Asus ROG Strix G18 2025 G815 vs MSI Crosshair 17 Comparison

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Asus ROG Strix G18 2025 G815

18 inches | January 2025

Speed 9

Size 1.5

Display 6.5

Gaming 5.5

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MSI Crosshair 17

17.3 inches | January 2022

Speed 5.5

Size 7

Display 5

Gaming 4

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Asus ROG Strix G18 2025 G815 vs MSI Crosshair 17 Comparison Overview

Asus ROG Strix G18 2...

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MSI Crosshair 17

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Asus ROG Strix G18 2...

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MSI Crosshair 17

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In this review, we will be comparing ROG Strix G18 2025 G815 and Crosshair 17, two laptops from Asus and MSI. Asus ROG Strix G18 2025 G815 was introduced to market in January 2025 and MSI Crosshair 17 was launched in January 2022. As you can see, Crosshair 17 is 3 years older than ROG Strix G18 2025 G815. Let's see if this age difference between two laptops makes a big difference.

Click for Available Configurations of the Laptops

Here is a brief look at the main features of Asus ROG Strix G18 2025 G815 and MSI Crosshair 17 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Asus ROG Strix G18 2025 G815 Key Specs

Launched in January 2025
18.0" IPS LCD, 16:10 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX
GPU: GeForce RTX 5050 Laptop 8GB
16GB Ram
399 x 298 x 23.5-32 mm (15.71 x 11.73 x 0.93-1.26 inches)
Weight: 3.42 kg (7.54 lbs)

MSI Crosshair 17 Key Specs

Launched in January 2022
17.3" IPS LCD, 16:9 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Intel Core i7 12700H
GPU: GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile 6GB
16GB Ram
398 x 273 x 27.2 mm (15.67 x 10.75 x 1.07 inches)
Weight: 2.66 kg (5.87 lbs)

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how ROG Strix G18 2025 G815 and Crosshair 17 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 ROG Strix G18 2025 G815 over MSI Crosshair 17

Screen-to-Body Ratio	~79% vs ~75.9%	Larger screen area ratio
Side Bezel Thickness	5.7 mm vs 7.5 mm	1.8 mm thinner bezels
Display Size	18 inches vs 17.3 inches	Larger Screen Estate
Noise Level	49.7 dB vs 56 dB	Less fan noise
Contrast Rate	1455:1 vs 1000:1	more pleasing colors
Screen PPI	168 ppi vs 127 ppi	More pixels per inch
Screen Resolution	2560 x 1600 pixels vs 1920 x 1080 pixels	Higher pixel count screen
sRGB Color Space	100% vs 99%	Wider sRGB Color Space Coverage
Max Brightness	500 nits vs 300 nits	Brighter Screen
Response Time	3 ms vs 4 ms	Faster Response screen
CPU Fabrication Process	3 nm vs 10 nm	Newer Generation CPU
GPU Fabrication Process	5 nm vs 8 nm	Newer Generation GPU
RAM Type	DDR5 vs DDR4	Faster RAM Type
Dolby Atmos Speakers	Yes vs No	3D Surround Sound Support
WiFi Standard	v7 vs v6	More advanced Wi-fi connectivity
Bluetooth	v5.4 vs v5.2	More advanced Bluetooth connectivity
Webcam Resolution	1920 x 1080 vs 1280 x 720	Higher Resolution Camera
Number of USB-C Ports	2x USB 4.0 vs 1x USB 3.2	Connect more device at the same time
USB-C Port Type	v4.0 vs v3.2	Faster USB-C connection
Thunderbolt	v5 vs No	Support audio, data, power and video all through one single port
HDMI Version	2.1 vs 2.0	Better HDMI connectivity

Reasons to choose MSI Crosshair 17 over Asus ROG Strix G18 2025 G815

Weight	2.66 kg vs 3.42 kg	0.76 kg lighter
Refresh Rate	360 Hz vs 240 Hz	Smoother media experience
GPU FLOPS	13.8 TFLOPS vs 7.7-13.6 TFLOPS

Common Strengths of MSI Crosshair 17 and Asus ROG Strix G18 2025 G815

Launch Dates	January 2025 vs January 2022	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	DDR5 vs DDR4	Fast RAM type
Upgradable Storage	Yes vs Yes	Option to increase the Storage size
SSD Type	NVMe vs NVMe	Faster Data Transfers
HDMI Output	1x HDMI 2.1 vs 1x HDMI 2.1	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 Crosshair 17 and Asus ROG Strix G18 2025 G815

Touchscreen Capability	No vs No	No Touchscreen Capability
Fingerprint Sensor	No vs No	No fingerprint login feature

Asus ROG Strix G18 2025 G815 vs MSI Crosshair 17: Physical Specs Comparison

In this section, we will be comparing the physical specifications and body features of the Asus ROG Strix G18 2025 G815 and the MSI Crosshair 17.

Physical Specs
Weight	3.42 kg (7.54 lbs)	2.66 kg (5.87 lbs)
Surface Area	1189 cm2 (184.3 inches2)	1087 cm2 (168.5 inches2)
Screen to Surface Ratio	~79%	~75.9%
Side Bezel Thickness	~5.7 mm	~7.5 mm
Weight per Inch of Screen	0.19 kg/inch	0.15 kg/inch
	0.418 lbs/inch	0.33 lbs/inch
Colors	Black	Black

Comparison of the Asus ROG Strix G18 2025 G815 and the MSI Crosshair 17 External Dimensions

Weight

ROG Strix G18 2025 G815 weighs 3.42 kg (7.54 lbs), whereas the Crosshair 17 weighs 2.66 kg (5.87 lbs). There is a notable difference in weight between these two laptops. However, it's important to consider that comparing their weights directly may not provide a complete picture since they also have different display sizes.

Weight Comparison

Displays size larger than 17.0 inches

Asus ROG Strix G18 2025 G815

MSI Crosshair 17

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Thickness Comparison

Displays size larger than 17.0 inches

Asus ROG Strix G18 2025 G815

MSI Crosshair 17

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Average

Max

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 ROG Strix G18 2025 G815 is 0.19 kg/inch.In comparison, this value for the MSI Crosshair 17 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
Microsoft Surface Pro 12: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus ProArt PZ14 HT7407: 0.06 kg/inch
Dell Latitude 7330: 0.07 kg/inch
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2: 0.07 kg/inch

Asus ROG Strix G18 2025 G815 vs MSI Crosshair 17: Internals Comparison

CPU Comparison

CPU Model	Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX	Intel Core i7 12700H Intel Core i9 12900H
Base Frequency	2.7 GHz	2.3 GHz
Turbo Frequency	5.4 GHz	4.7 GHz
Number of Cores	24 (8P + 16E)	14
Number of Threads	24	20
L3 Cache	36 MB	24 MB
Integrated GPU	Arc Graphics (4-Cores)	Intel Iris Xe Graphics (96EU)
CPU Fabrication Process	3 nm	10 nm

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 ROG Strix G18 2025 G815 and MSI Crosshair 17.

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

Laptops with: Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX

Laptops with: Intel Core i7 12700H

GPU Comparison

GPU Model	GeForce RTX 5050 Laptop 8GB GeForce RTX 5060 Laptop 8GB GeForce RTX 5070 Laptop 8GB GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Laptop 12GB GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop 16GB GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop 24GB	GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile 6GB GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile 8GB GeForce RTX 3070 Ti Mobile 8GB
TGP (Total Graphics Power)		140 W
Nvidia Optimus	MUX	Yes
Type	Dedicated	Dedicated
FLOPS	7.7-13.6 TFLOPS	13.8 TFLOPS
Memory Size	8 GB	6 GB
Memory Type	GDDR7	GDDR6
Memory Bus	128 bit	192 bit
Memory Speed	~24 Gbps	14 Gbps
Shading Units Cores	2560	3840
TMUs	80	120
ROPs	32	48

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 ROG Strix G18 2025 G815 has a FLOPS value of 7.7-13.6 TFLOPS whereas the MSI Crosshair 17 ' has a FLOPS value of 13.8 TFLOPS. If graphical performance of the laptop is important for your use type, the Asus ROG Strix G18 2025 G815 may be the better choice between these two setups.

RAM Comparison

RAM	16GB 32GB 64GB	16GB 32GB 64GB
Memory Bus	2x8 GB	2x8 GB
RAM Clock	5600 MHz	3200 MHz
RAM Type	DDR5	DDR4
Upgradable	Yes	Yes
Max RAM Size	64 GB	64 GB
Total Slots	2	2

Both laptops, the ROG Strix G18 2025 G815 and the Crosshair 17, come with similar RAM capacities of 16 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 ROG Strix G18 (2025) G815	MSI Crosshair 17
CPU	Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX	Intel Core i7 12700H
GPU	GeForce RTX 5050 Laptop 8GB	GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile 6GB
Memory	16 GB ; 8 GB VRAM	16 GB ; 6 GB VRAM
Available for LLM total	~19.3 GB (6.5 GB VRAM 12.8 GB RAM)	~17.3 GB (4.5 GB VRAM 12.8 GB RAM)
Small Models (1-3B): Examples: Phi-2, Qwen-1.8B Requires ~2 GB memory	✔ Runs Smoothly fits in your 8 GB VRAM	✔ Runs Smoothly fits in your 6 GB VRAM
Medium Models (7-8B): Examples: Mistral-7B, Qwen-7B Requires ~5 GB memory	✔ Runs Well fits in your 8 GB VRAM	✔ Modest Speed doesn't fit in 6 GB VRAM, spills to RAM (VRAM + RAM, slower)
Large Models
13-15B Models (e.g., Llama 3 14B, Qwen1.5 14B) Requires ~9 GB memory	⚠ Borderline / Slow doesn't fit in 8 GB VRAM, spills to RAM (VRAM + RAM, slower)	⚠ Borderline / Slow doesn't fit in 6 GB VRAM, spills to RAM (VRAM + RAM, slower)
16-24B Models (e.g., Dense 20B Q4 ~15.5GB) Requires ~14 GB memory	! Not Practical doesn't fit in 8 GB VRAM, spills to RAM (VRAM + RAM, slower)	! Not Practical doesn't fit in 6 GB VRAM, spills to RAM (VRAM + RAM, slower)
24-30B Models (e.g., Dense 30B Q4) Requires ~18 GB memory	! Not Practical doesn't fit in 8 GB VRAM, spills to RAM (VRAM + RAM, slower)	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM
MoE Models (Mixture-of-Experts) (e.g., Mixtral 8x7B - total ~47B, active ~12-13B) Requires ~24 GB memory	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM
Extra-Large Models (65B+): Examples: LLaMA2-70B, Qwen1.5-72B Requires ~42 GB memory	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM

For more detailed LLM evaluation (subcategories, performance ranges, memory breakdown)

Asus ROG Strix G18 (2025) G815|MSI Crosshair 17

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

📌 Model Types: Dense 30B Q4 models typically require around 19–22 GB of total VRAM, so they run best on systems with ≥24 GB VRAM. MoE models like Mixtral 8x7B (≈47B total parameters, usually ≈23–26 GB in 4-bit) also need high memory because all experts must be loaded, even though only a few are active per token. They reduce compute cost per token (similar to a ~12–13B dense model), but not memory usage, so they are not practical on 14–16 GB systems.

🚀 Modern NPU (Neural Processing Unit): Modern processors like AMD Ryzen AI and Intel Core Ultra feature NPU and unified memory architecture. NPUs provide modest performance gains (0-30% faster) with better power efficiency compared to iGPU-only execution. Real-world tests show ~3-10 tok/s range on 13B models with 32GB RAM (varies by runtime, quantization, and context), comparable to iGPU but more power-efficient. Note: These figures are examples from various NPU systems; actual performance depends on your specific hardware configuration.

Understanding Performance Categories

The performance descriptions use general categories because actual speed varies greatly based on your specific hardware, model optimization, context length, and runtime software.

Performance Level	Typical Range	User Experience
Runs Smoothly (High-end dGPU)	50+ tok/s	Real-time response. Feels instant, like ChatGPT.
Runs Well (Mid-range dGPU)	20-50 tok/s	Good interactive performance. Slight delay, but usable.
Modest Speed (iGPU/NPU/CPU)	5-20 tok/s	Usable for tasks that don't need instant responses. Noticeable typing delay.
Borderline / Slow (Limited hardware)	2-5 tok/s	Slow-Very slow. Patience required. Better for batch processing.
Not Practical	<2 tok/s	Too slow for regular use. May cause system hangs or instability.

💡 Tip: Your actual results may be higher or lower than these ranges. Test with your specific hardware to know for sure!

⚠️ Note: Performance categorization is based on VRAM capacity and RAM fallback status. GPU type (memory bandwidth, compute power) can also affect actual performance. Currently, we prioritize whether the model fits in VRAM or requires RAM fallback for classification. We may refine this categorization in future updates based on more detailed benchmarks.

BATTERY

BATTERY	90 Wh	53.5 Wh 90 Wh
Battery Type	Li-Ion	Li-Po
Replaceable	No	No
Fast Charging	Yes	Yes
Charging Port Position	Left	Left
Charge Power	280 / 380 W	240 W

Moreover, the ROG Strix G18 2025 G815 boasts a larger battery capacity of 90 Wh, offering extended usage time compared to the Crosshair 17's54 Wh.

Battery Comparison

Displays size larger than 17.0 inches

Asus ROG Strix G18 2025 G815

MSI Crosshair 17

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Average

Max

STORAGE
Both laptops, the ROG Strix G18 2025 G815 and the Crosshair 17 have similar max. storage capacities of 4 TB, allowing for ample space to store files and applications.

Storage Options	1 TB, 2 TB, 4 TB	512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB, 4 TB
Upgradable	Yes	Yes
Total Slots	2	2
Storage type	SSD (M2)	SSD (M2)
NVMe	Yes	Yes
Memory Bus	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x)	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x)

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 ROG Strix G18 2025 G815 vs MSI Crosshair 17: Display Comparison

The display is an essential aspect to consider when comparing the Asus ROG Strix G18 2025 G815 and MSI Crosshair 17 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. ROG Strix G18 2025 G815 has a display size of 18.0".On the other hand, Crosshair 17 has a smaller 17.3" display.The total usable screen area of the ROG Strix G18 2025 G815 is 939cm² / 146inch² whereas the Crosshair 17's total usable screen area is 825cm² / 128inch².

PPI (Pixels per Inch)
Additionally, the ROG Strix G18 2025 G815 features a higher pixel density with 168 pixels per inch (PPI), ensuring sharper image details.

Screen PPI (Pixels Per Inch) Comparison

Displays size larger than 17.0 inches

Asus ROG Strix G18 2025 G815

MSI Crosshair 17

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Refresh Rate
The Crosshair 17 offers a higher refresh rate of 360 Hz, resulting in smoother motion and improved visual experience.

Furthermore, the ROG Strix G18 2025 G815 boasts a faster response time of 3.0 ms, reducing motion blur for fast-paced content.

Brightness
The ROG Strix G18 2025 G815 offers a higher maximum brightness of 500 nits, delivering a brighter screen.

Brightness Comparison

Displays size larger than 17.0 inches

Asus ROG Strix G18 2025 G815

MSI Crosshair 17

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Max

Asus ROG Strix G18 2025 G815 vs MSI Crosshair 17 Connectivity Comparison

In terms of connectivity,

Wifi
ROG Strix G18 2025 G815 features a more advanced Wi-Fi standard v7, providing faster and more reliable wireless connections compared to Crosshair 17 (v6).

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 ROG Strix G18 2025 G815 and Crosshair 17 feature 3x USB 3.2 USB-A ports.
Both ROG Strix G18 2025 G815 and Crosshair 17 have USB Type-C ports. ROG Strix G18 2025 G815 has 2x USB 4.0 USB Type-C ports, while Crosshair 17 has 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
ROG Strix G18 2025 G815 is equipped with Thunderbolt 5 port. Crosshair 17 does not have Thunderbolt port.

HDMI
Both ROG Strix G18 2025 G815 and Crosshair 17 feature an HDMI port. ROG Strix G18 2025 G815 offers 1x HDMI 2.1, while Crosshair 17 offers 1x HDMI 2.0.

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 ROG Strix G18 2025 G815 nor Crosshair 17 has an SD Card Reader.

Audio Jack
Both ROG Strix G18 2025 G815 and Crosshair 17 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)	v7	v6
Bluetooth (latest: v6.2)	v5.4	v5.2
USB-A (latest: 3.2)	3x USB 3.2	3x USB 3.2
USB Type-C (latest: USB4 2.0)	2x USB 4.0	1x USB 3.2
Thunderbolt (latest: 5)	Thunderbolt 5	No
HDMI (latest: 2.1)	1x HDMI 2.1	1x HDMI 2.0
Display Port (latest: v2.0)	No	No
VGA	No	No
Fingerprint Sensor	No	No
Optical Drive	No	No
Audio Jack 3.5mm	Yes	Yes
Ethernet RJ45	Yes	Yes
SD CardReader	No	No
Proprietary Charging Port	Yes	Yes