The Dell XPS 15 is a less expensive option with a mid-range price, making it a good fit for general use and some engineering tasks with its i7 processor and discrete graphics. It is lighter and has a longer reported battery life, lending better portability and convenience for on-the-go usage. The MSI GE66 Raider, while more expensive, offers top-tier performance with an i9 processor and high-end graphics, suitable for intensive gaming, 3D rendering, and machine learning tasks. It has a higher resolution display but is heavier and has a shorter battery life, which may limit mobility. Give Feedback
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Advantages of the Dell XPS 15
Good portability
Very good battery life
Best in class speakers
Advantages of the MSI GE66 Raider
Excellent for engineering and design
Very good for gaming and AI
Very good overall display quality
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.8/10
8.6/10
4.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.2/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
9.1/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.2/10
The MSI GE66 Raider is very good for gaming and AI, while the Dell XPS 15 is only fair.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Engineering and Design
8.1/10
9.1/10
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.4/10
4.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI GE66 Raider is excellent for engineering and design, while the Dell XPS 15 is very good.
The MSI GE66 Raider is rated excellent for engineering and design due to its more powerful core i9 processor, double the RAM, and superior RTX 3080 Ti graphics card, which is crucial for demanding tasks and advanced visualization, compared to the Dell XPS 15 which, while still good, offers a less powerful i7 processor and Intel Arc A370M graphics card, better suited for less intensive applications. While the XPS 15 is lighter and thus more portable, both have good screen quality, but the GE66 Raider's screen is superior, enhancing detailed work; however, these features also contribute to less portability and potentially more noticeable operating noise.
Screen Quality
7.4/10
8.2/10
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
606.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
347.0 nits
The MSI GE66 Raider has a better screen than the Dell XPS 15 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, and content creation.
For general use, the Dell XPS 15 offers a good balance of resolution and brightness, making it suitable for everyday tasks like browsing and video streaming, while the MSI GE66 Raider takes the edge with a screen that not only matches the resolution and brightness but also provides better color representation. For engineering and design work, the Dell XPS 15 delivers accurate colors crucial for precision tasks, but the MSI with its superior coverage of professional color gamuts like DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB ensures that designs are rendered with greater fidelity. In the realm of 3D tasks and gaming, however, both laptops fall short due to their lower refresh rates, which are less optimal for the smooth visuals and fast response times that these activities demand.
Battery
10.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Dell XPS 15 has 10 hours of battery life. The MSI GE66 Raider has 6 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
Good
Fair
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
4.2 lbs
WEIGHT
5.2 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Dell XPS 15 has good portability, while the MSI GE66 Raider has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,000
$3,199
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The Dell XPS 15 has a price of $1,000 and the MSI GE66 Raider costs $3,199.
The MSI GE66 Raider and Dell XPS 15 are both very good for general use.
The Dell XPS 15 is well-suited for general use due to its combination of a high-quality IPS screen for clear visuals, adequate RAM and CPU for smooth multitasking, and excellent portability backed by a decent battery life. On the other hand, the MSI GE66 Raider, with its even more powerful CPU, larger RAM, and superior screen resolution, offers robust performance for demanding tasks but is less portable and has shorter battery life, making the Dell a better choice for users who prioritize mobility and longevity on a single charge.
Content Creation
8.3/10
8.4/10
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.4/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI GE66 Raider and Dell XPS 15 are both very 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
8.1/10
8.4/10
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The MSI GE66 Raider and Dell XPS 15 are both very 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.
Build Quality
8.5/10
8.5/10
The Dell XPS 15 and MSI GE66 Raider both have very good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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How the Dell XPS 15 and the MSI GE66 Raider compare to other laptops
"The 2023 Dell XPS 15 is more or less exactly what you'd expect from the company flagship. Its fresh components deliver measurably superior power and longevity, while the machine's premium build and design remain intact. It may not be overly exciting, but XPS loyalists and upgraders should be more than happy."
"The MSI Raider GE66 12UHS notebook passes with flying colors. The GE66 is a high-end notebook with strong performance. The keyboard and trackpad are still very good and score well with precise inputs as well as high build quality. Thanks to a new liquid metal cooling solution, the Intel Core i9 12900HK brings a performance increase of around 50 percent over the predecessor's Intel Core i9 10980HK. The installed graphics card in our device delivers up to 30 percent higher frame rates than the RTX 2070 Super in the MSI GE66 10SFS."
Get a great deal on the Dell XPS 15 or the MSI GE66 Raider
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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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
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