Razer Blade vs MSI Ghost Pro

Currently deciding between these two laptops.

I really like the blade and Razer's aesthetics but the ghost pro is looking very appealing as well. As far as I can tell these are the main differences:

Display:
Blade 14" 3200x1800 IGZO touchscreen

Ghost 15.6" 2880x1620

Resolutions are similar enough that it would probably be unnoticeable and I'm not sure how much of a difference IGZO makes. I'm personally more used to a 15" and ghost's size comes with the added benefit of a keyboard numpad.

Processor:

Blade i7 - 4702 2.2 ghz

Ghost i7 - 4710 2.5 ghz

Ghost wins here assuming that it doesn't get under clocked. I'm not sure if the additional power usage should be an issue.

GPU:

Both use a 870m

Ram:

Blade 8gb

Ghost 16gb default

No difference to me as I won't be running ram heavy programs but Ghost does come with the ability to customize which would be a benefit to some.

Storage:

Blade 128gb default with upgrades up to 512gb though severely overpriced. Unconfirmed on additional storage possibilities.

Ghost 128gb ssd + 1tb 7200 rpm hdd default. Offers two ssd slots with considerably cheaper upgrades (370$ for upgrade to 512gb) in addition to a HDD bay.

Ghost surpasses Blade by leaps and bounds here. 128gb is most definitely not enough and having to pay a more than a premium for a reasonable amount of space is unfortunate. With the Ghost, even the default option offers ample storage.

LAN:

Blade has NONE. I suppose with the level of thinness they were going for it would be difficult.

Ghost: Killer E2200

While maybe not a concern for some, my university's WLAN isn't reliable enough to game on and while a ethernet to USB converter is an option, it's a hassle.

Cost:

Blade 2200-2700

Ghost 2000 + upgrades.

Ghost easily wins here as even the default option has more storage than the Blade and adding storage is cheaper and more flexible.

Other:

My concerns mainly lie outside pure technical specs as it seems apparent to me that Ghost pro seems like a better option. I don't know how the battery life or heat compares between the two. Fan noise is another issue that comes to mind. I have not heard good things about the Ghost's trackpad but it's not really a deal breaker. I'd love to hear your guys' input or correction on anything I may have overlooked.

 

I'd personally pick the Ghost, since the CPU is more upgradable if you manage to keep it cool, storage is more plentiful, it has LAN, it's better priced, and I trust MSI design more than Razer.
I'd probably only consider the blade over the ghost if I had cash to burn without care and tried them both side-by-side first.

 

It comes down to what is most important to you. From what you listed, I would say the Ghost Pro is a better fit for you. Storage & RAM spec wise, the Ghost pro is going to be better in every way since it has more options available.

You don't even mention my biggest + for the blade, which is form factor. It's 2" less wide, 1" less depth, and thinner than the Ghost. The Ghost is actually closer to a 17" laptop dimensions like the Blade Pro, so then I would just jump to the Blade Pro if it were me.

I do like MSI, have had two of their gaming systems and had great luck with both of them, well built and had all the options I needed at the time.

 

Agreed. Size is definitely a factor. Personally that screen resolution is a big + for me as well, only because I've used a similar display and hopefully this one is just as gorgeous.

 

Does MSI still insist on using terrible trackpads? Had an MSI GE60 and the trackpad was absolutely unusable on the thing, and looking at reviews and pictures of their new lineup it doesn't seem to have changed much.

 

Everyone is complaining about the gs60 trackpad as well. I suppose if you need to use it often it could be annoying.

 

Suspect that they all use the same trackpad, and the trackpad on the GS60 is absolute JUNK. Just configuring my wife's today, I had the trackpad jumping and mis-clicking just by leaving my right wrist resting against the body of the notebook (not even on the trackpad). This is WITH the extra gesture software uninstalled. There aren't any dedicated buttons [they're built into the pad itself] so I also had some issues with right clicks reading properly.

Fortunately my wife is not as picky as I am, and ALWAYS carries a mouse

 

Ah I figured as much. I use the trackpad quite a bit so it's one of the reasons I'm staying away from MSI this time around. Was debating if I should cancel my Razer Blade 512GB pre-order and get a GS60 or GS70. Razer made too many compromises on the Razer Blade IMHO, and the lack of a 2nd M.2 slot is disappointing to say the least. Seeing reviews and getting first hand reports on the GS60/70, especially regarding the trackpad, is definitely making me lean towards staying with my Razer pre-order.

 

That's why you use TouchScreen I'm just kidding*

 

I think people complained about the MSI GS60 Ghost as well:

- When laptop is open, screen flexes quite a bit
- Keyboard seems to have flex around the middle too while typing on it.
- Location of speakers are not ideally located
- Track pad position is more towards the left than normal
- Windows key is on the right side

 

Wow really? That's almost a deal breaker for me. I've gotten so used to using my left hand for shortcuts, relearning it all and then alternating depending on which device Im using would drive me crazy.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

 

Had to deal with every one of those issues on my GE60, so having experienced MSI's build quality (or lack of) is what made me hesitant about going with a GS60 or GS70 and instead pre-ordering the Razer Blade. Yes I'll miss having an ethernet port, and SD card slot, and upgradeable storage, but at least I won't have to worry about shoddy built quality and part choices.

 

I actually only have a single 512GB in my 17 Sammy right now and I never use my LAN.. Seems OK..

 

I think you are taking peoples reviews and skewing them to the very extreme.

I have not read anywhere that the GS60 has shoddy build quality..I've read every review available as well as hands on reviews here at Nbr. It's simply not a full unibody chassis, so there are gaps where needed that most people would never even notice. I checked out the GS70 Stealth in person and it was a very smooth looking machine.

The Razer reviews are starting to pour in and the lacks that I have seen are not helping me make my decision between the Razer and MSI gs60. I want to like the Razer more but haven't seen anything that sways that direction, yet.

Razer Blade 2014 vs MSIgs60 Ghost
- no m.2 slot, up-gradable storage in general is missing
- only 8Gb of ram vs Ghost 12-16
- No Lan
- 14 screen size vs Ghost 15.6
- Razer synapse= not great vs Ghost Steelseries keyboard = good keyboard
- Razer 2.03 Kg vs Ghost 1.96Kg with battery
- Razer no num pad vs Ghost has num pad

I'd be interested to see battery life comparisons as that could be a big difference.

 

The Razer Blade 14 doesn't have synapse, and I believe its keyboard is generally well regarded.

 

If size and build quality aren't at the top of your requirements, then you have options. If they are, you don't.

 

I don't follow this derailed train of thought. Do you have both as I'd like to see a comparison on Nbr.

 

While I have no doubt the GS60/70 have pretty decent build quality, MSI have lost my trust due to my personal experience with their previous laptops (both GE and GT series), and it bothers me they can't get something as basic as a trackpad implemented properly (to be fair, most OEM's have this issue, Apple has set the bar very high).

 

To be honest, it seems like you need another laptop but you want a Razer Blade 14... You should actually take a step back and figure out your priorities. Then figure out from the priorities what you actually NEED vs WANT. The rest should come naturally by just comparing laptops to the NEEDS and WANTS.

Also consider if you actually need a laptop NOW. I spent half a year waiting to get a laptop that fits what I wanted.

I personally used my own advice... considering I don't actually NEED a laptop, I prioritized my wants with "must have" and "nice to have". Compared other laptops to my list and Razer Blade 14 checked most of my boxes.

Check out the review from the Razer Blade Pro vs MSI GS60 - take it with a grain of salt. He does a fair comparison, but misses a few things like the flex located in the middle of the keyboard that another reviewer mentioned.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/razer/751040-razer-blade-vs-msi-ghost-pro.html

 

The Razer 14 is already bigger than I'd like, and the GS70 is even bigger. Given that the Razer 14 is unibody, it's already a notch above the GS70 in build. And then there's the screen.

I can parse my earlier comment for you if words are hard: There aren't any other options other than the Razer if you care about size and build quality in laptops with discrete gfx. If you don't value those at the top of your list, then you have other options, the GS70 being one of those. Which exactly what I said in far fewer words.

 

There's no need to be so snarky. All you really had to say was that the Razer Blade was the top choice if you were unwilling to go above 14".

That being said, you are absolutely correct. People have different priorities. I don't particularly care about size but I do care about having a ethernet port.

Is the build quality on the Ghost Pro really that much worse than the Blade?

 

You can also consider the gigabyte P34G v2. It's crazy light, 14" FHD ahva panel, 860M Maxwell. Someone in the forum there said it ran cool and relatively quiet.

 

I'm simply comparing the GS60 pro and the Razer Blade 14. They are in the same gaming notebook ultraportable category, from what I can tell. I really like elements of both manufacturers. The case design, small form factor, and screen are nice on the Razer. The MSI GS60 Ghost seems to win out in every other category such as hard drive space, keyboard, Ram, and the weight of both almost identical.

Tough call from specs alone and few reviews on both. I think heat dissipation and battery life may be a big determining factor for many on the fence.

He's missing the point that we are talking about the GS60 Pro, because "words are hard".:thumbsup:

The small size increase of the GS60 is basically screen real estate. Since the GS60 actually weighs less than the Razer.

The build quality on the GS60 Pro, based on hands on reviews from members of this board, is very good for a non unibody design. They say the magnesium lithium metal they use in the chassis construction is very light weight but durable.

 

A USB 3.0 10/100/1000 Ethernet adapter is $20 and works well. Is it just that you don't want to pack an extra doodad that is bothersome, or a technical reason?

 

It's an additional bother. The reviews I was looking at for USB ethernet adapters seemed to say that they had a tendency of failing after a few months. Also it takes up a USB port.

 

Maybe if you use them constantly for months on end they fail. I've owned one for nine months and it's fine for occasional use. I'm normally wireless on my laptops and that works just fine over the 5.8Ghz band.

If you're looking for a main PC, the Razer Blade Pro is a better choice. The trackpad is not under the keyboard. It has an Ethernet port. It has 16GB of RAM. It can take at least two drives. The extra physical screen size is also easier on the eyes. When I know I need to do work remotely, I take my 17" Blade R2 with me.

 

Personally the Razer Blade wins it for me hands down. Have owned MSIs in the past. Great laptops. Great power/cost. But the build quality isn't nearly as good. Cheap plastics, lots of creaking and mediocre trackpad. And I've owned 3.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

 

I have had GS70 with GTX 765M.. I couldn't agree more. I returned it within a week and stayed with my Alienware. Their build quality is a big NO NO.

 

I mean its not horrible, just cheap. Everything flexes. My keyboard also had issues with the lighting on one of my models, always had to reset it. I mean they put great hardware in them, and usually have good cooling, the external aesthetics/feel is more akin to a cheap Dell then a Macbook Pro. The plastic seemed to scratch very easily as well.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

 

Windows key on right is to prevent accidental press during gaming.

 

I'd rather have it on the left, especially if there is software to disable it easily. I have it enabled on my Sammy and I don't think I've ever hit it by accident.

 

Ditto. Never. Every gaming keyboard I've had has it on the left as well. Never fat wristed it...

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

 

Where can one (pre)order the MSI Ghost Pro in the US? When is it going to ship?

 

It looks like xotic pc and gentech both have the msi Ghost Pro for pre-oreder.

 

I think some games just disable it, but if you've ever had the pleasure of hitting it mid-game and activated, it's annoying as heck. It's right next to the alt key. But it's also not a big deal either side imho. That wouldn't be a deal breaker for me in whether I bought a laptop or not.

I'd have to say hands down the Ghost Pro is the winner. Razer has it beat in overall dimensions by a slight bit, otherwise user expansion and options offer a huge advantage over the Razer. Heck, even weight is the same *WITH* a hard drive where Razer has none. Maximum 8GB RAM and 512GB for a $2700 gaming laptop is laughable at best. Seeing many users already investigating external storage options is insta-fail imho. If you have a sleek and thin laptop what's the point if you have to drag along extra storage with you all the time? Make it a little bigger and add a second user upgradable storage slot and it fixes that issue.

I would buy this laptop in an instant if it had:

(1) 16GB stock RAM OR at least one user upgradable slot to go along with the 8GB on board
(2) Ditch m.2, in theory it sounds great and all, but you can have 1TB mSATA SSD's readily available and cheaper than m.2.
(3) Add TWO mSATA slots
(4) Make user upgrades NOT void warranty.

For 2015 if it has stock config with quad core i7, Maxwell 870m replacement, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD stock with option for second mSATA, high quality 1080p or 3k panel, I would gladly buy for $2500 even if it were 1/2" wider, 1/2" deeper and 6mm thicker!

 

The problem is that the Ghost is ugly and looks crappy. You are right about all the things the Blade lacks, but I think I'm willing to make a few sacrifices to have a device that I really like aesthetically. I've always hated Apple, until I had to start using a Mac Book Air (cause I dropped my computer, and my wife wasn't using hers). It made me realize a few things. I still hate Apple (mostly OS related). But good god can they design a computer. There is simply no laptop out their that has the same design cohesion, lightness, and solid feel. I think the Blade comes close, and that's all I ask. There is no question that the Blade isn't perfect (though I happen to think there will be some decent fixes for the storage issues soon enough). Razer made some questionable choices (like M2 SATA). If you are only concerned with the internals, Ghost Pro all the way. But if you buy into the Razer aesthetic (or any aesthetic for that matter) then I think it's a harder call.

 

What he said.

Razer had the market to themselves for a couple years. Min lamented the lack of competition. Now at least people with no design aesthetic have a Dell-esque option.

 

Haha. Exactly. Having owned MSI gaming laptops I can assure you that the performance is great, but they feel cheap compared to the Macbook Pro I use for work. Of course I've always liked Apples design, just hated their enforced limitations and just their whole cultural attitude (we're better then everyone else and if you don't think so your dumb). If the Razer Blade 14 embodies that same design, but actually let's me play games on it, that's pretty freaking awesome. After all, of the aesthetic didn't matter there are plenty of other gaming laptops which offer more options than either of these for some additional bulk.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

 

I currently own two laptops, an asus k53TA and a macbook air. I'm thinking about replacing my macbook air (it's having battery issues) with either the 1799 msi ghost pro or the 2013 Razor blade at 1499. Which one would you guys choose between those two?

 

Well I know part of the problem is that this thread is in the Razer forums.
But, if you haven't seen and touched the new GS60 Ghost you are not comparing apples to apples. The GS60 Ghost I looked at in the store was very well made, it was solid, with little flex, and the outside looked very, well, Cool. I know the Razer is a good looking machine, but that is not why we typically buy gaming laptops. If you want the best aesthetics, the Razer is a smidge smoother with the unibody chassis. MSI Ghost packs a huge punch in an equally small and lightweight design, and it has a very sleek exterior, just not unibody.

I'm personally waiting on more reviews from both. Heat, battery life, etc play a bigger role for me than looks. We all knew what they were going to look like a month ago.

If it's between the new msi gs60 ghost and last years razer blade 13, then I don't see how you couldn't pick the ghost. It has an IPS 1080P screen, 128SSD, 1TB Hdd, 12gb Ram, steelseries keyboard. The 13 Razer has a 720p screen which is where most of the bad reviews evolved, but also it has a slower GPU, less Ram, and less storage. But thats last years model of the Razer blade in comparison with a new model of the gs60 ghost.

 

I've seen the preview pictures from several sites. I see a bunch of little plastic nubbins and a suite of obnoxious edge lights and a ton of ports I don't want/need. I don't need to handle it to know it looks gaudy in comparison.

Speak for yourself? I buy a laptop because I want a durable portable computer that can play games and perform other tasks.

He's apparently got 300 reasons to go with a 2013 blade. If he's comfortable with 1600x900 then they're 300 very compelling reasons.

 

We all have our own opinions, that is granted. I'm saying handling a product in person far outweighs some pictures on a website.

You and others may purchase any item based on looks. I'm saying looks alone won't be MY main deciding factor with a gaming laptop. The storage space, RAM, keyboard, screen size, resolution, overall portability, and aesthetics, all play a role in my decision making process. From what I have seen the Ghost has all of the options that we would want and the Razer has a slightly superior form factor with the unibody chassis. I feel that the overall value and offering from the Ghost is tilting my purchasing decision towards the ghost. I'm waiting to see more hands on from Razer 14 owners though.

Somewhat contradictory decision making process based on your previous comments. If it's all based on price to performance the Ghost blows away the Razer at all levels.

 

You said "we", which implies you're speaking for a group of people.

Not contradictory to yours, though. If usinglaptops has an option to buy a 2013 Blade for $1499 that's a pretty good deal if he's ok with the 1600x900 resolution.

 

Ok, if it's semantics you would like to discuss that's for another forum.

Price to performance is one thing some people shop for, some shop for aesthetics, and others a mix of both. To each their own.

 

Looks are subjective and can't help performance in any way, shape, or form. Razer looks sleek, it has done lots of great things right, but it's still lacking in a lot of respects from what a gaming laptop traditionally offers. I don't begrudge anyone from wanting to buy this laptop, just that there's a handful of things that they could have done better, and landed a lot more customers, myself included.

 

For a $300 difference I'd take the ghost, the 860 is a decent step up from the 765.

Of course I'm going for the 2014 Blade.

 

You aren't still concerned about temperatures?

 

Nah, I was more concerned about fan noise and two people that have both already said it was the same as last year's. I use a lap desk all the time so if it gets a little hot while gaming I don't care as long at it's within spec.

 

Semantics?

Here is exactly what you wrote (emphasis mine):

"I know the Razer is a good looking machine, but that is not why we typically buy gaming laptops."

To whom are you referring to when you say "we"?

 

IceStorm,

So we doesn't include you. WE get it.

I'm sorry you take everything word for word, it's just light conversation on a product offering.
People buy products for many different reasons, some for looks, some for brand, some for price vs performance, some because Joboo told them to in a dream.
Whatever your reasons are, they are yours and entitled to them.
It's just conversation. Carry on.