If you are looking for a laptop with top-tier performance for gaming or demanding engineering software, the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 offers powerful hardware suitable for intensive tasks and gaming but is more expensive and less portable. The Dell Inspiron 14 7420, on the other hand, is more affordable, lighter, and has longer battery life, making it a good fit for everyday use and portability, but it lacks the high-performance components necessary for the most demanding applications. Consider the ASUS for performance-heavy tasks and the Dell for general use with better portability and value. 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 Scar 15
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for gaming and AI
Very good for content creation
Good overall display quality
Very good speakers
Advantages of the Dell Inspiron 14 7420
Very good portability
Good battery life
Key differences
Gaming and AI
8.3/10
6.2/10
8.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
300Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 is very good for gaming and AI, while the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 is only fair.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Engineering and Design
8.5/10
6.9/10
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
8.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 is very good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 is only fair.
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 stands out for engineering and design due to its powerful Intel i9 processor and high-end Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti graphics card, alongside a larger and faster refresh rate screen, which collectively deliver excellent performance for demanding tasks.
Content Creation
8.0/10
7.3/10
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 is very good for content creation, while the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 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
7.9/10
6.2/10
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
300Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
283.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
260.0 nits
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, and content creation.
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 has a display that offers crisp visuals and vibrant colors which benefits general use and engineering tasks where clarity and color representation matter; however, its lower refresh rate can hinder the gaming and 3D experiences where smoother visuals are crucial. The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 provides adequate resolution and brightness for daily tasks and sufficient color accuracy for engineering and design work, but the display might not be as immersive for gaming and 3D applications lacking the high refresh rates desired for those activities. Screen qualities for both laptops reflect a balance between satisfying productivity needs and falling short in the demanding, fast-paced gaming and 3D environments.
Battery
5.5 Hours
7.5 Hours
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 has 5.5 hours of battery life. The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 has 7.5 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
Fair
Very Good
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
5.0 lbs
WEIGHT
3.6 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 has very good portability, while the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$2,000
$801
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 has a price of $2,000 and the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 costs $801.
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 and Dell Inspiron 14 7420 are both good for general use.
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 stands out for general use with its powerful CPU and GPU, ample storage and RAM, and high screen refresh rate which facilitate smooth multitasking and multimedia performance, though it has a heavier build and shorter battery life, making it less portable.
Software Development
7.4/10
7.3/10
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 and Dell Inspiron 14 7420 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.
Build Quality
7.8/10
7.4/10
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 and Dell Inspiron 14 7420 both have good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 and the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 compare to other laptops
"Asus continues to refine the ROG Strix Scar lineup with new upgrades. The Asus ROG Strix Scar 15 offers almost everything you would expect from a gaming laptop at this price. The build quality is great, connectivity options are decent, and there is enough scope for internal upgrades as well. Asus reverts to membrane switches for the keyboard — though not as "clickety" as the opto-mechanical ones we saw with last year's model, they still make for a decent typing and gaming experience. The lack of biometrics in any form is a downer."
"Notable qualities of the Inspiron 7420 2-in-1 include the 16:10 aspect ratio, strong hinges, 12th gen Intel CPU with optional GeForce MX graphics, and easy serviceability. Such features would typically cost hundreds of dollars more on higher-end alternatives from competing manufacturers. The value proposition is therefore relatively high for users looking to maximize bang for the buck."
Get a great deal on the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 or the Dell Inspiron 14 7420
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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