The Dell Alienware m18 R1 offers top-tier performance suitable for intensive gaming, 3D rendering, and engineering with a higher price point, larger screen, and more powerful internals. The Gigabyte A5 provides good performance for general use and gaming at a much lower price, and is lighter, making it more portable. The Alienware has a bigger and better-quality display with a higher refresh rate, which is important for gaming and visual tasks, while the A5 balances cost and performance for more budget-conscious users. If premium performance and display quality are the priority and cost is not a concern, Alienware is the right choice; however, for everyday use and gaming without breaking the bank, the A5 is an excellent option. 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 m18 R1
Very good for general use
Excellent for engineering and design
Excellent for gaming and AI
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall build quality
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the Gigabyte A5
Good portability
Good battery life
Key differences
General Use
8.2/10
7.3/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
281.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
281.0 nits
4.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.5 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
5.1/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 is very good for general use, while the Gigabyte A5 is good.
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 stands out for general use due to its higher RAM and superior CPU, enhancing multitasking and performance, along with a higher quality screen which offers better color coverage and resolution for sharp and vibrant visuals. While the Gigabyte A5 is portable and has adequate performance for general use, its less powerful CPU, lower RAM, and smaller battery capacity result in lower performance capabilities and a shorter battery life compared to the Alienware, albeit at presumably a more affordable price point.
Gaming and AI
9.1/10
7.1/10
9.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.3/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
165Hz
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 m18 R1 is excellent for gaming and AI, while the Gigabyte A5 is good.
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 excels in gaming and 3D tasks thanks to its superior Nvidia RTX 4080 graphics card and higher screen refresh rate of 165 Hz, ensuring smoother visuals and more detailed graphics rendering. In contrast, while the Gigabyte A5 also supports gaming with a capable Nvidia RTX 3060 and a decent 144 Hz refresh rate, it falls short compared to the Alienware for very demanding games and 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
9.1/10
7.3/10
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.0/10
9.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.3/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 is excellent for engineering and design, while the Gigabyte A5 is good.
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 surpasses the Gigabyte A5 in engineering and design use by offering a more powerful CPU, substantial RAM, an advanced GPU, and a screen with better resolution and color coverage, which is essential for demanding tasks like 3D modeling and precise color work. While the Gigabyte A5 maintains some portability and is still capable for engineering, its less robust CPU, GPU, and lower screen quality make it less suited for highly intensive tasks, though it can be a more budget-friendly option for moderate design work.
Content Creation
8.4/10
7.3/10
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.0/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 is very good for content creation, while the Gigabyte A5 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.
Software Development
8.0/10
7.0/10
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.0/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 is very good for software development, while the Gigabyte A5 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
7.8/10
7.2/10
17.3in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
281.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
281.0 nits
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 has a better screen than the Gigabyte A5 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
For general use, the Dell Alienware m18 R1 and the Gigabyte A5 both offer pleasing visuals with crisp, detailed images and brightness that allows for comfortable viewing, but their panel types ensure sharpness over ultra-fast response times. In engineering and design, their color accuracy and range are satisfactory, covering enough of the color gamuts to produce work that looks true to life, though they might not satisfy the highest industry standards required by top professionals. However, when it comes to 3D and gaming, the lower refresh rates of these screens could result in less smooth motion, affecting the overall experience in fast-paced scenarios where higher refresh rates are vital.
Battery
4.0 Hours
6.5 Hours
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 has 4 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
Poor
Good
17.3in
SIZE
15.6in
8.9 lbs
WEIGHT
4.6 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
1.0in
The Gigabyte A5 has good portability, while the Dell Alienware m18 R1 has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5/10
7.2/10
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 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
$2,600
$830
$0
$1,000
$2,000
$3,000
$4,000
The Dell Alienware m18 R1 has a price of $2,600 and the Gigabyte A5 costs $830.
"Dell's Alienware m18 delivers on its promises: This is a large, powerful gaming laptop with the premium flair and feel you expect from an expensive purchase. The drawbacks are really the price and battery life, which in context are reasonable. (We'd also like to see more ports on the laptop's sides.) This price tier exists for deep-pocketed enthusiasts, and if you’re considering anything in this range, the m18 isn’t an outlier. For the majority of shoppers, of course, all of these mighty 18-inch systems are likely too expensive."
"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 m18 R1 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.
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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