MSI Raider A18 HX vs Dell XPS 17 9730 2023 Comparison

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MSI Raider A18 HX

18 inches | April 2024

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Dell XPS 17 9730 2023

17 inches | February 2023

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MSI Raider A18 HX vs Dell XPS 17 9730 2023 Comparison Overview

MSI Raider A18 HX

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Dell XPS 17 9730 202...

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MSI Raider A18 HX

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Dell XPS 17 9730 202...

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In this review, we will be comparing Raider A18 HX and XPS 17 9730 2023, two laptops from MSI and Dell. MSI Raider A18 HX was introduced to market in April 2024 and Dell XPS 17 9730 2023 was launched in February 2023. There is 14 months difference between Raider A18 HX and XPS 17 9730 2023 so it would still give an advantage to younger Raider A18 HX.

Click for Available Configurations of the Laptops

Here is a brief look at the main features of MSI Raider A18 HX and Dell XPS 17 9730 2023 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

MSI Raider A18 HX Key Specs

Launched in April 2024
18.0" IPS LCD, 16:10 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX
GPU: GeForce RTX 4080 Laptop 12GB
32GB Ram
404 x 307.5 x 24-32.05 mm (15.91 x 12.11 x 0.94-1.26 inches)
Weight: 3.6 kg (7.94 lbs)

Dell XPS 17 9730 2023 Key Specs

Launched in February 2023
17.0" IPS LCD, 16:10 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Intel Core i5 13500H
GPU: GeForce RTX 4050 Mobile 6GB
8GB Ram
374.45 x 248.05 x 19.5 mm (14.74 x 9.77 x 0.77 inches)
Weight: 2.31 kg (5.09 lbs)

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Raider A18 HX and XPS 17 9730 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 MSI Raider A18 HX over Dell XPS 17 9730 2023

Display Size	18 inches vs 17 inches	Larger Screen Estate
Refresh Rate	240 Hz vs 60 Hz	Smoother media experience
Screen PPI	168 ppi vs 133 ppi	More pixels per inch
Screen Resolution	2560 x 1600 pixels vs 1920 x 1200 pixels	Higher pixel count screen
Screen Type	Matte vs Glossy	potentially less reflections on screen
CPU Fabrication Process	5 nm vs 10 nm	Newer Generation CPU
GPU FLOPS	24.72 TFLOPS vs 7.4 TFLOPS	Higher RAM potential
Max Total RAM	96 GB vs 64 GB	More advanced Wi-fi connectivity
WiFi Standard	v7 vs v6E	More advanced Bluetooth connectivity
Bluetooth	v5.4 vs v5.3	Higher Resolution Camera
Webcam Resolution	1920 x 1080 vs 1280 x 720	Connect to external monitors directly via HDMI cable
HDMI Port	1x HDMI 2.1 vs No	Connects to the local network via Ethernet RJ45
Ethernet RJ45 Port	Yes vs No	Fast way to input numbers
Numeric Pad	Yes vs No

Reasons to choose Dell XPS 17 9730 2023 over MSI Raider A18 HX

Weight	2.31 kg vs 3.60 kg	1.29 kg lighter
Screen-to-Body Ratio	~90.2% vs ~75.6%	Larger screen area ratio
Side Bezel Thickness	4.1 mm vs 8.2 mm	4.1 mm thinner bezels
GPU Fabrication Process	4 nm vs 5 nm	Newer Generation GPU
Charging Port Position	Left, Right vs Right, Bottom	Flexible cable positions
RAM BUS	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x) vs PCI-E Gen 5.0 (4x)	Faster RAM
Fingerprint Sensor	Yes vs No	Easy login with fingerprint
Number of USB-C Ports	4x USB 4.0 vs 1x USB 3.2	Connect more device at the same time
USB-C Port Type	v4.0 vs v3.2	Faster USB-C connection
Thunderbolt	v4 vs No	Support audio, data, power and video all through one single port
Touchpad Size	14.9 x 8.9 cm vs 13.0 x 8.2 cm	Larger Touchpad Area

Common Strengths of Dell XPS 17 9730 2023 and MSI Raider A18 HX

Launch Dates	April 2024 vs February 2023	Both laptops are recent models
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 5.0 (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
VGA Output	No vs No	Connect to External Displays via VGA 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 XPS 17 9730 2023 and MSI Raider A18 HX

Touchscreen Capability	No vs No	No Touchscreen Capability

MSI Raider A18 HX vs Dell XPS 17 9730 2023: Physical Specs Comparison

In this section, we will be comparing the physical specifications and body features of the MSI Raider A18 HX and the Dell XPS 17 9730 2023.

Physical Specs
Weight	3.6 kg (7.94 lbs)	2.31 kg (5.09 lbs)
Surface Area	1242 cm2 (192.7 inches2)	929 cm2 (144 inches2)
Screen to Surface Ratio	~75.6%	~90.2%
Side Bezel Thickness	~8.2 mm	~4.1 mm
Weight per Inch of Screen	0.20 kg/inch	0.14 kg/inch
	0.44 lbs/inch	0.308 lbs/inch
Colors	Black	Black, Silver
Cover Opening Angle	145Â°	135Â°

Comparison of the MSI Raider A18 HX and the Dell XPS 17 9730 2023 External Dimensions

Weight

Raider A18 HX weighs 3.6 kg (7.94 lbs), whereas the XPS 17 9730 2023 weighs 2.31 kg (5.09 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

MSI Raider A18 HX 3.60 kg

Dell XPS 17 9730 2023 2.31 kg

Min 1.29 kg

Average 2.74 kg

Max 4.23 kg

Thickness Comparison

Displays size larger than 17.0 inches

MSI Raider A18 HX 32.05 mm

Dell XPS 17 9730 2023 19.50 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 MSI Raider A18 HX is 0.20 kg/inch.In comparison, this value for the Dell XPS 17 9730 2023 is 0.14 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

MSI Raider A18 HX vs Dell XPS 17 9730 2023: Internals (CPU, GPU, RAM, Battery, SSD, etc.) Comparison

CPU Comparison

CPU Model	AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX3D	Intel Core i5 13500H Intel Core i7 13700H Intel Core i9 13900H
Base Frequency	2.5 GHz	2.6 GHz
Turbo Frequency	5.4 GHz	4.7 GHz
Number of Cores	16	12
Number of Threads	32	16
L3 Cache	64 MB	18 MB
Integrated GPU	Radeon 610M	Intel Iris Xe Graphics (80EU)
CPU Fabrication Process	5 nm	10 nm
Geekbench 5 (Single)	2118	1730
Geekbench 5 (Multi)	19736	11090
Cinebench 23 (Single)	1961	1816
Cinebench 23 (Multi)	34381	14071

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 MSI Raider A18 HX and Dell XPS 17 9730 2023.

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

Laptops with: AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX

Laptops with: Intel Core i5 13500H

GPU Comparison

GPU Model	GeForce RTX 4080 Laptop 12GB GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop 16GB	GeForce RTX 4050 Mobile 6GB GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile 8GB GeForce RTX 4070 Mobile 8GB GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile 12GB
TGP (Total Graphics Power)	175 W	50 W
Nvidia Optimus	MUX	Yes
Type	Dedicated	Dedicated
FLOPS	24.72 TFLOPS	8.986 TFLOPS
Memory Size	12 GB	6 GB
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR6
Memory Bus	192 bit	96 bit
Memory Speed	~16 Gbps	2000 MHz 16 Gbps effective
Shading Units Cores	7424	2560
TMUs	232	80
ROPs	80	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. MSI Raider A18 HX has a FLOPS value of 24.72 TFLOPS whereas the Dell XPS 17 9730 2023 ' has a FLOPS value of 7.4 TFLOPS. If graphical performance of the laptop is important for your use type, the Dell XPS 17 9730 2023 may be the better choice between these two setups.

RAM Comparison

RAM	32GB 64GB 96GB	8GB 16GB 32GB 64GB
Memory Bus	2x16 GB	1x8 GB
RAM Clock	5200 MHz	4800 MHz
RAM Type	DDR5	DDR5
Upgradable	Yes	Yes
Max RAM Size	96 GB	64 GB
Total Slots	2	2
Memory Bus	PCI-E Gen 5.0 (4x)	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x)

With a larger RAM capacity of 32 GB, the Raider A18 HX offers an advantage for multitasking and resource-intensive applications compared to the XPS 17 9730 2023'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.

MSI Raider A18 HX

Dell XPS 17 9730 (2023)

Small Models(1-3B):Examples: Phi-2, Qwen-1.8B

✔Run smoothly.

Medium Models(7-8B):Examples: Mistral-7B, Qwen-7B

✔Good performance.

✖Not supported.

Large Models(13-30B):Examples: Mixtral, Qwen-14B

⚠Can run using CPU + RAM fallback. Expect slower performance.

✖Not supported.

Extra-Large Models(65B+):Examples: LLaMA2-70B, Qwen1.5-72B

✖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.

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	99.9 Wh	97 Wh
Battery Type	Li-Po	Li-Po
Replaceable	No	No
Fast Charging	Yes	Yes
Charging Port Position	Right, Bottom	Left, Right
Charge Power	330 W	130 W
Full Charging Time	2:30 hr	2:00 hr

Moreover, the Raider A18 HX boasts a larger battery capacity of 100 Wh, offering extended usage time compared to the XPS 17 9730 2023's97 Wh.

Battery Comparison

Displays size larger than 17.0 inches

MSI Raider A18 HX 100 Wh

Dell XPS 17 9730 2023 97 Wh

Min 37.00 Wh

Average 76.88 Wh

Max 100.00 Wh

STORAGE
Both laptops, the Raider A18 HX and the XPS 17 9730 2023 have similar max. storage capacities of 8 TB, allowing for ample space to store files and applications.

Storage Options	1 TB, 2 TB, 4 TB, 8 TB	512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB, 4 TB, 8 TB
Upgradable	Yes	Yes
Total Slots	2	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.

MSI Raider A18 HX vs Dell XPS 17 9730 2023: Display Comparison

The display is an essential aspect to consider when comparing the MSI Raider A18 HX and Dell XPS 17 9730 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. Raider A18 HX has a display size of 18.0".On the other hand, XPS 17 9730 2023 has a smaller 17.0" display.The total usable screen area of the Raider A18 HX is 939cm² / 146inch² whereas the XPS 17 9730 2023's total usable screen area is 838cm² / 130inch².

PPI (Pixels per Inch)
Additionally, the Raider A18 HX features a higher pixel density with 168 pixels per inch (PPI), ensuring sharper image details.

Screen PPI (Pixels Per Inch) Comparison

Displays size larger than 17.0 inches

MSI Raider A18 HX 168 ppi

Dell XPS 17 9730 2023 133 ppi

Min 106 PPI

Average 141 PPI

Max 266.00 PPI

Refresh Rate
The Raider A18 HX offers a higher refresh rate of 240 Hz, resulting in smoother motion and improved visual experience.

Brightness
Both Raider A18 HX and XPS 17 9730 2023 offer the same maximum brightness of 500 nits (cd/m²).

Brightness Comparison

Displays size larger than 17.0 inches

MSI Raider A18 HX 500 nits

Dell XPS 17 9730 2023 500 nits

Min

200 nits

Average 368 nits

Max 1200.00 nits

MSI Raider A18 HX vs Dell XPS 17 9730 2023 Connectivity Comparison

In terms of connectivity,

Wifi
Raider A18 HX features a more advanced Wi-Fi standard v7, providing faster and more reliable wireless connections compared to XPS 17 9730 2023 (v6E).

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
Raider A18 HX is equipped with 3x USB 3.2 USB-A ports. XPS 17 9730 2023 does not have USB-A ports.
Both Raider A18 HX and XPS 17 9730 2023 have USB Type-C ports. Raider A18 HX has 1x USB 3.2 USB Type-C ports, while XPS 17 9730 2023 has 4x 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
XPS 17 9730 2023 is equipped with Thunderbolt 4 port. Raider A18 HX does not have Thunderbolt port.

HDMI
Raider A18 HX features an HDMI port (1x HDMI 2.1) for connecting to external monitors. XPS 17 9730 2023 does not have an HDMI port.

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 Raider A18 HX and XPS 17 9730 2023 come with an SD Card Reader for easy access to memory cards.

Audio Jack
Both Raider A18 HX and XPS 17 9730 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)	v7	v6E
Bluetooth (latest: v5.4)	v5.4	v5.3
USB-A (latest: 3.2)	3x USB 3.2	No
USB Type-C (latest: USB4 2.0)	1x USB 3.2	4x USB 4.0
Thunderbolt (latest: 4)	No	Thunderbolt 4
HDMI (latest: 2.1)	1x HDMI 2.1	No
Display Port (latest: v2.0)	No	No
VGA	No	No
Fingerprint Sensor	No	Yes
Optical Drive	No	No
Audio Jack 3.5mm	Yes	Yes
Ethernet RJ45	Yes	No
SD CardReader	Yes	Yes
Proprietary Charging Port	Yes	No