Acer Predator Helios 18 AI (PH18-I71) vs MSI Crosshair 17 HX AI D2XW
63.6Performancechip59.5
100Graphics87.6
54.7Displayspec-based80
98.7Batteryspec-based86.7
20Portabilityspec-based20
5 spec wins — Acer Predator Helios 18 AI (PH18-I71)2 spec wins — MSI Crosshair 17 HX AI D2XW
InnoReviews verdict
This one is close to a dead heat: Acer Predator Helios 18 AI (PH18-I71) scores 66.3 against 66.6 for MSI Crosshair 17 HX AI D2XW. Pick by the categories that matter to you, or by price.
Which would you pick?
Key differences
Reasons to pick the Acer Predator Helios 18 AI (PH18-I71)
- Stronger performance score: 64 vs 60
- Stronger graphics score: 100 vs 88
- 100% higher RAM: 32 GB vs 16 GB
- 84% higher 3DMark Time Spy Graphics (GPU): 25,090 vs 13,644
- 10% higher capacity: 99 Wh vs 90 Wh
Reasons to pick the MSI Crosshair 17 HX AI D2XW
- 100% higher Refresh rate: 240 Hz vs 120 Hz
- 20% lower weight: 2.8 kg vs 3.5 kg
Display
| Spec | Acer Predator Helios 18 AI (PH18-I71) | MSI Crosshair 17 HX AI D2XW |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 18 ″+6% | 17 ″ |
| Panel type | Mini LED (Dual-Mode: 4K 120Hz / FHD 240Hz, G-SYNC) | IPS |
| Resolution | 3840x2400 | 2560x1600 |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 240 Hz+100% |
| Peak brightness | 1,000 nits | — |
Performance
| Spec | Acer Predator Helios 18 AI (PH18-I71) | MSI Crosshair 17 HX AI D2XW |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus | Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU (24GB GDDR7) | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Laptop GPU (8GB GDDR7) |
| RAM | 32 GB+100% | 16 GB |
| RAM type | DDR5 | DDR5 |
| Storage | 1,024 GB | 1,024 GB |
| Storage type | PCIe NVMe SSD (Gen 5 slots) | NVMe SSD PCIe Gen4 |
Benchmarks
| Spec | Acer Predator Helios 18 AI (PH18-I71) | MSI Crosshair 17 HX AI D2XW |
|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 6 (single) | 2,524Bottom 23% | — |
| Geekbench 6 (multi) | 22,741Top 3% | — |
| 3DMark Time Spy Graphics (GPU) | 25,090+84%Top 1% | 13,644Top 31% |
Battery
| Spec | Acer Predator Helios 18 AI (PH18-I71) | MSI Crosshair 17 HX AI D2XW |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 99 Wh+10% | 90 Wh |
| Charging | — | 240 W |
Design
| Spec | Acer Predator Helios 18 AI (PH18-I71) | MSI Crosshair 17 HX AI D2XW |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 3.5 kg | 2.8 kg+20% |
| Thickness | 29.6 mm+1% | 29.7 mm |
Connectivity
| Spec | Acer Predator Helios 18 AI (PH18-I71) | MSI Crosshair 17 HX AI D2XW |
|---|---|---|
| Ports | 2x Thunderbolt 5 (USB-C), 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, 1x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2, HDMI 2.1, SD card reader, 3.5mm combo audio jack, RJ-45 Ethernet, DC-in, Kensington lock | 3x USB-A 3.2 Gen1, 1x Thunderbolt 4 (DisplayPort, Power Delivery 3.0), HDMI 2.1, Gigabit Ethernet, 3.5mm combo jack |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 (Intel Killer BE1750x) | Wi-Fi 6E |
| Bluetooth | 5.4 | — |
| Webcam | FHD 1080p IR webcam | 720p HD with shutter |
| Biometrics | — | None |
Software
| Spec | Acer Predator Helios 18 AI (PH18-I71) | MSI Crosshair 17 HX AI D2XW |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home |
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