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Updated March 22, 2024·
When choosing between the Dell Alienware and the MSI Raider, consider that while the Alienware could be more budget-friendly, the Raider generally offers superior performance for tasks like gaming or heavy computing. The Alienware is lighter, which makes it more portable, but its battery might not last as long as the Raider's during intensive use. If you predominantly need the laptop for activities like 3D rendering, machine learning, or playing high-end games, investing more in the Raider may be justified. However, for general use or if you value saving money and easier transport, the Alienware could suffice. 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 m16 R2
- Very good speakers
Advantages of the MSI Raider GE76
- Very good for general use
- Excellent for engineering and design
- Very good for gaming and AI
- Very good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Excellent keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.9
8.4
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
302.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
384.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
6.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
5.8/10
The MSI Raider GE76 is very good for general use, while the Dell Alienware m16 R2 is good.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 offers high performance for everyday tasks and gaming, with a solid CPU, RAM, and a high-quality screen, but it's less portable and has shorter battery life compared to other laptops. The MSI Raider GE76, on the other hand, provides similar performance benefits while being more portable with better battery life, making it more versatile for those on the move, although it may come at a higher price point.
Gaming and AI
7.9
8.9
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.3/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The MSI Raider GE76 is very good for gaming and AI, while the Dell Alienware m16 R2 is good.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and MSI Raider GE76 both have high-end GPUs which are crucial for gaming and 3D rendering, with the MSI offering slightly superior graphics performance, enhancing those activities. While both laptops feature screens with fast refresh rates for smooth visuals, the MSI's display might have a slight edge in terms of quality and responsiveness, paired with a more powerful CPU it may provide a slightly better overall experience for demanding tasks.
Engineering and Design
8.4
9.0
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Raider GE76 is excellent for engineering and design, while the Dell Alienware m16 R2 is very good.
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 is equipped with a high-quality CPU, ample RAM, a robust GPU, and an excellent screen that are necessary for resource-intensive engineering and design tasks, though it's less portable due to its size and is accompanied by a quality keyboard and manageable operating noise. The MSI Raider GE76, on the other hand, offers similar benefits with a slight edge in performance and screen quality, making it exceptional for demanding engineering work, but this also affects its portability and could lead to louder operating noise when handling heavy workloads.
Software Development
7.6
8.2
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The MSI Raider GE76 is very good for software development, while the Dell Alienware m16 R2 is good.
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
8.6
16.0in
SIZE
17.3in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
302.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
384.0 nits
The MSI Raider GE76 has a better screen than the Dell Alienware m16 R2 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
If you prioritize a laptop for general use, both Dell Alienware m16 R2 and MSI Raider GE76 offer sharp images and vibrant displays due to their high resolutions and brightness levels. For engineering and design tasks, where accurate color reproduction is crucial, both models excel with panels that cover a wide range of color spectrums, making them suitable for professionals who work with visual content. However, if gaming or 3D rendering is your main focus, you might want to consider other options, as both these laptops have lower refresh rates, which can limit the smoothness of fast-paced visuals and may not provide the most fluid gaming or 3D experience.
Portability
Fair
Poor
16.0in
SIZE
17.3in
5.7 lbs
WEIGHT
6.3 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
1.0in
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has only fair portability, while the MSI Raider GE76 has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,650
$3,552
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has a price of $1,650 and the MSI Raider GE76 costs $3,552.
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Key similarities
Content Creation
7.9
8.4
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Raider GE76 to be very good for content creation, while the Dell Alienware m16 R2 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.
Battery
6.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 has 6 hours of battery life. The MSI Raider GE76 has 6 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.
Build Quality
8.5
8.5
The Dell Alienware m16 R2 and MSI Raider GE76 both have very good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Dell Alienware m16 R2 and the MSI Raider GE76 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Alienware m16 R2 | MSI Raider GE76 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,650 | $3,552 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2024 | May 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.3'' x 9.8'' x 0.93'' | 15.6'' x 11.2'' x 1.02'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.75 lbs | 6.39 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.33" | 15.63" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.81" | 11.18" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel Core Ultra 7 155H | Intel i7-12700H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 32 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6 Hours | 6 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 90 Wh | 99.9 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 17.3" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1600 | 2560 x 1440 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 240Hz | 240Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 302 nits | 384 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.8/10 | 5.9/10 | |
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 | 9/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8.8/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 1080p | |
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 | 2 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 4 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | 4 | |
Shopping
Dell Alienware m16 R2
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Dig into reviews and images
LaptopMag
Momo Tabari | January 2024
"Alienware’s m16 R2 is a solid gaming laptop that leaves much to be desired, particularly in its quest to fulfill your needs as a product for productivity. Battery life under eight hours and a dim display are both vital issues for something that will accompany you through school projects or a workday. However, the Alienware m16 R2 is an exceedingly powerful gaming laptop, consistently being one of the best in our performance tests when compared against similar products. Even then, its display is lacking color, its fans get pretty darn loud, and its speakers aren’t punchy enough to rise above that noise."
MSI Raider GE76
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Florian Glaser | January 2022
"The MSI Raider GE76: with Alder Lake and RTX 3080 Ti to gaming heaven. Yes, MSI could improve some aspects (like the quality of the webcam), but the manufacturer offers a very convincing and balanced overall package. The biggest advantage is definitely the immense performance potential. The combination of Core i9-12900HK, GeForce RTX 3080 Ti, 32 GB DDR5 RAM and two NVMe SSDs offers a lot of performance for the next couple of years and plenty of power for 3D applications. Most titles would run smoothly on an external 4K screen no matter the quality preset. We came away impressed with the integrated 360 Hz panel's fast response times and good color accuracy."
Get a great deal on the Dell Alienware m16 R2 or the MSI Raider GE76
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.
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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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