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What we think
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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 offers a superior processor and a more powerful graphics unit compared to the MSI Vector GP76, making it more suitable for intensive gaming and demanding engineering tasks. Be aware, though, the Alienware is less portable due to its slightly larger size and heavier build. The MSI, on the other hand, boasts a longer battery life and a slightly more portable design, which may benefit users who prioritize mobility and general use over raw performance. Both laptops have similar storage capacity and RAM, suitable display sizes, and are within a similar price range. If your preference leans towards top-tier gaming and high-performance tasks, the Alienware is the better choice, while the MSI is more suited for users seeking a balance between performance and portability.. 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
- Excellent for engineering and design
- Very good overall display quality
- Best in class speakers
Advantages of the MSI Vector GP76
- The MSI Vector GP76 has no clear advantages over the Dell Alienware X17 R2.
Key differences
Screen Quality
8.5
7.9
17.3in
SIZE
17.3in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
480Hz
REFRESH RATE
360Hz
367.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
264.0 nits
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 has a better screen than the MSI Vector GP76 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, and content creation.
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 likely offers a high-resolution display with excellent brightness and panel quality, making it great for general use and engineering tasks where color accuracy and detail are crucial, but it falls short in gaming and 3D due to a lower refresh rate which is key for smooth motion. The MSI Vector GP76 probably provides a good balance between resolution and panel quality for everyday tasks and engineering work, ensuring decent color representation, but like the Alienware, it might not have a high enough refresh rate to satisfy the needs of fast-paced gaming or 3D rendering. For both laptops, it seems that trade-offs have been made to prioritize display characteristics that benefit professional use over the high refresh rates which are critical for the best gaming and 3D experiences.
Battery
2.0 Hours
4.0 Hours
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 has 2 hours of battery life. The MSI Vector GP76 has 4 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.
Cost
$2,000
$1,760
$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 Vector GP76 costs $1,760.
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Key similarities
General Use
8.2
8.0
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
367.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
264.0 nits
2.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.0 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
6.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
5.8/10
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 and MSI Vector GP76 are both very good for general use.
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 offers superior performance and screen quality with its high-powered CPU and GPU, large screen with high brightness and color accuracy, but is less portable and has a shorter battery life than some competitors. The MSI Vector GP76 also delivers great performance for general use with solid processing power and RAM, but excels in portability with a slightly lighter frame and longer battery life, though falls behind on screen brightness and color range. Both have high-quality keyboards and manage heat well, balancing power and user experience.
Gaming and AI
8.9
8.4
9.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
480Hz
REFRESH RATE
360Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 and MSI Vector GP76 are both very good for gaming and AI.
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 stands out in gaming and 3D applications due to its superior GPU, the Nvidia RTX 3080 Ti, and a very high screen refresh rate of 480Hz, while the MSI Vector GP76, with a powerful but slightly lesser GPU, the Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti, offers a commendable screen refresh rate of 360Hz. Although both have high-quality IPS displays and capable CPUs, the Dell's exceptional refresh rate and GPU provide smoother visuals and better performance for gaming and 3D tasks.
Engineering and Design
9.1
8.7
9.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
9.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.8/10
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Alienware X17 R2 to be excellent for engineering and design, while the MSI Vector GP76 is very good.
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 stands out for engineering and design due to its high-end CPU, abundant RAM, and powerful GPU combined with a superior screen quality, including high brightness and color accuracy. Conversely, the MSI Vector GP76, while similar in RAM and screen size, has a marginally less powerful CPU and GPU, which could affect performance in demanding applications, despite its better portability and longer battery life.
Content Creation
8.3
8.0
9.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 and MSI Vector GP76 are both very 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.
Software Development
7.8
7.6
9.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 and MSI Vector GP76 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.
Portability
Fair
Poor
17.3in
SIZE
17.3in
6.8 lbs
WEIGHT
6.3 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
1.0in
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Alienware X17 R2 to have only fair portability, while the MSI Vector GP76 has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5
8.0
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 and MSI Vector GP76 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 X17 R2 and the MSI Vector GP76 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Alienware X17 R2 | MSI Vector GP76 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$2,000 | $1,760 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | December 1, 2021 | May 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 15.7'' x 11.8'' x 0.82'' | 15.6'' x 11.2'' x 1.02'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 6.82 lbs | 6.39 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 15.72" | 15.63" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 11.79" | 11.18" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i9-12900HK | Intel i7-12700H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 32 GB | 32 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 2 Hours | 4 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 87 Wh | 65 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 | 360Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 367 nits | 264 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.1/10 | 5.9/10 | |
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 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 9.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | 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."
MSI Vector GP76
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Marvin Gollor | May 2022
"The MSI Vector GP76 12UGS is a gaming laptop on speed. The advantages are clear: The Vector GP76 is a real gamer with its 360 Hz display and super-fast response times. In addition, the Core i7-12700H has double the power of the CPU in its predecessor and another highlight is the Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti with a real power consumption of 150 watts. This places the device in the top range of our database. The Vector can also operate rather quietly, offers a full sound range, improved battery runtimes, a key-configurable RGB keyboard, a very stable chassis and good upgrade options. Moreover, the display produces a nice, rich and clear picture."
Get a great deal on the Dell Alienware X17 R2 or the MSI Vector GP76
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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