Lenovo Legion 9i Gen 8 vs MSI Vector GP78 2023 Comparison

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Lenovo Legion 9i Gen 8

16 inches | September 2023

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MSI Vector GP78 2023

17 inches | January 2023

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Lenovo Legion 9i Gen 8 vs MSI Vector GP78 2023 Comparison Overview

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MSI Vector GP78 2023

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MSI Vector GP78 2023

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In this review, we will be comparing Legion 9i Gen 8 and Vector GP78 2023, two laptops from Lenovo and MSI. Lenovo Legion 9i Gen 8 was introduced to market in September 2023 and MSI Vector GP78 2023 was launched in January 2023. There is only 8 months difference between Legion 9i Gen 8 and Vector GP78 2023 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 Lenovo Legion 9i Gen 8 and MSI Vector GP78 2023 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Lenovo Legion 9i Gen 8 Key Specs

Launched in September 2023
16.0" Mini LED, 16:10 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Intel Core i9 13980HX
GPU: GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile 12GB
32GB Ram
357.7 x 277.7 x 18.99-22.7 mm (14.08 x 10.93 x 0.75-0.89 inches)
Weight: 2.55 kg (5.62 lbs)

MSI Vector GP78 2023 Key Specs

Launched in January 2023
17.0" IPS LCD, 16:10 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Intel Core i9 13980HX
GPU: GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile 8GB
16GB Ram
380 x 298 x 28.7 mm (14.96 x 11.73 x 1.13 inches)
Weight: 3.1 kg (6.84 lbs)

Lenovo Legion 9i Gen 8 was replaced by Lenovo Legion 9i Gen 9 2024. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Lenovo Legion 9i Gen 9 2024 vs Lenovo Legion 9i Gen 8
Lenovo Legion 9i Gen 9 2024 vs MSI Vector GP78 2023

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Legion 9i Gen 8 and Vector GP78 2023 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 Lenovo Legion 9i Gen 8 over MSI Vector GP78 2023

Weight	2.55 kg vs 3.10 kg	0.55 kg lighter
Screen-to-Body Ratio	~74.7% vs ~74%	Larger screen area ratio
Side Bezel Thickness	6.5 mm vs 6.9 mm	0.4 mm thinner bezels
Screen PPI	236 ppi vs 178 ppi	More pixels per inch
Screen Resolution	3200 x 2000 pixels vs 2560 x 1600 pixels	Higher pixel count screen
Max Brightness	1200 nits vs 500 nits	Brighter Screen
GPU FLOPS	24.7 TFLOPS vs 17.2 TFLOPS	More advanced Wi-fi connectivity
WiFi Standard	v7 vs v6E	Lower Price (*may change depending on config, seller, location, and time)
Avg. MSRP Price	$3200-3600 vs $4000-4400

Reasons to choose MSI Vector GP78 2023 over Lenovo Legion 9i Gen 8

Display Size	17 inches vs 16 inches	Larger Screen Estate
Refresh Rate	240 Hz vs 165 Hz	Smoother media experience
USB-C Port Type	v4.0 vs v3.2	Faster USB-C connection
Display Port	Yes vs No	Option to use Display port to connect to external monitors

Common Strengths of MSI Vector GP78 2023 and Lenovo Legion 9i Gen 8

Launch Dates	September 2023 vs January 2023	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
USB Power Delivery	Yes vs Yes	Charging via USB port gives flexibility
Upgradable RAM	Yes vs Yes	Option to increase the RAM size
Upgradable Storage	Yes vs Yes	Option to increase the Storage size
SSD Type	NVMe vs NVMe	Faster Data Transfers
Thunderbolt Port	v4 vs v4	Fast data and power transfer via Thunderbolt Port
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
Built-in SD Card Reader	Yes vs Yes	Read & Write SD Cards
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 Vector GP78 2023 and Lenovo Legion 9i Gen 8

Touchscreen Capability	No vs No	No Touchscreen Capability

Lenovo Legion 9i Gen 8 vs MSI Vector GP78 2023: Physical Specs Comparison

In this section, we will be comparing the physical specifications and body features of the Lenovo Legion 9i Gen 8 and the MSI Vector GP78 2023.

Physical Specs
Weight	2.55 kg (5.62 lbs)	3.1 kg (6.84 lbs)
Surface Area	993 cm2 (153.9 inches2)	1132 cm2 (175.5 inches2)
Screen to Surface Ratio	~74.7%	~74%
Side Bezel Thickness	~6.5 mm	~6.9 mm
Weight per Inch of Screen	0.16 kg/inch	0.18 kg/inch
	0.352 lbs/inch	0.396 lbs/inch
Colors	Black	Black

Comparison of the Lenovo Legion 9i Gen 8 and the MSI Vector GP78 2023 External Dimensions

Weight

Legion 9i Gen 8 weighs 2.55 kg (5.62 lbs), whereas the Vector GP78 2023 weighs 3.1 kg (6.84 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

Lenovo Legion 9i Gen 8 2.55 kg

Avg: 16.0-16.9" 2.07 kg

MSI Vector GP78 2023 3.10 kg

Avg: larger than 17.0" 2.74 kg

Thickness Comparison

Lenovo Legion 9i Gen 8 22.70 mm

Avg: 16.0-16.9" 20.35 mm

MSI Vector GP78 2023 28.70 mm

Avg: larger than 17.0" 24.26 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 Lenovo Legion 9i Gen 8 is 0.16 kg/inch.In comparison, this value for the MSI Vector GP78 2023 is 0.18 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

Lenovo Legion 9i Gen 8 vs MSI Vector GP78 2023: Internals (CPU, GPU, RAM, Battery, SSD, etc.) Comparison

CPU Comparison

CPU Model	Intel Core i9 13980HX	Intel Core i9 13980HX
Base Frequency	2.2 GHz	2.2 GHz
Turbo Frequency	5.6 GHz	5.6 GHz
Number of Cores	24	24
Number of Threads	32	32
L3 Cache	36 MB	36 MB
Integrated GPU	Intel UHD Graphics (32EU)	Intel UHD Graphics (32EU)
CPU Fabrication Process	10 nm	10 nm
Geekbench 5 (Single)	2103	2103
Geekbench 5 (Multi)	20352	20352
Cinebench 23 (Single)	2199	2199
Cinebench 23 (Multi)	31359	31359

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 Lenovo Legion 9i Gen 8 and MSI Vector GP78 2023.

You may also read reviews of latest laptops with the same CPU ( Intel Core i9 13980HX ) and compare them:

GPU Comparison

GPU Model	GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile 12GB GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile 16GB	GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile 8GB GeForce RTX 4070 Mobile 8GB GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile 12GB GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile 16GB
Base Clock Frequency	1290 MHz	1545 MHz
Boost CLock Frequency	1665 MHz	1890 MHz
TGP (Total Graphics Power)	110 W	115 W
Nvidia Optimus	MUX	MUX
Type	Dedicated	Dedicated
FLOPS	24.72 TFLOPS	11.61 TFLOPS
Memory Size	12 GB	8 GB
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR6
Memory Bus	192 bit	128 bit
Memory Speed	2250 MHz 18 Gbps effective	2000 MHz 16 Gbps effective
Shading Units Cores	7424	3072
TMUs	232	96
ROPs	80	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. Lenovo Legion 9i Gen 8 has a FLOPS value of 24.7 TFLOPS whereas the MSI Vector GP78 2023 ' has a FLOPS value of 17.2 TFLOPS. If graphical performance of the laptop is important for your use type, the Lenovo Legion 9i Gen 8 may be the better choice between these two setups.

RAM Comparison

RAM	32GB 64GB	16GB 32GB 64GB
Memory Bus	2x16 GB	2x8 GB
RAM Clock	6400 MHz	5600 MHz
RAM Type	DDR5	DDR5
Upgradable	Yes	Yes
Max RAM Size	64 GB	64 GB
Total Slots	2	2
Memory Bus	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x)

With a larger RAM capacity of 32 GB, the Legion 9i Gen 8 offers an advantage for multitasking and resource-intensive applications compared to the Vector GP78 2023'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	Lenovo Legion 9i Gen 8	MSI Vector GP78 (2023)
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	⚠ Can run using CPU + RAM fallback. Expect slower performance.	✖ 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	99.9 Wh	99.9 Wh
Battery Type	Li-Po	Li-Ion
Replaceable	No	No
Fast Charging	Yes	Yes
USB Power Delivery	Yes	Yes
Charging Port Position	Bottom	Left, Right, Bottom
Charge Power	330 W	330 W
Full Charging Time	1:20 hr

Furthermore, both laptops have the same battery capacity of 100 Wh, ensuring comparable battery performance.

Battery Comparison

Lenovo Legion 9i Gen 8 100 Wh

Avg: 16.0-16.9" 74.15 Wh

MSI Vector GP78 2023 100 Wh

Avg: larger than 17.0" 76.88 Wh

STORAGE
Both laptops, the Legion 9i Gen 8 and the Vector GP78 2023 have similar max. storage capacities of 2 TB, allowing for ample space to store files and applications.

Storage Options	512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB	512 GB, 1 TB, 2 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.

Lenovo Legion 9i Gen 8 vs MSI Vector GP78 2023: Display Comparison

The display is an essential aspect to consider when comparing the Lenovo Legion 9i Gen 8 and MSI Vector GP78 2023 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. Legion 9i Gen 8 has a display size of 16.0".On the other hand, Vector GP78 2023 has a larger17.0" display.The total usable screen area of the Legion 9i Gen 8 is 742cm² / 115inch² whereas the Vector GP78 2023's total usable screen area is 838cm² / 130inch².

PPI (Pixels per Inch)
Additionally, the Legion 9i Gen 8 features a higher pixel density with 236 pixels per inch (PPI), ensuring sharper image details.

Screen PPI (Pixels Per Inch) Comparison

Lenovo Legion 9i Gen 8 236 PPI

Avg: 16.0-16.9" 169 PPI

MSI Vector GP78 2023 178 PPI

Avg: larger than 17.0" 141 PPI

Refresh Rate
The Vector GP78 2023 offers a higher refresh rate of 240 Hz, resulting in smoother motion and improved visual experience.

Both Legion 9i Gen 8 and Vector GP78 2023 boast the same response time of 3.0 ms.

Brightness
The Legion 9i Gen 8 offers a higher maximum brightness of 1200 nits, delivering a brighter screen.

Brightness Comparison

Lenovo Legion 9i Gen 8 1200 nits

Avg: 16.0-16.9" 413 nits

MSI Vector GP78 2023 500 nits

Avg: larger than 17.0" 368 nits

Lenovo Legion 9i Gen 8 vs MSI Vector GP78 2023 Connectivity Comparison

In terms of connectivity,

Wifi
Legion 9i Gen 8 features a more advanced Wi-Fi standard v7, providing faster and more reliable wireless connections compared to Vector GP78 2023 (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 Legion 9i Gen 8 and Vector GP78 2023 feature 2x USB 3.2 USB-A ports.
Both Legion 9i Gen 8 and Vector GP78 2023 have USB Type-C ports. Legion 9i Gen 8 has 3x USB 3.2 USB Type-C ports, while Vector GP78 2023 has 3x USB 4.0 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
Both Legion 9i Gen 8 and Vector GP78 2023 are equipped with Thunderbolt 4 ports.

HDMI
Both Legion 9i Gen 8 and Vector GP78 2023 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
Both Legion 9i Gen 8 and Vector GP78 2023 come with an SD Card Reader for easy access to memory cards.

Audio Jack
Both Legion 9i Gen 8 and Vector GP78 2023 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	v6E
Bluetooth (latest: v5.4)	v5.3	v5.3
USB-A (latest: 3.2)	2x USB 3.2	2x USB 3.2
USB Type-C (latest: USB4 2.0)	3x USB 3.2	3x USB 4.0
Thunderbolt (latest: 4)	Thunderbolt 4	Thunderbolt 4
HDMI (latest: 2.1)	1x HDMI 2.1	1x HDMI 2.1
Display Port (latest: v2.0)	No	1x v1.4
VGA	No	No
Optical Drive	No	No
Audio Jack 3.5mm	Yes	Yes
Ethernet RJ45	Yes	Yes
SD CardReader	Yes	Yes
Proprietary Charging Port	Yes	Yes