MSI GE66 Raider vs. Asus ROG Strix Scar G532: Nothing but the facts

MSI and Asus recently launched their respective high-end 15.6-inch gaming machines this quarter and they both have a lot in common with each other. Aside from having the exact same 10th gen Core i7 to Core i9 Comet Lake-H CPUs, GeForce Super GPUs, and 240 Hz to 300 Hz display options, the two laptops even share a similar LED bar feature along their front edges. However, there's no question about which system is the more optimal choice.

The MSI GE66 comes out on top over the Asus during our testing simply due to it being smaller, longer-lasting, and with more overall features without needing to sacrifice performance, core specifications, or increased weight. Our table below summarizes its advantages when compared to the Asus system which offers no 2.5 Gbps WLAN, no SD reader, or even a webcam.

There's a simple reason why the MSI system is able to offer more than the thicker Asus alternative and that's because the GE66 is a newer design. MSI only recently made public the GE66 at CES 2020 whereas the Asus G532 is merely an internal refresh utilizing the same chassis as last year's G531. Asus may have had a yearlong head start, but that meant MSI would have more time to refine their own competing design.

This isn't to say that the Asus G532 doesn't have its own list of advantages. Most notably, the laptop has three M.2 storage slots compared to "only" two on the MSI and it supports Asus' proprietary Keystone feature as well. Even so, it's a shorter list that, to some users, might not make up for the other disadvantages against the MSI system. The Asus may still be worth picking up if you can find it at a lower price point and if you don't care about the extra ports and features of the MSI.

There are still a couple of things that we want to see improved upon on both laptops. Firstly, CPU temperature when gaming averages above 90 C to be a lot warmer than what most gamers are comfortable with. Secondly, fan noise is very loud at well over 50 dB(A) each. These systems are really pushing the boundaries on what gamers would consider acceptable in this regard.

As usual, see our full reviews on the MSI GE66 Raider and Asus ROG Strix Scar G532 to learn more about each model. 

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