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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 is often slightly less expensive and more portable, suiting those who frequently travel or move around. It features a 14-inch screen, making it more compact, and has an excellent build quality and keyboard. Conversely, the MSI GP66 Leopard, while slightly more expensive and heavier, offers a larger 15.6-inch display and superior graphics performance due to a more powerful GPU, making it a better fit for intense gaming and demanding engineering tasks. 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
- Very good portability
- Good battery life
Advantages of the MSI GP66 Leopard
- The MSI GP66 Leopard has no clear advantages over the Dell Alienware x14 R1.
Key differences
Software Development
7.7
7.2
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 and MSI GP66 Leopard are both good for software development, though the Dell Alienware x14 R1 is somewhat better.
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
7.9
7.5
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
411.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
362.0 nits
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 has a better screen than the MSI GP66 Leopard for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
If you prioritize vibrant colors and sharp images for everyday tasks or professional design work, both the Dell Alienware x14 R1 and the MSI GP66 Leopard with their high resolution and bright displays will serve you well. These laptops cover a wide range of color spectrums, making them suitable for precision work in engineering and design that demands accuracy in color representation. However, for immersive gaming or working with 3D applications, you may find the lower refresh rates on these models less than ideal, as they won't be as smooth as screens designed specifically for this purpose.
Battery
9.0 Hours
5.0 Hours
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 has 9 hours of battery life. The MSI GP66 Leopard has 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
Very Good
Fair
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
4.0 lbs
WEIGHT
5.2 lbs
0.5in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 has very good portability, while the MSI GP66 Leopard has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,201
$1,400
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 has a price of $1,201 and the MSI GP66 Leopard costs $1,400.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.8
7.5
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
411.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
362.0 nits
9.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
5.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
8.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.8/10
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 and MSI GP66 Leopard are both good for general use.
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 offers a balance of high-quality CPU and GPU for smooth general use, sizeable RAM and storage, a bright and color-rich screen, and impressive battery life, all in a compact and light form factor, making it very portable. The MSI GP66 Leopard also has a powerful CPU and higher-end GPU with comparable RAM and storage, and a quality screen but trades off portability and battery life for better performance, making it slightly less suited for on-the-go use but excellent for stationary, power-intensive needs.
Gaming and AI
7.6
7.8
7.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.7/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The MSI GP66 Leopard and Dell Alienware x14 R1 are both good for gaming and AI.
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 offers a robust gaming experience with its Nvidia RTX 3060 graphics card and a 144Hz screen refresh rate, ensuring smooth visuals for 3D applications and gaming. In contrast, the MSI GP66 Leopard boasts an even more powerful Nvidia RTX 3080 GPU coupled with the same screen refresh rate, making it exceptionally suited for demanding gaming and 3D tasks despite the slightly lower CPU performance when compared to the Alienware.
Engineering and Design
8.2
7.9
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
7.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Alienware x14 R1 to be very good for engineering and design, while the MSI GP66 Leopard is good.
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 outshines the MSI GP66 Leopard for engineering and design primarily due to its better screen quality, which includes higher brightness and color coverage, crucial for detailed visual work. While the MSI has a stronger GPU, which benefits computational tasks, the advanced central processing unit in the Alienware compensates for engineering software needs, along with its more portable and less noisy design.
Content Creation
7.9
7.4
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 and MSI GP66 Leopard 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.
Build Quality
8.5
8.0
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 and MSI GP66 Leopard 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 MSI GP66 Leopard compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Alienware x14 R1 | MSI GP66 Leopard |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,201 | $1,400 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | August 1, 2022 | May 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.7'' x 10.3'' x 0.57'' | 14.1'' x 10.5'' x 0.92'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.06 lbs | 5.25 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.66" | 14.09" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.34" | 10.51" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-12700H | Intel i7-11800H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 9 Hours | 5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 80 Wh | 65 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 144Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 411 nits | 362 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.1/10 | 6.9/10 | |
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 | 8/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 1 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 3 | 0 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 4 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
Shopping
Dell Alienware x14 R1
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | March 2022
"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."
MSI GP66 Leopard
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Christian Hintze | December 2021
"The MSI GP66 Leopard is a good budget high-performance gamer. The MSI also does a lot right outside of the pure performance despite it's low price. For example, the adaptive cooling system really surprised us positively, even in Extreme Performance Mode. And the display is not a budget panel either, but at least outshines the competition in terms of brightness. Of course, you also have to accept a few compromises in this price category. These include the Leopard's poor battery runtimes and the less than optimal build quality, which is also noticeable in the more complicated maintenance."
Get a great deal on the Dell Alienware x14 R1 or the MSI GP66 Leopard
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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