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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
For general use, the Dell Precision 5470 offers solid build quality and performance; it's lightweight and has a quality keyboard and longer battery life, making it suitable for on-the-go professionals or students. However, it comes at a higher price. On the other hand, the MSI GF63 Thin is more affordable and caters well to casual gaming thanks to its dedicated graphics card, but its shorter battery life and heavier build make it less portable. Engineers or those in need of more robust processing and graphics might find the Dell more fitting despite the higher cost. If budget is a constraint and your tasks are not intensive, the MSI could provide a reasonable balance between cost and functionality. 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 Precision 5470
- Good for general use
- Good for engineering and design
- Good for software development
- Good for content creation
- Good overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
- Very good portability
- Good battery life
- Best in class speakers
- Excellent keyboard
Advantages of the MSI GF63 Thin
- The MSI GF63 Thin has no clear advantages over the Dell Precision 5470.
Key differences
General Use
7.7
6.0
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
500.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
249.0 nits
9.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.2 Hours
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
8.4/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The Dell Precision 5470 is good for general use, while the MSI GF63 Thin is only fair.
The Dell Precision 5470 is considered good for general use because it has a stronger CPU, more RAM, a higher-quality screen, and longer battery life, which all contribute to better performance and user experience. Meanwhile, the MSI GF63 Thin has a less powerful CPU, less RAM, a lower-quality screen, and shorter battery life, making it less suitable for demanding tasks and a bit behind in overall user experience.
Gaming and AI
6.7
6.0
4.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.0/10
The Dell Precision 5470 and MSI GF63 Thin are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the Dell Precision 5470 is somewhat better.
The Dell Precision 5470 offers better performance in gaming and 3D tasks primarily due to its superior GPU, the Nvidia RTX A1000, which outperforms the MSI GF63 Thin's Nvidia GTX 1650 Max-Q. Though both laptops have similar screen refresh rates, the Precision's GPU and screen quality give it an edge for graphically intensive activities.
Engineering and Design
7.8
6.0
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.3/10
4.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Dell Precision 5470 is good for engineering and design, while the MSI GF63 Thin is only fair.
The Dell Precision 5470 is better suited for engineering and design due to its higher-end CPU, greater RAM capacity, and a more capable GPU for complex tasks, along with a higher-quality screen for precise visuals. While the MSI GF63 Thin is more budget-friendly and offers decent performance for casual design work, its lower-tier CPU, less RAM, and less powerful GPU may not handle intensive engineering software as smoothly, and it has an inferior screen compared to the Dell, which translates to less accurate color representation and detail.
Content Creation
7.8
6.0
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.3/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Precision 5470 is good for content creation, while the MSI GF63 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
7.7
6.0
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell Precision 5470 is good for software development, while the MSI GF63 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
7.3
6.1
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
500.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
249.0 nits
The Dell Precision 5470 has a better screen than the MSI GF63 Thin for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
For general use, the Dell Precision 5470's display offers higher resolution and brightness, enhancing clarity and visibility, while the MSI GF63 Thin provides adequate but less impressive visual fidelity. In engineering and design, the Dell's broader color gamuts ensure more accurate color representation which is crucial for detailed work, whereas the MSI's color range is more restricted, affecting precision. When it comes to 3D and gaming, both laptops fall short as neither has a high refresh rate, but the Dell’s better resolution and panel type may offer a slightly improved experience over the MSI for less demanding visual tasks.
Battery
9.0 Hours
4.2 Hours
The Dell Precision 5470 has 9 hours of battery life. The MSI GF63 Thin has 4.3 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
Very Good
Good
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
3.2 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Dell Precision 5470 has very good portability, while the MSI GF63 Thin has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5
6.5
The Dell Precision 5470 has very good build quality, while the MSI GF63 Thin has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,669
$599
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Dell Precision 5470 has a price of $1,669 and the MSI GF63 Thin costs $599.
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How the Dell Precision 5470 and the MSI GF63 Thin compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Precision 5470 | MSI GF63 Thin |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,669 | $599 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | May 1, 2019 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.2'' x 8.3'' x 0.74'' | 14.1'' x 10'' x 0.85'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.26 lbs | 4.1 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.22" | 14.13" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.27" | 9.99" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-12700H | Intel i5-10300H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 256 GB | 256 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 9 Hours | 4.25 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 72 Wh | 51 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1200 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 500 nits | 249 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.4/10 | 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 | 7.5/10 | 8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 9/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 9.5/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 0 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 4 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 4 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
Shopping
Dell Precision 5470
See more
Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Brian Westover | August 2022
"The Dell Precision 5470 is a mobile workstation that's far more portable than most alternatives. Between its slim 14-inch design and top-quality MIL-STD 810H build, it's one of the best options around for taking professional-grade performance on the road or to the job site. There are tradeoffs for its portability, and users of the most demanding, graphics-intensive applications will need to carry something heavier. But the Dell's exceptional battery life underscores its desirability as the most portable workstation we've seen."
MSI GF63 Thin
See more
Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Florian Glaser | January 2020
"If you leave aside the meagre port selection (no card reader, no DisplayPort, no Thunderbolt 3 or USB 3.1 Gen2), the fan control that could be improved (idle mode!) and the relatively dark and slow display, the MSI GF63 Thin 9SC does not have any major weaknesses. The 15-inch gamer is compact, has a low weight and offers a good price-to-performance ratio, which should please gamers that are looking for both a portable and an affordable gaming notebook. Input devices, battery life, case quality and performance are all appropriate for this purchase price."
Get a great deal on the Dell Precision 5470 or the MSI GF63 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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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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