The MSI Pulse GL66 is the more affordable option and offers good performance for general use and gaming due to its capable processor and graphics card. However, the Razer Blade 17, while more expensive, has a significantly better display resolution, a more powerful processor, and advanced graphics, making it better for intensive gaming, 3D rendering, and engineering applications. The Blade 17 also has a larger screen size, potentially making it less portable than the GL66. The battery life in the Blade 17 is also better, which could be a crucial factor if you need to use your laptop on the go. Keep in mind that with increased performance comes increased weight, as the Razer Blade 17 is heavier than the MSI Pulse GL66. 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 Pulse GL66
Good portability
Advantages of the Razer Blade 17
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
Excellent speakers
Excellent keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.3/10
8.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
245.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
486.0 nits
4.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
5.5 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
7.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.7/10
The Razer Blade 17 is very good for general use, while the MSI Pulse GL66 is good.
The Razer Blade 17 outperforms the MSI Pulse GL66 in general use mainly due to its superior CPU and double the RAM, which significantly enhance performance and multitasking capabilities. Additionally, the Razer's higher resolution screen offers better image quality, though its larger size and higher weight slightly compromise portability compared to the more compact and lighter MSI.
Gaming and AI
7.2/10
8.6/10
7.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.2/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.2/10
The Razer Blade 17 is very good for gaming and AI, while the MSI Pulse GL66 is good.
The Razer Blade 17 outperforms the MSI Pulse GL66 for gaming and 3D applications, thanks to its superior Nvidia RTX 3080 Ti GPU, which has more power than the RTX 3070 in the GL66. Both laptops share the same screen refresh rate, but the Blade 17's more advanced CPU and better screen quality contribute to its excellence in these tasks.
Engineering and Design
7.5/10
9.1/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.2/10
7.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The Razer Blade 17 is excellent for engineering and design, while the MSI Pulse GL66 is good.
The Razer Blade 17 stands out for engineering and design use with its superior Intel i9 CPU, double the RAM, and a more powerful Nvidia RTX 3080 Ti GPU compared to the MSI Pulse GL66's Intel i7 CPU, less RAM, and RTX 3070 GPU, enabling better handling of complex tasks and rendering; additionally, it boasts a higher resolution screen that offers sharper images and more accurate color reproduction, necessary for detailed design work. However, the MSI is lighter and thus more portable, with a smaller screen size that's easier to carry around, but compromises on screen quality and performance capacity in comparison.
Content Creation
7.2/10
8.5/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.2/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Razer Blade 17 is very good for content creation, while the MSI Pulse GL66 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
7.0/10
8.5/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Razer Blade 17 is very good for software development, while the MSI Pulse GL66 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
6.8/10
8.6/10
15.6in
SIZE
17.3in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
245.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
486.0 nits
The Razer Blade 17 has a better screen than the MSI Pulse GL66 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The MSI Pulse GL66 likely has adequate resolution and brightness for day-to-day tasks and engineering applications, but its color range may not be as extensive, affecting precision in color-critical work. The Razer Blade 17 offers vibrant colors and sharp details that benefit both general users and professionals in engineering and design, with wide color gamut support ensuring accuracy for high-end graphics work. However, both models seem to fall short for gaming and 3D due to their lower refresh rates, which can result in less fluid motion and slower response times during fast-paced activities.
Battery
4.0 Hours
5.5 Hours
The MSI Pulse GL66 has 4 hours of battery life. The Razer Blade 17 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.
Build Quality
7.4/10
8.5/10
The Razer Blade 17 has very good build quality, while the MSI Pulse GL66 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,399
$4,300
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The MSI Pulse GL66 has a price of $1,399 and the Razer Blade 17 costs $4,300.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Pulse GL66 to have good portability, while the Razer Blade 17 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the MSI Pulse GL66 and the Razer Blade 17 compare to other laptops
"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."
"Our test configuration of the Blade 17 targets gamers and creative professionals. A Core i9-12900H processor, GeForce RTX 3080 Ti Laptop GPU (175 watts TGP after the BIOS update, 16 GB of VRAM), and 32 GB of working memory equip the laptop for video processing, rending, and 4k gaming at the highest level. In addition, a fast PCIe-4 SSD (1 TB) ensures short load and storage times. With the Blade 17 (Early 2022), Razer delivers a successful and powerful work device for creative professionals. But this also has its price."
Get a great deal on the MSI Pulse GL66 or the Razer Blade 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.
About Razer
Razer is an American-Singaporean technology company. Razer is best known for their Blade series laptops, well known for their strong performance and sleek design. Although Razer charges a premium price tag for their laptops, buyers can expect a stealthy laptop with clean fit and finish and strong performance. All of their models offer great portability and build quality compared to other gaming laptops.
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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