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What we think
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Updated January 16, 2024·
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 offers higher performance for intensive tasks, like gaming or engineering software, due to its more powerful hardware. It's larger, heavier, and has a larger screen, but this also means it's less portable than the MSI Stealth 14 Studio. The MSI, while more affordable and portable with a smaller, lighter design, offers sufficient performance for general use and less demanding 3D tasks. The Alienware has a better battery capacity, which could translate to longer usage times, but keep in mind its high-performance components may negate this advantage. Ultimately, if high-end gaming or heavy-duty applications are your priority and budget is not a constraint, the Alienware might suit you. However, if you prefer something more affordable, lighter, and more suitable for everyday tasks, with decent performance for light gaming or 3D work, the MSI should be your choice. 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
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Stealth 14 Studio
- Good portability
Key differences
Gaming and AI
8.9
7.8
9.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.1/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
480Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 is very good for gaming and AI, while the MSI Stealth 14 Studio is good.
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 outperforms in gaming and 3D tasks with a higher screen refresh rate and a stronger GPU, providing smoother visuals and better handling of complex graphics. Conversely, the MSI Stealth 14 Studio, while still very capable with a competent GPU and decent refresh rate, trades some graphics performance for increased portability and better battery life.
Engineering and Design
9.1
8.5
9.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
9.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.1/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 is excellent for engineering and design, while the MSI Stealth 14 Studio is very good.
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 stands out for engineering and design due to its high-performing CPU, abundant RAM, and powerful GPU, along with a large, bright display that offers excellent color coverage, meeting the demanding needs of such professionals. The MSI Stealth 14 Studio, while also great for such tasks with a strong CPU and GPU, offers a smaller, sharper screen with good color accuracy, and improved portability due to its lighter weight and longer battery life, but has less RAM which could limit performance under heavy multitasking.
Screen Quality
8.5
7.6
17.3in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
480Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
367.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
300.0 nits
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 has a better screen than the MSI Stealth 14 Studio for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 offers high resolution and brightness, along with premium panel technology, making it great for clarity and detail in general use and engineering tasks where color accuracy is crucial. However, its lower refresh rate compared to dedicated gaming laptops can hinder the smoothness of fast-paced 3D games. The MSI Stealth 14 Studio, while offering good resolution and brightness for everyday tasks and sufficient color gamut for most design work, also falls short for gaming and 3D applications due to a less optimal refresh rate.
Battery
2.0 Hours
5.0 Hours
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 has 2 hours of battery life. The MSI Stealth 14 Studio 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
Fair
Good
17.3in
SIZE
14.0in
6.8 lbs
WEIGHT
3.7 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio 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
7.6
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 has very good build quality, while the MSI Stealth 14 Studio has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$2,000
$1,520
$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 Stealth 14 Studio costs $1,520.
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Key similarities
General Use
8.2
7.8
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
367.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
300.0 nits
2.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
5.0 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
6.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.8/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Alienware X17 R2 to be very good for general use, while the MSI Stealth 14 Studio is good.
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 offers a larger screen, more RAM, and a more powerful CPU which is why it's very good for general use, however, it's heavier and less portable unlike the MSI Stealth 14 Studio that is lighter and easier to carry around, but has less RAM and a slightly less robust CPU, making it good for general use.
Content Creation
8.3
7.9
9.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Alienware X17 R2 to be very good for content creation, while the MSI Stealth 14 Studio 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
7.4
9.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 and MSI Stealth 14 Studio 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.
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How the Dell Alienware X17 R2 and the MSI Stealth 14 Studio compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Alienware X17 R2 | MSI Stealth 14 Studio |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$2,000 | $1,520 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | December 1, 2021 | February 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 15.7'' x 11.8'' x 0.82'' | 12.4'' x 9.7'' x 0.75'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 6.82 lbs | 3.75 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 15.72" | 12.4" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 11.79" | 9.69" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i9-12900HK | Intel i7-13620H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 32 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 2 Hours | 5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 87 Wh | 72 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 17.3" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1200 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 480Hz | 165Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 367 nits | 300 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.1/10 | 7.9/10 | |
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 | 8.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 9.5/10 | 9.5/10 | |
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 | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 4 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | 4 | |
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 Stealth 14 Studio
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Francisco Lahoz | June 2023
"You'll find a versatility in the MSI Stealth 14 Studio that isn’t matched by many content-creator laptops we've tested of late. The small frame allows you to (potentially) work from anywhere with an outlet and, if noise isn’t a concern, run your most demanding of programs, thanks to some powerful hardware inside. The MSI Stealth 14 Studio is an attractive and powerful option if you want a portable laptop to be the center of your content work setup."
Get a great deal on the Dell Alienware X17 R2 or the MSI Stealth 14 Studio
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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