Dell Alienware m18 vs MSI Vector GP78 2023 Comparison

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Dell Alienware m18

18 inches | January 2023

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MSI Vector GP78 2023

17 inches | January 2023

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Dell Alienware m18 vs MSI Vector GP78 2023 Comparison Overview

Dell Alienware m18

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MSI Vector GP78 2023

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Dell Alienware m18

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MSI Vector GP78 2023

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In this review, we will be comparing Alienware m18 and Vector GP78 2023, two laptops from Dell and MSI. Dell Alienware m18 was introduced to market in January 2023 and MSI Vector GP78 2023 was launched in January 2023. Both Alienware m18 and Vector GP78 2023 were launched within the same month so we are expecting this to be a fair comparison regarding age and available technology level.

Click for Available Configurations of the Laptops

Here is a brief look at the main features of Dell Alienware m18 and MSI Vector GP78 2023 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 Vector GP78 2023 Key Specs

Launched in January 2023
17.0" IPS LCD, 16:10 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Intel Core i9 13980HX
GPU: GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile 8GB
16GB Ram
380 x 298 x 28.7 mm (14.96 x 11.73 x 1.13 inches)
Weight: 3.1 kg (6.84 lbs)

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Alienware m18 and Vector GP78 2023 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 Vector GP78 2023

Display Size	18 inches vs 17 inches	Larger Screen Estate
Refresh Rate	480 Hz vs 240 Hz	Smoother media experience
Dolby Atmos Speakers	Yes vs No	3D Surround Sound Support
Number of USB-A Ports	3x USB 3.2 vs 2x USB 3.2	Connect more device at the same time
Avg. MSRP Price	$2400-2800 vs $4000-4400	Lower Price (*may change depending on config, seller, location, and time)

Reasons to choose MSI Vector GP78 2023 over Dell Alienware m18

Weight	3.10 kg vs 4.23 kg	1.13 kg lighter
Screen-to-Body Ratio	~74% vs ~71.6%	Larger screen area ratio
Side Bezel Thickness	6.9 mm vs 11.3 mm	4.4 mm thinner bezels
Screen PPI	178 ppi vs 126 ppi	More pixels per inch
Screen Resolution	2560 x 1600 pixels vs 1920 x 1200 pixels	Higher pixel count screen
Max Brightness	500 nits vs 300 nits	Brighter Screen
GPU FLOPS	17.2 TFLOPS vs 8.8 TFLOPS

Common Strengths of MSI Vector GP78 2023 and Dell Alienware m18

Launch Dates	January 2023 vs January 2023	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
Upgradable Storage	Yes vs Yes	Option to increase the Storage size
SSD Type	NVMe vs NVMe	Faster Data Transfers
Wi-Fi Standard	v6E vs v6E	Fast and Reliable Wi-Fi 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
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
Built-in SD Card Reader	Yes vs Yes	Read & Write SD Cards
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 Vector GP78 2023 and Dell Alienware m18

Touchscreen Capability	No vs No	No Touchscreen Capability

Dell Alienware m18 vs MSI Vector GP78 2023: Physical Specs Comparison

In this section, we will be comparing the physical specifications and body features of the Dell Alienware m18 and the MSI Vector GP78 2023.

Physical Specs
Weight	4.23 kg (9.33 lbs)	3.1 kg (6.84 lbs)
Surface Area	1313 cm2 (203.3 inches2)	1132 cm2 (175.5 inches2)
Screen to Surface Ratio	~71.6%	~74%
Side Bezel Thickness	~11.3 mm	~6.9 mm
Weight per Inch of Screen	0.24 kg/inch	0.18 kg/inch
	0.528 lbs/inch	0.396 lbs/inch
Colors	Black, Gray	Black
Cover Opening Angle	135Â°	140Â°

Comparison of the Dell Alienware m18 and the MSI Vector GP78 2023 External Dimensions

Weight

Alienware m18 weighs 4.23 kg (9.33 lbs), whereas the Vector GP78 2023 weighs 3.1 kg (6.84 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 Vector GP78 2023 3.10 kg

Min 1.29 kg

Average 2.74 kg

Max 4.23 kg

Thickness Comparison

Displays size larger than 17.0 inches

Dell Alienware m18 26.70 mm

MSI Vector GP78 2023 28.70 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 Dell Alienware m18 is 0.24 kg/inch.In comparison, this value for the MSI Vector GP78 2023 is 0.18 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

Dell Alienware m18 vs MSI Vector GP78 2023: 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 i9 13980HX
Base Frequency	2.6 GHz	2.2 GHz
Turbo Frequency	4.9 GHz	5.6 GHz
Number of Cores	14	24
Number of Threads	20	32
L3 Cache	24 MB	36 MB
Integrated GPU	Intel UHD Graphics (16EU)	Intel UHD Graphics (32EU)
CPU Fabrication Process	10 nm	10 nm
Geekbench 5 (Single)	1840	2103
Geekbench 5 (Multi)	14421	20352
Cinebench 23 (Single)	1914	2199
Cinebench 23 (Multi)	21028	31359

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 Vector GP78 2023.

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 i9 13980HX

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 4060 Mobile 8GB GeForce RTX 4070 Mobile 8GB GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile 12GB GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile 16GB
Base Clock Frequency	1455 MHz	1545 MHz
Boost CLock Frequency	1755 MHz	1890 MHz
TGP (Total Graphics Power)	50 W	115 W
Nvidia Optimus	MUX	MUX
Type	Dedicated	Dedicated
FLOPS	8.986 TFLOPS	11.61 TFLOPS
Memory Size	6 GB	8 GB
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR6
Memory Bus	96 bit	128 bit
Memory Speed	2000 MHz 16 Gbps effective	2000 MHz 16 Gbps effective
Shading Units Cores	2560	3072
TMUs	80	96
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. Dell Alienware m18 has a FLOPS value of 8.8 TFLOPS whereas the MSI Vector GP78 2023 ' has a FLOPS value of 17.2 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	16GB 32GB 64GB
Memory Bus	2x8 GB	2x8 GB
RAM Clock	4800 MHz	5600 MHz
RAM Type	DDR5	DDR5
Upgradable	Yes	Yes
Max RAM Size	64 GB	64 GB
Total Slots	2	2
Memory Bus	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x)

Both laptops, the Alienware m18 and the Vector GP78 2023, come with similar RAM capacities of 16 GB, providing comparable performance in memory-intensive tasks.

In addition to RAM capacity, the type of RAM can significantly impact performance, with newer RAM types often offering higher speeds compared to others. Therefore, selecting RAM types with the latest DDR number can be a suitable choice based on your requirements.

BATTERY

BATTERY	97 Wh	99.9 Wh
Battery Type	Li-Ion	Li-Ion
Replaceable	No	No
Fast Charging	Yes	Yes
USB Power Delivery	Yes	Yes
Charging Port Position	Bottom	Left, Right, Bottom
Charge Power	300 / 330 W	330 W
Full Charging Time	2:00 hr
Cable Length	1 meters

On the other hand, the Vector GP78 2023 features a higher battery capacity of 100 Wh, delivering longer usage time compared to the Alienware m18's 97 Wh.

Battery Comparison

Displays size larger than 17.0 inches

Dell Alienware m18 97 Wh

MSI Vector GP78 2023 100 Wh

Min 37.00 Wh

Average 76.88 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 Vector GP78 2023's max. storage capacity of 2 TB.

Storage Options	256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB, 4 TB, 8 TB	512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB
Upgradable	Yes	Yes
Total Slots	4	2
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 Vector GP78 2023: Display Comparison

The display is an essential aspect to consider when comparing the Dell Alienware m18 and MSI Vector GP78 2023 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, Vector GP78 2023 has a smaller 17.0" display.The total usable screen area of the Alienware m18 is 939cm² / 146inch² whereas the Vector GP78 2023's total usable screen area is 838cm² / 130inch².

PPI (Pixels per Inch)
Additionally, the Vector GP78 2023 features a higher pixel density with 178 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 Vector GP78 2023 178 ppi

Min 106 PPI

Average 141 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.

Both Alienware m18 and Vector GP78 2023 boast the same response time of 3.0 ms.

Brightness
The Vector GP78 2023 offers a higher maximum brightness of 500 nits, delivering a brighter screen.

Brightness Comparison

Displays size larger than 17.0 inches

Dell Alienware m18 300 nits

MSI Vector GP78 2023 500 nits

Min

200 nits

Average 368 nits

Max 1200.00 nits

Dell Alienware m18 vs MSI Vector GP78 2023 Connectivity Comparison

In terms of connectivity,

Wifi
Both laptops offer the same Wi-Fi standard (v6E), 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 Alienware m18 and Vector GP78 2023 have USB-A ports. Alienware m18 has 3x USB 3.2 USB-A ports, while Vector GP78 2023 has 2x USB 3.2 USB-A ports.
Both Alienware m18 and Vector GP78 2023 feature 3x USB 4.0 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 Alienware m18 and Vector GP78 2023 are equipped with Thunderbolt 4 ports.

HDMI
Both Alienware m18 and Vector GP78 2023 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 Alienware m18 and Vector GP78 2023 come with an SD Card Reader for easy access to memory cards.

Audio Jack
Both Alienware m18 and Vector GP78 2023 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	v6E
Bluetooth (latest: v5.4)	v5.3	v5.3
USB-A (latest: 3.2)	3x USB 3.2	2x USB 3.2
USB Type-C (latest: USB4 2.0)	3x USB 4.0	3x USB 4.0
Thunderbolt (latest: 4)	Thunderbolt 4	Thunderbolt 4
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
Optical Drive	No	No
Audio Jack 3.5mm	Yes	Yes
Ethernet RJ45	Yes	Yes
SD CardReader	Yes	Yes
Proprietary Charging Port	Yes	Yes