A comparison of specs, key information, reviews, and best pricing from top retailers
Last updated -- hours ago | Report incorrect information
Company ProductName Specs
Company ProductName Specs
What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The MSI GE66 Raider offers high-end performance suitable for intensive gaming, 3D rendering, machine learning and engineering tasks due to its powerful processor and graphics card, but it comes at a higher price and is less portable with shorter battery life. The MSI GF63 Thin is more affordable and slightly more portable with longer battery life, yet it has lower performance; it’s better for general use rather than demanding tasks. Choose the GE66 Raider if performance is a priority or the GF63 Thin if you prefer a more budget-friendly option with adequate performance for everyday tasks. 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 MSI GE66 Raider
- Very good for general use
- Excellent for engineering and design
- Very 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
- Good battery life
- Good speakers
- Excellent keyboard
Advantages of the MSI GF63 Thin
- Good portability
Key differences
General Use
8.4
6.0
3840 x 2160
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
347.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
249.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.2 Hours
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
6.8/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The MSI GE66 Raider is very good for general use, while the MSI GF63 Thin is only fair.
The MSI GE66 Raider has a more powerful CPU and vastly greater RAM, better screen resolution and quality, but these come at the cost of heavier weight and shorter battery life, making it very good for general use but less portable. The MSI GF63 Thin, on the other hand, offers modest CPU and RAM, a lower resolution screen, and while being more portable due to lighter weight and slightly longer battery life, it provides only a fair general use experience.
Gaming and AI
8.6
6.0
9.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
3840 x 2160
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.2/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.0/10
The MSI GE66 Raider is very good for gaming and AI, while the MSI GF63 Thin is only fair.
The MSI GE66 Raider outperforms the MSI GF63 Thin for gaming and 3D tasks mainly because it sports a much more powerful GPU, the Nvidia RTX 3080 Ti, compared to the GF63 Thin's Nvidia GTX 1650 Max-Q, and it also boasts a higher screen refresh rate of 120 Hz versus the GF63 Thin's 60 Hz, providing smoother visuals. While both have similar screen sizes and panel types, the superior GPU and refresh rate of the GE66 Raider make it excellent for gaming and 3D applications, in contrast to the fair performance delivered by the GF63 Thin's modest hardware.
Engineering and Design
9.1
6.0
9.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.3/10
9.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
32.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The MSI GE66 Raider is excellent for engineering and design, while the MSI GF63 Thin is only fair.
The MSI GE66 Raider boasts a top-tier Intel i9 processor, cutting-edge Nvidia RTX GPU, ample RAM, and a high-resolution screen, making it excellent for demanding engineering and design work. In contrast, the MSI GF63 Thin is equipped with a mid-range Intel i5 processor, Nvidia GTX GPU, less RAM, and a standard resolution screen, resulting in fair performance for such tasks.
Content Creation
8.4
6.0
9.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.3/10
3840 x 2160
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
32.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI GE66 Raider is very good for content creation, while the MSI GF63 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
8.4
6.0
9.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.3/10
32.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
3840 x 2160
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI GE66 Raider is very good for software development, while the MSI GF63 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
8.2
6.1
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
3840 x 2160
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
347.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
249.0 nits
The MSI GE66 Raider has a better screen than the MSI GF63 Thin for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The MSI GE66 Raider, with its superior resolution and brightness, offers crisp and vibrant visuals that enhance everyday tasks and detailed design work, making it ideal for both general use and engineering. However, its refresh rate, which is crucial for smooth visuals in fast-paced gaming and 3D applications, doesn't meet the expectations for those fields. On the other hand, the MSI GF63 Thin provides an adequate display for daily activities and professional work that doesn't demand high color accuracy or exceptional brightness, but like the Raider, it falls short for gaming and 3D content where fluid motion and sharpness are key.
Battery
6.0 Hours
4.2 Hours
The MSI GE66 Raider has 6 hours of battery life. The MSI GF63 Thin has 4.3 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
Fair
Good
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
5.2 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The MSI GF63 Thin has good portability, while the MSI GE66 Raider has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5
6.5
The MSI GE66 Raider has very good build quality, while the MSI GF63 Thin has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$3,199
$599
$0
$1,000
$2,000
$3,000
$4,000
The MSI GE66 Raider has a price of $3,199 and the MSI GF63 Thin costs $599.
Let Us Help Find Your Perfect Laptop
Find your new laptop
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the MSI GE66 Raider and the MSI GF63 Thin compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| MSI GE66 Raider | MSI GF63 Thin |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$3,199 | $599 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2022 | May 1, 2019 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 10.5'' x 0.92'' | 14.1'' x 10'' x 0.85'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.25 lbs | 4.1 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.09" | 14.13" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.51" | 9.99" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i9-12900HK | Intel i5-10300H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 32 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 256 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6 Hours | 4.25 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 99 Wh | 51 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 3840 x 2160 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 347 nits | 249 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.9/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 6.3/10 | 8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 9/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 3 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 4 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
Shopping
MSI GE66 Raider
See more
Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Patrick Schüdzig | June 2022
"The MSI Raider GE66 12UHS notebook passes with flying colors. The GE66 is a high-end notebook with strong performance. The keyboard and trackpad are still very good and score well with precise inputs as well as high build quality. Thanks to a new liquid metal cooling solution, the Intel Core i9 12900HK brings a performance increase of around 50 percent over the predecessor's Intel Core i9 10980HK. The installed graphics card in our device delivers up to 30 percent higher frame rates than the RTX 2070 Super in the MSI GE66 10SFS."
MSI GF63 Thin
See more
Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Florian Glaser | January 2020
"If you leave aside the meagre port selection (no card reader, no DisplayPort, no Thunderbolt 3 or USB 3.1 Gen2), the fan control that could be improved (idle mode!) and the relatively dark and slow display, the MSI GF63 Thin 9SC does not have any major weaknesses. The 15-inch gamer is compact, has a low weight and offers a good price-to-performance ratio, which should please gamers that are looking for both a portable and an affordable gaming notebook. Input devices, battery life, case quality and performance are all appropriate for this purchase price."
Get a great deal on the MSI GE66 Raider or the MSI GF63 Thin
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.
Give feedback
We're constantly perfecting our model
Laptop guides you might be interested in
More comparisons for you
FAQs
FAQs about laptops
Why trust us
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.
By the numbers
380
Laptops evaluated
48,640
Laptops stats compiled
13
Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
97,395
Recommendations made
21,103
Consumer hours saved
About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Craig Russell
Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.
Featured in
