MSI Vector 17 HX 2024 vs Dell Alienware m17 R4 Comparison

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MSI Vector 17 HX 2024

17 inches | January 2024

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Dell Alienware m17 R4

17.3 inches | January 2021

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MSI Vector 17 HX 2024 vs Dell Alienware m17 R4 Comparison Overview

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In this review, we will be comparing Vector 17 HX 2024 and Alienware m17 R4, two laptops from MSI and Dell. MSI Vector 17 HX 2024 was introduced to market in January 2024 and Dell Alienware m17 R4 was launched in January 2021. As you can see, Alienware m17 R4 is 3 years older than Vector 17 HX 2024. Let's see if this age difference between two laptops makes a big difference.

Click for Available Configurations of the Laptops

Here is a brief look at the main features of MSI Vector 17 HX 2024 and Dell Alienware m17 R4 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

MSI Vector 17 HX 2024 Key Specs

Launched in January 2024
17.0" IPS LCD, 16:10 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Intel Core i9 13980HX
GPU: GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile 8GB
16GB Ram
380 x 297.97 x 23.55-29.45 mm (14.96 x 11.73 x 0.93-1.16 inches)
Weight: 3 kg (6.62 lbs)

Dell Alienware m17 R4 Key Specs

Launched in January 2021
17.3" IPS LCD, 16:9 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Intel Core i7 10870H
GPU: GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile 6GB
16GB Ram
399.8 x 294.6 x 16.9-22 mm (15.74 x 11.6 x 0.67-0.87 inches)
Weight: 2.5 kg (5.51 lbs)

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Vector 17 HX 2024 and Alienware m17 R4 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 Vector 17 HX 2024 over Dell Alienware m17 R4

Screen-to-Body Ratio	~74% vs ~70%	Larger screen area ratio
Side Bezel Thickness	6.9 mm vs 8.4 mm	1.5 mm thinner bezels
Refresh Rate	165 Hz vs 144 Hz	Smoother media experience
Screen PPI	133 ppi vs 127 ppi	More pixels per inch
Screen Resolution	1920 x 1200 pixels vs 1920 x 1080 pixels	Higher pixel count screen
Screen Type	Matte vs Glossy	potentially less reflections on screen
CPU Fabrication Process	10 nm vs 14 nm	Newer Generation CPU
GPU Fabrication Process	4 nm vs 8 nm	Newer Generation GPU
GPU FLOPS	16.8 TFLOPS vs 13.8 TFLOPS	Charges via USB-C type cable
USB Power Delivery	Yes vs No	Faster RAM Type
RAM Type	DDR5 vs DDR4	Higher RAM potential
Max Total RAM	96 GB vs 32 GB	More advanced Wi-fi connectivity
WiFi Standard	v7 vs v6	More advanced Bluetooth connectivity
Bluetooth	v5.4 vs v5.1	Connect more device at the same time
Number of USB-C Ports	3x USB 3.2 vs 1x USB 3.2

Reasons to choose Dell Alienware m17 R4 over MSI Vector 17 HX 2024

Weight	2.50 kg vs 3.00 kg	0.5 kg lighter
Display Size	17.3 inches vs 17 inches	Larger Screen Estate
Number of USB-A Ports	3x USB 3.2 vs 2x USB 3.2	Connect more device at the same time
Display Port	Yes vs No	Option to use Display port to connect to external monitors

Common Strengths of Dell Alienware m17 R4 and MSI Vector 17 HX 2024

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	1xPCI-E Gen 5.0 (4x), 1xPCI-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
Thunderbolt Port	v4 vs v3	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
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 Dell Alienware m17 R4 and MSI Vector 17 HX 2024

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

MSI Vector 17 HX 2024 vs Dell Alienware m17 R4: Physical Specs Comparison

In this section, we will be comparing the physical specifications and body features of the MSI Vector 17 HX 2024 and the Dell Alienware m17 R4.

Physical Specs
Weight	3 kg (6.62 lbs)	2.5 kg (5.51 lbs)
Surface Area	1132 cm2 (175.5 inches2)	1178 cm2 (182.6 inches2)
Screen to Surface Ratio	~74%	~70%
Side Bezel Thickness	~6.9 mm	~8.4 mm
Weight per Inch of Screen	0.18 kg/inch	0.14 kg/inch
	0.396 lbs/inch	0.308 lbs/inch
Colors	Gray	White, Gray

Comparison of the MSI Vector 17 HX 2024 and the Dell Alienware m17 R4 External Dimensions

Weight

Vector 17 HX 2024 weighs 3 kg (6.62 lbs), whereas the Alienware m17 R4 weighs 2.5 kg (5.51 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 Vector 17 HX 2024 3.00 kg

Dell Alienware m17 R4 2.50 kg

Min 1.29 kg

Average 2.74 kg

Max 4.23 kg

Thickness Comparison

Displays size larger than 17.0 inches

MSI Vector 17 HX 2024 29.45 mm

Dell Alienware m17 R4 16.90 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 MSI Vector 17 HX 2024 is 0.18 kg/inch.In comparison, this value for the Dell Alienware m17 R4 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 Vector 17 HX 2024 vs Dell Alienware m17 R4: Internals (CPU, GPU, RAM, Battery, SSD, etc.) Comparison

CPU Comparison

CPU Model	Intel Core i9 13980HX Intel Core i9 14900HX	Intel Core i7 10870H Intel Core i9 10980HK
Base Frequency	2.2 GHz	2.2 GHz
Turbo Frequency	5.6 GHz	5 GHz
Number of Cores	24 (8P + 16E)	8
Number of Threads	32	16
L3 Cache	36 MB	16 MB
Integrated GPU	Intel UHD Graphics (32EU)	Intel UHD Graphics 630
CPU Fabrication Process	10 nm	14 nm

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 Vector 17 HX 2024 and Dell Alienware m17 R4.

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

Laptops with: Intel Core i9 13980HX

Laptops with: Intel Core i7 10870H

GPU Comparison

GPU Model	GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile 8GB GeForce RTX 4070 Mobile 8GB GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile 12GB GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile 16GB	GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile 6GB GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile 8GB GeForce RTX 3080 Mobile 16GB
Base Clock Frequency	1545 MHz	900 MHz
Boost CLock Frequency	1890 MHz	1425 MHz
TGP (Total Graphics Power)	115 W	80 W
Nvidia Optimus	MUX	No, direct
Type	Dedicated	Dedicated
FLOPS	11.61 TFLOPS	10.94 TFLOPS
Memory Size	8 GB	6 GB
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR6
Memory Bus	128 bit	192 bit
Memory Speed	2000 MHz 16 Gbps effective	1750 MHz 14 Gbps effective
Shading Units Cores	3072	3840
TMUs	96	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. MSI Vector 17 HX 2024 has a FLOPS value of 16.8 TFLOPS whereas the Dell Alienware m17 R4 ' has a FLOPS value of 13.8 TFLOPS. If graphical performance of the laptop is important for your use type, the MSI Vector 17 HX 2024 may be the better choice between these two setups.

RAM Comparison

RAM	16GB 32GB 64GB 96GB	16GB 32GB
Memory Bus	2x8 GB	2x8 GB
RAM Clock	5600 MHz	2933 MHz
RAM Type	DDR5	DDR4
Upgradable	Yes	Yes
Max RAM Size	96 GB	32 GB
Total Slots	2	2
Memory Bus	1xPCI-E Gen 5.0 (4x), 1xPCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x)	PCI-E Gen 3.0 (4x)

Both laptops, the Vector 17 HX 2024 and the Alienware m17 R4, 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	MSI Vector 17 HX (2024)	Dell Alienware m17 R4
Small Models(1-3B):Examples: Phi-2, Qwen-1.8B	✔ Run smoothly.	✔ Run smoothly.
Medium Models(7-8B):Examples: Mistral-7B, Qwen-7B	✔ Good performance.	✖ 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	90 Wh	86 Wh
Battery Type	Li-Po	Li-Ion
Replaceable	No	No
Fast Charging	Yes	Yes
USB Power Delivery	Yes	No
Charging Port Position	Left, Right, Bottom	Bottom
Charge Power	280 / 330 W	240 / 330 W
Full Charging Time	2:30 hr

Moreover, the Vector 17 HX 2024 boasts a larger battery capacity of 90 Wh, offering extended usage time compared to the Alienware m17 R4's86 Wh.

Battery Comparison

Displays size larger than 17.0 inches

MSI Vector 17 HX 2024 90 Wh

Dell Alienware m17 R4 86 Wh

Min 37.00 Wh

Average 76.88 Wh

Max 100.00 Wh

STORAGE
Both laptops, the Vector 17 HX 2024 and the Alienware m17 R4 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, 512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB, 4 TB
Upgradable	Yes	Yes
Total Slots	2	3
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 Vector 17 HX 2024 vs Dell Alienware m17 R4: Display Comparison

The display is an essential aspect to consider when comparing the MSI Vector 17 HX 2024 and Dell Alienware m17 R4 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. Vector 17 HX 2024 has a display size of 17.0".On the other hand, Alienware m17 R4 has a larger17.3" display.The total usable screen area of the Vector 17 HX 2024 is 838cm² / 130inch² whereas the Alienware m17 R4's total usable screen area is 825cm² / 128inch².

PPI (Pixels per Inch)
Additionally, the Vector 17 HX 2024 features a higher pixel density with 133 pixels per inch (PPI), ensuring sharper image details.

Screen PPI (Pixels Per Inch) Comparison

Displays size larger than 17.0 inches

MSI Vector 17 HX 2024 133 ppi

Dell Alienware m17 R4 127 ppi

Min 106 PPI

Average 141 PPI

Max 266.00 PPI

Refresh Rate
The Vector 17 HX 2024 offers a higher refresh rate of 165 Hz, resulting in smoother motion and improved visual experience.

Brightness
Both Vector 17 HX 2024 and Alienware m17 R4 offer the same maximum brightness of 300 nits (cd/m²).

Brightness Comparison

Displays size larger than 17.0 inches

MSI Vector 17 HX 2024 300 nits

Dell Alienware m17 R4 300 nits

Min

200 nits

Average 368 nits

Max 1200.00 nits

MSI Vector 17 HX 2024 vs Dell Alienware m17 R4 Connectivity Comparison

In terms of connectivity,

Wifi
Vector 17 HX 2024 features a more advanced Wi-Fi standard v7, providing faster and more reliable wireless connections compared to Alienware m17 R4 (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 Vector 17 HX 2024 and Alienware m17 R4 have USB-A ports. Vector 17 HX 2024 has 2x USB 3.2 USB-A ports, while Alienware m17 R4 has 3x USB 3.2 USB-A ports.
Both Vector 17 HX 2024 and Alienware m17 R4 have USB Type-C ports. Vector 17 HX 2024 has 3x USB 3.2 USB Type-C ports, while Alienware m17 R4 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
Both Vector 17 HX 2024 and Alienware m17 R4 feature Thunderbolt ports. Vector 17 HX 2024 has Thunderbolt 4, while Alienware m17 R4 has Thunderbolt 3.

HDMI
Both Vector 17 HX 2024 and Alienware m17 R4 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 Vector 17 HX 2024 and Alienware m17 R4 come with an SD Card Reader for easy access to memory cards.

Audio Jack
Both Vector 17 HX 2024 and Alienware m17 R4 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	v6
Bluetooth (latest: v5.4)	v5.4	v5.1
USB-A (latest: 3.2)	2x USB 3.2	3x USB 3.2
USB Type-C (latest: USB4 2.0)	3x USB 3.2	1x USB 3.2
Thunderbolt (latest: 4)	Thunderbolt 4	Thunderbolt 3
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