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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The ASUS ROG Strix G17 offers decent performance and extensive gaming capabilities at a more affordable price compared to the Dell Alienware m18 R1. It's lighter, making it a bit more portable, but still packs powerful hardware suitable for general use, 3D rendering, and engineering tasks. Conversely, the Alienware m18 R1 has superior performance, especially for 3D and machine learning applications, as well as engineering tasks, thanks to its more robust processor and better GPU. However, this comes with a heftier price tag and increased weight, making it less convenient for transportation. Both feature large displays with similar qualities, but the Alienware has a longer battery life and superior build and heat management, which could be particularly relevant if you plan on extensive gaming or running demanding software for prolonged periods. 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 ROG Strix G17
- Very good overall display quality
- Best in class speakers
Advantages of the Dell Alienware m18 R1
- Very good for general use
- Excellent for engineering and design
- Excellent for gaming and AI
- Very good for software development
- Very good overall build quality
Key differences
Gaming and AI
8.4
9.1
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.8/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.2/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 is excellent for gaming and AI, while the ASUS ROG Strix G17 is very good.
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 is equipped with a more powerful Nvidia RTX 4080 GPU compared to the Nvidia RTX 4060 in the ASUS ROG Strix G17, providing superior gaming and 3D performance; however, the ASUS has a higher screen refresh rate of 240Hz which can make gameplay smoother, contrasting with the Alienware's 165Hz display.
Screen Quality
8.4
7.8
17.3in
SIZE
17.3in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
320.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
281.0 nits
The ASUS ROG Strix G17 has a better screen than the Dell Alienware m18 R1 for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design, while the Dell Alienware m18 R1 has a better screen for content creation.
For general use, the ASUS provides a sharp image and vibrant colors due to its high resolution and brightness, making it ideal for everyday tasks like browsing and watching videos. Engineers and designers would appreciate the ASUS's wide color gamuts, ensuring accurate color reproduction for tasks such as photo editing or CAD work. However, gamers might find the ASUS less suitable because its refresh rate isn't high enough for ultra-smooth motion in fast-paced games, despite its good resolution and panel quality.
Battery
3.0 Hours
4.0 Hours
The ASUS ROG Strix G17 has 3 hours of battery life. The Dell Alienware m18 R1 has 4 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
Poor
Poor
17.3in
SIZE
17.3in
6.1 lbs
WEIGHT
8.9 lbs
1.2in
THICKNESS
1.0in
The ASUS ROG Strix G17 and Dell Alienware m18 R1 both have poor portability, though the ASUS ROG Strix G17 has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.8
8.5
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 has very good build quality, while the ASUS ROG Strix G17 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,399
$2,600
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The ASUS ROG Strix G17 has a price of $1,399 and the Dell Alienware m18 R1 costs $2,600.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.9
8.2
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
320.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
281.0 nits
3.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
5.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
5.1/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Alienware m18 R1 to be very good for general use, while the ASUS ROG Strix G17 is good.
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 stands out for general use partly due to its superior main processor, double the RAM of the ASUS ROG Strix G17, and a slightly longer battery life, key for multitasking and longer unplugged periods. Despite both laptops having similar screen quality, the ASUS is lighter and thinner, offering better portability, but the Alienware's range of other features such as better heat management and speaker quality make it very suitable for a variety of demanding applications beyond gaming.
Engineering and Design
8.8
9.1
9.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Alienware m18 R1 to be excellent for engineering and design, while the ASUS ROG Strix G17 is very good.
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 excels in engineering and design use because it's equipped with a higher-end GPU and double the RAM of the ASUS ROG Strix G17, catering to more demanding engineering tasks that require extensive computing power and memory. Despite both laptops featuring quality screens and powerful CPUs, the Alienware's superior graphical performance and greater multitasking capabilities make it ideal for intensive engineering and design workloads, whereas the ASUS is a strong contender that balances cost and capability for such tasks.
Content Creation
8.3
8.4
9.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 and ASUS ROG Strix G17 are both very good for content creation.
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
7.7
8.0
9.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Alienware m18 R1 to be very good for software development, while the ASUS ROG Strix G17 is good.
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.
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How the ASUS ROG Strix G17 and the Dell Alienware m18 R1 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| ASUS ROG Strix G17 | Dell Alienware m18 R1 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,399 | $2,600 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | February 1, 2023 | October 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 15.6'' x 11.1'' x 1.21'' | 16.2'' x 12.6'' x 1.05'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 6.17 lbs | 8.9 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 15.55" | 16.15" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 11.1" | 12.59" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 9 7845HX | Intel i9-13900HX | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 32 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 3 Hours | 4 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 90 Wh | 97 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 17.3" | 17.3" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1600 | 2560 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 240Hz | 165Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 320 nits | 281 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.8/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 5.7/10 | 5.1/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.3/10 | 7/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 9.8/10 | 8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 4 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 4 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | N/A | 4 | |
Shopping
ASUS ROG Strix G17
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Mark Knapp | October 2023
"The Asus ROG Strix G17 is an attractive but unbalanced gaming laptop. Its potent AMD Ryzen 9 processor excels in 1080p gaming, but playing at 1440p leaves the middling GeForce RTX 4060 GPU shouldering most of the burden. The display is exceptionally colorful, which is handy for content creators, but since this is a gaming laptop it would be better served with improved HDR capabilities. If battery life isn't a priority, the Strix G17 could serve as a designer by day and a gamer by night."
Dell Alienware m18 R1
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Matthew Buzzi | July 2023
"Dell's Alienware m18 delivers on its promises: This is a large, powerful gaming laptop with the premium flair and feel you expect from an expensive purchase. The drawbacks are really the price and battery life, which in context are reasonable. (We'd also like to see more ports on the laptop's sides.) This price tier exists for deep-pocketed enthusiasts, and if you’re considering anything in this range, the m18 isn’t an outlier. For the majority of shoppers, of course, all of these mighty 18-inch systems are likely too expensive."
Get a great deal on the ASUS ROG Strix G17 or the Dell Alienware m18 R1
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.
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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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About the laptop team
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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.
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