Asus ROG Strix SCAR 18 vs MSI Raider A18 HX Comparison

Laptop to replace

Change

Asus ROG Strix SCAR 18

18 inches | January 2023

CHECK PRICE

Change

MSI Raider A18 HX

18 inches | April 2024

CHECK PRICE

Asus ROG Strix SCAR 18 vs MSI Raider A18 HX Comparison Overview

Asus ROG Strix SCAR...

See at AMAZON

MSI Raider A18 HX

See at AMAZON

Asus ROG Strix SCAR...

See at AMAZON

MSI Raider A18 HX

See at AMAZON

In this review, we will be comparing ROG Strix SCAR 18 and Raider A18 HX, two laptops from Asus and MSI. Asus ROG Strix SCAR 18 was introduced to market in January 2023 and MSI Raider A18 HX was launched in April 2024. There is 15 months difference between ROG Strix SCAR 18 and Raider A18 HX so it would still give an advantage to younger Raider A18 HX.

Click for Available Configurations of the Laptops

Here is a brief look at the main features of Asus ROG Strix SCAR 18 and MSI Raider A18 HX before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Asus ROG Strix SCAR 18 Key Specs

Launched in January 2023
18.0" IPS LCD, 16:10 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Intel Core i9 13980HX
GPU: GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile 12GB
16GB Ram
399 x 294 x 23.1 mm (15.71 x 11.57 x 0.91 inches)
Weight: 3.1 kg (6.84 lbs)

MSI Raider A18 HX Key Specs

Launched in April 2024
18.0" IPS LCD, 16:10 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX
GPU: GeForce RTX 4080 Laptop 12GB
32GB Ram
404 x 307.5 x 24-32.05 mm (15.91 x 12.11 x 0.94-1.26 inches)
Weight: 3.6 kg (7.94 lbs)

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how ROG Strix SCAR 18 and Raider A18 HX 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 SCAR 18 over MSI Raider A18 HX

Weight	3.10 kg vs 3.60 kg	0.5 kg lighter
Screen-to-Body Ratio	~80.1% vs ~75.6%	Larger screen area ratio
Side Bezel Thickness	5.7 mm vs 8.2 mm	2.5 mm thinner bezels
GPU Fabrication Process	4 nm vs 5 nm	Newer Generation GPU
RAM BUS	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x) vs PCI-E Gen 5.0 (4x)	Faster RAM
Dolby Atmos Speakers	Yes vs No	3D Surround Sound Support
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	v4 vs No	Support audio, data, power and video all through one single port

Reasons to choose MSI Raider A18 HX over Asus ROG Strix SCAR 18

CPU Fabrication Process	5 nm vs 10 nm	Newer Generation CPU
GPU FLOPS	24.72 TFLOPS vs 24.7 TFLOPS	Higher RAM potential
Max Total RAM	96 GB vs 64 GB	More advanced Wi-fi connectivity
WiFi Standard	v7 vs v6E	More advanced Bluetooth connectivity
Bluetooth	v5.4 vs v5.2	Higher Resolution Camera
Webcam Resolution	1920 x 1080 vs 1280 x 720	Connect more device at the same time
Number of USB-A Ports	3x USB 3.2 vs 2x USB 3.2	Read & Write SD Cards with the built-in reader
SD Card Reader	Yes vs No

Common Strengths of MSI Raider A18 HX and Asus ROG Strix SCAR 18

Launch Dates	January 2023 vs April 2024	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 5.0 (4x)	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 Raider A18 HX and Asus ROG Strix SCAR 18

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

Asus ROG Strix SCAR 18 vs MSI Raider A18 HX: Physical Specs Comparison

In this section, we will be comparing the physical specifications and body features of the Asus ROG Strix SCAR 18 and the MSI Raider A18 HX.

Physical Specs
Weight	3.1 kg (6.84 lbs)	3.6 kg (7.94 lbs)
Surface Area	1173 cm2 (181.8 inches2)	1242 cm2 (192.7 inches2)
Screen to Surface Ratio	~80.1%	~75.6%
Side Bezel Thickness	~5.7 mm	~8.2 mm
Weight per Inch of Screen	0.17 kg/inch	0.20 kg/inch
	0.374 lbs/inch	0.44 lbs/inch
Colors	Black	Black

Comparison of the Asus ROG Strix SCAR 18 and the MSI Raider A18 HX External Dimensions

Weight

ROG Strix SCAR 18 weighs 3.1 kg (6.84 lbs), whereas the Raider A18 HX weighs 3.6 kg (7.94 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 ROG Strix SCAR 18 3.10 kg

MSI Raider A18 HX 3.60 kg

Min 1.29 kg

Average 2.74 kg

Max 4.23 kg

Thickness Comparison

Displays size larger than 17.0 inches

Asus ROG Strix SCAR 18 23.10 mm

MSI Raider A18 HX 32.05 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 ROG Strix SCAR 18 is 0.17 kg/inch.In comparison, this value for the MSI Raider A18 HX is 0.20 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 ROG Strix SCAR 18 vs MSI Raider A18 HX: Internals (CPU, GPU, RAM, Battery, SSD, etc.) Comparison

CPU Comparison

CPU Model	Intel Core i9 13980HX	AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX3D
Base Frequency	2.2 GHz	2.5 GHz
Turbo Frequency	5.6 GHz	5.4 GHz
Number of Cores	24	16
Number of Threads	32	32
L3 Cache	36 MB	64 MB
Integrated GPU	Intel UHD Graphics (32EU)	Radeon 610M
CPU Fabrication Process	10 nm	5 nm
Geekbench 5 (Single)	2103	2118
Geekbench 5 (Multi)	20352	19736
Cinebench 23 (Single)	2199	1961
Cinebench 23 (Multi)	31359	34381

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 SCAR 18 and MSI Raider A18 HX.

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

Laptops with: Intel Core i9 13980HX

Laptops with: AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX

GPU Comparison

GPU Model	GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile 12GB GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile 16GB	GeForce RTX 4080 Laptop 12GB GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop 16GB
Base Clock Frequency	1290 MHz
Boost CLock Frequency	1665 MHz
TGP (Total Graphics Power)	110 W	175 W
Nvidia Optimus	MUX	MUX
Type	Dedicated	Dedicated
FLOPS	24.72 TFLOPS	24.72 TFLOPS
Memory Size	12 GB	12 GB
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR6
Memory Bus	192 bit	192 bit
Memory Speed	2250 MHz 18 Gbps effective	~16 Gbps
Shading Units Cores	7424	7424
TMUs	232	232
ROPs	80	80

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 SCAR 18 has a FLOPS value of 24.7 TFLOPS whereas the MSI Raider A18 HX ' has a FLOPS value of 24.72 TFLOPS. If graphical performance of the laptop is important for your use type, the MSI Raider A18 HX may be the better choice between these two setups.

RAM Comparison

RAM	16GB 32GB 64GB	32GB 64GB 96GB
Memory Bus	2x8 GB	2x16 GB
RAM Clock	4800 MHz	5200 MHz
RAM Type	DDR5	DDR5
Upgradable	Yes	Yes
Max RAM Size	64 GB	96 GB
Total Slots	2	2
Memory Bus	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x)	PCI-E Gen 5.0 (4x)

The Raider A18 HX provides a larger RAM capacity of 32 GB, which allows for smoother multitasking and improved performance in memory-demanding tasks compared to the ROG Strix SCAR 18's RAM capacity of 16 GB.

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 SCAR 18	MSI Raider A18 HX
Small Models(1-3B):Examples: Phi-2, Qwen-1.8B	✔ Run smoothly.	✔ Run smoothly.
Medium Models(7-8B):Examples: Mistral-7B, Qwen-7B	✔ Good performance.	✔ Good performance.
Large Models(13-30B):Examples: Mixtral, Qwen-14B	✖ Not supported.	⚠ Can run using CPU + RAM fallback. Expect slower performance.
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	90 Wh	99.9 Wh
Battery Type	Li-Ion	Li-Po
Replaceable	No	No
Fast Charging	Yes	Yes
USB Power Delivery	Yes
Charging Port Position	Left	Right, Bottom
Charge Power	330 W	330 W

On the other hand, the Raider A18 HX features a higher battery capacity of 100 Wh, delivering longer usage time compared to the ROG Strix SCAR 18's 90 Wh.

Battery Comparison

Displays size larger than 17.0 inches

Asus ROG Strix SCAR 18 90 Wh

MSI Raider A18 HX 100 Wh

Min 37.00 Wh

Average 76.88 Wh

Max 100.00 Wh

STORAGE
The Raider A18 HX offers a larger max storage capacity of 8 TB, providing more room for storing files and data compared to the ROG Strix SCAR 18's storage capacity of 4 TB.

Storage Options	512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB, 4 TB	1 TB, 2 TB, 4 TB, 8 TB
Upgradable	Yes	Yes
Total Slots	2	2
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 ROG Strix SCAR 18 vs MSI Raider A18 HX: Display Comparison

The display is an essential aspect to consider when comparing the Asus ROG Strix SCAR 18 and MSI Raider A18 HX 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 ROG Strix SCAR 18 and Raider A18 HX screens have the same size of 18.0".The total usable screen area of the ROG Strix SCAR 18 is 939cm² / 146inch² whereas the Raider A18 HX's total usable screen area is 939cm² / 146inch².

PPI (Pixels per Inch)
Both ROG Strix SCAR 18 and Raider A18 HX feature the same pixel density with 168 pixels per inch (PPI).

Screen PPI (Pixels Per Inch) Comparison

Displays size larger than 17.0 inches

Asus ROG Strix SCAR 18 168 ppi

MSI Raider A18 HX 168 ppi

Min 106 PPI

Average 141 PPI

Max 266.00 PPI

Refresh Rate
Both ROG Strix SCAR 18 and Raider A18 HX offer the same refresh rate of 240 Hz.

Both ROG Strix SCAR 18 and Raider A18 HX boast the same response time of 3.0 ms.

Brightness
Both ROG Strix SCAR 18 and Raider A18 HX offer the same maximum brightness of 500 nits (cd/m²).

Brightness Comparison

Displays size larger than 17.0 inches

Asus ROG Strix SCAR 18 500 nits

MSI Raider A18 HX 500 nits

Min

200 nits

Average 368 nits

Max 1200.00 nits

Asus ROG Strix SCAR 18 vs MSI Raider A18 HX Connectivity Comparison

In terms of connectivity,

Wifi
Raider A18 HX features a more advanced Wi-Fi standard v7, providing faster and more reliable wireless connections compared to ROG Strix SCAR 18 (v6E).

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 SCAR 18 and Raider A18 HX have USB-A ports. ROG Strix SCAR 18 has 2x USB 3.2 USB-A ports, while Raider A18 HX has 3x USB 3.2 USB-A ports.
Both ROG Strix SCAR 18 and Raider A18 HX have USB Type-C ports. ROG Strix SCAR 18 has 2x USB 4.0 USB Type-C ports, while Raider A18 HX 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 SCAR 18 is equipped with Thunderbolt 4 port. Raider A18 HX does not have Thunderbolt port.

HDMI
Both ROG Strix SCAR 18 and Raider A18 HX feature an HDMI port (1x HDMI 2.1) for connecting to external monitors.

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
Raider A18 HX is equipped with an SD Card Reader for easy access to memory cards. ROG Strix SCAR 18 does not have an SD Card Reader.

Audio Jack
Both ROG Strix SCAR 18 and Raider A18 HX 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)	v6E	v7
Bluetooth (latest: v5.4)	v5.2	v5.4
USB-A (latest: 3.2)	2x USB 3.2	3x USB 3.2
USB Type-C (latest: USB4 2.0)	2x USB 4.0	1x USB 3.2
Thunderbolt (latest: 4)	Thunderbolt 4	No
HDMI (latest: 2.1)	1x HDMI 2.1	1x HDMI 2.1
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	Yes
Proprietary Charging Port	Yes	Yes