The ASUS ROG Strix G17 offers higher performance suited for intensive gaming, 3D rendering, and engineering tasks, thanks to its advanced processor and graphics card. It features a larger screen and higher refresh rates, making it ideal for fast motion and color-intensive tasks. However, it is less portable due to its larger size and weight. On the other hand, the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is more portable and offers a longer battery life, making it more convenient for travel and general use. Although its performance is suitable for most tasks, it may not handle demanding gaming or specialized engineering software as efficiently as the ASUS model. The Inspiron is also more cost-effective, which could be a decisive factor if budget is a primary concern. Give Feedback
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Advantages of the ASUS ROG Strix G17
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for gaming and AI
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Best in class speakers
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the Dell Inspiron 14 5420
Very good portability
Very good battery life
Key differences
Gaming and AI
8.4/10
6.4/10
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.3/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2240 x 1400
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.2/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G17 is very good for gaming and AI, while the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is only fair.
The ASUS ROG Strix G17 is superior for gaming and 3D applications because it includes a high-end Nvidia RTX 4060 graphics card and an extremely smooth 240Hz screen refresh rate, amplifying gaming visuals and fluidity, while the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has a modest Nvidia MX570 GPU and a standard 60Hz refresh rate, which are adequate but don't provide the same level of immersion or detail.
Engineering and Design
8.8/10
7.1/10
9.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS ROG Strix G17 is very good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is good.
The ASUS ROG Strix G17 is highly suited for engineering and design due to its AMD Ryzen 9 CPU, RTX 4060 GPU, and larger, high-quality screen, whereas the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 offers decent performance for such tasks with an Intel i7 CPU and an MX570 GPU but has a smaller screen with lower GPU performance. While both have adequate RAM for complex tasks, the ASUS outperforms with better processing and graphical capabilities at the expense of portability, whereas the Dell is more portable with relatively lower performance.
Content Creation
8.3/10
7.5/10
9.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2240 x 1400
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS ROG Strix G17 is very good for content creation, while the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is good.
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.
Screen Quality
8.4/10
6.5/10
17.3in
SIZE
14.0in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2240 x 1400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
320.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
279.0 nits
The ASUS ROG Strix G17 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The ASUS ROG Strix G17 offers a display with high resolution and brightness, which makes it excellent for general tasks and ensures clarity and detail for engineering applications, but its refresh rate isn't optimal for the smooth visuals gamers need in fast-paced 3D games. The Dell Inspiron 14 5420, with a fair screen quality, provides adequate resolution and brightness for daily activities and sufficient color accuracy for engineering, yet falls short in offering the high refresh rates required for gaming. While both laptops have capable panels, specialized tasks like gaming demand specific features such as higher refresh rates, which neither of these models prioritize.
Battery
3.0 Hours
10.0 Hours
The ASUS ROG Strix G17 has 3 hours of battery life. The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has 10 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
Very Good
17.3in
SIZE
14.0in
6.1 lbs
WEIGHT
3.4 lbs
1.2in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has very good portability, while the ASUS ROG Strix G17 has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.8/10
7.0/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G17 and Dell Inspiron 14 5420 both have good build quality, though the ASUS ROG Strix G17 has somewhat better build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,391
$971
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The ASUS ROG Strix G17 has a price of $1,391 and the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 costs $971.
The ASUS ROG Strix G17 and Dell Inspiron 14 5420 are both good for general use.
The ASUS ROG Strix G17 offers a high-performance CPU and GPU, ample storage, and a quality display with a high refresh rate which is ideal for both general use and gaming but has lower battery life and is less portable due to its size and weight. The Dell Inspiron 14 5420, on the other hand, offers a decent CPU and GPU for general use, a high-quality smaller display resulting in better portability and longer battery life, but has less storage and a lower quality gaming experience.
Software Development
7.7/10
7.4/10
9.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2240 x 1400
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G17 and Dell Inspiron 14 5420 are both good for software development.
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 Inspiron 14 5420 compare to other laptops
"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."
"If laptops were food, then the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is arguably a Big Mac. There are cheaper and more expensive options, but this arguably represents the baseline of quality and value in the world of mobile computing… something that’s underlined by the attractive $1,279 price tag."
Get a great deal on the ASUS ROG Strix G17 or the Dell Inspiron 14 5420
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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