The Dell Latitude 5431 is less expensive and offers reliable performance for general use with decent battery life, making it portable and suitable for business users. It features an Intel i5 processor and integrated graphics, which suffice for routine tasks but may fall short for intensive 3D applications or gaming. On the other hand, the MSI Stealth GS66, while more costly, is equipped with a more powerful Intel i7 processor and Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti graphics card, suitable for demanding engineering work, 3D rendering, machine learning, and gaming. It has a higher refresh rate display, RGB backlit keyboard, and hardware ray tracing capability, although with a shorter battery life, it’s less portable than the Dell. Both laptops have Windows 11 Pro and a similar amount of RAM and storage space, but the MSI has double the storage capacity of the Dell. 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 battery life
Advantages of the MSI Stealth GS66
Very good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Very good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Very good keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.2/10
7.8/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
360Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Stealth GS66 is good for gaming and AI, while the Dell Latitude 5431 is only fair.
The MSI Stealth GS66 is better suited for gaming and 3D due to its Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti graphics card that outperforms the Intel i5-1250P Iris Xe graphics in the Dell Latitude 5431, and a much higher screen refresh rate which is essential for smoother visuals in fast-paced games.
Engineering and Design
6.9/10
8.2/10
7.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Stealth GS66 is very good for engineering and design, while the Dell Latitude 5431 is only fair.
The Dell Latitude 5431 is suited for engineering and design due to its decent CPU and integrated GPU, which are enough for less demanding tasks, coupled with good screen quality. However, the MSI Stealth GS66 stands out for very good engineering and design use with its more powerful CPU, superior dedicated GPU, and excellent screen quality, making it better for more intensive graphical tasks though it may be less portable and noisier.
Screen Quality
6.1/10
8.1/10
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
360Hz
241.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
280.0 nits
The MSI Stealth GS66 has a better screen than the Dell Latitude 5431 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, and software development.
The Dell Latitude 5431 offers a balance suitable for general use and engineering tasks, with its resolution and brightness meeting basic needs while offering a color range adequate for non-intensive design work but may lack the vividness professionals require. The MSI Stealth GS66, with its higher-quality display, caters well to both general users and engineers or designers, providing a broader color gamut for precise color work. However, both laptops fall short for 3D and gaming enthusiasts as they do not have high refresh rates, which are crucial for smooth motion and fast-paced visuals in those applications.
Battery
9.0 Hours
5.5 Hours
The Dell Latitude 5431 has 9 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.
Build Quality
7.4/10
8.0/10
The MSI Stealth GS66 has very good build quality, while the Dell Latitude 5431 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$950
$1,799
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The Dell Latitude 5431 has a price of $950 and the MSI Stealth GS66 costs $1,799.
The MSI Stealth GS66 and Dell Latitude 5431 are both good for general use.
The Dell Latitude 5431 offers comfortable portability and longer battery life for general use, with a good blend of CPU and screen quality suitable for everyday tasks. In contrast, the MSI Stealth GS66 has a more powerful CPU and better screen quality for demanding applications, at the expense of heavier weight and shorter battery life, making it also well-suited for gaming on top of general use.
Content Creation
7.4/10
7.7/10
7.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Stealth GS66 and Dell Latitude 5431 are both good for content creation.
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
7.5/10
7.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The MSI Stealth GS66 and Dell Latitude 5431 are both good for software development.
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.
Portability
Good
Good
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
3.3 lbs
WEIGHT
4.6 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Dell Latitude 5431 and MSI Stealth GS66 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 Stealth GS66 compare to other laptops
"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 Latitude 5431 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.
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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