When choosing between the MSI Katana 17 and the MSI Vector GP76, if you prioritize affordability and still want good performance for everyday tasks and gaming, the Katana 17 is a solid option. However, if you require higher performance for more demanding applications and a smoother gaming experience, the Vector GP76, despite being more expensive, would be the better option. The Vector GP76 has a higher refresh rate display, which means more fluid visuals, at the cost of being slightly heavier, which affects portability. Both laptops have a similar screen size and resolution, allowing for a comparable visual workspace. 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 Katana 17
The MSI Katana 17 has no clear advantages over the MSI Vector GP76.
Advantages of the MSI Vector GP76
Very good for general use
Very good for gaming and AI
Very good for content creation
Good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Very good keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
7.9/10
8.4/10
8.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
360Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The MSI Vector GP76 is very good for gaming and AI, while the MSI Katana 17 is good.
The MSI Katana 17 is equipped with an Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU and a screen refresh rate of 144Hz, making it strong for gaming and 3D applications, while the MSI Vector GP76 comes with a more powerful Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti GPU and an impressive 360Hz screen refresh rate, providing an even smoother experience for similar tasks.
Screen Quality
6.9/10
7.9/10
17.3in
SIZE
17.3in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
360Hz
256.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
264.0 nits
The MSI Vector GP76 has a better screen than the MSI Katana 17 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, and software development.
For general use, the MSI Katana 17 offers a balance of resolution and brightness that makes it comfortable to view documents and web content, while the MSI Vector GP76 delivers a similarly pleasant visual experience with enough clarity and luminance for everyday tasks. When it comes to engineering and design, the Vector GP76 pulls ahead with better coverage of professional color gamuts, providing more accuracy for tasks that require precise color replication like photo editing or CAD. However, for gaming and 3D applications, both laptops fall short as they lack the high refresh rates needed for smooth motion and the quick panel response times desired for fast-paced visuals.
Battery
3.0 Hours
4.0 Hours
The MSI Katana 17 has 3 hours of battery life. The MSI Vector GP76 has 4 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
7.2/10
8.0/10
The MSI Vector GP76 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
$1,367
$1,760
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The MSI Katana 17 has a price of $1,367 and the MSI Vector GP76 costs $1,760.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Vector GP76 to be very good for general use, while the MSI Katana 17 is good.
The MSI Katana 17 and MSI Vector GP76 both offer ample storage and memory, coupled with quality processors, making them excellent for general use; however, the Katana 17 is slightly lighter, favoring better portability, while the GP76 has a larger battery potentially leading to longer use between charges. Both have high-quality IPS screens for clear visuals, but if portability is a higher priority, the Katana may suit you better, whereas if longer unplugged performance is key, the GP76 could be the better option.
Engineering and Design
8.4/10
8.7/10
8.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
8.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.8/10
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Vector GP76 and MSI Katana 17 are both very good for engineering and design.
The MSI Katana 17 and MSI Vector GP76 are both equipped with high-end CPUs, ample RAM, and potent GPUs, which are crucial for resource-intensive engineering and design tasks, with the Katana featuring a newer GPU favorable for such applications. While the Katana values portability slightly more and has a decent screen, the Vector edges ahead with a superior screen for color-sensitive work but trades off some portability due to increased weight and size.
Content Creation
7.8/10
8.0/10
8.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Vector GP76 to be 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
7.5/10
7.6/10
8.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The MSI Vector GP76 and MSI Katana 17 are both good for software development.
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.
Portability
Fair
Poor
17.3in
SIZE
17.3in
5.7 lbs
WEIGHT
6.3 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
1.0in
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Katana 17 to have only fair portability, while the MSI Vector GP76 has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the MSI Katana 17 and the MSI Vector GP76 compare to other laptops
"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."
"The MSI Vector GP76 12UGS is a gaming laptop on speed. The advantages are clear: The Vector GP76 is a real gamer with its 360 Hz display and super-fast response times. In addition, the Core i7-12700H has double the power of the CPU in its predecessor and another highlight is the Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti with a real power consumption of 150 watts. This places the device in the top range of our database. The Vector can also operate rather quietly, offers a full sound range, improved battery runtimes, a key-configurable RGB keyboard, a very stable chassis and good upgrade options. Moreover, the display produces a nice, rich and clear picture."
Get a great deal on the MSI Katana 17 or the MSI Vector GP76
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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