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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 is significantly higher-priced than the MSI GF65 Thin and offers more storage, higher RAM, a more powerful main processor, and GPU, making it suitable for intensive gaming and demanding engineering tasks. However, it's heavier and has a lower portability score, meaning it's not as easy to carry around as the lighter MSI GF65 Thin. The MSI, while more affordable and portable with a better battery life for typical usage, has less storage and RAM, a less powerful processor, and GPU, making it less suited for high-end gaming or complex engineering applications. If budget and portability are important, choose the MSI; if performance is the priority, go for the Dell. 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
- Good for software development
- 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 MSI GF65 Thin
- Good portability
Key differences
General Use
8.2
6.5
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
367.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
2.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.5 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
6.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 is very good for general use, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 is superior in general use due to its more powerful CPU and greater RAM, contributing to faster performance and better multitasking, while its larger screen with better color coverage ensures higher quality visuals. In contrast, the MSI GF65 Thin, with its modest CPU and less RAM, provides slower performance and is less suited for demanding tasks; however, it is more portable and has a longer battery life, making it more suitable for on-the-go use.
Gaming and AI
8.9
6.8
9.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.1/10
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 MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 surpasses the MSI GF65 Thin in gaming and 3D performance largely due to its superior Nvidia RTX 3080 Ti GPU and a screen with a higher refresh rate of 480 Hz, compared to the MSI's Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU and a 144 Hz screen. While the Alienware's CPU and screen quality also contribute to a better experience, the major improvements in GPU power and refresh rate account for its higher suitability for demanding gaming and 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
9.1
6.7
9.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
9.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.1/10
32.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 is excellent for engineering and design, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 outperforms the MSI GF65 Thin for engineering and design due to superior CPU, RAM, and GPU offerings, along with a higher quality screen that has better brightness and color coverage, which are very important for such tasks. However, the Alienware X17 R2 is less portable, heavier, and has a lower battery life compared to the lighter and more portable MSI GF65 Thin, which also includes good keyboard and speaker quality, factors that are somewhat important for usability and multimedia experiences.
Content Creation
8.3
6.8
9.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
32.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 is very good for content creation, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.
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
6.3
9.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
32.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 is good for software development, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.
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
6.8
17.3in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
480Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
367.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 has a better screen than the MSI GF65 Thin for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
If you prioritize clear, sharp text and images for activities like browsing and document editing, the Dell Alienware's superior resolution and brightness make it suitable for general use. For professional tasks like CAD and digital art, where accurate color reproduction is crucial, this laptop's wide color gamuts are essential, giving an edge to the Alienware. However, for a fluid gaming or 3D rendering experience, a high refresh rate is key, and since the Alienware lacks in this aspect compared to other gaming-focused laptops, it falls short for those specific needs.
Battery
2.0 Hours
4.5 Hours
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 has 2 hours of battery life. The MSI GF65 Thin 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.
Portability
Fair
Good
17.3in
SIZE
15.6in
6.8 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The MSI GF65 Thin has good portability, while the Dell Alienware X17 R2 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5
6.7
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 has very good build quality, while the MSI GF65 Thin has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$2,000
$1,100
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 has a price of $2,000 and the MSI GF65 Thin costs $1,100.
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How the Dell Alienware X17 R2 and the MSI GF65 Thin compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Alienware X17 R2 | MSI GF65 Thin |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$2,000 | $1,100 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | December 1, 2021 | January 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 15.7'' x 11.8'' x 0.82'' | 14.1'' x 10'' x 0.85'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 6.82 lbs | 4.1 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 15.72" | 14.13" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 11.79" | 9.99" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i9-12900HK | Intel i5-10500H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 32 GB | 8 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 | 51 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 17.3" | 15.6" | |
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 | 262 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.1/10 | 7.4/10 | |
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 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 9.5/10 | 6.8/10 | |
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 | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 4 | 1 | |
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."
MSI GF65 Thin
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Allen Ngo | March 2021
"The MSI GF65 Thin offers a GeForce RTX 3060 on a budget. The MSI GF65 is a relatively inexpensive RTX 3060 laptop and, perhaps not coincidentally, it also comes with a slower-than-average RTX 3060 GPU. Other laptops we've tested thus far with the same GPU are about 10 to 15 percent faster. CPU performance is also slightly slower than average unless if users decide to enable Cooler Boost mode. Colors, black-white response times, Thunderbolt, and DisplayPort are either average or completely omitted. Gamers who want to maximize performance-per-dollar without sacrificing RAM or SSD upgradeability will find the lightweight MSI GF65 attractive."
Get a great deal on the Dell Alienware X17 R2 or the MSI GF65 Thin
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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