Dell G5 5590 (RTX 2060): Affordable Gaming Laptop With Impressive Performance

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Specs and Configuration
3. Design and Build Quality
4. Display Quality
5. Keyboard and Touchpad
6. Connectivity Options
7. Battery Life
8. Thermal Performance
9. Gaming Performance
10. Price and Value
11. Conclusion

Introduction

The new Dell G5 gaming laptop is finally here, and it promises to offer great gaming performance at an affordable price. In this review, we will take a detailed look at the specs and configuration of the laptop, its design and build quality, display quality, keyboard and touchpad, connectivity options, battery life, thermal performance, gaming performance, and finally, its price and value. Let's see if the new Dell G5 is worth considering for your gaming needs.

Specs and Configuration

The Dell G5 gaming laptop comes with an Intel i7-8750H CPU, Nvidia RTX 2060 graphics, 16GB of memory, a 512GB M.2 NVMe SSD, and a 15.6" 60Hz IPS screen. You have the option to customize the laptop with a 144Hz screen, an i5 CPU, or lower graphics. The laptop also offers gigabit ethernet, 802.11ac WiFi, and Bluetooth 5 for network connectivity. Dell has recently updated the G5 with Intel's new 9th gen CPUs and Nvidia 16 series graphics, so the performance may differ slightly with those configurations.

Design and Build Quality

The Dell G5 gaming laptop features a sleek design with a plastic lid and a smooth matte black finish. The Palm rest area has a metal finish with blue accents on the keys and around the touchpad. The laptop has rounded edges and corners, and overall, the build quality is good. It has a starting weight of 2.68kg and is relatively slim for a 15-inch laptop. The 15.6" 1080p 60Hz screen has a matte finish but may appear dim even at maximum brightness. It offers average color gamut results, which may not be a big concern for a gaming laptop.

Keyboard and Touchpad

The keyboard of the Dell G5 has blue printed keys and blue backlighting, which can be adjusted to two brightness levels or turned off completely. Typing on the keyboard is comfortable, although there is a lack of feedback from pressing the keys down. The touchpad has precision drivers and works well, with separate left and right click areas. There is minimal keyboard flex while pushing down hard, indicating solid build quality.

Connectivity Options

The Dell G5 offers a range of connectivity options, including a USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C port with Thunderbolt 3 support (available only on the RTX 2060 configuration), a USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A port, an HDMI 2.0 output, a full-size SD card reader, a gigabit ethernet port, and a 3.5mm audio combo jack. The laptop also provides options for wireless connectivity with gigabit ethernet, 802.11ac WiFi, and Bluetooth 5.

Battery Life

The Dell G5 gaming laptop is equipped with a 90 Watt hour battery, which offers impressive battery life compared to other gaming laptops. During tests, the laptop lasted for 5 hours and 32 minutes while watching YouTube videos, thanks to the larger battery and Intel integrated graphics. While playing games, the battery lasted for 2 hours and 16 minutes, although performance started to decline after an hour and 45 minutes due to power limit throttling. The laptop can be charged using the provided 180 watt power brick.

Thermal Performance

The Dell G5 tends to run hot out of the box, especially under sustained multi-core CPU loads. This is due to a lack of power limit throttling, which affects performance. However, thermal throttling can be mitigated by undervolting the CPU or using a cooling pad. The laptop offers the Dell Power Manager software to change between different modes, although it may not have a significant impact on temperatures. Overall, with some simple tweaks, the thermal performance can be improved.

Gaming Performance

The Dell G5 gaming laptop offers decent gaming performance, but it may not match up to some of the other RTX 2060 laptops on the market. Thermal throttling can affect performance in some games, resulting in lower frame rates compared to laptops with similar specs. However, with some tweaks like undervolting the CPU and using a cooling pad, it is possible to achieve better performance. The laptop performs better in certain games that utilize the CPU more effectively.

Price and Value

The price of the Dell G5 gaming laptop varies depending on the configuration. The base model starts at $900 USD, while higher-end versions with an RTX 2060 start at $1450 USD. The laptop offers good value for money, especially for those looking for a gaming laptop with a balanced configuration. However, it's important to consider the price of customization options like the RGB keyboard or the 144Hz screen.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Dell G5 gaming laptop is a solid choice for gamers who are looking for good performance at an affordable price. It offers a range of configuration options, good build quality, and decent gaming performance. However, the thermal performance may be a concern for some, and the laptop may not match up to other RTX 2060 laptops in terms of gaming performance. Overall, it provides good value for money and is worth considering for gamers on a budget.

Highlights:

• The Dell G5 gaming laptop offers good gaming performance for an affordable price.
• The laptop has a sleek design with a solid build quality.
• It provides a range of connectivity options, including Thunderbolt 3 support.
• The battery life is impressive, thanks to the larger battery and Intel integrated graphics.
• The thermal performance can be improved with some simple tweaks.
• The gaming performance is decent, although it may not match up to other RTX 2060 laptops.
• The price of customization options like the RGB keyboard or the 144Hz screen should be considered.

FAQ:

Q: Can the Dell G5 gaming laptop be customized with a 144Hz screen? A: Yes, the Dell G5 gaming laptop can be configured with a 144Hz screen. Q: Does the laptop offer Thunderbolt 3 support? A: Yes, the RTX 2060 configuration of the Dell G5 gaming laptop supports Thunderbolt 3. Q: How is the battery life of the Dell G5 gaming laptop? A: The Dell G5 gaming laptop offers impressive battery life, thanks to its larger battery and Intel integrated graphics.