If you need a laptop for general usage like web browsing and document editing, the ASUS R410MA is a budget-friendly option with moderate portability and sufficient basic functionality. In contrast, the Dell Alienware X17 R2 is designed for high-end tasks such as gaming, 3D rendering, and intensive engineering software, offering superior performance and a better display but is more expensive and less portable due to its larger size and weight. Choose the ASUS if you prioritize saving money and don't require high performance, or the Dell Alienware if you need top-tier capabilities and are willing to invest in a high-end machine. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the ASUS R410MA
Very good portability
Good battery life
Advantages of the Dell Alienware X17 R2
Very good for general use
Excellent for engineering and design
Very good for gaming and AI
Good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Best in class speakers
Very good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
5.5/10
8.2/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
200.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
367.0 nits
8.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
2.0 Hours
5.3/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
8.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.0/10
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 is very good for general use, while the ASUS R410MA is poor.
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 outperforms the ASUS R410MA for general use mainly because of its powerful CPU, ample RAM, and high-quality screen, which leads to faster, smoother operation and a better visual experience. However, the X17 R2 is less portable due to its larger size and weight and has shorter battery life compared to the more portable, yet underpowered and less visually impressive R410MA.
Gaming and AI
5.4/10
8.9/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.3/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
480Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 is very good for gaming and AI, while the ASUS R410MA is poor.
The ASUS R410MA is poor for gaming and 3D because it comes with a basic Intel UHD Graphics 600 GPU and a lower-quality TN display with a standard resolution, while the Dell Alienware X17 R2 excels due to its high-end Nvidia RTX 3080 Ti GPU and a superior IPS display with high resolution, both crucial for high-performance gaming and 3D tasks.
Engineering and Design
5.3/10
9.1/10
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.4/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.3/10
4.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 is excellent for engineering and design, while the ASUS R410MA is poor.
The ASUS R410MA is equipped with a lower-end CPU, minimal RAM, and a basic integrated GPU, which are not suited for demanding engineering and design tasks, whereas the Dell Alienware X17 R2 boasts a high-end CPU, substantial RAM, and a powerful dedicated GPU, making it well-suited for the intensive computational and graphics requirements of those fields.
Content Creation
5.7/10
8.3/10
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.4/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
4.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 is very good for content creation, while the ASUS R410MA is poor.
PerfectRec’s Content Creation Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for photo editing, video editing and other content creation tasks.
Software Development
5.6/10
7.8/10
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.4/10
4.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
5.3/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 is good for software development, while the ASUS R410MA is poor.
PerfectRec’s Software Development Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for software developers.
Screen Quality
5.1/10
8.5/10
14.0in
SIZE
17.3in
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
480Hz
200.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
367.0 nits
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 has a better screen than the ASUS R410MA for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The ASUS R410MA, with its limited resolution and brightness, detracts from the viewing experience in casual and professional settings, while its lack of broad color gamut impairs precision in tasks that require color accuracy like engineering and design. Conversely, the Dell Alienware X17 R2, featuring a high-resolution, bright display and wide color coverage, ensures crisp and vibrant visuals perfect for general use and detail-oriented work, but its lower refresh rate can be a drawback for the smooth graphics demanded by 3D applications and games. Thus, the ASUS may disappoint users across the board, whereas the Dell, despite its excellent general and professional capabilities, might not satisfy the highest expectations for gaming and 3D performance.
Battery
8.5 Hours
2.0 Hours
The ASUS R410MA has 8.5 hours of battery life. The Dell Alienware X17 R2 has 2 hours of battery life.
Battery life estimate is based on a mix of common use patterns. More portable and higher performing laptops tend to have less battery life.
Portability
Very Good
Fair
14.0in
SIZE
17.3in
2.8 lbs
WEIGHT
6.8 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The ASUS R410MA has very good portability, while the Dell Alienware X17 R2 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
5.1/10
8.5/10
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 has very good build quality, while the ASUS R410MA has poor build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$111
$2,000
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The ASUS R410MA has a price of $111 and the Dell Alienware X17 R2 costs $2,000.
"The Asus Laptop L410 is a super-affordable PC, even among budget notebooks, compromising on the display and processing power to deliver a serviceable Windows machine with good battery life and useful ports. The build is reasonably solid, there’s a good mix of ports, battery life is long enough, and it can perform basic everyday tasks. On the flip side, the screen is poor, anything other than basic tasks is a tough ask, and it has little memory and even less storage."
"The Alienware x17 R2 recognizes targets a significantly higher TGP of 175 W for a roughly 30 percent performance boost over laptops running on the ~100 W GeForce RTX 3080 Ti like the Razer Blade 15 or Gigabyte Aero YE5. Similar results can be found through the CPU as well. This single aspect of the Alienware is perhaps the biggest differentiating factor between it and other ultrathin gaming laptops. Of course, the "performance at all cost" approach comes with drawbacks. Power consumption in particular is through the roof and battery life suffers because of it even when on the lowest performance settings."
Get a great deal on the ASUS R410MA or the Dell Alienware X17 R2
About ASUS
ASUS, a Taiwanese electronics brand, is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. The majority of their laptops are targeted towards personal use or gaming. Their most popular product lines include the budget-friendly VivoBook, more premium ZenBook, and their TUF and ROG gaming laptops, the latter of which has a reputation for excellent gaming performance.
About Dell
Dell is a highly recognizable American technology company, and is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. Their laptops are very popular for both personal and professional use, and they also own the Alienware brand which makes mid to high end gaming laptops. Their premium XPS range of laptops offer great build quality and portability, while Latitude and Precision laptops are known for reliability, repairability and performance for business users.
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec laptops team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest laptop information and makes it digestible for you.
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