The ASUS TUF Gaming F17 is typically less expensive than the Dell Alienware m15 R7, which may make it a more attractive option if budget is a concern. The ASUS has a larger 17.3-inch screen, but it has a lower resolution and less color coverage compared to the Alienware’s 15.6-inch screen, which could affect the visual experience if you're into high-quality graphics or video editing. The Alienware model provides better performance for 3D rendering, machine learning, and engineering tasks, but it does so at a higher price point. While the ASUS may handle general use and some gaming well, the Alienware is more suitable for intensive gaming and tasks requiring high computational power, with a better battery life albeit at a higher cost. If portability is critical, both models are similar in size and weight, with the ASUS being slightly larger but also offering a numeric keypad which can be useful for data entry tasks. Give Feedback
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Advantages of the ASUS TUF Gaming F17
The ASUS TUF Gaming F17 has no clear advantages over the Dell Alienware m15 R7.
Advantages of the Dell Alienware m15 R7
Very good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Good for software development
Very good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Very good keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.6/10
7.8/10
5.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.7/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell Alienware m15 R7 is good for gaming and AI, while the ASUS TUF Gaming F17 is only fair.
The Dell Alienware m15 R7 offers a more powerful Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti graphics card and a higher screen refresh rate of 240Hz, making it good for gaming and 3D tasks, while the ASUS TUF Gaming F17 has a less capable Nvidia RTX 3050 Ti GPU and a lower refresh rate of 144Hz, categorizing it as fair for these tasks. The higher-end GPU and faster screen refresh in the Alienware enhance game visuals and smoother gameplay, which are very important for gaming performance.
Engineering and Design
6.9/10
8.2/10
6.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.5/10
5.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.7/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Alienware m15 R7 is very good for engineering and design, while the ASUS TUF Gaming F17 is only fair.
The Dell Alienware m15 R7 surpasses the ASUS TUF Gaming F17 in engineering and design suitability primarily due to its superior main processor and GPU, which facilitate more robust performance for computationally intensive tasks, and its higher resolution display enhances the visual clarity for detailed design work. While the ASUS offers a decent CPU and GPU, its lower RAM, and screen resolution make it less ideal for demanding engineering software and detailed design tasks; however, it does provide a larger screen for those who prioritize a bigger display over portability and higher specs.
Software Development
6.7/10
7.3/10
6.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.5/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Dell Alienware m15 R7 is good for software development, while the ASUS TUF Gaming F17 is only fair.
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
6.9/10
8.2/10
17.3in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
264.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
300.0 nits
The Dell Alienware m15 R7 has a better screen than the ASUS TUF Gaming F17 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
If you prioritize a sharp and vivid display for everyday tasks like browsing and watching videos, the ASUS TUF's resolution and brightness will serve you well, though the Dell Alienware's exceptional brightness and clarity are advantageous. For engineering and design work, where accurate color representation is crucial, the Dell Alienware's wider color coverage ensures better precision. When it comes to 3D gaming, neither laptop excels due to their lower refresh rates, but for less intense games, both can provide an adequate experience, with the ASUS offering slightly less screen quality due to its weaker panel.
Build Quality
7.2/10
8.5/10
The Dell Alienware m15 R7 has very good build quality, while the ASUS TUF Gaming F17 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,000
$2,200
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
The ASUS TUF Gaming F17 has a price of $1,000 and the Dell Alienware m15 R7 costs $2,200.
The Dell Alienware m15 R7 and ASUS TUF Gaming F17 are both good for general use.
The ASUS TUF Gaming F17 is less suited for general use due to its lower RAM and less powerful CPU, which may affect multitasking and performance in demanding applications, and while it has a larger screen, it offers lower resolution and color accuracy, impacting the visual experience. In contrast, the Dell Alienware m15 R7 provides a better balance for general use with more RAM and a more powerful CPU, enhancing performance and multitasking capabilities, along with a higher resolution and color-accurate screen, although both laptops have similar portability challenges and moderate battery life.
Content Creation
7.1/10
7.5/10
6.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Alienware m15 R7 and ASUS TUF Gaming F17 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.
Battery
4.5 Hours
5.0 Hours
The ASUS TUF Gaming F17 has 4.5 hours of battery life. The Dell Alienware m15 R7 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.
Portability
Fair
Fair
17.3in
SIZE
15.6in
5.7 lbs
WEIGHT
5.9 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Dell Alienware m15 R7 and ASUS TUF Gaming F17 both have only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the ASUS TUF Gaming F17 and the Dell Alienware m15 R7 compare to other laptops
"One of the Asus TUF Gaming F17’s highlights is without a doubt its excellent gaming performance. The fact that Asus configured the RTX 3060 GPU for its specified maximum of 140 W is became immediately noticeable in our benchmarks. For a 17-inch notebook the F17 also offers a very long battery life, which makes it somewhat portable. On the flip side is the display. It may be saved by its good overall contrast ratio, but its overall brightness is simply too low, and its response times are too slow for a gaming device. The F17’s successor needs to improve upon this."
"The Alienware M15 offers solid gaming and leading endurance. It makes the most of its CPU and GPU while delivering stellar battery life for a gaming laptop. Opening the lid presents a full-size keyboard with honeycomb cutouts above it on the deck. An oblong RBG lightning element surrounds the entire rear panel and can be color-synced with the other lights on the laptop. There’s not a lot to dislike about the M15 Its productivity performance lagged in some areas, particularly in the storage benchmark, and it’s a bit heavy. Alienware has a clear winner here with the M15 based on its strong overall performance and endurance."
Get a great deal on the ASUS TUF Gaming F17 or the Dell Alienware m15 R7
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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