ASUS Vivobook 17X K1703 12th Gen Intel vs MSI GL76 Pulse Comparison

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ASUS Vivobook 17X K1703 12th Gen Intel

17.3 inches | January 2022

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MSI GL76 Pulse

17.3 inches | May 2021

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ASUS Vivobook 17X K1703 12th Gen Intel vs MSI GL76 Pulse Comparison Overview

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In this review, we will be comparing Vivobook 17X K1703 12th Gen Intel and GL76 Pulse, two laptops from ASUS and MSI. ASUS Vivobook 17X K1703 12th Gen Intel was introduced to market in January 2022 and MSI GL76 Pulse was launched in May 2021. There is only 8 months difference between Vivobook 17X K1703 12th Gen Intel and GL76 Pulse so we are expecting this to be a fair comparison regarding age and technology level.

Click for Available Configurations of the Laptops

Here is a brief look at the main features of ASUS Vivobook 17X K1703 12th Gen Intel and MSI GL76 Pulse before getting into our more detailed comparison.

ASUS Vivobook 17X K1703 12th Gen Intel Key Specs

Launched in January 2022
17.3" IPS LCD, 16:9 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Intel Core i3 1220P
GPU: Intel UHD Graphics (64EU)
8GB Ram
399.3 x 254.3 x 19.8 mm (15.72 x 10.01 x 0.78 inches)
Weight: 2.1 kg (4.63 lbs)

MSI GL76 Pulse Key Specs

Launched in May 2021
17.3" IPS LCD, 16:9 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Intel Core i5 11400H
GPU: GeForce RTX 3050 Mobile 4GB
8GB Ram
398 x 273 x 24.2 mm (15.67 x 10.75 x 0.95 inches)
Weight: 2.6 kg (5.73 lbs)

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Vivobook 17X K1703 12th Gen Intel and GL76 Pulse compares and decide which one is better for you.

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Reasons to choose ASUS Vivobook 17X K1703 12th Gen Intel over MSI GL76 Pulse

Weight	2.10 kg vs 2.60 kg	0.5 kg lighter
Screen-to-Body Ratio	~81.2% vs ~75.9%	Larger screen area ratio
RAM BUS	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x) vs PCI-E Gen 3.0 (4x)	Faster RAM
Fingerprint Sensor	Yes vs No	Easy login with fingerprint

Reasons to choose MSI GL76 Pulse over ASUS Vivobook 17X K1703 12th Gen Intel

Side Bezel Thickness	7.5 mm vs 8.2 mm	0.7 mm thinner bezels
Refresh Rate	144 Hz vs 60 Hz	Smoother media experience
Max Brightness	320 nits vs 250 nits	Brighter Screen
GPU Fabrication Process	8 nm vs 10 nm	Newer Generation GPU
GPU FLOPS	6.14 TFLOPS vs 1.43 TFLOPS	Dedicated GPU unit
GPU Type	Dedicated vs Integrated	Higher RAM potential
Max Total RAM	64 GB vs 16 GB	More advanced Bluetooth connectivity
Bluetooth	v5.2 vs v5	Connect more device at the same time
Number of USB-A Ports	3x USB 3.2 vs 2x USB 3.2	Better HDMI connectivity
HDMI Version	2.1 vs 1.4	Option to use Display port to connect to external monitors
Display Port	Yes vs No

Common Strengths of MSI GL76 Pulse and ASUS Vivobook 17X K1703 12th Gen Intel

Launch Dates	January 2022 vs May 2021	Both laptops are recent models
Screen Coating	Matte vs Matte	Less reflections on the screen
Fast Charging Support	Yes vs Yes	Charge the battery in a shorter time
Upgradable RAM	Yes vs Yes	Option to increase the RAM size
RAM Type	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x) vs PCI-E Gen 3.0 (4x)	Fast RAM type
Upgradable Storage	Yes vs Yes	Option to increase the Storage size
SSD Type	NVMe vs NVMe	Faster Data Transfers
Wi-Fi Standard	v6 vs v6	Fast and Reliable Wi-Fi Connections
HDMI Output	1x HDMI 1.4 vs 1x HDMI 1.4	Connect to External Displays via HDMI cable
VGA Output	No vs No	Connect to External Displays via VGA cable
Ethernet RJ45 Port	Yes vs Yes	Fast connection to Network via ethernet cable
Numeric Pad	Yes vs Yes	Fast way to input numbers
Keyboard Backlight	Yes vs Yes	Easily see the keys under low light

Common Weaknesses of MSI GL76 Pulse and ASUS Vivobook 17X K1703 12th Gen Intel

Touchscreen Capability	No vs No	No Touchscreen Capability
HDR Support	No vs No	No HDR Support

ASUS Vivobook 17X K1703 12th Gen Intel vs MSI GL76 Pulse: Physical Specs Comparison

In this section, we will be comparing the physical specifications and body features of the ASUS Vivobook 17X K1703 12th Gen Intel and the MSI GL76 Pulse.

Physical Specs
Weight	2.1 kg (4.63 lbs)	2.6 kg (5.73 lbs)
Surface Area	1015 cm2 (157.4 inches2)	1087 cm2 (168.5 inches2)
Screen to Surface Ratio	~81.2%	~75.9%
Side Bezel Thickness	~8.2 mm	~7.5 mm
Weight per Inch of Screen	0.12 kg/inch	0.15 kg/inch
	0.264 lbs/inch	0.33 lbs/inch
Colors	Silver, Blue	Gray

Comparison of the ASUS Vivobook 17X K1703 12th Gen Intel and the MSI GL76 Pulse External Dimensions

Weight

Vivobook 17X K1703 12th Gen Intel weighs 2.1 kg (4.63 lbs), whereas the GL76 Pulse weighs 2.6 kg (5.73 lbs). There is a notable difference in weight between these two laptops. The weight difference between the two laptops is not significant.

Weight Comparison

Displays size larger than 17.0 inches

ASUS Vivobook 17X K1703 12th Gen Intel 2.10 kg

MSI GL76 Pulse 2.60 kg

Min 1.29 kg

Average 2.74 kg

Max 4.23 kg

Thickness Comparison

Displays size larger than 17.0 inches

ASUS Vivobook 17X K1703 12th Gen Intel 19.80 mm

MSI GL76 Pulse 24.20 mm

Min 8.60 mm

Average 24.26 mm

Max 38.00 mm

Another value that we use for comparing the weights of the laptops is the Weight per Inch of Screen, which is calculated by dividing the total weight of the model with its usable diagonal screen size. This value for the ASUS Vivobook 17X K1703 12th Gen Intel is 0.12 kg/inch.In comparison, this value for the MSI GL76 Pulse is 0.15 kg/inch.Here are some of the best performing laptops in this area:

Microsoft Surface Go 4: 0.05 kg/inch
LG Gram SuperSlim 15.6 2023: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus ProArt PZ13 HT5306: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus Zenbook A14 UX3407: 0.06 kg/inch
Dell Latitude 7330: 0.07 kg/inch
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2: 0.07 kg/inch
LG Gram 14 2022: 0.07 kg/inch
LG Gram 14 2-in-1 2022: 0.07 kg/inch

ASUS Vivobook 17X K1703 12th Gen Intel vs MSI GL76 Pulse: Internals (CPU, GPU, RAM, Battery, SSD, etc.) Comparison

CPU Comparison

CPU Model	Intel Core i3 1220P Intel Core i5 12500H Intel Core i7 12700H	Intel Core i5 11400H Intel Core i7 11800H
Base Frequency	1.5 GHz	2.2-2.7 GHz
Turbo Frequency	4.4 GHz	4.5 GHz
Number of Cores	10	6
Number of Threads	12	12
L3 Cache	12 MB	12 MB
Integrated GPU	Intel UHD Graphics (64EU)	Intel UHD Graphics for 11th Gen (16 EU)
CPU Fabrication Process	10 nm	10 nm
Geekbench 5 (Single)	1569	1514
Geekbench 5 (Multi)	6569	6382
Cinebench 23 (Single)	1580	1478
Cinebench 23 (Multi)	7048	9375

Above you can see the CPU options and the CineBench and GeekBench test scores for both laptops, which gives an idea about what kind of performance difference you may experience between the ASUS Vivobook 17X K1703 12th Gen Intel and MSI GL76 Pulse.

You may also read reviews of latest laptops with the same CPUs and compare them:

Laptops with: Intel Core i3 1220P

Laptops with: Intel Core i5 11400H

GPU Comparison

GPU Model	Intel UHD Graphics (64EU)	GeForce RTX 3050 Mobile 4GB GeForce RTX 3050 Ti Mobile 4GB GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile 6GB GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile 6GB
Base Clock Frequency	300 MHz	1065 MHz
Boost CLock Frequency	1250 MHz	1343 MHz
TGP (Total Graphics Power)	15 W	45 W
Type	Integrated	Dedicated
FLOPS	1,280 GFLOPS	5.501 TFLOPS
Memory Size	System Shared	4 GB
Memory Type	System Shared	GDDR6
Memory Bus	System Shared	128 bit
Memory Speed	System Shared	1500 MHz 12 Gbps effective
Shading Units Cores	512	2048
TMUs	32	64
ROPs	16	32

GPU is as critical as the CPU for graphic heavy applications and the table above gives a picture of how the two GPU compares. FLOPS is a measure of a GPU's performance based on the number of floating-point arithmetic calculations that the processor can perform within a second. ASUS Vivobook 17X K1703 12th Gen Intel has a FLOPS value of 1.43 TFLOPS whereas the MSI GL76 Pulse ' has a FLOPS value of 6.14 TFLOPS. If graphical performance of the laptop is important for your use type, the MSI GL76 Pulse may be the better choice between these two setups.

RAM Comparison

RAM	8GB 12GB 16GB	8GB 16GB 32GB 64GB
Memory Bus	1x8 GB	1x8 GB
RAM Clock	3200 MHz	3200 MHz
RAM Type	DDR4	DDR4
Upgradable	Yes	Yes
Max RAM Size	16 GB	64 GB
Total Slots	1	2
Memory Bus	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x)	PCI-E Gen 3.0 (4x)

Both laptops, the Vivobook 17X K1703 12th Gen Intel and the GL76 Pulse, come with similar RAM capacities of 8 GB, providing comparable performance in memory-intensive tasks.

LOCAL LLM Compatibility Evaluation

This quick guide shows what types of large language models (LLMs) each of these laptops could support, based on their respective hardware specifications. It's meant to help you compare their suitability for running AI models locally.

LLM Category	ASUS Vivobook 17X (K1703, 12th Gen Intel)	MSI GL76 Pulse
Small Models(1-3B):Examples: Phi-2, Qwen-1.8B	✔ Run smoothly.	✔ Run smoothly.
Medium Models(7-8B):Examples: Mistral-7B, Qwen-7B	✖ Not supported.	✖ Not supported.
Large Models(13-30B):Examples: Mixtral, Qwen-14B	✖ Not supported.	✖ Not supported.
Extra-Large Models(65B+):Examples: LLaMA2-70B, Qwen1.5-72B	✖ Not supported on most systems. Requires high-end GPU or advanced setup.	✖ Not supported on most systems. Requires high-end GPU or advanced setup.

Note: Optimized (e.g., 4-bit) models may run on limited hardware. Performance depends on runtime and setup.

📌 MoE Models: Some models like Mixtral 8x7B and Qwen3-30B-A3B use a Mixture of Experts (MoE) design, activating only part of the model during inference. This means they can often run efficiently on laptops with 12–16 GB of VRAM when quantized.

BATTERY

BATTERY	50 Wh	53.4 Wh
Battery Type	Li-Ion	Li-Ion
Replaceable	No	No
Fast Charging	Yes	Yes
USB Power Delivery	No	No
Charging Port Position	Right	Left
Charge Power	65 / 90 W	180 W

On the other hand, the GL76 Pulse features a higher battery capacity of 53 Wh, delivering longer usage time compared to the Vivobook 17X K1703 12th Gen Intel's 50 Wh.

Battery Comparison

Displays size larger than 17.0 inches

ASUS Vivobook 17X K1703 12th Gen Intel 50 Wh

MSI GL76 Pulse 53 Wh

Min 37.00 Wh

Average 76.88 Wh

Max 100.00 Wh

STORAGE
Both laptops, the Vivobook 17X K1703 12th Gen Intel and the GL76 Pulse have similar max. storage capacities of 1 TB, allowing for ample space to store files and applications.

Storage Options	256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB	512 GB, 1 TB
Upgradable	Yes	Yes
Storage type	SSD (M2)	SSD (M2)
NVMe	Yes	Yes

If your budget allows, we recommend opting for the largest possible disk size, considering the potential increase in storage capacity needs in the future. However, please keep in mind the question 'What will the laptop be used for?' when making this decision. Of course, you can later upgrade the hard disk capacity by getting a larger disk. However, if your laptop has only one disk slot, it may not be as straightforward as a RAM upgrade, where you simply add or replace a module, as moving or cloning files to a new disk may be necessary.

ASUS Vivobook 17X K1703 12th Gen Intel vs MSI GL76 Pulse: Display Comparison

The display is an essential aspect to consider when comparing the ASUS Vivobook 17X K1703 12th Gen Intel and MSI GL76 Pulse since its is the component that you interact the most and significantly impact the experience.

Screen Area and Dimensions

Now let's look at the comparison of the actual display areas of both laptops below, keeping the bezels around the screens out of the equation. Both Vivobook 17X K1703 12th Gen Intel and GL76 Pulse screens have the same size of 17.3".The total usable screen area of the Vivobook 17X K1703 12th Gen Intel is 825cm² / 128inch² whereas the GL76 Pulse's total usable screen area is 825cm² / 128inch².

PPI (Pixels per Inch)
Both Vivobook 17X K1703 12th Gen Intel and GL76 Pulse feature the same pixel density with 127 pixels per inch (PPI).

Screen PPI (Pixels Per Inch) Comparison

Displays size larger than 17.0 inches

ASUS Vivobook 17X K1703 12th Gen Intel 127 ppi

MSI GL76 Pulse 127 ppi

Min 106 PPI

Average 141 PPI

Max 266.00 PPI

Refresh Rate
The GL76 Pulse offers a higher refresh rate of 144 Hz, resulting in smoother motion and improved visual experience.

Brightness
The GL76 Pulse offers a higher maximum brightness of 320 nits, delivering a brighter screen.

Brightness Comparison

Displays size larger than 17.0 inches

ASUS Vivobook 17X K1703 12th Gen Intel 250 nits

MSI GL76 Pulse 320 nits

Min

200 nits

Average 368 nits

Max 1200.00 nits

ASUS Vivobook 17X K1703 12th Gen Intel vs MSI GL76 Pulse Connectivity Comparison

In terms of connectivity,

Wifi
Both laptops offer the same Wi-Fi standard (v6), ensuring fast and reliable wireless connections.

Below, you'll find a Wi-Fi Versions Table, along with their release dates and speeds, to provide a brief overview of its development.

Wi-Fi Versions and Speeds

Standard	Speed	Release Date	Network	Frequency Bands (GHz)
Wi-Fi 7	up to 40 Gbps (5 GB/s)	2023	802.11be	2.4, 5, 6
Wi-Fi 6E	up to 9.6 Gbps (1.2 GB/s)	2020	802.11ax	2.4, 5, 6
Wi-Fi 6	up to 9.6 Gbps (1.2 GB/s)	2019	802.11ax	2.4, 5
Wi-Fi 5	up to 6.93 Gbps (866.25 MB/s)	2014	802.11ac	2.4, 5
Wi-Fi 4	up to 600 Mbps (75 MB/s)	2009	802.11n	2.4, 5

* Please note that the provided transfer rates are maximum theoretical values, and real-life performance may vary based on environmental factors.

USB
Both Vivobook 17X K1703 12th Gen Intel and GL76 Pulse have USB-A ports. Vivobook 17X K1703 12th Gen Intel has 2x USB 3.2 USB-A ports, while GL76 Pulse has 3x USB 3.2 USB-A ports.
Both Vivobook 17X K1703 12th Gen Intel and GL76 Pulse feature 1x USB 3.2 USB Type-C ports.

Below, you'll find a table of USB ports, along with their release dates and speeds.
To mitigate the confusion caused by generation names, the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) suggests using marketing names like USB 5Gbps, USB 10Gbps, and so forth, based on their respective transfer rates.

USB Type and Speeds

USB Type	Version	Speed	Date	Other Features/Explanations
USB4	Gen 4 (2.0)	80 Gbps	2022	Also known as USB 80Gbps
USB4	Gen 3×2	40 Gbps	2019	Also known as USB 40Gbps
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 2x2	20 Gbps	2019	Double the data transfer rates of Gen 2
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 2	10 Gbps	2017	Previously known as USB 3.1
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 1	5 Gbps	2017	Previously known as USB 3.0
USB 3.1	3.1 Gen 2	10 Gbps	2013	Faster data transfer rates
USB 3.0	3.1 Gen 1	5 Gbps	2010	SuperSpeed USB, improved data transfer rates
USB 2.0	2.0	480 Mbps	2000	High-speed data transfer
USB 1.0	1.0	1.5 Mbps	1996	Original USB standard

Thunderbolt
Neither Vivobook 17X K1703 12th Gen Intel nor GL76 Pulse has Thunderbolt port.

HDMI
Both Vivobook 17X K1703 12th Gen Intel and GL76 Pulse feature an HDMI port. Vivobook 17X K1703 12th Gen Intel offers 1x HDMI 1.4, while GL76 Pulse offers 1x HDMI 2.1.

Below, you'll find a comparison table detailing different HDMI versions, including their bandwidth, color depth, maximum resolution, and release dates. This information can be helpful in understanding the capabilities of each HDMI version and choosing the most suitable one for your needs.

HDMI Comparison Table

HDMI Version	Maximum Resolution	Bandwidth (Gbps)	Color Depth (bits)	Release Date
HDMI 2.1-2.1b	7680 x 4320 *(8K)* @ 60p 3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 120p	48.0	48	2017
HDMI 2.0-2.0b	3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 60p	18.0	48	2013
HDMI 1.4-1.4b	3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 30p	10.2	48	2009
HDMI 1.3-1.3a	2560 x 1440 @ 60p	10.2	48	2006
HDMI 1.0-1.2a	1920 x 1200 @ 60p	4.95	24	2002

* Please note that the provided resolution values represent the maximum supported resolution, and actual display quality may depend on other factors such as source content and connected devices.

SD Card Reader
Neither Vivobook 17X K1703 12th Gen Intel nor GL76 Pulse has an SD Card Reader.

Audio Jack
Both Vivobook 17X K1703 12th Gen Intel and GL76 Pulse are equipped with a 3.5mm Audio Jack, providing seamless connection to headphones and speakers.

To summarize the connectivity and ports details, please refer to the table below to see them listed.

Connectivity and Ports
WiFi Standard (latest: v7)	v6	v6
Bluetooth (latest: v5.4)	v5	v5.2
USB-A (latest: 3.2)	2x USB 3.2	3x USB 3.2
USB Type-C (latest: USB4 2.0)	1x USB 3.2	1x USB 3.2
Thunderbolt (latest: 4)	No	No
HDMI (latest: 2.1)	1x HDMI 1.4	1x HDMI 2.1
Display Port (latest: v2.0)	No	1x v1.4
VGA	No	No
Fingerprint Sensor	Yes	No
Optical Drive	No	No
Audio Jack 3.5mm	Yes	Yes
Ethernet RJ45	Yes	Yes
SD CardReader	No	No
Proprietary Charging Port	Yes	Yes