The ASUS TUF Gaming F15 and the Dell Alienware m17 R5 are similarly priced and suited for gaming. The ASUS TUF offers a smaller screen with less weight which contributes to better portability, while the Dell Alienware has a larger screen and higher weight, impacting portability. Both have the same amount of storage and RAM, but the ASUS has a newer processor, which generally performs better for engineering tasks and 3D/machine learning. The ASUS has a higher portability score but less impressive colors and contrast on its display compared to the Dell. If you prefer better screen quality and a larger display, the Dell might suit you, but if you want a more portable option with a stronger focus on performance and newer technology, the ASUS is suitable. 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 TUF Gaming F15
Very good for gaming and AI
Good portability
Advantages of the Dell Alienware m17 R5
Very good overall display quality
Very good speakers
Very good keyboard
Key differences
Screen Quality
6.9/10
8.1/10
15.6in
SIZE
17.3in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
480Hz
257.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
301.0 nits
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 has a better screen than the ASUS TUF Gaming F15 for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
For general use, a laptop's display should be bright with clear resolution and the panel type impacts viewing angles and color reproduction; the ASUS TUF Gaming F15 provides these but with less vibrancy compared to the Dell Alienware m17 R5, which shines in both brightness and clarity. When it comes to engineering and design, accurate color representation is crucial; the Alienware's screen covers a wider color gamut, making it more suitable than the ASUS for professional color work. However, for 3D applications and gaming, high refresh rates are essential for smooth motion and responsiveness; the ASUS falls short as the Alienware's higher refresh rate provides a better experience for fast-paced visuals, despite both lacking optimal screen qualities for this specific use.
Portability
Good
Poor
15.6in
SIZE
17.3in
4.8 lbs
WEIGHT
7.3 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
1.0in
The ASUS TUF Gaming F15 has good portability, while the Dell Alienware m17 R5 has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.2/10
7.8/10
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 and ASUS TUF Gaming F15 both have good build quality, though the Dell Alienware m17 R5 has somewhat better build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,399
$1,100
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The ASUS TUF Gaming F15 has a price of $1,399 and the Dell Alienware m17 R5 costs $1,100.
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 and ASUS TUF Gaming F15 are both good for general use.
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.
Gaming and AI
8.0/10
7.7/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.7/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
480Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
6.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers ASUS TUF Gaming F15 to be very good 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
8.2/10
8.1/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.1/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS TUF Gaming F15 and Dell Alienware m17 R5 are both very good for engineering and design.
The ASUS TUF Gaming F15 is well-suited for engineering and design due to its high-end Intel i7 CPU, substantial RAM, and powerful Nvidia RTX 4070 GPU, accompanied by a quality IPS screen. On the other hand, the Dell Alienware m17 R5 also excels in engineering tasks with its AMD Ryzen 7 CPU, equivalent RAM, and capable Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU, and it further stands out with a larger and brighter screen, though it is less portable than the ASUS model due to its larger size and weight.
Content Creation
7.7/10
7.8/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.1/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 and ASUS TUF Gaming F15 are both 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
7.3/10
7.4/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 and ASUS TUF Gaming F15 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.
Battery
5.0 Hours
5.0 Hours
The ASUS TUF Gaming F15 has 5 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.
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How the ASUS TUF Gaming F15 and the Dell Alienware m17 R5 compare to other laptops
"Aside from all the chassis updates, the new TUF Gaming is most notable for its much higher TGP target of 140 W compared to only 95 W on the previous generation. PC makers everywhere are using the same GeForce GPUs this year since Nvidia has yet to launch the successor to the mobile RTX 3000 series. The more demanding processors of the new TUF Gaming has directly impacted battery life and the size of the AC adapter. Don't expect runtimes to be longer than on the previous generation under most conditions and be prepared to carry around an even larger AC adapter than before."
"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 TUF Gaming F15 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.
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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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.
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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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