For better performance in engineering tasks, intensive gaming, or 3D/machine learning, the Dell Alienware m15 R7 offers a higher-end processor and graphics card, which will outperform the MSI GF65 Thin. However, the Alienware is more expensive and heavier, making it less portable. The MSI GF65, being lighter and more affordable, is well-suited for general use and moderate gaming but might struggle with more demanding engineering software. Both laptops have similar screen sizes, but the Alienware has a higher resolution, better color accuracy, and faster refresh rates which is beneficial for gaming and design work. Battery life is longer on the Alienware, but it's also significantly heavier, which could affect portability. 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
Good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Good for software development
Good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Good speakers
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI GF65 Thin
Good portability
Key differences
General Use
7.5/10
6.5/10
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
300.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
5.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.5 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
6.4/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The Dell Alienware m15 R7 is good for general use, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.
The Dell Alienware m15 R7 has a more powerful CPU, double the RAM, and a higher-resolution screen, which contribute to its suitability for general use, whereas the MSI GF65 Thin, despite its lighter weight and quieter operating noise, is limited by a less capable processor and lower RAM, thus rated fair for general use. Moreover, the Alienware's better screen quality and longer battery life enhance user experience for a range of tasks, but the drawback is reduced portability compared to the lighter GF65 Thin.
Gaming and AI
7.8/10
6.8/10
8.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.1/10
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 is good for gaming and AI, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.
The Dell Alienware m15 R7 is equipped with a more powerful Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti graphics card and a higher screen refresh rate of 240Hz, giving it an edge in gaming and 3D applications, whereas the MSI GF65 Thin has a less powerful Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU and a lower refresh rate of 144Hz, making it adequate for gaming but not as high-performing as the Alienware.
Engineering and Design
8.2/10
6.7/10
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
8.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Dell Alienware m15 R7 is very good for engineering and design, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.
The Dell Alienware m15 R7, with its higher-end AMD Ryzen 9 CPU, Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti GPU, and superior screen quality including higher resolution and color space coverage, is more suited for demanding engineering and design tasks than the MSI GF65 Thin, which, while still capable with an Intel i5 CPU and Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU, offers a lower resolution screen and less RAM. The Alienware's tradeoff is less portability and a heavier build compared to the lighter MSI GF65, along with potentially more operating noise based on the provided data.
Content Creation
7.5/10
6.8/10
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Alienware m15 R7 is good for content creation, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.
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
6.3/10
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell Alienware m15 R7 is good for software development, while the MSI GF65 Thin 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
8.2/10
6.8/10
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
300.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
The Dell Alienware m15 R7 has a better screen than the MSI GF65 Thin for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Dell Alienware m15 R7 offers a high-resolution display and excellent brightness, which makes it ideal for everyday tasks and professional engineering or design work that requires attention to detail and color accuracy. However, its lower refresh rate might not be optimal for gaming and 3D applications, where smooth motion is crucial. Conversely, while the MSI GF65 Thin provides an adequate resolution and brightness for daily activities and some level of precision in creative tasks, its subpar refresh rate and limited color range lead to a less immersive experience in fast-paced gaming and less precision in color-critical work.
Portability
Fair
Good
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
5.9 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The MSI GF65 Thin has good portability, while the Dell Alienware m15 R7 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5/10
6.7/10
The Dell Alienware m15 R7 has very good build quality, while the MSI GF65 Thin has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$2,200
$1,100
$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 MSI GF65 Thin costs $1,100.
"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."
"The MSI GF65 Thin offers a GeForce RTX 3060 on a budget. The MSI GF65 is a relatively inexpensive RTX 3060 laptop and, perhaps not coincidentally, it also comes with a slower-than-average RTX 3060 GPU. Other laptops we've tested thus far with the same GPU are about 10 to 15 percent faster. CPU performance is also slightly slower than average unless if users decide to enable Cooler Boost mode. Colors, black-white response times, Thunderbolt, and DisplayPort are either average or completely omitted. Gamers who want to maximize performance-per-dollar without sacrificing RAM or SSD upgradeability will find the lightweight MSI GF65 attractive."
Get a great deal on the Dell Alienware m15 R7 or the MSI GF65 Thin
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 MSI
MSI, also known as Micro-Star International, is a Taiwanese technology corporation. MSI is known for their wide range of gaming devices. Their series include the entry-level Cyborg/Thin and Sword/Katana series, the mid-range Bravo/Delta and Crosshair/Pulse series, and their high-end Vector, Raider, Stealth, and Titan GT series. At every performance level, MSI offers a variety of devices with varying balances between performance, battery life, weight, and price, making them a solid option to consider at every price point.
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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