The MSI GE66 Raider offers superior performance with a more powerful processor and a higher tier graphics card. It is tailored for demanding tasks, like gaming at very high settings, intensive 3D rendering, and machine learning tasks. However, it is heavier and has a shorter battery life, which impacts its portability. Its display also has a higher resolution, beneficial for detailed visual work. In contrast, the MSI Katana 17 is less expensive, has a larger screen but with a lower resolution, and may offer a better battery life. It's suitable for less resource-intensive tasks and those who prefer a larger display for general use or work without the need for maximum graphical fidelity. If cost is a key factor and your work doesn't require top-tier graphics or processing power, the Katana 17 may be the better choice. If performance is a priority and you are willing to invest more, then the GE66 Raider is a compelling option. 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
Excellent keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Katana 17
The MSI Katana 17 has no clear advantages over the MSI GE66 Raider.
Key differences
Gaming and AI
8.6/10
7.9/10
9.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
3840 x 2160
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
6.2/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI GE66 Raider is very good for gaming and AI, while the MSI Katana 17 is good.
The MSI GE66 Raider boasts superior gaming performance due to its more powerful Nvidia RTX 3080 Ti GPU and a sharper 4K display providing an immersive experience, while the MSI Katana 17, with its Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU, still delivers very good gaming capabilities at a full HD resolution, which might be more cost-effective for many users.
Engineering and Design
9.1/10
8.4/10
9.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
9.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI GE66 Raider is excellent for engineering and design, while the MSI Katana 17 is very good.
The MSI GE66 Raider, with its superior CPU, RAM, and GPU, delivers robust performance for demanding engineering tasks and high-quality visuals needed for design work; its screen also stands out for clarity and color accuracy. While the MSI Katana 17 offers good capability for similar tasks, it compromises slightly on the top-tier components and screen quality, but may be more appealing for those prioritizing a balance between performance and factors like keyboard comfort and quieter operation.
Content Creation
8.4/10
7.8/10
9.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
3840 x 2160
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI GE66 Raider is very good for content creation, while the MSI Katana 17 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
8.4/10
7.5/10
9.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
3840 x 2160
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI GE66 Raider is very good for software development, while the MSI Katana 17 is good.
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
8.2/10
6.9/10
15.6in
SIZE
17.3in
3840 x 2160
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
347.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
256.0 nits
The MSI GE66 Raider has a better screen than the MSI Katana 17 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The MSI GE66 Raider's display has high resolution and brightness, along with a superior panel type, making it ideal for vibrant and clear visuals in general use; for engineering and design, its strong color accuracy covers a broad spectrum, ensuring that designs appear precisely as intended. However, its lower refresh rate limits the smoothness of fast-paced scenes, detracting from gaming and 3D applications where fluid motion is key. In contrast, the MSI Katana 17's display, while suitable for everyday tasks, offers less color fidelity for professional design work and similarly falls short in gaming experiences due to its inadequate refresh rate.
Battery
6.0 Hours
3.0 Hours
The MSI GE66 Raider has 6 hours of battery life. The MSI Katana 17 has 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
Fair
15.6in
SIZE
17.3in
5.2 lbs
WEIGHT
5.7 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The MSI GE66 Raider and MSI Katana 17 both have only fair portability, though the MSI GE66 Raider has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5/10
7.2/10
The MSI GE66 Raider has very good build quality, while the MSI Katana 17 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$3,199
$1,367
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The MSI GE66 Raider has a price of $3,199 and the MSI Katana 17 costs $1,367.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI GE66 Raider to be very good for general use, while the MSI Katana 17 is good.
The MSI GE66 Raider offers superior performance with a more powerful CPU and higher quality screen, making it excellent for demanding applications and for users who prioritize visual experience. Conversely, the MSI Katana 17, while also providing solid performance for general use, puts more emphasis on a larger screen and has a more gaming-centric design, but it sacrifices some portability and has less battery life compared to the Raider.
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How the MSI GE66 Raider and the MSI Katana 17 compare to other laptops
"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."
"The MSI Katana 17 B13V laptop impressed us in its main area of competency - gaming. The Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 ensures high-performance levels which can compete with the previous generation's RTX 3070 Ti. In addition to the speedy GPU, the MSI comes with a 144 Hz display as well as an RGB keyboard and provides a very good typing experience. Despite the power at hand, the laptop remains comparatively cool."
Get a great deal on the MSI GE66 Raider or the MSI Katana 17
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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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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