The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is a budget-friendly laptop and is lighter than the MSI Stealth GS77, making it more portable and suitable for general use tasks. However, the MSI Stealth GS77, while more expensive, offers significantly superior performance with a more powerful processor and graphics card. This makes the GS77 ideal for intensive gaming, 3D rendering, and engineering tasks. It also has better build quality, higher storage capacity, and more RAM. Additionally, the Stealth GS77 has a larger and higher resolution display which is great for detailed work but does compromise its portability due to increased size and weight. Therefore, if price and portability are your main considerations, the Dell may be the better choice, whereas if you need a high-performance machine for specialized or demanding tasks, the MSI is justified despite its steeper price and reduced portability. 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 portability
Advantages of the MSI Stealth GS77
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
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
Very good speakers
Very good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
6.9/10
8.4/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
259.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
305.0 nits
6.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.4/10
The MSI Stealth GS77 is very good for general use, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is only fair.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is less favorable for general use due to its basic CPU, smaller RAM size which could affect multitasking, lower screen quality, and shorter battery life, whereas the MSI Stealth GS77 offers a high-end CPU, larger RAM, superior screen quality, increased portability with longer battery life, making it very good for general use alongside having better storage, keyboard, speaker quality, and more effective operating noise and heat management. The difference in component quality and the resulting performance make the MSI Stealth GS77 stand out for more demanding tasks and longer use away from a power source.
Gaming and AI
6.0/10
7.9/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Stealth GS77 is good for gaming and AI, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is only fair.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has a modest GPU and standard screen refresh rate that provide adequate performance for gaming and 3D tasks, but the MSI Stealth GS77 includes a high-end GPU and a faster screen refresh rate, ensuring smoother gameplay and better 3D performance. While both laptops have capable CPUs and good screen quality, the MSI's superior graphics handling makes it a more suitable choice for serious gaming and 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
6.3/10
8.7/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.8/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Stealth GS77 is very good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is only fair.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520, with its mid-tier processor, modest graphics, and standard screen resolution, offers an adequate level of performance and display quality for engineering tasks at a relatively lighter weight, while the MSI Stealth GS77, equipped with a high-end processor, superior graphics, and a higher resolution screen, excels in performance and screen quality but is heavier and less portable, making it better suited for demanding engineering applications and design work. Both laptops have decent portability and build quality, but the MSI has the edge in keyboard, speaker quality, and operating noise.
Content Creation
7.0/10
8.3/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Stealth GS77 is very good for content creation, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 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
6.7/10
8.1/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The MSI Stealth GS77 is very 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
6.8/10
8.3/10
15.6in
SIZE
17.3in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
259.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
305.0 nits
The MSI Stealth GS77 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, with its fair screen attributes, may suffice for everyday tasks but may not showcase colors and details as needed for professional design work or deliver the smooth visuals critical in high-speed gaming. On the other hand, the MSI Stealth GS77's higher quality display renders vibrant and precise colors desired by engineers and designers but may fall short in gaming due to its lower refresh rate, which could result in less fluid motion during fast-paced action. For general activities, both laptops offer solid performance, but those involved in design or gaming should consider the MSI for superior color reproduction or look elsewhere for a screen optimized for gaming refresh rates.
Portability
Good
Fair
15.6in
SIZE
17.3in
3.6 lbs
WEIGHT
6.1 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has good portability, while the MSI Stealth GS77 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.2/10
8.0/10
The MSI Stealth GS77 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
$335
$2,499
$0
$1,000
$2,000
$3,000
$4,000
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has a price of $335 and the MSI Stealth GS77 costs $2,499.
"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."
"The MSI Stealth GS77 is better than the GS76... mostly. The GS77 is a few steps forward and a few steps back from the GS76. Improvements are numerous including the stronger and more rigid skeleton, higher resolution webcam, larger clickpad, easier serviceability, relatively similar battery runtimes, newer display options, and higher performance at about the same TDP and TGP levels as before. CPU performance is better than expected even when compared to other laptops with Core i7 or Core i9 processors. The newer model feels more substantial than the outgoing one for higher quality impressions as well."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 or the MSI Stealth GS77
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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