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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" comes at a lower cost and offers a larger screen with better battery life, which is beneficial for general use and productivity tasks. It's a bit heavier, though, so it's less portable than the MSI GF65 Thin. On the other hand, the MSI GF65 Thin, while more expensive, provides superior performance with its dedicated graphics card, making it more suitable for 3D rendering, gaming, and engineering software. It also has a higher refresh rate screen that's better for fast motion, like gaming. However, it comes with the disadvantage of having shorter battery life. Choose the Lenovo IdeaPad for cost efficiency and casual use or the MSI if you need more power for specialized tasks and gaming, knowing the impact on portability and 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 Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17"
- Good for general use
- Good for software development
- Good for content creation
- Good battery life
Advantages of the MSI GF65 Thin
- Good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.3
6.5
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
307.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
9.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.5 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.1/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" is good for general use, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" offers better screen quality and longer battery life than the MSI GF65 Thin, making it more suitable for general use with its larger, high contrast ratio IPS display and the ability to last longer on a single charge. However, the MSI GF65 Thin, while having less battery life and a smaller screen, is more portable due to its lighter weight and offers superior heat management, characteristics that might appeal to users who prioritize mobility and intense workloads.
Gaming and AI
6.1
6.8
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.1/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
9.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The MSI GF65 Thin and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the MSI GF65 Thin is somewhat better.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" with its AMD Vega 7 graphics and a lower screen refresh rate is less equipped for fast-paced gaming compared to the MSI GF65 Thin, which boasts a high-end Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU and a much higher refresh rate, critical for smoother gameplay and rendering 3D graphics. While the IdeaPad 3's larger screen may offer a more immersive experience for casual games and 3D viewing, the MSI's hardware makes it significantly better suited for intensive gaming and 3D applications.
Content Creation
7.4
6.8
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" is good for content creation, while the MSI GF65 Thin 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
7.2
6.3
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" is good for software development, while the MSI GF65 Thin 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
6.7
6.8
17.3in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
307.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" has a better screen than the MSI GF65 Thin for general use, engineering and design, software development, and content creation, while the MSI GF65 Thin has a better screen for gaming and AI.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" likely offers a larger, higher-resolution display which benefits general use and detailed tasks like engineering, complemented by adequate brightness and decent color coverage critical for design work. However, its screen might lack a high refresh rate, which is essential for smooth visuals in gaming and 3D applications. The MSI GF65 Thin, designed for portability and gaming, may also offer a fair resolution with sufficient brightness but might not provide the color accuracy or wide color gamuts needed for professional engineering and design tasks, nor the superior refresh rates expected for gaming and 3D content.
Battery
9.0 Hours
4.5 Hours
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" has 9 hours of battery life. The MSI GF65 Thin has 4.5 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.
Cost
$784
$1,100
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" has a price of $784 and the MSI GF65 Thin costs $1,100.
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Key similarities
Engineering and Design
6.6
6.7
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.1/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The MSI GF65 Thin and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" are both only fair for engineering and design.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" with its Ryzen CPU and integrated Vega GPU is adequate for engineering tasks but may lag behind in graphics-intensive work compared to the MSI GF65 Thin, which boasts a more powerful Intel CPU and Nvidia graphics, making it more suitable for engineering and design applications that require greater processing power and graphical accuracy. While the larger screen of the IdeaPad offers more workspace, the GF65's superior GPU and higher screen refresh rate offer a smoother and more responsive visual experience, which is crucial for design software; however, the IdeaPad may appeal more to those prioritizing a quieter operating noise and longer battery life for on-the-go work.
Portability
Good
Good
17.3in
SIZE
15.6in
4.4 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The MSI GF65 Thin and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.5
6.7
The MSI GF65 Thin and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" both have only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" and the MSI GF65 Thin compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" | MSI GF65 Thin |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$784 | $1,100 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | April 1, 2022 | January 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 15.7'' x 10.8'' x 0.78'' | 14.1'' x 10'' x 0.85'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.49 lbs | 4.1 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 15.71" | 14.13" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.79" | 9.99" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 5 5625U | Intel i5-10500H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 1 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 9 Hours | 4.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 45 Wh | 51 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 17.3" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 307 nits | 262 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.2/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 9.5/10 | 6.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | No | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17"
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LaptopMedia
Alex Iliev | December 2022
"The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" defies expectations. Indeed, it is just a minor upgrade over last year. However, this doesn’t make the laptop any less terrific. It’s got a great performance, courtesy of the Ryzen 5x25U processors. In addition, you get a pretty good battery life. Perhaps, the 2-hour decrease in video playback, compared to last year is not great, but still, 10 hours of Web browsing and 7 hours of video playback is okay for 17-inch notebooks."
MSI GF65 Thin
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Allen Ngo | March 2021
"The MSI GF65 Thin offers a GeForce RTX 3060 on a budget. The MSI GF65 is a relatively inexpensive RTX 3060 laptop and, perhaps not coincidentally, it also comes with a slower-than-average RTX 3060 GPU. Other laptops we've tested thus far with the same GPU are about 10 to 15 percent faster. CPU performance is also slightly slower than average unless if users decide to enable Cooler Boost mode. Colors, black-white response times, Thunderbolt, and DisplayPort are either average or completely omitted. Gamers who want to maximize performance-per-dollar without sacrificing RAM or SSD upgradeability will find the lightweight MSI GF65 attractive."
Get a great deal on the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" or the MSI GF65 Thin
About Lenovo
Lenovo is a Chinese technology company, and one of the largest personal computer vendor. They are well known for a variety of technology products, including laptops. Their consumer series include their entry level IdeaPad and LOQ series and mid-to-high-end Yoga and Legion series. On the business-oriented side, their series include their entry-level ThinkBook series and mid-to-high-end ThinkPad series. Lenovo laptops offer strong performance for reasonable prices, and are often on sale.
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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