If affordability is a priority and your tasks are mostly everyday computing like web browsing, the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 may better suit your needs as it offers a balance of performance and value. On the other hand, the Razer Blade 17, while more expensive, is tailored for high-end gaming, professional creative work, and other performance-intensive tasks with its superior graphics and processing power. It's also built with a focus on portability, with a slim design despite its powerful components, but its high-performance hardware may lead to shorter battery life compared to the Dell. Consider how the difference in cost aligns with your need for advanced features versus basic functionality. 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 15 3511
Good portability
Good battery life
Advantages of the Razer Blade 17
Very good for general use
Excellent for engineering and design
Very good for gaming and AI
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Excellent speakers
Excellent keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.6/10
8.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
230.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
486.0 nits
6.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
5.5 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
7.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.7/10
The Razer Blade 17 is very good for general use, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 is good.
The Razer Blade 17 offers superior CPU performance and screen quality with a better GPU for intense tasks, which enhances its rating for general use despite being less portable and having shorter battery life compared to the Dell Inspiron 15 3511, which is lighter and offers longer usage times but with lower screen quality and CPU performance, making it more suited for lightweight tasks and on-the-go users who prioritize battery life and portability over raw power. Additionally, while both have ample storage and RAM, the Razer Blade 17's higher-rated keyboard and speaker quality contribute to its overall better suitability for a wider range of general use scenarios.
Gaming and AI
6.2/10
8.6/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.2/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.2/10
The Razer Blade 17 is very good for gaming and AI, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 is only fair.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Engineering and Design
7.0/10
9.1/10
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.2/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.2/10
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The Razer Blade 17 is excellent for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 is good.
The Razer Blade 17 offers superior performance for engineering and design tasks with its more advanced Intel i9 CPU and Nvidia RTX GPU, coupled with a high-resolution screen that offers better clarity and color accuracy than the Dell Inspiron 15 3511's. While both have ample RAM, the Dell Inspiron boasts better portability due to its lighter weight and longer battery life, but the Razer also has a higher-quality keyboard and less operating noise, making for a more premium experience overall.
Content Creation
7.5/10
8.5/10
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.2/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Razer Blade 17 is very good for content creation, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 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
7.3/10
8.5/10
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.2/10
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Razer Blade 17 is very good for software development, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 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
6.0/10
8.6/10
15.6in
SIZE
17.3in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
230.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
486.0 nits
The Razer Blade 17 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
When choosing between the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 and the Razer Blade 17, consider that the Dell's screen may be adequate for browsing and video streaming, but the Razer offers a superior display with sharper images and more vibrant colors, beneficial for tasks like photo editing or graphic design. However, for intense gaming or 3D modeling, both laptops fall short due to their lower refresh rates, which are crucial for smooth motion and renderings. Despite this, the Razer's overall higher screen quality may provide a better viewing experience across more applications, but it typically comes at a higher price than the Dell.
Portability
Good
Fair
15.6in
SIZE
17.3in
3.7 lbs
WEIGHT
6.0 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 has good portability, while the Razer Blade 17 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.2/10
8.5/10
The Razer Blade 17 has very good build quality, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$560
$4,300
$0
$1,000
$2,000
$3,000
$4,000
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 has a price of $560 and the Razer Blade 17 costs $4,300.
"The Dell Inspiron 15 3000 (3511) is a solid, if unremarkable, 15-inch budget laptop. It improves on many of the issues we had with the previous 3505 model, and with the inclusion of Windows 11, the 3511 is already a step above its competition. The lack of a USB-C port, the subpar speakers, and the dim display are drawbacks to factor in, but it's still one of the better 15-inch budget laptops on the market, especially when you consider it's under $400."
"Our test configuration of the Blade 17 targets gamers and creative professionals. A Core i9-12900H processor, GeForce RTX 3080 Ti Laptop GPU (175 watts TGP after the BIOS update, 16 GB of VRAM), and 32 GB of working memory equip the laptop for video processing, rending, and 4k gaming at the highest level. In addition, a fast PCIe-4 SSD (1 TB) ensures short load and storage times. With the Blade 17 (Early 2022), Razer delivers a successful and powerful work device for creative professionals. But this also has its price."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 or the Razer Blade 17
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 Razer
Razer is an American-Singaporean technology company. Razer is best known for their Blade series laptops, well known for their strong performance and sleek design. Although Razer charges a premium price tag for their laptops, buyers can expect a stealthy laptop with clean fit and finish and strong performance. All of their models offer great portability and build quality compared to other gaming laptops.
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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