For a balance of performance and portability, the MSI Raider GE77Hx is a strong contender. It offers a robust Intel i7 processor and a capable RTX 3070 Ti GPU, making it suitable for gaming, 3D rendering, and machine learning tasks, though not as powerful as the 18 HX model. Its 17.3-inch screen with a high refresh rate is excellent for fast-moving visuals, and while it doesn't have the same color accuracy as the 18 HX, it's still very good for general use and gaming. The GE77Hx is also more portable, with a smaller form factor and longer battery life, making it a better choice if you need to work on the go. However, if you prioritize top-tier performance, especially for engineering tasks, and don't mind a heavier, less portable laptop with a larger screen and the latest Nvidia RTX 4080 GPU, then the MSI Raider 18 HX is the way to go, offering unparalleled performance in its class. 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 Raider 18 HX
Best in class for engineering and design
Excellent for gaming and AI
Very good for software development
Excellent for content creation
Excellent overall display quality
Good battery life
Very good speakers
Advantages of the MSI Raider GE77Hx
Very good overall build quality
Excellent keyboard
Key differences
General Use
8.8/10
8.0/10
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
1000.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
350.0 nits
9.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
5.5 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
5.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
5.8/10
The MSI Raider 18 HX and MSI Raider GE77Hx are both very good for general use, though the MSI Raider 18 HX is somewhat better.
PerfectRec’s General Use Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for general productivity, web browsing, streaming, video calls, and running a wide variety of apps and programs.
Engineering and Design
9.6/10
8.8/10
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
9.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.8/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Raider 18 HX is best in class for engineering and design, while the MSI Raider GE77Hx is very good.
PerfectRec’s Engineering and Design Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for graphic design and 3D rendering work.
Content Creation
9.1/10
8.2/10
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Raider 18 HX is excellent for content creation, while the MSI Raider GE77Hx is very 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
8.8/10
7.9/10
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The MSI Raider 18 HX is very good for software development, while the MSI Raider GE77Hx 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
9.4/10
8.4/10
18.0in
SIZE
17.3in
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
1000.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
350.0 nits
The MSI Raider 18 HX has a better screen than the MSI Raider GE77Hx for general use, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
PerfectRec’s screen quality scores take into account various important factors that are relevant for different use cases.
Battery
9.0 Hours
5.5 Hours
The MSI Raider 18 HX has 9 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
Poor
Poor
18.0in
SIZE
17.3in
7.9 lbs
WEIGHT
6.3 lbs
1.2in
THICKNESS
1.0in
The MSI Raider GE77Hx and MSI Raider 18 HX both have poor portability, though the MSI Raider GE77Hx has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.4/10
8.5/10
The MSI Raider GE77Hx has very good build quality, while the MSI Raider 18 HX has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$3,999
$1,999
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The MSI Raider 18 HX has a price of $3,999 and the MSI Raider GE77Hx costs $1,999.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Raider 18 HX to be excellent for gaming and AI, while the MSI Raider GE77Hx is very good.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the MSI Raider 18 HX and the MSI Raider GE77Hx compare to other laptops
"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 MSI Raider 18 HX or the MSI Raider GE77Hx
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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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.
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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.
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Laptops Expert
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