For general use like web browsing and office tasks, the Acer Aspire 1 is much less expensive, lightweight, and has silent operation due to its fanless design, but it has modest performance and limited storage. The Dell Alienware X17 R2, on the other hand, is built for high-end gaming and engineering applications with a powerful processor, top-tier graphics, and a high-refresh-rate screen, which makes it suitable for intensive 3D rendering, machine learning, and gaming. However, it's considerably more expensive, heavier, and has shorter battery life, which impacts its portability. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Acer Aspire 1
Good portability
Good battery life
Advantages of the Dell Alienware X17 R2
Very good for general use
Excellent for engineering and design
Excellent for gaming and AI
Good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Best in class speakers
Very good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
5.8/10
8.2/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
200.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
367.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
2.0 Hours
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
7.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.0/10
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 is very good for general use, while the Acer Aspire 1 is poor.
The Acer Aspire 1 is limited by its basic CPU, low RAM, and lower-quality TN screen, making it less capable of handling multitasking and vibrant displays needed for general use, whereas the Dell Alienware X17 R2's high-end CPU, substantial RAM, and high-quality IPS screen deliver powerful performance and crisp visuals suitable for a wide range of tasks. Additionally, the Alienware's larger storage capacity and superior build quality, including keyboard and speakers, provide a more premium experience, but with reduced portability and shorter battery life, it may not be as convenient for on-the-go use compared to lighter laptops like the Aspire 1.
Gaming and AI
5.7/10
9.1/10
2.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
480Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 is excellent for gaming and AI, while the Acer Aspire 1 is poor.
The Acer Aspire 1's weaker GPU and lower screen refresh rate make it poorly suited for gaming and 3D tasks compared to the Dell Alienware X17 R2, which boasts a high-end GPU and a much higher screen refresh rate, crucial for smooth and visually impressive gaming experiences.
Engineering and Design
5.5/10
9.0/10
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.5/10
2.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.9/10
4.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 is excellent for engineering and design, while the Acer Aspire 1 is poor.
The Acer Aspire 1, featuring a modest CPU and integrated graphics, is poorly suited for engineering and design tasks that require substantial processing and graphics power, while the Dell Alienware X17 R2 comes with a high-performance CPU and a powerful dedicated GPU, making it ideal for demanding engineering software and detailed design work. Additionally, the Acer Aspire 1 has a lower-quality screen and less RAM which hampers multitasking and the detail you can see, versus the Alienware's superior display and ample memory that enhance visual clarity and allow for complex project handling.
Content Creation
5.9/10
8.4/10
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
4.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 is very good for content creation, while the Acer Aspire 1 is poor.
PerfectRec’s Content Creation Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for photo editing, video editing and other content creation tasks.
Software Development
6.1/10
7.9/10
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.5/10
4.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 is good for software development, while the Acer Aspire 1 is only fair.
PerfectRec’s Software Development Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for software developers.
Screen Quality
5.2/10
8.5/10
15.6in
SIZE
17.3in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
480Hz
200.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
367.0 nits
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 has a better screen than the Acer Aspire 1 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
When looking for a laptop for general use, the Dell Alienware X17 R2 excels with a high-resolution and bright display ensuring a crisp and comfortable viewing experience, whereas the Acer Aspire 1's lower resolution and brightness may result in a less vivid and sharp image. For engineering and design tasks where accurate colors are critical, the Dell's superior color gamut coverage offers more precise color reproduction which is essential for professional work, but the Acer's display may not represent colors as accurately, limiting its effectiveness for these applications. While gaming and 3D uses benefit from high refresh rates for smoother visuals, the Dell's lower refresh rate may not match the fluidity seen on laptops specifically geared for gaming, thus offering a subpar gaming experience compared to models with faster screens.
Battery
6.0 Hours
2.0 Hours
The Acer Aspire 1 has 6 hours of battery life. The Dell Alienware X17 R2 has 2 hours of battery life.
Battery life estimate is based on a mix of common use patterns. More portable and higher performing laptops tend to have less battery life.
Portability
Good
Fair
15.6in
SIZE
17.3in
4.1 lbs
WEIGHT
6.8 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Acer Aspire 1 has good portability, while the Dell Alienware X17 R2 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
5.5/10
8.5/10
The Dell Alienware X17 R2 has very good build quality, while the Acer Aspire 1 has poor build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$215
$2,000
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The Acer Aspire 1 has a price of $215 and the Dell Alienware X17 R2 costs $2,000.
"There are no surprises and nothing's extraordinary here but this laptop's price. For those in need of an inexpensive Windows laptop for undemanding tasks, though, the Acer Aspire 1 offers just enough to get the basics done and a larger screen to do them on."
"The Alienware x17 R2 recognizes targets a significantly higher TGP of 175 W for a roughly 30 percent performance boost over laptops running on the ~100 W GeForce RTX 3080 Ti like the Razer Blade 15 or Gigabyte Aero YE5. Similar results can be found through the CPU as well. This single aspect of the Alienware is perhaps the biggest differentiating factor between it and other ultrathin gaming laptops. Of course, the "performance at all cost" approach comes with drawbacks. Power consumption in particular is through the roof and battery life suffers because of it even when on the lowest performance settings."
Get a great deal on the Acer Aspire 1 or the Dell Alienware X17 R2
About Acer
Acer is a prominent Taiwanese electronics brand which makes a wide range of laptops, with multiple product lines catering to personal use, gaming, and business use. They are renowned for having exceptional value for money, as they frequently offer good specifications at a lower price than other manufacturers.
About Dell
Dell is a highly recognizable American technology company, and is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. Their laptops are very popular for both personal and professional use, and they also own the Alienware brand which makes mid to high end gaming laptops. Their premium XPS range of laptops offer great build quality and portability, while Latitude and Precision laptops are known for reliability, repairability and performance for business users.
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec laptops team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest laptop information and makes it digestible for you.
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