MSI GS75 vs. Asus Zephyrus S GX701: 10 percent performance difference from the same RTX 2080 Max-Q GPU

MSI and Asus are the two biggest OEMs to beat when it comes to gaming laptops. Last we checked, the two Taiwanese manufacturers account for roughly half of all gaming laptops sold worldwide.

The two laptops we're comparing here today are the 17.3-inch MSI GS75 and Asus Zephyrus S GX701GX. Both systems carry the same Core i7-8750H CPU and RTX 2080 Max-Q GPU but they are otherwise very different in almost every other aspect. We describe the major performance differences below to help those who may be on the fence between these superthin models.

Case

The MSI system is both lighter (2.3 kg vs. 2.6 kg) and with a slightly smaller footprint (1025 cm² vs. 1085 cm²). Both models, however, are the same thickness at 19 mm. We find the base of the Asus to be less flexible than on the MSI.

CPU Performance 

The CPU in the Asus performs about 11 percent faster than the same CPU in the MSI according to CineBench R15 Multi-Thread. In other words, the Asus is able to maintain faster core clock rates than the MSI. Asus holds the performance lead even after accounting for throttling as shown by our CineBench R15 loop test below.

GPU Performance

Asus scores yet another point in terms of GPU performance. 3DMark benchmarks show the Asus outperforming the MSI by 8 to 12 percent despite both systems having the same GPU. A peek at their GPU-Z data shows the MSI GPU running slower than on the Asus (1095 MHz vs. 1230 MHz).

Display

While the two systems share fast response times, a native 1080p resolution, 144 Hz refresh rate, and high contrast ratio, the MSI display is brighter and with more accurate colors out of the box.

Asus supports G-Sync with no Optimus while the MSI supports Optimus with no G-Sync.

(April 9, 2019 correction: The GX701 includes both Optimus and G-Sync. Since both cannot be active together, however, one must be toggled off in order to use the other.)

Fan Noise

Both systems are very close when it comes to system noise. We find that the MSI is more susceptible to fan pulsing depending on the power profile while the Asus is able to remain quieter for longer when running low-medium loads. When gaming, however, the Asus runs slightly louder at the 49 to 51 dB(A) range compared to 47 to 48 dB(A) on the MSI. CPU and GPU temperatures are otherwise nearly the same between them at 79 C and 73 C, respectively, when gaming.

Power Consumption

This is definitely something Asus should improve upon in the future. Simply idling on desktop draws anywhere between 19 W to 30 W on the Asus compared to 13 W to 23 W on the MSI. Power consumption is slightly higher on the Asus when gaming as well, but this is at least partly attributed to the faster CPU and GPU performance.

Battery Life

The larger battery and generally lower power consumption give MSI the edge in runtime. We're able to record almost 5.5 hours of real-world WLAN use compared to under 4 hours on the Asus.

Verdict

It's a tough call between the MSI GS75 and Asus GX701. While the latter provides the better gaming experience because of its faster performance and G-Sync-enabled display, the former includes many more "jack of all trades" advantages that owners will appreciate. The GS75 is brighter, lighter, and longer-lasting with more connectivity features including Thunderbolt 3. As a result, the Asus GX701GX can feel rather barebones in this direct comparison. You'll be giving up a lot of features for that extra ounce of gaming power.

The MSI GS75 and Asus Zephyrus S GX701 can be found online for $2800 USD and $3300 USD, respectively, each with GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q graphics. See our dedicated reviews on the MSI and Asus laptops for more detailed information on each.