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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize performance for tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, or intensive gaming, the MSI GF65 Thin with its dedicated NVIDIA GPU is the superior choice, albeit heavier and with shorter battery life. Conversely, for general office work, the Dell Latitude 5431 offers a balance of good performance and longer battery life, plus a lighter form factor makes it more portable. The Dell is also more cost-effective and comes with higher RAM, which is beneficial for multitasking, but has less storage capacity compared to the MSI, which might require investing in external storage solutions. 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 Latitude 5431
- Good for general use
- Good for software development
- Good for content creation
- Good overall build quality
- Good battery life
- Very good speakers
Advantages of the MSI GF65 Thin
- The MSI GF65 Thin has no clear advantages over the Dell Latitude 5431.
Key differences
General Use
7.5
6.5
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
241.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
9.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.5 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.8/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The Dell Latitude 5431 is good for general use, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.
The Dell Latitude 5431 is preferred for general use due to its longer battery life, more portable design, and higher RAM, contributing to smoother multitasking and day-to-day tasks, while the MSI GF65 Thin has a gaming-oriented graphics card and a larger screen with a higher refresh rate which can be less ideal for battery life and portability, but may offer a more responsive experience for specific applications and entertainment purposes.
Gaming and AI
6.2
6.8
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.1/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The MSI GF65 Thin and Dell Latitude 5431 are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the MSI GF65 Thin is somewhat better.
The Dell Latitude 5431 is equipped with integrated graphics, which are less suited for gaming and 3D applications compared to the dedicated Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU found in the MSI GF65 Thin, a key factor that significantly influences gaming and 3D performance. Additionally, the MSI GF65 Thin offers a higher screen refresh rate, which provides smoother visuals and an enhanced experience in fast-paced games and during high-motion scenarios in 3D tasks.
Content Creation
7.4
6.8
7.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Latitude 5431 is good for content creation, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.
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
6.3
7.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell Latitude 5431 is good for software development, while the MSI GF65 Thin 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
6.1
6.8
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
241.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
The Dell Latitude 5431 has a better screen than the MSI GF65 Thin for software development, and content creation, while the MSI GF65 Thin has a better screen for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
For general use, both the Dell Latitude 5431 and the MSI GF65 Thin offer adequate resolution and brightness, but their panel types might not be as vibrant or clear as more premium models. When it comes to engineering and design, their screens have reasonable accuracy but lack wider color gamut coverage, making them less ideal for color-critical work. Their appeal for gaming and 3D applications is limited due to the lack of high refresh rates for smoother visuals, although resolution and panel quality are serviceable for casual use.
Battery
9.0 Hours
4.5 Hours
The Dell Latitude 5431 has 9 hours of battery life. The MSI GF65 Thin has 4.5 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.
Build Quality
7.4
6.7
The Dell Latitude 5431 has good build quality, while the MSI GF65 Thin has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$950
$1,100
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
The Dell Latitude 5431 has a price of $950 and the MSI GF65 Thin costs $1,100.
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Key similarities
Engineering and Design
6.9
6.7
7.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Dell Latitude 5431 and MSI GF65 Thin are both only fair for engineering and design.
The Dell Latitude 5431 is suitable for engineering and design due to its dedicated GPU for moderate graphics tasks, a high-resolution IPS screen for clear visuals, and a reputable CPU with ample RAM for multitasking. Meanwhile, the MSI GF65 Thin stands out for engineering and design with a powerful GPU for demanding 3D tasks, a high refresh rate screen for smooth visuals, and a robust CPU, but it trades off some portability with a larger size and heavier weight compared to the Dell.
Portability
Good
Good
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
3.3 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Dell Latitude 5431 and MSI GF65 Thin both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the Dell Latitude 5431 and the MSI GF65 Thin compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Latitude 5431 | MSI GF65 Thin |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$950 | $1,100 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | January 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.7'' x 8.4'' x 0.96'' | 14.1'' x 10'' x 0.85'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.3 lbs | 4.1 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.65" | 14.13" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.35" | 9.99" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-1250P | Intel i5-10500H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 256 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 9 Hours | 4.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 64 Wh | 51 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 241 nits | 262 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.9/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | Yes | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 8/10 | 6.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
Shopping
MSI GF65 Thin
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Allen Ngo | March 2021
"The MSI GF65 Thin offers a GeForce RTX 3060 on a budget. The MSI GF65 is a relatively inexpensive RTX 3060 laptop and, perhaps not coincidentally, it also comes with a slower-than-average RTX 3060 GPU. Other laptops we've tested thus far with the same GPU are about 10 to 15 percent faster. CPU performance is also slightly slower than average unless if users decide to enable Cooler Boost mode. Colors, black-white response times, Thunderbolt, and DisplayPort are either average or completely omitted. Gamers who want to maximize performance-per-dollar without sacrificing RAM or SSD upgradeability will find the lightweight MSI GF65 attractive."
Get a great deal on the Dell Latitude 5431 or the MSI GF65 Thin
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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