gaming. Unfortunately, its 144Hz display has a slow response time causing noticeable ghosting, and it doesn't support variable refresh rate to reduce screen tearing."
MSI Pulse GL66
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NotebookCheck
Christian Hintze | April 2022
"The MSI Pulse GL66 has a lot of potential for improvement. Although the RTX 3060 is only able to use 105 watts, we still liked the gaming performance, particularly since this also makes the Pulse comfortably efficient but not slow by any means. Neither the dark display with its lame response times, nor USB 2.0 or the lack of Thunderbolt will please real gamers. The use of a sticker factory seal, which is at least questionable, also won't inspire any enthusiasm. It is obvious that the laptop is really designed for price-conscious gamers."
Get a great deal on the HP Victus 15 or the MSI Pulse GL66
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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