Dell Inspiron 15 3520 vs MSI GE66 Raider

The MSI GE66 Raider offers a significantly more powerful CPU, more RAM, and a higher quality screen which contributes to its very good rating for general use, whereas the Dell Inspiron 15 3520, with its less powerful CPU, less RAM, and lower quality screen, is considered fair for general use. The Raider is less portable and has a shorter battery life than the Inspiron, but its superior performance and screen quality may justify the trade-offs for users who prioritize these aspects.

The MSI GE66 Raider excels in gaming and 3D applications due to its superior Nvidia RTX 3080 Ti GPU and higher screen refresh rate, which deliver more fluid and visually impactful experiences. On the other hand, the Dell Inspiron 15 3520, with its integrated Intel UHD Graphics and lower screen refresh rate, offers fair performance that may not be as smooth or detailed for gaming and 3D tasks.

The MSI GE66 Raider is excellent for engineering and design due to its high-end CPU, substantial RAM, and top-tier GPU, enhancing performance critical for these fields, paired with a superior screen quality for detailed visuals. In contrast, the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has a more modest CPU, less RAM, and integrated graphics, making it fair for engineering tasks; its screen is decent but doesn't match the MSI's, and while more portable, it comes with tradeoffs in power and display fidelity.

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.

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.

For general use, the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 may have adequate resolution and brightness, but it doesn't stand out, whereas the MSI GE66 Raider provides vivid, sharp visuals with its higher resolution and superior brightness, making it pleasant to use for everyday tasks. In the context of engineering and design, the MSI's wider color gamut ensures more accurate color representation, which is critical for detailed work, whereas the Dell's narrower color gamut may not deliver the same level of precision. When it comes to 3D tasks and gaming, the MSI GE66 Raider, despite its high-quality display, lacks a high refresh rate, impacting the smoothness and responsiveness that gamers typically require, an area where a laptop with a higher refresh rate display would excel.

PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.

Battery life estimate is based on a mix of common use patterns. More portable and higher performing laptops tend to have less battery life.