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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 is a premium choice for intensive gaming, with a larger screen, higher performance, and better cooling, but it is less portable and significantly more expensive than the MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo. The MSI is a more budget-friendly, versatile laptop with a smaller, touch-enabled screen, greater portability, and longer battery life, making it suitable for business use and general productivity. If your focus is on gaming or demanding engineering tasks, you might prefer the Dell, whereas if portability and saving money are priorities, and you do less resource-intensive tasks, consider the MSI. 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 MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo
- Very good portability
- Good battery life
Key differences
Gaming and AI
8.9
6.5
9.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
480Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.0/10
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 is very good for gaming and AI, while the MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo is only fair.
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 is equipped with a powerful Nvidia RTX 3080 Ti graphics card and a high screen refresh rate of 480Hz, making it highly suitable for gaming and 3D applications where fast and smooth visuals are critical. In contrast, the MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo uses a less capable integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics and offers a standard refresh rate of 60Hz, rendering it fair for such tasks due to lower graphical processing power and screen responsiveness.
Engineering and Design
9.1
7.7
9.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
9.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 is excellent for engineering and design, while the MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo is good.
The Dell Alienware X17 R2, with a top-tier Intel i9 processor, substantial RAM, and a high-powered Nvidia RTX 3080 Ti graphics card, is better suited for demanding engineering applications and design work that require intensive computation and graphics handling.
Screen Quality
8.5
7.7
17.3in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
480Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
367.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
468.0 nits
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 has a better screen than the MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo for gaming and AI, and content creation.
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 and MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo laptops likely have screens with high resolution and brightness, providing crisp, clear images for general tasks and detailed design work. Their panels probably cover a wide range of colors, meeting the needs of professionals in engineering and design who require accurate color reproduction. However, for gaming and 3D applications, their lower refresh rates may not deliver as smooth of a visual experience, making them less optimal for fast-paced interactive content.
Battery
2.0 Hours
7.0 Hours
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 has 2 hours of battery life. The MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo has 7 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
Very Good
17.3in
SIZE
14.0in
6.8 lbs
WEIGHT
3.6 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo has very 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
7.4
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 has very good build quality, while the MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$2,000
$1,599
$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 Summit E14 Flip Evo costs $1,599.
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Key similarities
General Use
8.2
7.8
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
367.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
468.0 nits
2.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.0 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
6.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.4/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Alienware X17 R2 to be very good for general use, while the MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo is good.
PerfectRec’s General Use Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for general productivity, web browsing, streaming, video calls, and running a wide variety of apps and programs.
Content Creation
8.3
7.8
9.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
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 Summit E14 Flip Evo 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
7.7
9.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 and MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo 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 Summit E14 Flip Evo compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Alienware X17 R2 | MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$2,000 | $1,599 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | December 1, 2021 | January 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 15.7'' x 11.8'' x 0.82'' | 12.6'' x 8.6'' x 0.63'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 6.82 lbs | 3.61 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 15.72" | 12.56" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 11.79" | 8.62" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i9-12900HK | Intel i7-1260P | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 32 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 2 Hours | 7 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 | 2880 x 1800 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 480Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 367 nits | 468 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.1/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7/10 | 6/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 9.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | Yes | |
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 Summit E14 Flip Evo
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Allen Ngo | July 2022
"The MSI Summit E14 Flip convertible review: a legit alternative to HP, Dell or Lenovo. Instead of taking the 13-inch Summit E13 Flip and simply enlarging it for a 14-inch form factor, the Summit E14 Flip is the full chassis redesign we've been looking for. It loses some of the golden trims of its smaller sibling, but the gains in rigidity and build quality are arguably worth it especially from a professional standpoint where reliability takes priority. It doesn't quite feel as strong as the HP Spectre just yet, but it's certainly getting close."
Get a great deal on the Dell Alienware X17 R2 or the MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo
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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Why trust us
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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