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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 offers stronger performance for 3D rendering, engineering, and gaming, with a significantly higher price tag, larger storage and RAM, and a higher-end CPU and GPU compared to the Gigabyte A7. However, it's less portable due to its weight and shorter battery life. The Gigabyte A7 provides reasonable performance for general use and is more affordable, lighter, and has better battery life, making it more suitable for those who prioritize portability and cost over top-tier performance. Both have large screens and non-touch IPS displays, but the Alienware has a higher brightness and color coverage, which can be better for visual 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 X17 R2
- Very good for general use
- Excellent for engineering and design
- Very good for gaming and AI
- Very good for content creation
- Very good overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
- Best in class speakers
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the Gigabyte A7
- The Gigabyte A7 has no clear advantages over the Dell Alienware X17 R2.
Key differences
General Use
8.2
7.3
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
367.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
318.0 nits
2.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.5 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
6.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.0/10
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 is very good for general use, while the Gigabyte A7 is good.
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 is ranked very good for general use due to its powerful CPU, abundant RAM, and high screen quality which offer a smooth user experience, although it may be hindered by its heft and lower battery life compared to lighter options.
Gaming and AI
8.9
7.3
9.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.3/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
480Hz
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 X17 R2 is very good for gaming and AI, while the Gigabyte A7 is good.
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 is superior for gaming and 3D applications due to its more powerful Nvidia RTX 3080 Ti graphics card and a higher screen refresh rate of 480Hz, compared to the Gigabyte A7's Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU and 144Hz screen refresh rate. While both laptops have similar screen sizes and resolutions, the Alienware's GPU and refresh rate enhancements provide smoother and more responsive visuals crucial for gaming and 3D rendering.
Engineering and Design
9.1
7.6
9.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
9.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.3/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 is excellent for engineering and design, while the Gigabyte A7 is good.
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 stands out for engineering and design use with its superior Intel i9 CPU, double the RAM, and a more powerful Nvidia RTX 3080 Ti GPU, which contribute to faster processing, smoother multitasking, and better handling of complex graphics tasks, along with a higher screen quality that benefits detail-oriented work. The Gigabyte A7, while also capable with an AMD Ryzen 7 CPU and Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU, offers less RAM and a less potent GPU, which might limit performance in very demanding applications, and its screen shows lower color accuracy and brightness; however, it is lighter and offers better battery life, making it more suitable for on-the-go work.
Content Creation
8.3
7.3
9.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 is very good for content creation, while the Gigabyte A7 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
7.8
7.0
9.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 and Gigabyte A7 are both good for software development, though the Dell Alienware X17 R2 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
8.5
7.3
17.3in
SIZE
17.3in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
480Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
367.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
318.0 nits
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 has a better screen than the Gigabyte A7 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
When considering general use, the Dell Alienware X17 R2's better resolution and brightness offer clearer and more vibrant visuals, which enhances day-to-day tasks like browsing and watching videos. For engineering and design, the Alienware's wider color gamuts provide more accurate color representation, crucial for tasks that demand color precision. However, for gaming and 3D applications where the refresh rate is a priority for smooth motion, the lower refresh rate of the Alienware's display is less optimal compared to panels with higher refresh rates that can provide a more fluid experience.
Battery
2.0 Hours
4.5 Hours
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 has 2 hours of battery life. The Gigabyte A7 has 4.5 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.
Build Quality
8.5
7.2
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 has very good build quality, while the Gigabyte A7 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$2,000
$940
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 has a price of $2,000 and the Gigabyte A7 costs $940.
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Key similarities
Portability
Fair
Fair
17.3in
SIZE
17.3in
6.8 lbs
WEIGHT
5.5 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
1.1in
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 and Gigabyte A7 both have only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Dell Alienware X17 R2 and the Gigabyte A7 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Alienware X17 R2 | Gigabyte A7 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$2,000 | $940 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | December 1, 2021 | February 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 15.7'' x 11.8'' x 0.82'' | 15.6'' x 10.3'' x 1.19'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 6.82 lbs | 5.58 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 15.72" | 15.59" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 11.79" | 10.31" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i9-12900HK | AMD Ryzen 7 5800H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 32 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 2 Hours | 4.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 87 Wh | 49 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 17.3" | 17.3" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 480Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 367 nits | 318 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.1/10 | 6/10 | |
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 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 9.5/10 | 8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
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 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 4 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
Shopping
Dell Alienware X17 R2
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Allen Ngo | May 2022
"The Alienware x17 R2 recognizes targets a significantly higher TGP of 175 W for a roughly 30 percent performance boost over laptops running on the ~100 W GeForce RTX 3080 Ti like the Razer Blade 15 or Gigabyte Aero YE5. Similar results can be found through the CPU as well. This single aspect of the Alienware is perhaps the biggest differentiating factor between it and other ultrathin gaming laptops. Of course, the "performance at all cost" approach comes with drawbacks. Power consumption in particular is through the roof and battery life suffers because of it even when on the lowest performance settings."
Gigabyte A7
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Mike Wobker | October 2021
"In terms of looks, the Gigabyte A7 X1 is certainly not a trendy, slim, and ultra-mobile gaming laptop. But it does what it's supposed to do, namely bringing games smoothly onto the screen, very well. Both the processor and the GeForce RTX 3070 are able to unleash their performance without restrictions thanks to the well-ventilated case. The Gigabyte A7 X1 brings modern games smoothly onto the screen and offers excellent maintenance options."
Get a great deal on the Dell Alienware X17 R2 or the Gigabyte A7
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.
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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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About the laptop team
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