MSI Raider 18 HX 2024 vs MSI Raider GE66 2022 Comparison

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MSI Raider 18 HX 2024

18 inches | January 2024

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MSI Raider GE66 2022

15.6 inches | January 2022

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MSI Raider 18 HX 2024 vs MSI Raider GE66 2022 Comparison Overview

MSI Raider 18 HX 202...

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MSI Raider GE66 2022

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MSI Raider 18 HX 202...

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MSI Raider GE66 2022

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In this review, we will be comparing Raider 18 HX 2024 and Raider GE66 2022, two laptops by MSI. MSI Raider 18 HX 2024 was introduced to market in January 2024 and MSI Raider GE66 2022 was launched in January 2022. As you can see, Raider GE66 2022 is 2 years older than Raider 18 HX 2024. Let's see if this age difference between two laptops makes a big difference.

Click for Available Configurations of the Laptops

Raider 18 HX 2024 and Raider GE66 2022 are members of MSI's Raider series of laptops. Below you can find the latest models from this series.

MSI Raider Series History

	Release Date	Screen Size	Dimensions	Weight
MSI Raider A18 HX	April 2024	18.0"	404 x 307.5 x 24-32.05 mm	3.6 kg (7.94 lbs)
MSI Raider 18 HX 2024	January 2024	18.0"	404 x 307.5 x 24-32.05 mm	3.6 kg (7.94 lbs)
MSI Raider GE78 HX	January 2024	17.0"	380 x 298 x 22.85-28.75 mm	3.1 kg (6.84 lbs)
MSI Raider GE68 HX	January 2024	16.0"	357 x 284 x 22.2-27.85 mm	2.75 kg (6.06 lbs)
MSI Raider GE68 2023	January 2023	16.0"	357 x 284 x 22.2-27.8 mm	2.7 kg (5.95 lbs)
MSI Raider GE78 HX 2023	January 2023	17.0"	380 x 298 x 23 mm	3.1 kg (6.84 lbs)
MSI Raider GE67	June 2022	15.6"	358 x 267 x 23.4 mm	2.38 kg (5.25 lbs)
MSI Raider GE77	June 2022	17.3"	397 x 284 x 25.9 mm	2.9 kg (6.39 lbs)

Here is a brief look at the main features of MSI Raider 18 HX 2024 and MSI Raider GE66 2022 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

MSI Raider 18 HX 2024 Key Specs

Launched in January 2024
18.0" IPS LCD, 16:10 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Intel Core i9 14900HX
GPU: GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile 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)

MSI Raider GE66 2022 Key Specs

Launched in January 2022
15.6" IPS LCD, 16:9 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Intel Core i7 12700H
GPU: GeForce RTX 3070 Ti Mobile 8GB
16GB Ram
358 x 267 x 23.4 mm (14.09 x 10.51 x 0.92 inches)
Weight: 2.38 kg (5.25 lbs)

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Raider 18 HX 2024 and Raider GE66 2022 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 MSI Raider 18 HX 2024 over MSI Raider GE66 2022

Screen-to-Body Ratio	~75.6% vs ~70.2%	Larger screen area ratio
Display Size	18 inches vs 15.6 inches	Larger Screen Estate
Screen PPI	168 ppi vs 141 ppi	More pixels per inch
Screen Resolution	2560 x 1600 pixels vs 1920 x 1080 pixels	Higher pixel count screen
GPU Fabrication Process	4 nm vs 8 nm	Newer Generation GPU
GPU FLOPS	24.7 TFLOPS vs 19.6 TFLOPS	Higher RAM potential
Max Total RAM	192 GB vs 64 GB	More advanced Wi-fi connectivity
WiFi Standard	v7 vs v6E	More advanced Bluetooth connectivity
Bluetooth	v5.4 vs v5.2	Faster USB-C connection
USB-C Port Type	v4.0 vs v3.2	Fast way to input numbers
Numeric Pad	Yes vs No

Reasons to choose MSI Raider GE66 2022 over MSI Raider 18 HX 2024

Weight	2.38 kg vs 3.60 kg	1.22 kg lighter
Side Bezel Thickness	6.3 mm vs 8.2 mm	1.9 mm thinner bezels
Refresh Rate	360 Hz vs 240 Hz	Smoother media experience
RAM BUS	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x) vs 1x PCI-E Gen 5.0 (4x), 1x PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x)	Faster RAM
Display Port	Yes vs No	Option to use Display port to connect to external monitors
SD Card Reader	Yes vs No	Read & Write SD Cards with the built-in reader

Common Strengths of MSI Raider GE66 2022 and MSI Raider 18 HX 2024

Launch Dates	January 2024 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
USB Power Delivery	Yes vs Yes	Charging via USB port gives flexibility
Upgradable RAM	Yes vs Yes	Option to increase the RAM size
RAM Type	1x PCI-E Gen 5.0 (4x), 1x PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x) vs PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x)	Fast RAM type
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
Keyboard Backlight	Yes vs Yes	Easily see the keys under low light

Common Weaknesses of MSI Raider GE66 2022 and MSI Raider 18 HX 2024

Touchscreen Capability	No vs No	No Touchscreen Capability

MSI Raider 18 HX 2024 vs MSI Raider GE66 2022: Physical Specs Comparison

In this section, we will be comparing the physical specifications and body features of the MSI Raider 18 HX 2024 and the MSI Raider GE66 2022.

Physical Specs
Weight	3.6 kg (7.94 lbs)	2.38 kg (5.25 lbs)
Surface Area	1242 cm2 (192.7 inches2)	956 cm2 (148.1 inches2)
Screen to Surface Ratio	~75.6%	~70.2%
Side Bezel Thickness	~8.2 mm	~6.3 mm
Weight per Inch of Screen	0.20 kg/inch	0.15 kg/inch
	0.44 lbs/inch	0.33 lbs/inch
Colors	Black	Blue

Comparison of the MSI Raider 18 HX 2024 and the MSI Raider GE66 2022 External Dimensions

Weight

Raider 18 HX 2024 weighs 3.6 kg (7.94 lbs), whereas the Raider GE66 2022 weighs 2.38 kg (5.25 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

MSI Raider 18 HX 2024 3.60 kg

Avg: larger than 17.0" 2.74 kg

MSI Raider GE66 2022 2.38 kg

Avg: 15.0-15.9" 1.95 kg

Thickness Comparison

MSI Raider 18 HX 2024 32.05 mm

Avg: larger than 17.0" 24.26 mm

MSI Raider GE66 2022 23.40 mm

Avg: 15.0-15.9" 20.17 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 MSI Raider 18 HX 2024 is 0.20 kg/inch.In comparison, this value for the MSI Raider GE66 2022 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

MSI Raider 18 HX 2024 vs MSI Raider GE66 2022: Internals (CPU, GPU, RAM, Battery, SSD, etc.) Comparison

CPU Comparison

CPU Model	Intel Core i9 14900HX AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX3D	Intel Core i7 12700H Intel Core i9 12900HK
Base Frequency	2.2 GHz	2.3 GHz
Turbo Frequency	5.8 GHz	4.7 GHz
Number of Cores	24 (8P + 16E)	14
Number of Threads	32	20
L3 Cache	36 MB	24 MB
Integrated GPU	Intel UHD Graphics (32 EU)	Intel Iris Xe Graphics (96EU)
CPU Fabrication Process	10 nm	10 nm
Cinebench 23 (Single)	2212	1800
Cinebench 23 (Multi)	32292	16309

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 MSI Raider 18 HX 2024 and MSI Raider GE66 2022.

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

Laptops with: Intel Core i9 14900HX

Laptops with: Intel Core i7 12700H

GPU Comparison

GPU Model	GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile 12GB GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile 16GB	GeForce RTX 3070 Ti Mobile 8GB GeForce RTX 3080 Mobile 8GB GeForce RTX 3080 Ti Mobile 16GB
Base Clock Frequency	1290 MHz	915 MHz
Boost CLock Frequency	1665 MHz	1410 MHz
TGP (Total Graphics Power)	110 W	115 W
Nvidia Optimus	MUX	Yes
Type	Dedicated	Dedicated
FLOPS	24.72 TFLOPS	16.60 TFLOPS
Memory Size	12 GB	8 GB
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR6
Memory Bus	192 bit	256 bit
Memory Speed	2250 MHz 18 Gbps effective	1750 MHz 14 Gbps effective
Shading Units Cores	7424	5888
TMUs	232	184
ROPs	80	96

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. MSI Raider 18 HX 2024 has a FLOPS value of 24.7 TFLOPS whereas the MSI Raider GE66 2022 ' has a FLOPS value of 19.6 TFLOPS. If graphical performance of the laptop is important for your use type, the MSI Raider 18 HX 2024 may be the better choice between these two setups.

RAM Comparison

RAM	32GB 64GB 96GB 128GB 192GB	16GB 32GB 64GB
Memory Bus	4x8 GB	2x8 GB
RAM Clock	5600 MHz	4800 MHz
RAM Type	DDR5	DDR5
Upgradable	Yes	Yes
Max RAM Size	192 GB	64 GB
Total Slots	4	2
Memory Bus	1x PCI-E Gen 5.0 (4x), 1x PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x)	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x)

With a larger RAM capacity of 32 GB, the Raider 18 HX 2024 offers an advantage for multitasking and resource-intensive applications compared to the Raider GE66 2022'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	MSI Raider 18 HX (2024)	MSI Raider GE66 (2022)
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	Right, Bottom	Bottom
Charge Power	330 W	280 W
Full Charging Time	2:30 hr

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

Battery Comparison

MSI Raider 18 HX 2024 100 Wh

Avg: larger than 17.0" 76.88 Wh

MSI Raider GE66 2022 100 Wh

Avg: 15.0-15.9" 62.1 Wh

STORAGE
With a larger storage capacity up to 8 TB, the Raider 18 HX 2024 provides more space for storing files and applications compared to the Raider GE66 2022's max. storage capacity of 2 TB.

Storage Options	1 TB, 2 TB, 4 TB, 8 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.

MSI Raider 18 HX 2024 vs MSI Raider GE66 2022: Display Comparison

The display is an essential aspect to consider when comparing the MSI Raider 18 HX 2024 and MSI Raider GE66 2022 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. Raider 18 HX 2024 has a display size of 18.0".On the other hand, Raider GE66 2022 has a smaller 15.6" display.The total usable screen area of the Raider 18 HX 2024 is 939cm² / 146inch² whereas the Raider GE66 2022's total usable screen area is 670cm² / 104inch².

PPI (Pixels per Inch)
Additionally, the Raider 18 HX 2024 features a higher pixel density with 168 pixels per inch (PPI), ensuring sharper image details.

Screen PPI (Pixels Per Inch) Comparison

MSI Raider 18 HX 2024 168 PPI

Avg: larger than 17.0" 141 PPI

MSI Raider GE66 2022 141 PPI

Avg: 15.0-15.9" 144 PPI

Refresh Rate
The Raider GE66 2022 offers a higher refresh rate of 360 Hz, resulting in smoother motion and improved visual experience.

MSI Raider 18 HX 2024 vs MSI Raider GE66 2022 Connectivity Comparison

In terms of connectivity,

Wifi
Raider 18 HX 2024 features a more advanced Wi-Fi standard v7, providing faster and more reliable wireless connections compared to Raider GE66 2022 (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 Raider 18 HX 2024 and Raider GE66 2022 feature 3x USB 3.2 USB-A ports.
Both Raider 18 HX 2024 and Raider GE66 2022 have USB Type-C ports. Raider 18 HX 2024 has 2x USB 4.0 USB Type-C ports, while Raider GE66 2022 has 2x 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
Both Raider 18 HX 2024 and Raider GE66 2022 are equipped with Thunderbolt 4 ports.

HDMI
Both Raider 18 HX 2024 and Raider GE66 2022 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 GE66 2022 is equipped with an SD Card Reader for easy access to memory cards. Raider 18 HX 2024 does not have an SD Card Reader.

Audio Jack
Both Raider 18 HX 2024 and Raider GE66 2022 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)	v5.4	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	2x USB 3.2
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	No	Yes
Proprietary Charging Port	Yes	Yes