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What we think
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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is much less expensive, lighter, and has a long battery life, making it suitable for general use and portability. However, its performance for intensive tasks is limited due to its lower-end processor and integrated graphics. In contrast, the MSI Stealth GS66 is much more expensive and slightly heavier, but it offers a significantly more powerful processor and high-end graphics card, making it ideal for intensive gaming, 3D rendering, machine learning, and engineering tasks. The MSI also has a faster screen refresh rate, which is preferable for fast-paced gaming. Choose the Dell for cost efficiency and everyday use, or the MSI for high performance in demanding applications and games. 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 3520
- Good battery life
Advantages of the MSI Stealth GS66
- Good for general use
- Very good for engineering and design
- Good for gaming and AI
- Good for software development
- Very good overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
- Very good speakers
- Very good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
6.9
7.7
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
259.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
280.0 nits
6.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
5.5 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Stealth GS66 is good for general use, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is only fair.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is fair for general use due to its more basic Intel i3 CPU and 8GB of RAM, which offer adequate performance for everyday tasks, a moderate battery life, and a fairly lightweight design, making it portable and cost-effective. In contrast, the MSI Stealth GS66 is rated good for general use because it has a more powerful Intel i7 CPU and 16GB of RAM for superior performance, a higher quality screen and speakers, although it’s less portable due to a heavier build and has shorter battery life, reflecting its focus on high-end gaming capabilities.
Gaming and AI
6.0
7.8
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
360Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Stealth GS66 is good for gaming and AI, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is only fair.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520, with its basic Intel UHD Graphics, is less equipped for high-frame-rate gaming and 3D applications compared to the MSI Stealth GS66, which boasts a high-performance Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti and a significantly higher screen refresh rate, making it better suited for more demanding gaming and 3D tasks. The Stealth GS66 also has a more powerful CPU, contributing to its superior performance for such activities, although this difference will be less pronounced than that made by the GPU and screen specifications.
Engineering and Design
6.3
8.2
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.8/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Stealth GS66 is very good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is only fair.
The MSI Stealth GS66 is very good for engineering and design due to its more powerful Intel i7 processor, double the RAM size, and superior Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti graphics compared to the Dell Inspiron 15 3520's Intel i3 processor and integrated graphics, resulting in better performance for demanding tasks.
Content Creation
7.0
7.7
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Stealth GS66 and Dell Inspiron 15 3520 are both good for content creation, though the MSI Stealth GS66 is somewhat better.
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
6.7
7.5
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The MSI Stealth GS66 is good for software development, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is only fair.
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
6.8
8.1
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
360Hz
259.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
280.0 nits
The MSI Stealth GS66 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 offers a screen that meets the needs of everyday tasks and productivity with adequate resolution and brightness, but it lacks the extensive color range critical for precision in engineering and design tasks, and its lower refresh rate diminishes the immersive experience in fast-paced gaming and 3D applications. Conversely, the MSI Stealth GS66 provides a display that not only caters well to general tasks but also offers a wider color gamut for more accurate color representation, essential for professionals in engineering and design, yet for gaming and 3D purposes, its screen falls short because refresh rate is not as high as gaming enthusiasts would prefer. While both laptops have their strengths, those prioritizing engineering and graphic design work might lean towards the MSI for its superior color fidelity, whereas neither is optimal for the high refresh rates demanded by gaming and 3D rendering.
Build Quality
6.2
8.0
The MSI Stealth GS66 has very good build quality, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$329
$1,799
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has a price of $329 and the MSI Stealth GS66 costs $1,799.
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Key similarities
Battery
6.5 Hours
5.5 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The MSI Stealth GS66 has 5.5 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
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
3.6 lbs
WEIGHT
4.6 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 and MSI Stealth GS66 both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 and the MSI Stealth GS66 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Inspiron 15 3520 | MSI Stealth GS66 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$329 | $1,799 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | April 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 9.3'' x 0.83'' | 14.2'' x 9.7'' x 0.71'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.65 lbs | 4.63 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.11" | 14.17" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.27" | 9.65" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i3-1215U | Intel i7-12700H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 256 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6.5 Hours | 5.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 41 Wh | 99.9 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 360Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 259 nits | 280 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6.3/10 | 8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.7/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | No | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 3 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 4 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | N/A | 4 | |
Shopping
Dell Inspiron 15 3520
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Mark Knapp | January 2023
"Dell's Inspiron 15 (3525) is a peppy-enough and affordable-enough home or remote work machine, but it's not very ambitious; it does little to go beyond the basics. More the concern: It’s readily overshadowed by a number of machines that outperform and outclass it. Even if the Inspiron can get the job done today, its competition has the mettle to keep doing the job tomorrow in a way the Inspiron simply can’t promise. Plus, those alternatives are much more enjoyable after work."
MSI Stealth GS66
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Florian Glaser | February 2022
"The MSI Stealth GS66 is powerful enough for QHD. The Core i7-12700H and the GeForce RTX 3070 Ti found in the 12UGS model that we tested run all modern games smoothly in the native QHD resolution. The 15-inch display is very fast with its 240 Hz refresh rate, and it also offers a great color space (almost 100% DCI-P3) on top of that, which should please gamers as well as content creators, although we would have still wished for a higher brightness. Case, input devices, and connectivity (Thunderbolt 4) are at a good level. However, among other things, the GS66 loses points due to the high temperature development in 3D mode and its poor webcam."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 or the MSI Stealth GS66
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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