The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is generally less expensive and more portable with longer battery life, making it suitable for general use and moderate multitasking. Its smaller screen is sharper with higher resolution, and it’s lighter, which is advantageous if you travel often. In contrast, the MSI Vector GP76, while usually more expensive and heavier with shorter battery life, offers significantly higher performance for 3D rendering, machine learning, and engineering tasks due to its more powerful processor and graphics card. It has a larger screen with a higher refresh rate, ideal for gaming and fast-paced visuals. The MSI also includes features like RGB keyboard lighting and a bigger storage capacity. Consider the Dell for cost-effectiveness and portability or the MSI for high-end performance and gaming. 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 Vector GP76
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for gaming and AI
Very good for content creation
Good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Very good keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.4/10
8.4/10
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.8/10
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
360Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The MSI Vector GP76 is very good for gaming and AI, while the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is only fair.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has a less powerful GPU, the Nvidia MX570, and a lower screen refresh rate of 60Hz, which can limit gaming and 3D performance. In contrast, the MSI Vector GP76 is equipped with a higher-end GPU, the Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti, and a much higher screen refresh rate of 360Hz, offering much smoother and more detailed visual experiences for gaming and 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
7.1/10
8.7/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Vector GP76 is very good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is good.
PerfectRec’s Engineering and Design Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for graphic design and 3D rendering work.
Content Creation
7.5/10
8.0/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Vector GP76 is very good 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.
Screen Quality
6.5/10
7.9/10
14.0in
SIZE
17.3in
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
360Hz
279.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
264.0 nits
The MSI Vector GP76 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 display with adequate resolution and brightness for everyday tasks but lacks the wider color gamut needed for precision in engineering and design, and its modest refresh rate doesn't suit the high demands of 3D applications. The MSI Vector GP76's screen provides crisp images and good color coverage which benefits engineers and designers, but like the Dell, falls short in refresh rate for the smooth visuals required in gaming and 3D work. Both laptops, while suitable for general use and professional tasks, won't provide the optimal experience for gaming due to their limited screen refresh capabilities.
Battery
10.0 Hours
4.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has 10 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.
Portability
Very Good
Poor
14.0in
SIZE
17.3in
3.4 lbs
WEIGHT
6.3 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
1.0in
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has very good portability, while the MSI Vector GP76 has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.0/10
8.0/10
The MSI Vector GP76 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
$1,760
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has a price of $971 and the MSI Vector GP76 costs $1,760.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Vector GP76 to be very good for general use, while the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is good.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 boasts commendable portability and respectable battery life for routine tasks, reinforced by a reasonably powerful CPU and ample RAM, complemented by a high-resolution screen, but with less storage compared to higher-tier models. In contrast, the MSI Vector GP76 delivers robust performance with a top-tier CPU and ample RAM for more demanding applications, alongside a larger storage capacity and a superior speaker quality, but at the cost of significantly reduced battery life and portability, making it less convenient for on-the-go use.
Software Development
7.4/10
7.6/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The MSI Vector GP76 and Dell Inspiron 14 5420 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 Inspiron 14 5420 and the MSI Vector GP76 compare to other laptops
"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."
"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 Inspiron 14 5420 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.
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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