Dell Alienware m18 vs MSI GL76 Pulse Comparison

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Dell Alienware m18

18 inches | January 2023

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MSI GL76 Pulse

17.3 inches | May 2021

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Dell Alienware m18 vs MSI GL76 Pulse Comparison Overview

Dell Alienware m18

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MSI GL76 Pulse

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Dell Alienware m18

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MSI GL76 Pulse

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In this review, we will be comparing Alienware m18 and GL76 Pulse, two laptops from Dell and MSI. Dell Alienware m18 was introduced to market in January 2023 and MSI GL76 Pulse was launched in May 2021. There is 20 months difference between Alienware m18 and GL76 Pulse so it would still give an advantage to younger Alienware m18.

Click for Available Configurations of the Laptops

Here is a brief look at the main features of Dell Alienware m18 and MSI GL76 Pulse before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Dell Alienware m18 Key Specs

Launched in January 2023
18.0" IPS LCD, 16:10 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Intel Core i7 13650HX
GPU: GeForce RTX 4050 Mobile 6GB
16GB Ram
410.3 x 319.9 x 24.1-26.7 mm (16.15 x 12.59 x 0.95-1.05 inches)
Weight: 4.23 kg (9.33 lbs)

MSI GL76 Pulse Key Specs

Launched in May 2021
17.3" IPS LCD, 16:9 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Intel Core i5 11400H
GPU: GeForce RTX 3050 Mobile 4GB
8GB Ram
398 x 273 x 24.2 mm (15.67 x 10.75 x 0.95 inches)
Weight: 2.6 kg (5.73 lbs)

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Alienware m18 and GL76 Pulse 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 Dell Alienware m18 over MSI GL76 Pulse

Display Size	18 inches vs 17.3 inches	Larger Screen Estate
Refresh Rate	480 Hz vs 144 Hz	Smoother media experience
Screen Resolution	1920 x 1200 pixels vs 1920 x 1080 pixels	Higher pixel count screen
sRGB Color Space	100% vs 94%	Wider sRGB Color Space Coverage
Response Time	3 ms vs 8 ms	Faster Response screen
GPU Fabrication Process	4 nm vs 8 nm	Newer Generation GPU
GPU FLOPS	8.8 TFLOPS vs 6.14 TFLOPS	Charges via USB-C type cable
USB Power Delivery	Yes vs No	Faster RAM Type
RAM Type	DDR5 vs DDR4	Faster RAM
RAM BUS	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x) vs PCI-E Gen 3.0 (4x)	3D Surround Sound Support
Dolby Atmos Speakers	Yes vs No	More advanced Bluetooth connectivity
Bluetooth	v5.3 vs v5.2	Higher Resolution Camera
Webcam Resolution	1920 x 1080 vs 1280 x 720	Connect more device at the same time
Number of USB-C Ports	3x USB 4.0 vs 1x USB 3.2	Faster USB-C connection
USB-C Port Type	v4.0 vs v3.2	Support audio, data, power and video all through one single port
Thunderbolt	v4 vs No	Read & Write SD Cards with the built-in reader
SD Card Reader	Yes vs No

Reasons to choose MSI GL76 Pulse over Dell Alienware m18

Weight	2.60 kg vs 4.23 kg	1.63 kg lighter
Screen-to-Body Ratio	~75.9% vs ~71.6%	Larger screen area ratio
Side Bezel Thickness	7.5 mm vs 11.3 mm	3.8 mm thinner bezels
Screen PPI	127 ppi vs 126 ppi	More pixels per inch
Max Brightness	320 nits vs 300 nits	Brighter Screen

Common Strengths of MSI GL76 Pulse and Dell Alienware m18

Launch Dates	January 2023 vs May 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
Upgradable RAM	Yes vs Yes	Option to increase the RAM size
RAM Type	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x) vs PCI-E Gen 3.0 (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	v6E vs v6	Fast and Reliable Wi-Fi Connections
HDMI Output	1x HDMI 2.1 vs 1x HDMI 2.1	Connect to External Displays via HDMI cable
DisplayPort Output	1x v1.4 vs 1x v1.4	Connect to External Displays via DisplayPort 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
Numeric Pad	Yes vs Yes	Fast way to input numbers
Keyboard Backlight	Yes vs Yes	Easily see the keys under low light

Common Weaknesses of MSI GL76 Pulse and Dell Alienware m18

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

Dell Alienware m18 vs MSI GL76 Pulse: Physical Specs Comparison

In this section, we will be comparing the physical specifications and body features of the Dell Alienware m18 and the MSI GL76 Pulse.

Physical Specs
Weight	4.23 kg (9.33 lbs)	2.6 kg (5.73 lbs)
Surface Area	1313 cm2 (203.3 inches2)	1087 cm2 (168.5 inches2)
Screen to Surface Ratio	~71.6%	~75.9%
Side Bezel Thickness	~11.3 mm	~7.5 mm
Weight per Inch of Screen	0.24 kg/inch	0.15 kg/inch
	0.528 lbs/inch	0.33 lbs/inch
Colors	Black, Gray	Gray

Comparison of the Dell Alienware m18 and the MSI GL76 Pulse External Dimensions

Weight

Alienware m18 weighs 4.23 kg (9.33 lbs), whereas the GL76 Pulse weighs 2.6 kg (5.73 lbs). There is a notable difference in weight between these two laptops. However, it's important to consider that comparing their weights directly may not provide a complete picture since they also have different display sizes.

Weight Comparison

Displays size larger than 17.0 inches

Dell Alienware m18 4.23 kg

MSI GL76 Pulse 2.60 kg

Min 1.29 kg

Average 2.77 kg

Max 4.23 kg

Thickness Comparison

Displays size larger than 17.0 inches

Dell Alienware m18 26.70 mm

MSI GL76 Pulse 24.20 mm

Min 8.60 mm

Average 24.42 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 Dell Alienware m18 is 0.24 kg/inch.In comparison, this value for the MSI GL76 Pulse is 0.15 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
Microsoft Surface Pro 12: 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

Dell Alienware m18 vs MSI GL76 Pulse: Internals (CPU, GPU, RAM, Battery, SSD, etc.) Comparison

CPU Comparison

CPU Model	Intel Core i7 13650HX Intel Core i7 13700HX Intel Core i9 13900HX Intel Core i9 13980HX AMD Ryzen 7 7745HX AMD Ryzen 9 7845HX AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX	Intel Core i5 11400H Intel Core i7 11800H
Base Frequency	2.6 GHz	2.2-2.7 GHz
Turbo Frequency	4.9 GHz	4.5 GHz
Number of Cores	14	6
Number of Threads	20	12
L3 Cache	24 MB	12 MB
Integrated GPU	Intel UHD Graphics (16EU)	Intel UHD Graphics for 11th Gen (16 EU)
CPU Fabrication Process	10 nm	10 nm
Geekbench 5 (Single)	1840	1514
Geekbench 5 (Multi)	14421	6382
Cinebench 23 (Single)	1914	1478
Cinebench 23 (Multi)	21028	9375

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 Dell Alienware m18 and MSI GL76 Pulse.

You may also read reviews of latest laptops with the same CPUs and compare them:

Laptops with: Intel Core i7 13650HX

Laptops with: Intel Core i5 11400H

GPU Comparison

GPU Model	GeForce RTX 4050 Mobile 6GB GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile 8GB GeForce RTX 4070 Mobile 8GB GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile 12GB GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile 16GB	GeForce RTX 3050 Mobile 4GB GeForce RTX 3050 Ti Mobile 4GB GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile 6GB GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile 6GB
Base Clock Frequency	1455 MHz	1065 MHz
Boost CLock Frequency	1755 MHz	1343 MHz
TGP (Total Graphics Power)	50 W	45 W
Nvidia Optimus	MUX	MUX
Type	Dedicated	Dedicated
FLOPS	8.986 TFLOPS	5.501 TFLOPS
Memory Size	6 GB	4 GB
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR6
Memory Bus	96 bit	128 bit
Memory Speed	2000 MHz 16 Gbps effective	1500 MHz 12 Gbps effective
Shading Units Cores	2560	2048
TMUs	80	64
ROPs	48	32

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. Dell Alienware m18 has a FLOPS value of 8.8 TFLOPS whereas the MSI GL76 Pulse ' has a FLOPS value of 6.14 TFLOPS. If graphical performance of the laptop is important for your use type, the Dell Alienware m18 may be the better choice between these two setups.

RAM Comparison

RAM	16GB 32GB 64GB	8GB 16GB 32GB 64GB
Memory Bus	2x8 GB	1x8 GB
RAM Clock	4800 MHz	3200 MHz
RAM Type	DDR5	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 3.0 (4x)

With a larger RAM capacity of 16 GB, the Alienware m18 offers an advantage for multitasking and resource-intensive applications compared to the GL76 Pulse's RAM capacity of 8 GB.

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	Dell Alienware m18	MSI GL76 Pulse
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	97 Wh	53.4 Wh
Battery Type	Li-Ion	Li-Ion
Replaceable	No	No
Fast Charging	Yes	Yes
USB Power Delivery	Yes	No
Charging Port Position	Bottom	Left
Charge Power	300 / 330 W	180 W
Full Charging Time	2:00 hr
Cable Length	1 meters

Moreover, the Alienware m18 boasts a larger battery capacity of 97 Wh, offering extended usage time compared to the GL76 Pulse's53 Wh.

Battery Comparison

Displays size larger than 17.0 inches

Dell Alienware m18 97 Wh

MSI GL76 Pulse 53 Wh

Min 37.00 Wh

Average 77.38 Wh

Max 100.00 Wh

STORAGE
With a larger storage capacity up to 8 TB, the Alienware m18 provides more space for storing files and applications compared to the GL76 Pulse's max. storage capacity of 1 TB.

Storage Options	256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB, 4 TB, 8 TB	512 GB, 1 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.

Dell Alienware m18 vs MSI GL76 Pulse: Display Comparison

The display is an essential aspect to consider when comparing the Dell Alienware m18 and MSI GL76 Pulse 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. Alienware m18 has a display size of 18.0".On the other hand, GL76 Pulse has a smaller 17.3" display.The total usable screen area of the Alienware m18 is 939cm² / 146inch² whereas the GL76 Pulse's total usable screen area is 825cm² / 128inch².

PPI (Pixels per Inch)
Additionally, the GL76 Pulse features a higher pixel density with 127 pixels per inch (PPI), ensuring sharper image details.

Screen PPI (Pixels Per Inch) Comparison

Displays size larger than 17.0 inches

Dell Alienware m18 126 ppi

MSI GL76 Pulse 127 ppi

Min 106 PPI

Average 142 PPI

Max 266.00 PPI

Refresh Rate
The Alienware m18 offers a higher refresh rate of 480 Hz, resulting in smoother motion and improved visual experience.

Furthermore, the Alienware m18 boasts a faster response time of 3.0 ms, reducing motion blur for fast-paced content.

Brightness
The GL76 Pulse offers a higher maximum brightness of 320 nits, delivering a brighter screen.

Brightness Comparison

Displays size larger than 17.0 inches

Dell Alienware m18 300 nits

MSI GL76 Pulse 320 nits

Min

200 nits

Average 376 nits

Max 1200.00 nits

Dell Alienware m18 vs MSI GL76 Pulse Connectivity Comparison

In terms of connectivity,

Wifi
Alienware m18 features a more advanced Wi-Fi standard v6E, providing faster and more reliable wireless connections compared to GL76 Pulse (v6).

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 Alienware m18 and GL76 Pulse feature 3x USB 3.2 USB-A ports.
Both Alienware m18 and GL76 Pulse have USB Type-C ports. Alienware m18 has 3x USB 4.0 USB Type-C ports, while GL76 Pulse has 1x 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
Alienware m18 is equipped with Thunderbolt 4 port. GL76 Pulse does not have Thunderbolt port.

HDMI
Both Alienware m18 and GL76 Pulse 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
Alienware m18 is equipped with an SD Card Reader for easy access to memory cards. GL76 Pulse does not have an SD Card Reader.

Audio Jack
Both Alienware m18 and GL76 Pulse 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)	v6E	v6
Bluetooth (latest: v5.4)	v5.3	v5.2
USB-A (latest: 3.2)	3x USB 3.2	3x USB 3.2
USB Type-C (latest: USB4 2.0)	3x USB 4.0	1x USB 3.2
Thunderbolt (latest: 5)	Thunderbolt 4	No
HDMI (latest: 2.1)	1x HDMI 2.1	1x HDMI 2.1
Display Port (latest: v2.0)	1x v1.4	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	No
Proprietary Charging Port	Yes	Yes