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 January 10, 2024·
The Dell Alienware m15 R7, being a premium-priced gaming laptop, offers high performance with a powerful AMD Ryzen 9 processor and Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti graphics, suitable for intensive gaming, 3D rendering, and engineering tasks but is less portable due to its weight. The Gigabyte A5, at a lower midrange price, still delivers competent gaming performance with an AMD Ryzen 5 processor and Nvidia RTX 3060 graphics, and it's lighter, enhancing its portability. If your priority is top-tier gaming and professional work, and budget isn't a constraint, consider the Alienware. For a balance between cost, performance, and easier carrying, the Gigabyte A5 is a sensible choice. 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 Dell Alienware m15 R7
- Very good for engineering and design
- Very good overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the Gigabyte A5
- Good portability
- Good battery life
- Very good speakers
Key differences
Gaming and AI
7.8
7.1
8.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.3/10
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The Dell Alienware m15 R7 and Gigabyte A5 are both good for gaming and AI, though the Dell Alienware m15 R7 is somewhat better.
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
7.3
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.0/10
8.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Alienware m15 R7 is very good for engineering and design, while the Gigabyte A5 is good.
The Dell Alienware m15 R7 stands out for engineering and design use due to its more powerful main processor and better GPU, which are very important for such tasks, and it also boasts a higher resolution screen with better color coverage, enhancing screen quality. The Gigabyte A5, while more portable and with a slightly longer battery life, has a less robust CPU and GPU and lower screen resolution, making it less optimal for high-demand engineering and design applications but still a good option for general use.
Screen Quality
8.2
7.2
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
300.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
281.0 nits
The Dell Alienware m15 R7 has a better screen than the Gigabyte A5 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Dell Alienware m15 R7 offers a screen with high resolution and brightness alongside accurate colors, making it suitable for general tasks and engineering applications where detail and color representation are important. However, its lower refresh rate may not be ideal for gaming or 3D work, where smooth motion is crucial. In contrast, the Gigabyte A5 provides adequate resolution and decent color accuracy for both general use and engineering purposes, but like the Dell, its screen's lower refresh rate could hinder the experience in fast-paced gaming or 3D environments.
Battery
5.0 Hours
6.5 Hours
The Dell Alienware m15 R7 has 5 hours of battery life. The Gigabyte A5 has 6.5 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
Good
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
5.9 lbs
WEIGHT
4.6 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
1.0in
The Gigabyte A5 has good portability, while the Dell Alienware m15 R7 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5
7.2
The Dell Alienware m15 R7 has very good build quality, while the Gigabyte A5 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$2,200
$830
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
The Dell Alienware m15 R7 has a price of $2,200 and the Gigabyte A5 costs $830.
Let Us Help Find Your Perfect Laptop
Find your new laptop
Key similarities
General Use
7.5
7.3
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
300.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
281.0 nits
5.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.5 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
6.4/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell Alienware m15 R7 and Gigabyte A5 are both good for general use.
The Dell Alienware m15 R7 stands out for general use with its powerful Ryzen 9 processor, high-resolution screen, and robust build, but it's less portable and has modest battery life, while the Gigabyte A5, with a decent Ryzen 5 processor and a lower resolution but still quality screen, offers better portability and slightly longer battery life, though it may not handle intensive tasks as smoothly as the Alienware. Both laptops have sufficient RAM for multitasking and come with sizeable storage, but the Dell provides an advanced GPU and better screen quality, factors to consider if your tasks involve high-end graphics or color-sensitive work.
Content Creation
7.5
7.3
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.0/10
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Alienware m15 R7 and Gigabyte A5 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
7.0
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Dell Alienware m15 R7 and Gigabyte A5 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.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Dell Alienware m15 R7 and the Gigabyte A5 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Alienware m15 R7 | Gigabyte A5 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$2,200 | $830 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | February 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14'' x 10.7'' x 0.94'' | 14.2'' x 10.2'' x 1'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.93 lbs | 4.68 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.02" | 14.21" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.73" | 10.15" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX | AMD Ryzen 5 5600H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 5 Hours | 6.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 86 Wh | 49 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1440 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 240Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 300 nits | 281 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.5/10 | 7/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7/10 | 6.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 3 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Dell Alienware m15 R7
See more
Dig into reviews and images
Tom's Hardware
Brandon Hill | October 2022
"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."
Gigabyte A5
See more
Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Florian Glaser | September 2022
"Ignoring price, the Gigabyte A5 has a hard time against the similarly fast competition. Besides the loud noise in 3D mode (performance mode), the high temperature development of the components should be mentioned on the downside. Despite the relatively thick case, the laptop gets very warm and loud under load, which does not exactly speak for the cooling system. The plastic surfaces look rather cheap and also tend to rattle. In most other disciplines - be it the input devices, the screen, the connectivity or the battery runtime - the Gigabyte laptop does not stand out from the crowd, neither positively nor negatively. However, those who primarily pay attention to the price-performance ratio will get a pretty good offer with the Gigabyte A5."
Get a great deal on the Dell Alienware m15 R7 or the Gigabyte A5
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.
About Gigabyte
Gigabyte is a Taiwanese computer hardware manufacturer. While Gigabyte mainly focuses its business on desktop hardware, Gigabyte is known for its value-oriented G series laptops, thin and light Aero series, and performance-oriented Aorus series. Gigabyte laptops offer a strong value proposition to compete with mainstream alternatives.
Give feedback
We're constantly perfecting our model
Laptop guides you might be interested in
More comparisons for you
Compare Dell Alienware m15 R7 vs. Gigabyte Aorus 17H
VS
Compare Dell Alienware m15 R7 vs. Razer Blade 14 (2024)
VS
Compare Dell Alienware m15 R7 vs. Dell Alienware X17 R2
VS
Compare Gigabyte A5 vs. Acer Nitro 5 17
VS
Compare Gigabyte A5 vs. Apple MacBook Air (2020)
VS
Compare Gigabyte A5 vs. Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i
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
131,295
Recommendations made
28,448
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
