Razer Blade 17 2021 vs Dell Alienware x17 R1 Comparison

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Razer Blade 17 2021

17.3 inches | July 2021

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Dell Alienware x17 R1

17.3 inches | June 2021

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Razer Blade 17 2021 vs Dell Alienware x17 R1 Comparison Overview

Razer Blade 17 2021

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Dell Alienware x17 R...

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Razer Blade 17 2021

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Dell Alienware x17 R...

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In this review, we will be comparing Blade 17 2021 and Alienware x17 R1, two laptops from Razer and Dell. Razer Blade 17 2021 was introduced to market in July 2021 and Dell Alienware x17 R1 was launched in June 2021. There is only 1 months difference between Blade 17 2021 and Alienware x17 R1 so we are expecting this to be a fair comparison regarding age and technology level.

Click for Available Configurations of the Laptops

Here is a brief look at the main features of Razer Blade 17 2021 and Dell Alienware x17 R1 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Razer Blade 17 2021 Key Specs

Launched in July 2021
17.3" IPS LCD, 16:9 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Intel Core i7 11800H
GPU: GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile 6GB
16GB Ram
395 x 260 x 19.9 mm (15.55 x 10.24 x 0.78 inches)
Weight: 2.75 kg (6.06 lbs)

Dell Alienware x17 R1 Key Specs

Launched in June 2021
17.3" IPS LCD, 16:9 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Intel Core i7 11800H
GPU: GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile 6GB
16GB Ram
399.2 x 299.4 x 20.9-21.4 mm (15.72 x 11.79 x 0.82-0.84 inches)
Weight: 3.02 kg (6.66 lbs)

Razer Blade 17 2021 was replaced by Razer Blade 17 2022. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Razer Blade 17 2022 vs Razer Blade 17 2021
Razer Blade 17 2022 vs Dell Alienware x17 R1

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Blade 17 2021 and Alienware x17 R1 compares and decide which one is better for you.

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Reasons to choose Razer Blade 17 2021 over Dell Alienware x17 R1

Weight	2.75 kg vs 3.02 kg	0.27 kg lighter
Screen-to-Body Ratio	~80.3% vs ~69%	Larger screen area ratio
Side Bezel Thickness	6 mm vs 8.1 mm	2.1 mm thinner bezels
Noise Level	43.5 dB vs 54.8 dB	Less fan noise
Refresh Rate	360 Hz vs 165 Hz	Smoother media experience
GPU FLOPS	13.6 TFLOPS vs 13.1 TFLOPS	Better Sound capture
Number of Microphones	4 vs 2	Connect more device at the same time
Number of USB-A Ports	3x USB 3.2 vs 2x USB 3.2	Faster USB-C connection
USB-C Port Type	v4.0 vs v3.2	Larger Touchpad Area
Touchpad Size	12.9 x 8.1 cm vs 10.5 x 8.0 cm

Reasons to choose Dell Alienware x17 R1 over Razer Blade 17 2021

Contrast Rate	1000:1 vs 980:1	more pleasing colors
Response Time	1 ms vs 3 ms	Faster Response screen
Speaker Loudness	88 dB vs 86.7 dB	Generates higher sound levels
Display Port	Yes vs No	Option to use Display port to connect to external monitors
Key Travel	1.5 mm vs 1.1 mm	Better typing feel

Common Strengths of Dell Alienware x17 R1 and Razer Blade 17 2021

Launch Dates	July 2021 vs June 2021	Both laptops are recent models
Screen Coating	Matte vs Matte	Less reflections on the screen
Fast Charging Support	Yes vs Yes	Charge the battery in a shorter time
USB Power Delivery	Yes vs Yes	Charging via USB port gives flexibility
Upgradable RAM	Yes vs Yes	Option to increase the RAM size
RAM Type	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x) vs PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x)	Fast RAM type
Upgradable Storage	Yes vs Yes	Option to increase the Storage size
SSD Type	NVMe vs NVMe	Faster Data Transfers
Wi-Fi Standard	v6 vs v6	Fast and Reliable Wi-Fi Connections
Bluetooth Standard	v5.2 vs v5.2	Fast and Reliable Bluetooth Connections
Thunderbolt Port	v4 vs v4	Fast data and power transfer via Thunderbolt Port
HDMI Output	1x HDMI 2.1 vs 1x HDMI 2.1	Connect to External Displays via HDMI cable
VGA Output	No vs No	Connect to External Displays via VGA cable
Ethernet RJ45 Port	Yes vs Yes	Fast connection to Network via ethernet cable
Built-in SD Card Reader	Yes vs Yes	Read & Write SD Cards
Keyboard Backlight	Yes vs Yes	Easily see the keys under low light

Common Weaknesses of Dell Alienware x17 R1 and Razer Blade 17 2021

Touchscreen Capability	No vs No	No Touchscreen Capability
HDR Support	No vs No	No HDR Support
Fingerprint Sensor	No vs No	No fingerprint login feature

Razer Blade 17 2021 vs Dell Alienware x17 R1: Physical Specs Comparison

In this section, we will be comparing the physical specifications and body features of the Razer Blade 17 2021 and the Dell Alienware x17 R1.

Physical Specs
Weight	2.75 kg (6.06 lbs)	3.02 kg (6.66 lbs)
Surface Area	1027 cm2 (159.2 inches2)	1195 cm2 (185.3 inches2)
Screen to Surface Ratio	~80.3%	~69%
Side Bezel Thickness	~6 mm	~8.1 mm
Weight per Inch of Screen	0.16 kg/inch	0.17 kg/inch
	0.352 lbs/inch	0.374 lbs/inch
Colors	Black	Silver

Comparison of the Razer Blade 17 2021 and the Dell Alienware x17 R1 External Dimensions

Weight

Blade 17 2021 weighs 2.75 kg (6.06 lbs), whereas the Alienware x17 R1 weighs 3.02 kg (6.66 lbs). There is a notable difference in weight between these two laptops. The weight difference between the two laptops is not significant.

Weight Comparison

Displays size larger than 17.0 inches

Razer Blade 17 2021 2.75 kg

Dell Alienware x17 R1 3.02 kg

Min 1.29 kg

Average 2.74 kg

Max 4.23 kg

Thickness Comparison

Displays size larger than 17.0 inches

Razer Blade 17 2021 19.90 mm

Dell Alienware x17 R1 20.90 mm

Min 8.60 mm

Average 24.26 mm

Max 38.00 mm

Another value that we use for comparing the weights of the laptops is the Weight per Inch of Screen, which is calculated by dividing the total weight of the model with its usable diagonal screen size. This value for the Razer Blade 17 2021 is 0.16 kg/inch.In comparison, this value for the Dell Alienware x17 R1 is 0.17 kg/inch.Here are some of the best performing laptops in this area:

Microsoft Surface Go 4: 0.05 kg/inch
LG Gram SuperSlim 15.6 2023: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus ProArt PZ13 HT5306: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus Zenbook A14 UX3407: 0.06 kg/inch
Dell Latitude 7330: 0.07 kg/inch
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2: 0.07 kg/inch
LG Gram 14 2022: 0.07 kg/inch
LG Gram 14 2-in-1 2022: 0.07 kg/inch

Razer Blade 17 2021 vs Dell Alienware x17 R1: Internals (CPU, GPU, RAM, Battery, SSD, etc.) Comparison

CPU Comparison

CPU Model	Intel Core i7 11800H Intel Core i9 11900H	Intel Core i7 11800H Intel Core i9 11980HK
Base Frequency	1.9-2.3 GHz	1.9-2.3 GHz
Turbo Frequency	4.6 GHz	4.6 GHz
Number of Cores	8	8
Number of Threads	16	16
L3 Cache	24 MB	24 MB
Integrated GPU	Intel UHD Graphics for 11th Gen (32 EU)	Intel UHD Graphics for 11th Gen (32 EU)
CPU Fabrication Process	10 nm	10 nm
Geekbench 5 (Single)	1563	1563
Geekbench 5 (Multi)	8909	8909
Cinebench 23 (Single)	1504	1504
Cinebench 23 (Multi)	12182	12182

Above you can see the CPU options and the CineBench and GeekBench test scores for both laptops, which gives an idea about what kind of performance difference you may experience between the Razer Blade 17 2021 and Dell Alienware x17 R1.

You may also read reviews of latest laptops with the same CPU ( Intel Core i7 11800H ) and compare them:

GPU Comparison

GPU Model	GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile 6GB GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile 8GB GeForce RTX 3080 Mobile 16GB	GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile 6GB GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile 8GB GeForce RTX 3080 Mobile 16GB
Base Clock Frequency	900 MHz	900 MHz
Boost CLock Frequency	1425 MHz	1425 MHz
TGP (Total Graphics Power)	80 W	80 W
Nvidia Optimus	MUX	Yes, Advanced Optimus
Type	Dedicated	Dedicated
FLOPS	10.94 TFLOPS	10.94 TFLOPS
Memory Size	6 GB	6 GB
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR6
Memory Bus	192 bit	192 bit
Memory Speed	1750 MHz 14 Gbps effective	1750 MHz 14 Gbps effective
Shading Units Cores	3840	3840
TMUs	120	120
ROPs	48	48

GPU is as critical as the CPU for graphic heavy applications and the table above gives a picture of how the two GPU compares. FLOPS is a measure of a GPU's performance based on the number of floating-point arithmetic calculations that the processor can perform within a second. Razer Blade 17 2021 has a FLOPS value of 13.6 TFLOPS whereas the Dell Alienware x17 R1 ' has a FLOPS value of 13.1 TFLOPS. If graphical performance of the laptop is important for your use type, the Razer Blade 17 2021 may be the better choice between these two setups.

RAM Comparison

RAM	16GB 32GB 64GB	16GB 32GB 64GB
Memory Bus	2x8 GB	2x8 GB
RAM Clock	3200 MHz	3200 MHz
RAM Type	DDR4	DDR4
Upgradable	Yes	Yes
Max RAM Size	64 GB	64 GB
Total Slots	2	2
Memory Bus	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x)	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x)

Both laptops, the Blade 17 2021 and the Alienware x17 R1, come with similar RAM capacities of 16 GB, providing comparable performance in memory-intensive tasks.

LOCAL LLM Compatibility Evaluation

This quick guide shows what types of large language models (LLMs) each of these laptops could support, based on their respective hardware specifications. It's meant to help you compare their suitability for running AI models locally.

LLM Category	Razer Blade 17 (2021)	Dell Alienware x17 R1
Small Models(1-3B):Examples: Phi-2, Qwen-1.8B	✔ Run smoothly.	✔ Run smoothly.
Medium Models(7-8B):Examples: Mistral-7B, Qwen-7B	✖ Not supported.	✖ Not supported.
Large Models(13-30B):Examples: Mixtral, Qwen-14B	✖ Not supported.	✖ Not supported.
Extra-Large Models(65B+):Examples: LLaMA2-70B, Qwen1.5-72B	✖ Not supported on most systems. Requires high-end GPU or advanced setup.	✖ Not supported on most systems. Requires high-end GPU or advanced setup.

Note: Optimized (e.g., 4-bit) models may run on limited hardware. Performance depends on runtime and setup.

📌 MoE Models: Some models like Mixtral 8x7B and Qwen3-30B-A3B use a Mixture of Experts (MoE) design, activating only part of the model during inference. This means they can often run efficiently on laptops with 12–16 GB of VRAM when quantized.

BATTERY

BATTERY	70.5 Wh	87 Wh
Battery Type	Li-Po	Li-Ion
Replaceable	No	No
Fast Charging	Yes	Yes
USB Power Delivery	Yes	Yes
Charging Port Position	Left	Left
Charge Power	230 W	240 / 330 W
Full Charging Time	1:30 hr	1:20 hr
AC Adapter Weight	801 gramm

On the other hand, the Alienware x17 R1 features a higher battery capacity of 87 Wh, delivering longer usage time compared to the Blade 17 2021's 71 Wh.

Battery Comparison

Displays size larger than 17.0 inches

Razer Blade 17 2021 71 Wh

Dell Alienware x17 R1 87 Wh

Min 37.00 Wh

Average 76.88 Wh

Max 100.00 Wh

STORAGE
Both laptops, the Blade 17 2021 and the Alienware x17 R1 have similar max. storage capacities of 4 TB, allowing for ample space to store files and applications.

Storage Options	1 TB, 2 TB, 4 TB	256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB, 4 TB
Upgradable	Yes	Yes
Storage type	SSD (M2)	SSD (M2)
NVMe	Yes	Yes

If your budget allows, we recommend opting for the largest possible disk size, considering the potential increase in storage capacity needs in the future. However, please keep in mind the question 'What will the laptop be used for?' when making this decision. Of course, you can later upgrade the hard disk capacity by getting a larger disk. However, if your laptop has only one disk slot, it may not be as straightforward as a RAM upgrade, where you simply add or replace a module, as moving or cloning files to a new disk may be necessary.

Razer Blade 17 2021 vs Dell Alienware x17 R1: Display Comparison

The display is an essential aspect to consider when comparing the Razer Blade 17 2021 and Dell Alienware x17 R1 since its is the component that you interact the most and significantly impact the experience.

Screen Area and Dimensions

Now let's look at the comparison of the actual display areas of both laptops below, keeping the bezels around the screens out of the equation. Both Blade 17 2021 and Alienware x17 R1 screens have the same size of 17.3".The total usable screen area of the Blade 17 2021 is 825cm² / 128inch² whereas the Alienware x17 R1's total usable screen area is 825cm² / 128inch².

PPI (Pixels per Inch)
Both Blade 17 2021 and Alienware x17 R1 feature the same pixel density with 127 pixels per inch (PPI).

Screen PPI (Pixels Per Inch) Comparison

Displays size larger than 17.0 inches

Razer Blade 17 2021 127 ppi

Dell Alienware x17 R1 127 ppi

Min 106 PPI

Average 141 PPI

Max 266.00 PPI

Refresh Rate
The Blade 17 2021 offers a higher refresh rate of 360 Hz, resulting in smoother motion and improved visual experience.

Furthermore, the Alienware x17 R1 boasts a faster response time of 1.0 ms, reducing motion blur for fast-paced content.

Brightness
Both Blade 17 2021 and Alienware x17 R1 offer the same maximum brightness of 300 nits (cd/m²).

Brightness Comparison

Displays size larger than 17.0 inches

Razer Blade 17 2021 300 nits

Dell Alienware x17 R1 300 nits

Min

200 nits

Average 368 nits

Max 1200.00 nits

Razer Blade 17 2021 vs Dell Alienware x17 R1 Connectivity Comparison

In terms of connectivity,

Wifi
Both laptops offer the same Wi-Fi standard (v6), ensuring fast and reliable wireless connections.

Below, you'll find a Wi-Fi Versions Table, along with their release dates and speeds, to provide a brief overview of its development.

Wi-Fi Versions and Speeds

Standard	Speed	Release Date	Network	Frequency Bands (GHz)
Wi-Fi 7	up to 40 Gbps (5 GB/s)	2023	802.11be	2.4, 5, 6
Wi-Fi 6E	up to 9.6 Gbps (1.2 GB/s)	2020	802.11ax	2.4, 5, 6
Wi-Fi 6	up to 9.6 Gbps (1.2 GB/s)	2019	802.11ax	2.4, 5
Wi-Fi 5	up to 6.93 Gbps (866.25 MB/s)	2014	802.11ac	2.4, 5
Wi-Fi 4	up to 600 Mbps (75 MB/s)	2009	802.11n	2.4, 5

* Please note that the provided transfer rates are maximum theoretical values, and real-life performance may vary based on environmental factors.

USB
Both Blade 17 2021 and Alienware x17 R1 have USB-A ports. Blade 17 2021 has 3x USB 3.2 USB-A ports, while Alienware x17 R1 has 2x USB 3.2 USB-A ports.
Both Blade 17 2021 and Alienware x17 R1 have USB Type-C ports. Blade 17 2021 has 2x USB 4.0 USB Type-C ports, while Alienware x17 R1 has 2x USB 3.2 USB Type-C ports.

Below, you'll find a table of USB ports, along with their release dates and speeds.
To mitigate the confusion caused by generation names, the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) suggests using marketing names like USB 5Gbps, USB 10Gbps, and so forth, based on their respective transfer rates.

USB Type and Speeds

USB Type	Version	Speed	Date	Other Features/Explanations
USB4	Gen 4 (2.0)	80 Gbps	2022	Also known as USB 80Gbps
USB4	Gen 3×2	40 Gbps	2019	Also known as USB 40Gbps
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 2x2	20 Gbps	2019	Double the data transfer rates of Gen 2
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 2	10 Gbps	2017	Previously known as USB 3.1
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 1	5 Gbps	2017	Previously known as USB 3.0
USB 3.1	3.1 Gen 2	10 Gbps	2013	Faster data transfer rates
USB 3.0	3.1 Gen 1	5 Gbps	2010	SuperSpeed USB, improved data transfer rates
USB 2.0	2.0	480 Mbps	2000	High-speed data transfer
USB 1.0	1.0	1.5 Mbps	1996	Original USB standard

Thunderbolt
Both Blade 17 2021 and Alienware x17 R1 are equipped with Thunderbolt 4 ports.

HDMI
Both Blade 17 2021 and Alienware x17 R1 feature an HDMI port (1x HDMI 2.1) for connecting to external monitors.

Below, you'll find a comparison table detailing different HDMI versions, including their bandwidth, color depth, maximum resolution, and release dates. This information can be helpful in understanding the capabilities of each HDMI version and choosing the most suitable one for your needs.

HDMI Comparison Table

HDMI Version	Maximum Resolution	Bandwidth (Gbps)	Color Depth (bits)	Release Date
HDMI 2.1-2.1b	7680 x 4320 *(8K)* @ 60p 3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 120p	48.0	48	2017
HDMI 2.0-2.0b	3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 60p	18.0	48	2013
HDMI 1.4-1.4b	3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 30p	10.2	48	2009
HDMI 1.3-1.3a	2560 x 1440 @ 60p	10.2	48	2006
HDMI 1.0-1.2a	1920 x 1200 @ 60p	4.95	24	2002

* Please note that the provided resolution values represent the maximum supported resolution, and actual display quality may depend on other factors such as source content and connected devices.

SD Card Reader
Both Blade 17 2021 and Alienware x17 R1 come with an SD Card Reader for easy access to memory cards.

Audio Jack
Both Blade 17 2021 and Alienware x17 R1 are equipped with a 3.5mm Audio Jack, providing seamless connection to headphones and speakers.

To summarize the connectivity and ports details, please refer to the table below to see them listed.

Connectivity and Ports
WiFi Standard (latest: v7)	v6	v6
Bluetooth (latest: v5.4)	v5.2	v5.2
USB-A (latest: 3.2)	3x USB 3.2	2x USB 3.2
USB Type-C (latest: USB4 2.0)	2x USB 4.0	2x USB 3.2
Thunderbolt (latest: 4)	Thunderbolt 4	Thunderbolt 4
HDMI (latest: 2.1)	1x HDMI 2.1	1x HDMI 2.1
Display Port (latest: v2.0)	No	1x v1.4
VGA	No	No
Fingerprint Sensor	No	No
Optical Drive	No	No
Audio Jack 3.5mm	Yes	Yes
Ethernet RJ45	Yes	Yes
SD CardReader	Yes	Yes
Proprietary Charging Port	Yes	Yes