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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize performance for tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, or engineering applications, and don't mind spending more, the MSI Titan GT77 is better equipped with a more powerful processor and graphics card. However, it's heavier and has a lower battery life, making it less portable. The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is less expensive and more portable with good battery life, making it suitable for general use and moderate multitasking, but it's not designed for the most intensive gaming or engineering tasks. The Dell offers a mid-range price and performance balance, whilst the MSI is a high-end option that's less portable but excels in demanding scenarios. 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 Inspiron 14 5420
- Very good portability
- Very good battery life
Advantages of the MSI Titan GT77
- Very good for general use
- Best in class for engineering and design
- Best in class for gaming and AI
- Excellent for software development
- Excellent for content creation
- Best in class overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
- Very good speakers
- Best in class keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.6
8.9
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
279.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
602.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
5.0 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
10.0/10
8.2/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
5.5/10
The MSI Titan GT77 is very good for general use, while the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is good.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 offers a good balance between portability and power with a moderate screen size and decent battery life, suited for users who prioritize mobility along with sufficient performance for everyday tasks. In contrast, the MSI Titan GT77 provides top-tier power and an exceptional screen, ideal for intensive tasks and entertainment, but its larger size, weight, and reduced battery life make it less convenient for frequent travelers.
Gaming and AI
6.4
10.0
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.8/10
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.7/10
The MSI Titan GT77 is best in class for gaming and AI, while the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is only fair.
The MSI Titan GT77 offers a significantly more powerful Nvidia RTX 4080 GPU and enjoys a higher screen refresh rate of 144 Hz, making it the superior choice for gaming and 3D tasks compared to the Dell Inspiron 14 5420, which has a less capable Nvidia MX570 GPU and a lower refresh rate of 60 Hz.
Engineering and Design
7.1
10.0
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
64.0 GB
The MSI Titan GT77 is best in class for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is good.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420, while suitable for engineering and design use with its decent processor, moderate RAM, and entry-level GPU, may struggle with very intensive tasks compared to the MSI Titan GT77, which boasts a more powerful processor, substantial RAM, and a high-end GPU that excels in demanding applications. However, the Titan's superior performance comes at a cost to portability and weight, making the Inspiron a more travel-friendly option with respectable performance for less demanding engineering work.
Content Creation
7.5
9.1
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
16.0 GB
RAM
64.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
The MSI Titan GT77 is excellent for content creation, while the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 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
7.4
9.1
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
64.0 GB
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
10.0/10
The MSI Titan GT77 is excellent for software development, while the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is good.
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
6.5
9.7
14.0in
SIZE
17.3in
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
279.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
602.0 nits
The MSI Titan GT77 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 offers a balance with decent resolution and brightness for everyday tasks, yet its color range and refresh rate are lacking for specialized activities like engineering design or high-end gaming. In contrast, the MSI Titan GT77 flaunts top-tier resolution and color accuracy, which benefits engineering and design software needs, but it falls short for gaming due to an inadequate refresh rate. While the Titan GT77 generally delivers a superior visual experience, gamers specifically might be disappointed when fast-paced visuals aren't as smooth as they prefer.
Battery
10.0 Hours
5.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has 10 hours of battery life. The MSI Titan GT77 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
Very Good
Poor
14.0in
SIZE
17.3in
3.4 lbs
WEIGHT
7.2 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has very good portability, while the MSI Titan GT77 has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.0
8.5
The MSI Titan GT77 has very good build quality, while the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$971
$6,975
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has a price of $971 and the MSI Titan GT77 costs $6,975.
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How the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and the MSI Titan GT77 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Inspiron 14 5420 | MSI Titan GT77 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$971 | $6,975 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | May 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.4'' x 9'' x 0.7'' | 15.6'' x 13'' x 0.91'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.4 lbs | 7.28 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.36" | 15.63" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.96" | 12.99" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-1255U | Intel i9-13980HX | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 64 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 4 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 2048 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 10 Hours | 5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 54 Wh | 99.9 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 17.3" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | Mini LED | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2240 x 1400 | 3840 x 2160 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 279 nits | 602 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.3/10 | 5.6/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 6.5/10 | 6.8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 10/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 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 | 1 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 4 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | N/A | 4 | |
Shopping
Dell Inspiron 14 5420
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Dig into reviews and images
Smarthouse
Nick Ross | March 2023
"If laptops were food, then the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is arguably a Big Mac. There are cheaper and more expensive options, but this arguably represents the baseline of quality and value in the world of mobile computing… something that’s underlined by the attractive $1,279 price tag."
MSI Titan GT77
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | February 2023
"The MSI Titan GT77 HX 13V is the utimate gaming laptop with RTX 4090 & Core i9-13950HX. The new MSI Titan GT77 will most likely only reach a very small group of users due to the high price, but it is still an impressive showcase of what is possible. The high-end gamer combines the best components you can currently get in almost every regard and it is a very good overall package, which does not have to hide behind full-fledged desktop systems."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 or the MSI Titan GT77
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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