A comparison of specs, key information, reviews, and best pricing from top retailers
Last updated -- hours ago | Report incorrect information
Company ProductName Specs
Company ProductName Specs
What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated August 21, 2024·
For a balance of performance and cost, the Dell Alienware m17 R5 is a strong contender. It offers a midrange price with solid gaming capabilities thanks to its Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU, making it suitable for gaming, 3D rendering, and machine learning tasks. Its 16GB of RAM and AMD Ryzen 7 6800H processor will handle general use and light engineering tasks efficiently. The 17.3-inch Full HD IPS display with a 480Hz refresh rate is excellent for fast-paced gaming, though the color accuracy is more suited for general use than professional photo editing. On the other hand, if you prioritize top-tier performance and are willing to invest significantly more, the Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 X3D boasts a powerful AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX3D processor and an Nvidia RTX 4090 GPU, delivering exceptional performance for the most demanding engineering tasks, gaming, and machine learning applications. Its QHD display with a 240Hz refresh rate and superior color coverage is ideal for both work and play, offering a vibrant and smooth visual experience. However, its portability is compromised due to its heavier weight and larger size, and the battery life is shorter, making it less suitable for on-the-go use compared to the Dell. In summary, choose the Dell Alienware m17 R5 for a more cost-effective solution that still packs a punch for gaming and general use, with a better balance of performance and portability. Opt for the Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 X3D if you require the ultimate performance and visual fidelity for intensive tasks and are less concerned with battery life and mobility. 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 17 X3D
- Very good for general use
- Excellent for engineering and design
- Excellent for gaming and AI
- Very good for content creation
Advantages of the Dell Alienware m17 R5
- Very good speakers
Key differences
Gaming and AI
9.2
7.7
9.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.7/10
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
480Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 X3D is excellent for gaming and AI, while the Dell Alienware m17 R5 is good.
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
9.1
8.1
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.1/10
9.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.7/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 X3D is excellent for engineering and design, while the Dell Alienware m17 R5 is very good.
PerfectRec’s Engineering and Design Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for graphic design and 3D rendering work.
Software Development
7.9
7.4
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.1/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 X3D and Dell Alienware m17 R5 are both good for software development, though the Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 X3D is somewhat better.
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
8.3
8.1
17.3in
SIZE
17.3in
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
480Hz
350.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
301.0 nits
The Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 X3D has a better screen than the Dell Alienware m17 R5 for general use, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
PerfectRec’s screen quality scores take into account various important factors that are relevant for different use cases.
Battery
3.0 Hours
5.0 Hours
The Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 X3D has 3 hours of battery life. The Dell Alienware m17 R5 has 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.
Cost
$3,500
$1,100
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 X3D has a price of $3,500 and the Dell Alienware m17 R5 costs $1,100.
Let Us Help Find Your Perfect Laptop
Find your new laptop
Key similarities
General Use
8.1
7.8
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
350.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
301.0 nits
3.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
5.0 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
5.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
5.5/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 X3D to be very good for general use, while the Dell Alienware m17 R5 is good.
PerfectRec’s General Use Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for general productivity, web browsing, streaming, video calls, and running a wide variety of apps and programs.
Content Creation
8.2
7.8
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.1/10
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 X3D to be very good for content creation, while the Dell Alienware m17 R5 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.
Portability
Poor
Poor
17.3in
SIZE
17.3in
6.6 lbs
WEIGHT
7.3 lbs
1.1in
THICKNESS
1.0in
The Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 X3D and Dell Alienware m17 R5 both have poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.4
7.8
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 and Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 X3D 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 17 X3D and the Dell Alienware m17 R5 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 X3D | Dell Alienware m17 R5 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$3,500 | $1,100 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 6, 2023 | June 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 15.6'' x 11.1'' x 1.11'' | 15.6'' x 11.8'' x 1.05'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 6.61 lbs | 7.3 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 15.55" | 15.64" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 11.1" | 11.76" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX3D | AMD Ryzen 7 6800H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 32 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 2048 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 3 Hours | 5 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 1440 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 240Hz | 480Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 350 nits | 301 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 5.7/10 | 5.5/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 6.5/10 | 7/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7/10 | 8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Dell Alienware m17 R5
See more
Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Christian Hintze | January 2023
"Overall, the all-AMD system in the Alienware m17 R5 is impressive, especially the graphics performance. However, various driver issues and unnecessary inconsistencies prevent us from truly enjoying such a potent gaming machine. In addition to strong 3D performance, we particularly like the build quality, the fairly bright UHD display with high color space coverage, and the fact that the gamer is often quiet when not under load and also rather quieter than some competitors under load."
Get a great deal on the Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 X3D or the Dell Alienware m17 R5
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.
Give feedback
We're constantly perfecting our model
Laptop guides you might be interested in
More comparisons for you
Compare Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 X3D vs. MSI Raider GE76
VS
Compare Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 X3D vs. Lenovo Legion 9i
VS
Compare Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 X3D vs. ASUS ROG Strix G18
VS
Compare Dell Alienware m17 R5 vs. MSI Cyborg 15
VS
Compare Dell Alienware m17 R5 vs. MSI GF65 Thin
VS
Compare Dell Alienware m17 R5 vs. Gigabyte G5
VS
FAQs
FAQs about laptops
Why trust us
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.
By the numbers
380
Laptops evaluated
48,640
Laptops stats compiled
13
Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
101,295
Recommendations made
21,948
Consumer hours saved
About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
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.
Craig Russell
Laptops Expert
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.
Featured in
