The MSI Raider GE78 offers a more powerful main processor and GPU, making it superior for intensive gaming and demanding engineering tasks, at the cost of being less portable due to more weight and a larger power brick. The Razer Blade 17, while a bit more expensive, boasts a higher resolution display but a less powerful GPU, which may affect performance in graphically demanding tasks. The MSI Raider GE78 has a higher refresh rate screen, which can be advantageous for fast-paced gaming. Both laptops have the same amount of RAM, but the Raider has greater storage capacity. The Blade offers slightly longer battery life and is lighter, enhancing its portability. Both models are suitable for general use and have backlit keyboards. If portability and a higher resolution display are priorities, consider the Razer Blade 17; for peak performance in gaming and heavy workloads at the expense of portability and with a lower resolution, the MSI Raider GE78 is the better choice. 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 GE78
Best in class for gaming and AI
Good battery life
Best in class speakers
Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the Razer Blade 17
The Razer Blade 17 has no clear advantages over the MSI Raider GE78.
Key differences
Gaming and AI
9.5/10
8.6/10
9.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.2/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.2/10
The MSI Raider GE78 is best in class for gaming and AI, while the Razer Blade 17 is very good.
The MSI Raider GE78 is preferred for gaming and 3D because it houses a more powerful Nvidia RTX 4090 GPU and a higher screen refresh rate at 240Hz, compared to the Razer Blade 17 which has the Nvidia RTX 3080 Ti and a refresh rate of 144Hz. However, the Razer Blade 17 offers a higher screen pixel density for better image clarity but may not be as fast or smooth in rendering graphics as the MSI Raider GE78 for fast-paced gaming and 3D tasks.
Screen Quality
8.6/10
8.6/10
17.3in
SIZE
17.3in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
384.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
486.0 nits
The MSI Raider GE78 has a better screen than the Razer Blade 17 for gaming and AI, and content creation, while the Razer Blade 17 has a better screen for general use, and engineering and design.
For general use, both the MSI Raider GE78 and the Razer Blade 17 offer panels with high resolution and brightness, making text sharp and images vivid, even in well-lit environments. For engineering and design, they provide a wide color gamut, ensuring that colors are accurate and consistent, which is crucial for precision work. However, for gaming and 3D applications, their lower refresh rates may result in less fluid motion, making them less suitable for fast-paced games or high-frame-rate 3D rendering.
Portability
Poor
Fair
17.3in
SIZE
17.3in
6.8 lbs
WEIGHT
6.0 lbs
1.1in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Razer Blade 17 has only fair portability, while the MSI Raider GE78 has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
The MSI Raider GE78 and Razer Blade 17 are both very good for general use.
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
9.4/10
9.1/10
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.2/10
9.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.2/10
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Raider GE78 and Razer Blade 17 are both excellent for engineering and design.
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
8.8/10
8.5/10
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.2/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Raider GE78 and Razer Blade 17 are both very good for content creation.
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
8.5/10
8.5/10
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.2/10
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The MSI Raider GE78 and Razer Blade 17 are both very 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.
Battery
6.0 Hours
5.5 Hours
The MSI Raider GE78 has 6 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
8.5/10
8.5/10
The MSI Raider GE78 and Razer Blade 17 both have very good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$4,386
$4,300
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The MSI Raider GE78 has a price of $4,386 and the Razer Blade 17 costs $4,300.
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How the MSI Raider GE78 and the Razer Blade 17 compare to other laptops
"Performance-wise, the GE78 offers a significant boost over the GE77 for just slightly higher power consumption. You'll have to get the RTX 4080 or 4090 configurations to see the performance advantages, however, as the RTX 4070 is closer in performance to the older RTX 3080 Ti. In terms of design, some users might prefer the 16:9 minimalistic look of the older GE77 over the 16:10 retro-inspired GE78 and vice versa. We wouldn't call one better than the other in terms of aesthetics, but we'll give the edge to the GE78 for its stronger hinges and larger keys and clickpad."
"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 Raider GE78 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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