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Updated January 10, 2024·
If portability and battery life are critical for you, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 is more lightweight and offers longer battery life, making it suitable for general use and travel. However, if you require a laptop for intensive engineering tasks, 3D rendering, machine learning, or gaming, the MSI Raider GE77Hx with a more powerful processor and graphics card, larger screen, and higher refresh rate display would be more appropriate, despite being heavier with shorter battery life and at a higher price. 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 Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2
- Excellent portability
- Good battery life
- Very good speakers
Advantages of the MSI Raider GE77Hx
- Very good for general use
- Very good for engineering and design
- Very good for gaming and AI
- Very good for content creation
- Very good overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
- Excellent keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.0
8.0
1536 x 1024
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
401.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
350.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
5.5 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
9.2/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
5.8/10
The MSI Raider GE77Hx is very good for general use, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 is good.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2, with its lighter build and smaller size, offers better portability and longer battery life suitable for on-the-go activities, whereas the MSI Raider GE77Hx, with a superior CPU, more RAM, and a higher quality screen, provides enhanced performance for demanding tasks but is heavier and has shorter battery life. The Surface Go 2's portability and battery make it fair for general use, especially for those prioritizing mobility, while the Raider GE77Hx's advanced specs make it very good for general use for users requiring power for more intensive applications.
Gaming and AI
6.0
8.7
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.8/10
1536 x 1024
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The MSI Raider GE77Hx is very good for gaming and AI, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 is only fair.
The MSI Raider GE77Hx is better geared for gaming and 3D tasks due to its high-end Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti graphics card and a screen refresh rate up to 240 Hz, both crucial for smooth and detailed graphics rendering. In contrast, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2, with its integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics and a standard 60 Hz screen refresh rate, is not as well-suited for such demanding tasks despite its portability.
Engineering and Design
6.5
8.8
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.8/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Raider GE77Hx is very good for engineering and design, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 is only fair.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2's lower-end CPU and integrated GPU and its smaller amount of RAM make it less capable for demanding engineering and design tasks compared to the MSI Raider GE77Hx, which boasts a significantly more powerful CPU, dedicated high-end GPU, and double the RAM. Moreover, the MSI's larger, higher-resolution screen offers better clarity and color accuracy for detailed work, but it's less portable with a notably heavier build and larger form factor.
Content Creation
7.1
8.2
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
1536 x 1024
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Raider GE77Hx is very good for content creation, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 is good.
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
7.9
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1536 x 1024
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The MSI Raider GE77Hx and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 are both good for software development, though the MSI Raider GE77Hx is somewhat better.
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
6.9
8.4
12.4in
SIZE
17.3in
1536 x 1024
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
401.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
350.0 nits
The MSI Raider GE77Hx has a better screen than the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, the Surface Laptop Go 2 offers an adequate balance of resolution and brightness, making it comfortable for everyday tasks like browsing and video watching, while the MSI Raider GE77Hx provides a sharper and brighter display, enhancing the visual experience. In engineering and design, the MSI model excels with better color accuracy and wider color gamuts, essential for professionals who require precise color representation. However, gamers and 3D designers might find both models lacking due to subpar refresh rates, which are crucial for smooth visuals in fast-paced scenes and detailed 3D modeling.
Battery
8.0 Hours
5.5 Hours
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 has 8 hours of battery life. The MSI Raider GE77Hx has 5.5 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
Excellent
Poor
12.4in
SIZE
17.3in
2.4 lbs
WEIGHT
6.3 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
1.0in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 has excellent portability, while the MSI Raider GE77Hx has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.8
8.5
The MSI Raider GE77Hx has very good build quality, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$774
$1,999
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 has a price of $774 and the MSI Raider GE77Hx costs $1,999.
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How the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 and the MSI Raider GE77Hx compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 | MSI Raider GE77Hx |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$774 | $1,999 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 1, 2022 | June 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 11'' x 8.1'' x 0.62'' | 15.6'' x 11.2'' x 1.02'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.48 lbs | 6.39 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 10.95" | 15.63" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.12" | 11.18" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-1135G7 | Intel i7-12800HX | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 128 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 8 Hours | 5.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 41 Wh | 99.9 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 12.4" | 17.3" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1536 x 1024 | 2560 x 1440 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 240Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 401 nits | 350 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.8/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 9.3/10 | 5.9/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 6.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7/10 | 9/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8.4/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | No | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 1 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | N/A | 4 | |
Shopping
Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | August 2022
"The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 review is a compact companion with old hardware. The Surface Laptop Go 2 shows some weaknesses. Microsoft didn't really develop the second generation of the Surface Laptop Go 2 any further but has only equipped it with a slightly more powerful Core i5 processor. However, the performance still remains at a fairly low level overall, but for many users, it definitely should still be sufficient for everyday tasks."
MSI Raider GE77Hx
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Sascha Mölck | July 2022
"The MSI Raider GE77 offers a lot of power for a lot of money. The main components consist of a Core i9-12900HX CPU, a GeForce RTX 3080 Ti Laptop GPU (175 watts TGP, 16 GB VRAM), and 64 GB of RAM, which makes for a high overall performance level. The GeForce GPU in particular scores some of the highest scores we have seen from this chip. Both the CPU and the GPU are able to run at continuously high clock speeds. The relatively high heat and noise emissions match our expectations for this device class. With approximately 5.5 to 6.5 hours, the battery life is good for a powerful 4K laptop."
Get a great deal on the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 or the MSI Raider GE77Hx
About Microsoft
Microsoft is an American technology corporation. Microsoft is best known for their Windows operating system and Surface laptop series. The Surface Laptop is their standard notebook offering, while their Surface Go, Surface Pro, and Surface Studio are their 2-in-1/tablet offerings in order of increasing capability. Although Microsoft charges a premium price tag for their laptops, buyers can expect a well integrated and packaged device since Microsoft develops the Windows operating system.
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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