Acer Nitro 5 vs Dell G5: Gaming Laptop Battle Comparison

Acer Nitro 5 vs Dell G5: Gaming Laptop Battle Comparison

Table of Contents:

1. Introduction
2. Display Comparison
3. Memory and Storage Availability
4. CPU Performance Comparison
5. GPU Performance Comparison
6. Battery Life
7. Build Quality Evaluation
8. Port Availability
9. Thermals and Noise
10. Major Drawbacks
11. Conclusion

Introduction

In the highly competitive world of budget segment gaming laptops, the Acer Nitro 5 has been reigning as the king, providing impressive performance at an affordable price. However, the latest edition of the Dell G5 seems to be a worthy competitor on paper. In this article, we will compare the Acer Nitro 5 and the Dell G5 gaming laptops, considering their basic specs, benchmark performance, build quality, thermals, major drawbacks, and ultimately arrive at a conclusion.

Display Comparison

The display is an essential factor when it comes to gaming laptops. The Acer Nitro 5 boasts a 15.6-inch Full HD display with a 144Hz refresh rate, 300 nits brightness, and 93% sRGB color coverage. On the other HAND, the Dell G5 features a 15.6-inch Full HD display with a 120Hz refresh rate, 220 nits brightness, and 65% sRGB color coverage. With its higher refresh rate, color accuracy, and brightness levels, the Acer Nitro 5 offers a better display compared to the Dell G5.

Memory and Storage Availability

RAM and storage capacity play a crucial role in a gaming laptop's performance. The Acer Nitro 5 comes with 16GB of DDR4 RAM and 512GB of SSD storage. In comparison, the Dell G5 offers 8GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD storage. Although both laptops provide upgradability options, the Nitro 5, with its additional 8GB of RAM at a similar price point, holds an advantage over the Dell G5.

CPU Performance Comparison

The CPU is the brain of any gaming laptop. The Dell G5 is equipped with the Ryzen 5 4600H processor, a 7nm-based hexa-core processor with a base clock speed of 3.0GHz and a boost clock speed of up to 4.0GHz. On the other hand, the Nitro 5 packs the latest Intel i5-11300H chip, based on a 10nm fabrication process, with a base clock speed of 3.1GHz and a boost clock speed of up to 4.4GHz. Benchmark performance analysis shows that the Ryzen 5 installed in the Dell G5 offers up to a 30% boost in multi-core performance compared to the Acer Nitro 5. However, the single-core performance is fairly similar, with a slight advantage to the Intel i5.

GPU Performance Comparison

The GPU is an integral part of a gaming laptop, significantly impacting gaming performance. The Acer Nitro 5 comes equipped with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 graphics card with 4GB of VRAM, based on a 12nm fabrication process. On the other hand, the Dell G5 features the AMD Radeon RX 5600M card with 6GB of VRAM, based on a 7nm fabrication process. When tested with various games, the Dell G5's Radeon GPU provided up to a 43% better performance compared to the GTX 1650 in the Nitro 5. The difference was particularly noticeable in games like Battlefield 5, where the Dell G5 achieved up to 112 FPS on average at 1080p high settings, while the Nitro 5 managed 60 FPS on average.

Battery Life

Battery life is an essential consideration, especially for gamers who need to play on the go. The Acer Nitro 5 comes with a 57.5Whr battery, providing approximately 5 to 6 hours of backup on regular usage. However, during gaming Sessions, the battery lasts around 1.5 to 2 hours. On the other hand, the Dell G5 features a 51Whr battery, offering around 3.5 to 4 hours of regular usage backup. During gaming, the battery lasts for approximately 1 hour. While both laptops provide decent battery life, the Acer Nitro 5 has a slight advantage in this aspect.

Build Quality Evaluation

The build quality of a gaming laptop affects its durability and overall user experience. The Dell G5 is a bit on the HEAVIER side for a 15-inch laptop, featuring mostly plastic exterior panels. However, it is well put together and feels sturdy with minimal flex in the lid and keyboard. The keys are shallow and offer a mediocre typing experience, while the trackpad is decent for non-gaming usage. The speakers in the Dell G5 are fairly loud and produce good sound quality.

On the other hand, the Acer Nitro 5 is also a relatively heavy laptop, weighing 2.2 kilograms. It is entirely made out of plastic but does not feel cheap or poorly constructed. The design is clean and the chassis is quite stiff. However, the display lid and keyboard deck exhibit a small amount of flex. The keyboard on the Nitro 5 offers a very good typing experience with quiet and precise keystrokes. The trackpad is of average size, made of plastic with a smooth surface, suitable for everyday use. The speakers on the Nitro 5 provide average sound quality, with some deficiencies in the lower end.

Port Availability

Having a good selection of ports is crucial for connectivity. Both the Acer Nitro 5 and the Dell G5 offer a decent range of ports. However, the Nitro 5 lacks an SD card reader, while Thunderbolt support is absent in the Dell G5.

Thermals and Noise

Thermal management is crucial for gaming laptops to prevent overheating. The Dell G5 tends to have heating issues, with the GPU running at around 80 degrees Celsius during gaming sessions, as indicated by the Radeon software. The CPU temperature averages between 95 to 100 degrees Celsius while gaming. After approximately 15 minutes of gaming, the laptop gets quite hot, with certain areas of the surface becoming very warm. Despite these issues, the exhaust fans are audible but not excessively loud.

On the other hand, the Acer Nitro 5 maintains relatively cool temperatures, with the CPU reaching up to 90 to 95 degrees Celsius under load and the GPU averaging around 60 degrees Celsius. The Nitro 5 does not display any significant heating issues, and the fans are not excessively noisy.

Major Drawbacks

Despite their strengths, both the Acer Nitro 5 and the Dell G5 have their fair share of drawbacks. The Nitro 5's speakers offer below-average sound quality, making it less enjoyable for media consumption. Additionally, the Nitro 5 is relatively heavier and lacks an SD card reader. Furthermore, it provides approximately 30% lower multi-core performance and 43% lower GPU performance compared to its competitor, the Dell G5.

On the other hand, the Dell G5 suffers from a poor display with lower brightness levels and less color accuracy. It also has a smaller battery life and tends to heat up under heavy load, causing potential discomfort during gaming sessions.

Conclusion

Based on the comparison, the Acer Nitro 5 emerges as an all-rounder device, excelling in most departments with a few compromises in CPU multi-core performance and GPU performance compared to the Dell G5. It ensures a good gaming experience within its price range. On the other hand, the Dell G5 offers superior CPU and GPU performance but falls short in display quality, battery backup, and cooling system, resulting in higher temperatures. Ultimately, it depends on the user's priorities and preferences when choosing between these two gaming laptops.

Highlights:

• Acer Nitro 5 and Dell G5 compared in terms of gaming performance, display, memory, CPU, GPU, battery life, build quality, ports, thermals, and major drawbacks.
• Acer Nitro 5 offers a higher refresh rate, better color accuracy, and brightness levels in its display compared to the Dell G5.
• Acer Nitro 5 comes with better RAM and storage capacity, providing upgradability options and an advantage over the Dell G5 at a similar price point.
• The Dell G5's Ryzen 5 processor offers a significant boost in multi-core performance compared to the Nitro 5's Intel i5, albeit with comparable single-core performance.
• Dell G5's AMD Radeon GPU provides up to 43% better performance compared to the Nitro 5's GTX 1650, resulting in smoother gaming experiences.
• Acer Nitro 5 offers longer battery life during normal usage, while Dell G5 performs better in gaming sessions.
• Build quality is sturdy and reliable in both laptops, with slight drawbacks in keyboard and trackpad experiences.
• The Nitro 5 lacks an SD card reader, while Thunderbolt support is absent in the Dell G5.
• Dell G5's thermals tend to be hotter, while Nitro 5 maintains cooler temperatures.
• Major drawbacks of the Nitro 5 include below-average speakers, weight, lack of SD card reader, lower multi-core performance, and lower GPU performance compared to Dell G5.
• Major drawbacks of the Dell G5 include poor display quality, lower brightness levels, less color accuracy, shorter battery life, weight, and heating issues during heavy load.

FAQ:

Q: Does the Acer Nitro 5 support memory and storage upgrades? A: Yes, the Acer Nitro 5 provides upgradability options for both memory and storage, allowing users to expand their RAM and SSD capacity.

Q: Can the Dell G5 handle demanding games smoothly? A: Yes, the Dell G5's AMD Radeon RX 5600M GPU offers excellent performance and can handle demanding games smoothly at higher settings.

Q: Is the Dell G5 suitable for multimedia consumption? A: The Dell G5's poor display quality and below-average speakers make it less suitable for multimedia consumption, such as watching movies or editing photos/videos.

Q: Which laptop has better thermals, the Acer Nitro 5 or the Dell G5? A: The Acer Nitro 5 has better thermals, maintaining relatively cooler temperatures compared to the Dell G5, especially during heavy load gaming sessions.

Q: Does the Acer Nitro 5 have Thunderbolt support? A: No, Thunderbolt support is absent in the Acer Nitro 5, limiting certain connectivity options.

Q: Which gaming laptop provides a better overall gaming experience? A: The Acer Nitro 5 offers a better overall gaming experience within its price range, considering its display quality, comfortable thermals, and balanced performance. However, the Dell G5 excels in CPU and GPU performance for those seeking maximum gaming power with slight compromises in other areas.