I'll start by providing a brief overview of the two laptops to help guide you in your decision.
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 is tailored for gaming and performance-intensive tasks, featuring high-end graphics and processing capabilities that suit demanding applications like 3D rendering, machine learning, and, of course, gaming. However, this laptop is usually more expensive and may be heavier, which could affect portability.
On the other hand, the HP EliteBook 845 G9 is considered more of a business-class laptop that focuses on a balance between performance and portability. It's likely more affordable, lighter, and offers decent battery life, making it suitable for general purpose use, business applications, and on-the-go productivity.
Therefore, if performance for high-end tasks is your top priority and you're willing to invest more, the Dell Alienware x14 R1 is the recommendable choice. If you're looking for a cost-effective laptop that's easier to carry around and still offers good performance for everyday tasks, the HP EliteBook 845 G9 may be a better fit. Always consider your primary usage scenarios and budget when making your final decision. 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 x14 R1
Very good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Advantages of the HP EliteBook 845 G9
Very good battery life
Key differences
Gaming and AI
7.6/10
6.3/10
7.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.0/10
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 is good for gaming and AI, while the HP EliteBook 845 G9 is only fair.
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 has a significantly better GPU with the Nvidia RTX 3060, and a higher screen refresh rate, ideal for gaming and 3D applications, providing smoother visuals and better performance. On the other hand, the HP EliteBook 845 G9 has a less powerful GPU, the AMD Radeon 660M, and a lower refresh rate, which may result in less fluid graphics and reduced performance in gaming and 3D scenarios.
Engineering and Design
8.2/10
7.2/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.3/10
7.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 is very good for engineering and design, while the HP EliteBook 845 G9 is good.
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 boasts a high-performance CPU and GPU combination which excels in demanding engineering and design applications, along with a high-refresh-rate screen that provides smoother visuals. In contrast, the HP EliteBook 845 G9 offers a balance between capability and portability with a solid CPU and adequate GPU, along with a higher resolution display which benefits detailed work but may not be as powerful for intensive graphics tasks.
Screen Quality
7.9/10
7.1/10
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
411.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
402.0 nits
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 has a better screen than the HP EliteBook 845 G9 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, and content creation.
When choosing between the Dell Alienware x14 R1 and the HP EliteBook 845 G9 for general use, both have displays with good resolution and brightness, making text crisp and visuals clear, important for tasks like web browsing and document editing. For engineering and design, both laptops offer screens with sufficient color coverage to produce accurate and vivid representations necessary for detailed and color-critical work. However, for gaming and 3D applications, their screens fall short due to lower refresh rates, leading to less fluid motion and a less immersive experience compared to laptops with screens designed for high-refresh-rate gaming.
Battery
9.0 Hours
12.0 Hours
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 has 9 hours of battery life. The HP EliteBook 845 G9 has 12 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.
Cost
$1,201
$740
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 has a price of $1,201 and the HP EliteBook 845 G9 costs $740.
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 and HP EliteBook 845 G9 are both good for general use.
The Dell Alienware x14 R1's robust Intel i7 processor, combined with an Nvidia RTX graphics card, makes it exceptionally capable for general use, and its high screen refresh rate alongside quality battery life supports both work and play. The HP EliteBook 845 G9, while lighter and with longer battery life, offers solid performance with its AMD Ryzen 5 processor and AMD Radeon graphics, and its keyboard and build quality ensure a reliable and comfortable experience for everyday tasks.
Content Creation
7.9/10
7.6/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.3/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 and HP EliteBook 845 G9 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
7.7/10
7.7/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 and HP EliteBook 845 G9 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.
Portability
Very Good
Very Good
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
4.0 lbs
WEIGHT
3.0 lbs
0.5in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The HP EliteBook 845 G9 and Dell Alienware x14 R1 both have very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5/10
8.0/10
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 and HP EliteBook 845 G9 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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How the Dell Alienware x14 R1 and the HP EliteBook 845 G9 compare to other laptops
"The Alienware X14 series is thinner, but also slower than the competition. With the X series, you get plenty of modern technology: Intel Alder Lake CPUs, GeForce RTX 3000 GPUs, Thunderbolt 4, PCIe 4.0, Wi-Fi 6E, G-Sync, and Advanced Optimus. However, the slim design has some drawbacks, just like its larger siblings. The shifted hinge position results in a very deep device with a large footprint compared to the competition."
"The high-end version of the HP EliteBook 845 G9 with a Ryzen 9 PRO 6950HS, 32GB of RAM and a 1 TB SSD packs a lot of power, but is still quiet and cool enough to operate in noise-sensitive environments. Quiet, cool and drawing on a massive 40 watts from the APU at the same time, however, is not possible. The 14-incher only has a single-fan solution and it only just manages to keep an near unthrottled Ryzen 9 in check."
Get a great deal on the Dell Alienware x14 R1 or the HP EliteBook 845 G9
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 HP
HP, also known as Hewlett-Packard, is an American technology company that develops personal computers and computer peripherals. In the laptop industry, HP is known for its entry level Essential series laptops, its mid-range Pavilion, Envy, and Victus series, and high-end Omen and Spectre series, in addition to its business-oriented EliteBook, ProBook, and Dragonfly series laptops. HP laptops generally undercut other mainstream competitors in terms of price, placing itself as the value-oriented mainstream brand.
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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