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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Dell Precision 5470, with an upper midrange price, is often more expensive than the MSI Pulse GL66 but offers better portability due to its lighter weight and longer battery life, thus suiting professionals who travel frequently. It features a higher-resolution screen in a 16:10 aspect ratio, making it well-suited for productivity tasks. On the other hand, the MSI Pulse GL66, available at a midrange price and generally less expensive, has a stronger graphics card like the Nvidia RTX 3070 which makes it better for intensive gaming and 3D rendering. The Pulse GL66 also has a higher capacity storage but a shorter battery life, which makes it less ideal for long periods away from a power source. Therefore, if you need better performance for engineering, 3D rendering, or gaming and can overlook portability, the MSI would be fitting, whereas the Dell is more aligned with professional work that requires traveling. 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 overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
- Very good portability
- Good battery life
- Best in class speakers
- Excellent keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Pulse GL66
- Good for gaming and AI
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.7
7.2
4.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.1/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The MSI Pulse GL66 is good for gaming and AI, while the Dell Precision 5470 is only fair.
The Dell Precision 5470's suitability for gaming and 3D applications is due to its professional-grade Nvidia RTX A1000 GPU and a decent screen refresh rate, although it's not as high as gaming-focused laptops. On the other hand, the MSI Pulse GL66 boasts a more powerful gaming-oriented Nvidia RTX 3070 GPU and a higher screen refresh rate, enhancing the gaming and 3D experience but with a lesser focus on professional graphics design work as compared to the Dell.
Content Creation
7.8
7.2
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Precision 5470 and MSI Pulse GL66 are both good for content creation, though the Dell Precision 5470 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
7.7
7.0
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Dell Precision 5470 and MSI Pulse GL66 are both good for software development, though the Dell Precision 5470 is somewhat better.
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
6.8
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
500.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
245.0 nits
The Dell Precision 5470 has a better screen than the MSI Pulse GL66 for general use, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Dell Precision 5470 offers a higher resolution and brighter display, making it ideal for general use and engineering tasks that benefit from clear, sharp images and accurate color representation, thanks to its better coverage of professional color gamuts. In contrast, the MSI Pulse GL66, with its fair screen quality, may not deliver the same level of clarity and color precision, but still provides a sufficient display for everyday tasks and basic design work. However, both laptops aren't well-suited for Gaming and 3D applications due to their lower refresh rates, which can affect the smoothness and responsiveness of fast-paced visuals.
Battery
9.0 Hours
4.0 Hours
The Dell Precision 5470 has 9 hours of battery life. The MSI Pulse GL66 has 4 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
4.6 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Dell Precision 5470 has very good portability, while the MSI Pulse GL66 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5
7.4
The Dell Precision 5470 has very good build quality, while the MSI Pulse GL66 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,669
$1,399
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Dell Precision 5470 has a price of $1,669 and the MSI Pulse GL66 costs $1,399.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.7
7.3
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
500.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
245.0 nits
9.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.0 Hours
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
8.4/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell Precision 5470 and MSI Pulse GL66 are both good for general use.
The Dell Precision 5470 offers a balance between power and portability, featuring a potent CPU and high-quality IPS screen within a lightweight, slim frame, and it is further complemented by an impressive battery life, serving general use effectively. On the other hand, the MSI Pulse GL66 provides more storage and a high-refresh-rate IPS display, but trades off portability and battery life, which might make it less convenient for on-the-go use despite its strong performance.
Engineering and Design
7.8
7.5
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
4.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Precision 5470 and MSI Pulse GL66 are both good for engineering and design.
The Dell Precision 5470 is suitable for engineering and design due to its professional-grade Intel i7 CPU, dedicated Nvidia RTX GPU, high-quality IPS screen with a higher resolution and better color coverage making for detailed and accurate visual work.
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How the Dell Precision 5470 and the MSI Pulse GL66 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Precision 5470 | MSI Pulse GL66 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,669 | $1,399 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | March 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.2'' x 8.3'' x 0.74'' | 14.1'' x 10.2'' x 0.94'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.26 lbs | 4.63 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.22" | 14.13" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.27" | 10.2" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-12700H | Intel i7-11800H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 256 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 9 Hours | 4 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 72 Wh | 53 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 | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 500 nits | 245 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.4/10 | 7.1/10 | |
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 | 6.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 9/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 9.5/10 | 8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | Yes | |
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
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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 Pulse GL66
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Christian Hintze | April 2022
"The MSI Pulse GL66 has a lot of potential for improvement. Although the RTX 3060 is only able to use 105 watts, we still liked the gaming performance, particularly since this also makes the Pulse comfortably efficient but not slow by any means. Neither the dark display with its lame response times, nor USB 2.0 or the lack of Thunderbolt will please real gamers. The use of a sticker factory seal, which is at least questionable, also won't inspire any enthusiasm. It is obvious that the laptop is really designed for price-conscious gamers."
Get a great deal on the Dell Precision 5470 or the MSI Pulse GL66
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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