USA ($)

    MSI Vector 16 HX (A13Vx / A14Vx) vs ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 16 (G634, 2024) – The Lower Price Makes The Vector 16 The Better Option

    From: Severin Kolakov | 0

    Why are so many manufacturers releasing 16-inch gaming laptops? The answer is simple, 16:10 displays. Lenovo, with its Legion 5 Pro all the way in 2021 made everyone’s light turn on, giving them an idea that would shape gaming laptops for years to come. Today we’re continuing the comparisons between the best 16-inch gaming laptops, by taking the MSI Vector 16 and putting it against the ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 16.

    Both laptops are heavy-duty gaming beasts, with Core i9 HX-series processors, which means extreme performance. The GPU selection is quite the view too, with up to an RTX 4090 that can go as high as 175W. The displays are fantastic too, with high refresh rates, and high-res options that can be used for a lot more than gaming.

    These laptops as a whole are super versatile and suitable for both gaming, and video editing, rendering, and engineering work, as the CPUs and GPUs here have no problem handling CAD work and more.

    MSI Vector 16 HX (A13Vx / A14Vx): Full Specs / In-depth Review

    ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 16 (G634, 2024): Full Specs / In-depth Review

    MSI Vector 16 HX (A13Vx / A14Vx) configurations:

    ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 16 (G634, 2024) configirations:

    Specs table

    SpecificationMSI Vector 16 HX (A13Vx / A14Vx)ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 16 (G634, 2024)
    ProcessorIntel Core i9-14900HX
    Intel Core i9-13980HX
    Intel Core i9-13950HX    		Intel Core i9-14900HX
    GPUNVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 (Laptop, 175W)
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 (Laptop, 175W)
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 (Laptop, 140W)
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 (Laptop, 140W)    		NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 (Laptop, 175W)
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 (Laptop, 175W)
    Display16.0″, WUXGA (1920 x 1200), 144 Hz, IPS
    16.0″, QHD (2560 x 1600), 240 Hz, IPS    		16.0″, WQXGA (2560 x 1600), 240 Hz, MiniLED
    Memoryup to 192GBup to 192GB
    Battery90Wh90Wh
    Weight6 lbs (2.70 kg)5.8 lbs (2.65 kg)
    Dimensions14.06″ x 11.18″ x 0.87″
    (357 x 284 x 22.20 – 28.55 mm)    		13.94″ x 10.39″ x 0.89″
    (354 x 264 x 22.6 – 30.4 mm)
    Ports
    • 2x USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps)
    • 2x USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps)
    • 1x USB Type-C 4.0, Thunderbolt 4
    • HDMI 2.1 (8K@60Hz / 4K@120Hz)
    • Ethernet LAN 10, 100, 1000, 2500 Mbit/s
    • SD card reader
    • Wi-Fi 802.11ax / 802.11be
    • Bluetooth 5.3 / 5.4
    • 3.5mm Combo Jack
    • 2x USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps)
    • 1x USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps), Sleep and Charge
    • 1x USB Type-C 4.0, Thunderbolt 4
    • HDMI 2.1
    • Ethernet LAN 10, 100, 1000, 2500 Mbit/s
    • Wi-Fi 802.11ax
    • Bluetooth 5.3
    • 3.5mm Combo Jack

    Unboxing

    The MSI vector brings paperwork and a 330W charger. On the other hand, the ASUS ROG can feature plenty of stuff in the box, depending on your region. We found an ROG backpack and the 330W power adapter. You can find the ROG Fusion II 300 headphones, the ROG Gladius III P514 Mouse, or a 100W Type-C travel adapter.

    MSI Vector 16 HX (A13Vx / A14Vx)ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 16 (G634, 2024)
    Charger power330W330W

    MSI Vector 16 HX (A13Vx / A14Vx)
    ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 16 (G634, 2024)

    Design and construction

    Both laptops are big and chunky, weighing around 6 lbs. The SCAR 16 is slightly thicker (extra 2mm). The ASUS laptop excels in terms of RGB, with a logo on the lid that lights up, as well as a strip on the front. All the RGB can be synced through the Armory Crate software.

    MSI Vector 16 HX (A13Vx / A14Vx)ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 16 (G634, 2024)
    Weight6 lbs (2.70 kg)5.8 lbs (2.65 kg)
    Dimensions14.06″ x 11.18″ x 0.87″
    (357 x 284 x 22.20 – 28.55 mm)    		13.94″ x 10.39″ x 0.89″
    (354 x 264 x 22.6 – 30.4 mm)

    MSI Vector 16 HX (A13Vx / A14Vx)
    ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 16 (G634, 2024)

    Keyboard and touchpad

    Both laptops provide functional keyboards, with long key travel and clicky feedback. The keycaps are also well-sized, especially the arrow keys, which often suffer from having small half-sized ones. We also have some transparent bits and pieces. The Vector 16 has see-through WASD, Arrow, and Power buttons, while some of the base of the SCAR 16 is see-through as well.

    The touchpads are nice and smooth, with plenty of responsiveness. The one on the SCAR needs to be big if it’s also going to house the NumPad. Yes, the  SCAR 16 has a NumberPad, a digitalized solution where the numbers and math operators appear on the touchpad. It’s a cool party trick and brings functionality, so thumbs up to ASUS.

    MSI Vector 16 HX (A13Vx / A14Vx)
    ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 16 (G634, 2024)

    Ports

    The Vector is an absolute champ in terms of ports. It has one more USB Type-C ports, as well as an SD card reader, which is great for videographers and photographers, so you can easily transfer images and videos.

    MSI Vector 16 HX (A13Vx / A14Vx)ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 16 (G634, 2024)
    Ports
    • 2x USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps)
    • 2x USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps)
    • 1x USB Type-C 4.0, Thunderbolt 4
    • HDMI 2.1 (8K@60Hz / 4K@120Hz)
    • Ethernet LAN 10, 100, 1000, 2500 Mbit/s
    • SD card reader
    • Wi-Fi 802.11ax / 802.11be
    • Bluetooth 5.3 / 5.4
    • 3.5mm Combo Jack
    • 2x USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps)
    • 1x USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps), Sleep and Charge
    • 1x USB Type-C 4.0, Thunderbolt 4
    • HDMI 2.1
    • Ethernet LAN 10, 100, 1000, 2500 Mbit/s
    • Wi-Fi 802.11ax
    • Bluetooth 5.3
    • 3.5mm Combo Jack

    MSI Vector 16 HX (A13Vx / A14Vx)
    ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 16 (G634, 2024)

    Display and Sound Quality

    The configuration of the Vector 16 that we purchased comes with a Full HD+ IPS panel. There’s also a QHD+ panel available that’s sharper. On the other hand, the Strix SCAR 16 only has a QHD+ MiniLED panel available, which is sharp and bright.

    MSI Vector 16 HX (A13Vx / A14Vx)ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 16 (G634, 2024)
    Resolution1920 x 12002560 x 1600
    Aspect ratio16:1016:10
    Panel technologyIPSMiniLED
    Pixel density141 PPI189 PPI
    Dot pitch0.18 x 0.18 mm0.14 x 0.14 mm
    Retina distance24″ (61 cm)18″ (46 cm)

    MSI Vector 16 HX (A13Vx / A14Vx)
    ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 16 (G634, 2024)

    Here you can check the viewing angles of the two displays, which deliver excellent viewing experience from wherever you look.

    MSI Vector 16 HX (A13Vx / A14Vx)
    ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 16 (G634, 2024)

    The screen on the ROG Strix SCAR 16 reaches almost 550 nits, which is great for outdoor use, much brighter than the panel of the Vector 16. Keep in mind that the QHD+ screen that’s available on the Vector could match or even exceed the SCAR 16 in terms of brightness.

    MSI Vector 16 HX (A13Vx / A14Vx)ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 16 (G634, 2024)
    Peak brightness (middle of the screen/average for the entire display area)304/305 nits546/545 nits
    Max deviation5%3%
    Color temperature (on white screen)6510K6520K
    Contrast ratio1500:11140:1

    MSI Vector 16 HX (A13Vx / A14Vx)
    ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 16 (G634, 2024)

    Color coverage

    Here are some illustrations (Fig. 1) & (Fig. 2). The whole “sail-shaped” map below consists of all the colors we can see, while the black crooked line shows all the colors from real-world scenes and nature around us.

    Then, we’ve drawn some of the most important and interesting color spaces, compared to the colors that the panels of the laptops can display:

    Standard/For Web: sRGB – widely used color space for most consumer devices, ideal for Web design and development
    For Print: AdobeRGB – used in professional photo editing, graphic design, and print
    For Photographers/Video Editors: DCI-P3 – used in high-end film production, post-production, and digital cinema
    Premium HDR: Rec.2020 – the widest consumer ITU color standard, covering a massive 75.8% of the visible spectrum, a benchmark for premium HDR content

    The yellow dotted line shows the color coverage of the MSI Vector 16 HX (A13Vx / A14Vx) and the ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 16 (G634, 2024).

    The ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 16 (G634, 2024) can display many more colors than its competitor, offering a much more vivid picture. However, we’ve reviewed other MSI notebooks with the same QHD+ IPS panel that’s available on the Vector, and it absolutely delivers in terms of color coverage, with full sRGB and near-full DCI-P3 coverage.

    MSI Vector 16 HX (A13Vx / A14Vx)ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 16 (G634, 2024)
    sRGB53%100%
    DCI-P342%100%

    MSI Vector 16 HX (A13Vx / A14Vx)
    ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 16 (G634, 2024)

    Color accuracy

    Now let’s see how big the difference is between the real colors and the ones you’ll see on the three laptops. We measure that distance in DeltaE – the bigger the number, the more different they look.

    For the next illustration, we’ve chosen 24 common colors like dark and light skin, blue sky, green grass, etc.

    Below you can see the results of the two laptops with our Web Design and Office Work profile applied. The ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 16 (G634, 2024) is the more accurate of the two, with a dE value of 1.0.

    MSI Vector 16 HX (A13Vx / A14Vx)
    ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 16 (G634, 2024)

    MSI Vector 16 HX A13V 16.0″ Innolux N160JME-GTK (CMN1621) (1920 x 1200) IPS: Buy our profiles

    ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 16 (G634, 2024) 16.0″ BOE NE160QDM-NM7 (BOE0C24) (2560×1600) Mini LED IPS: Buy our profiles

    PWM

    PWM, also known as flickering is how some panels adjust brightness. The problem with it is that it’s tiring to your eyes, which means you need to limit the use of said device. Unfortunately, despite being brighter and covering more colors, the MiniLED panel of the SCAR 16 uses PWM across all brightness levels.

    MSI Vector 16 HX (A13Vx / A14Vx)
    ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 16 (G634, 2024)

    Sound

    The two laptops provide quality speaker setups, with no deviations from clarity across the lows, mids, and highs.

    MSI Vector 16 HX (A13Vx / A14Vx)
    ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 16 (G634, 2024)

    Performance – CPU, GPU, Gaming, Storage

    Below we’ve highlighted the configurations that we’ve tested.

    SpecificationMSI Vector 16 HX (A13Vx / A14Vx)ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 16 (G634, 2024)
    ProcessorIntel Core i9-14900HX
    Intel Core i9-13980HX
    Intel Core i9-13950HX    		Intel Core i9-14900HX
    GPUNVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 (Laptop, 175W)
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 (Laptop, 175W)
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 (Laptop, 140W)
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 (Laptop, 140W)    		NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 (Laptop, 175W)
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 (Laptop, 175W)

    CPU benchmarks

    In Cinebench R23, the Core i9-13980HX in the MSI Vector 16 is 1% faster.

    Here, we evaluate the CPU's performance using a real-world 3D rendering task, assessing its ability to handle complex computations and rendering workloads efficiently.

    Results are from the Cinebench 2024 Multi-Core test (higher is better)

    Intel Core i9-13980HX MSI Vector 16 HX
    1777
    Intel Core i9-14900HX ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 16
    1752

    GPU benchmarks

    In the GPU benchmarks, the RTX 4080 that’s inside the MSI Vector 16 scores 5% higher.

    The results are from 3DMark Time Spy (Graphics). Higher is better.

    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 (Laptop, 175W) MSI Vector 16 HX
    19899
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 (Laptop, 175W) ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 16
    19008

    Results are from 3DMark Fire Strike (Graphics) benchmark (higher the score, the better)

    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 (Laptop, 175W) MSI Vector 16 HX
    43942

    Results are from the Unigine Superposition benchmark (higher the score, the better)

    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 (Laptop, 175W) MSI Vector 16 HX
    10812

    Gaming tests

    MSI Vector 16 HX (A13Vx / A14Vx)
    ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 16 (G634, 2024)

     

    Borderlands 3Full HD, V.Low (Check settings)Full HD, Medium (Check settings)Full HD, High (Check settings)Full HD, Badass (Check settings)
    MSI Vector 16 HX – RTX 4080 175W253 fps (+7%)225 fps (+8%)193 fps (+8%)161 fps (+5%)
    ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 16 – RTX 4080 175W237 fps208 fps179 fps154 fps

    Far Cry 6Full HD, Low (Check settings)Full HD, High (Check settings)Full HD, Ultra (Check settings)
    MSI Vector 16 HX – RTX 4080 175W200 fps163 fps (+0.6%)153 fps (+0.6%)
    ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 16 – RTX 4080 175W200 fps162 fps152 fps

     

    Gears 5Full HD, Low (Check settings)Full HD, Medium (Check settings)Full HD, High (Check settings)Full HD, Ultra (Check settings)
    MSI Vector 16 HX – RTX 4080 175W320 fps (+14%)244 fps (+9%)231 fps (+10%)209 fps (+10%)
    ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 16 – RTX 4080 175W281 fps224 fps210 fps190 fps

    Metro ExodusFull HD, Low (Check settings)Full HD, High (Check settings)Full HD, Extreme (Check settings)
    MSI Vector 16 HX – RTX 4080 175W191 fps147 fps81 fps (+7%)
    ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 16 – RTX 4080 175W271 fps (+42%)156 fps (+6%)76 fps

    [eBook Guide + Tools] How to MAX OUT your Laptop

    You can make your laptop Faster. LaptopMedia has tested thousands of models in the last 15 years, and we have yet to see a notebook that couldn't be made more powerful through modifications.

    That's why we decided to bundle everything we know about how to achieve this in an Easy-to-Follow, Step-by-Step, and Laboratory-Tested, all in one project.

    Read more about it here:
    [eBook Guide + Tools] How to MAX OUT Your Laptop

    [eBook Guide] How to MAX OUT your Laptop

    🛠️ GPU Modifications: vBIOS, Overclocking, Undervolting
    ⚙️ Building Fast/Reliable RAID configuration
    💻 Hardware upgrade tips for best results
    🖼 Display enhancing
    💾 OS Optimization for best performance

    Battery

    Both laptops bring 90Wh batteries to help them endure as long as possible. The Strix SCAR 16 lasts for 24 minutes more in the web browsing test, so battery life is pretty even between the two.

    Brightness: 180 nits; Display Mode: SDR
    Time to Full Discharge: Higher is Better

    MSI Vector 16 HX 90Wh, 4-cell
    6h 18m
    ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 16 90Wh, 4-cell
    6h 42m+6.3%

    In order to simulate real-life conditions, we used our own script for automatic web browsing through over 70 websites.

    MSI Vector 16 HX 90Wh, 4-cell
    6h 40m
    ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 16 90Wh, 4-cell

    Cooling and temperatures, Gaming comfort

    The SCAR 16’s cooling solution provides one extra fan and an extra heat pipe to an already stacked cooling solution. In fact, both laptops are outfitted with a good chunk of copper.

    MSI Vector 16 HX (A13Vx / A14Vx)
    ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 16 (G634, 2024)

    Real-life gaming

    The GPU inside the Vector 16 reaches higher clock speeds while running at lower or even temperatures.

    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080GPU frequency/ Core temp (after 2 min)GPU frequency/ Core temp (after 30 min)
    MSI Vector 16 HX A13V2400 MHz @ 78°C @ 174W2364 MHz @ 83°C @ 174W
    ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 16 (G634, 2024)2217 MHz @ 80°C @ 174W2210 MHz @ 83°C @ 174W

    Upgradeability

    Both laptops provide a lot of upgradeability, with two SODIMM slots for DDR5 memory, as well as two M.2 PCIe Gen 4 slots for SSDs.

    MSI Vector 16 HX (A13Vx / A14Vx)
    ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 16 (G634, 2024)

    Verdict

    ASUS clearly believes in the SCAR 16, outfitting it with a backpack and other accessories, which really do give the laptop a more premium feel. However, we’re not here to compare backpacks, we’re here to compare laptops. Design-wise, both laptops are equally as heavy, which we find more important than the profile.

    The construction is strong and robust, while the SCAR 16 is outfitted with plenty of RGB, while the Vector 16 only has RGB on its keyboard. The keyboards of the two laptops are of good quality, with long key travel and clicky feedback. The NumberPad feature of the SCAR 16 is impressive, however the gamers who happen to be accountants would prefer a physical NumPad.

    The MSI Vector 16 wins out in terms of ports, with more total number of USBs, as well as an SD card reader. While the display of the SCAR 16 is brighter and covers a lot more colors, the MiniLED backlight uses PWM at all brightness levels, so you need to limit the overall use and take often breaks, otherwise, you might start getting headaches and tired eyes.

    In terms of performance, both laptops have high-performing CPUs, while the GPUs trade victories in the gaming tests and synthetic GPU benchmarks. Overall, both of these laptops are very even, so the final decision should be made based on pricing. Looking at the pricing of equally configured laptops, the Vector is around $400 more affordable, which would easily make it the better option.

    MSI Vector 16 HX (A13Vx / A14Vx): Full Specs / In-depth Review

    ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 16 (G634, 2024): Full Specs / In-depth Review

    MSI Vector 16 HX (A13Vx / A14Vx) configurations:

    ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 16 (G634, 2024) configirations:

    Subscribe
    Notify of
    guest
    0 Comments
    Inline Feedbacks
    View all comments

    TOP 100 GAMING LAPTOPS

    Top 100 best gaming laptop deals Top 100 Best Gaming Laptop Deals (Price/Performance) Top 100 most powerful gaming laptops Top 100 Most Powerful Gaming Laptops

    TOP LAPTOP RATINGS

    Top Laptop CPU Rankings Top Laptop Graphics Rankings AI Hardware Performance Rankings Laptop M.2 SSD Compatibility List Top Laptop PWM Ranking LaptopMedia Profiles Supported Laptops List Top Laptops by Battery Life Top M.2 SSDs Performance Rankings

    HIGHLIGHTS view more

    REVIEWS view more

    TOP LAPTOP CPUs view more

    1. AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX 34692
    2. AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX 33370
    3. AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX3D 32782
    4. Intel Core i9-13980HX 31895
    5. Intel Core i9-14900HX 31299

    TOP LAPTOP GPUs view more

    1. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 (Laptop, 175W)
    2. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 (Laptop, 175W)
    3. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 (Laptop, 150W)
    4. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 (Laptop, 125W)
    5. AMD Radeon RX 7800M XT