Is the Dell XPS 15 A Gaming Laptop?

[paulyron]

So from what I hear, all gaming laptops have poor battery correct?  But that is only if you game while on battery?  So almost all gaming laptops would not last more than 2 hours gaming right at the most?  Would that mean the g14 and g15 as well which i hear has long battery for gaming?

 

 

The thing is I never had a gaming laptop and do not even play games.  I have to get a new laptop because I want a fast laptop to continue playing online poker.

 

 

My old current dell xps 15 9550 with specs of below and i have to get a faster laptop because of this reason.  I get tons of lags and freezing and my laptop even though it's fast for everything else, I have to get a new laptop.

 

i5-6300hq

1tv nvme ssd

32gb ram

intel hd graphics 530

nvidia geforce gtx 960m

 

 

 

The confusing thing here is... is the dell xps 15 9510 or 9520 or any of the dell xps laptops considered gaming laptops or not?  Because they are called creator laptops?  Now if you upgrade the current xps 15 9520 to specs like below

 

i7-12700h or i9

512gb ssd or 1tb ssd

16gb or 32gb ram

nvidia 3050/3050ti or 3060 on the xps 17

 

 

Would't those specs above for the xps 15 or xps 17 be considered a gaming laptop?  But what if the graphics card is only UHD Graphics or Intel Iris Xe Graphics.  So these 2 graphics cards would not be considered gaming laptops?  Because if your laptop has specs of above with say just the nvidia 3050 but i7-12700h processor, what is different from an asus or lenovo legion or acer nitro gaming laptop with the same or similar specs?  Because all those laptops are marketed as gaming and when I think gaming, I think poor battery when doing everything nongaming.  But that is true or false

 

 

Also the xps 15 always talks about a very long battery.  It mentions its 13 hours if you have the nontouch screen.  I think they say its 9 hours or 8 hours with the oled or the 4k resolution.  Now obviously this battery life is exaggerated as it is never that much.  However, does that mean an xps 15 will always have a longer battery than a gaming laptop... whether you are gaming or nongaming?  I also heard the stronger the graphics card, the weaker the battery.  But what if you turn off the 3050 or 3060 while doing just web browsing or youtube on the gaming laptop?  The battery would certainly be a lot higher than the max 2 hours on gaming right?  But it wouldn't be by that much and probably 4 hours or 5 hours at the most?  But with the xps 15 9520 for example, it could be 8 hours or more?

 

 

I also heard the xps fan and cooling is not that good but that is only if you are gaming?  So if you don't use the 3050, it isn't an issue?  What is the different between the xps 15 with the the i7-12700h and 3050 or 3050ti vs any asus or legion gaming laptop then?  Obviously the price of the xps is much more.  So the pro is the longer battery on the xps 15 compared to every single gaming laptop?

[Electronics Wizardy]

10 minutes ago, paulyron said:

 

 

The confusing thing here is... is the dell xps 15 9510 or 9520 or any of the dell xps laptops considered gaming laptops or not? 

The gaming laptop name doesn't mean anything. Each laptop is different. So it doesn't matter if the XPS is branded as a gaming laptop or not.

 

10 minutes ago, paulyron said:

Because if your laptop has specs of above with say just the nvidia 3050 but i7-12700h processor, what is different from an asus or lenovo legion or acer nitro gaming laptop with the same or similar specs? 

The XPS has a better build quality and is thinner than most gaming laptop, but there are also some very thin gaming laptops. 

 

11 minutes ago, paulyron said:

But what if you turn off the 3050 or 3060 while doing just web browsing or youtube on the gaming laptop?  The battery would certainly be a lot higher than the max 2 hours on gaming right?  But it wouldn't be by that much and probably 4 hours or 5 hours at the most?  But with the xps 15 9520 for example, it could be 8 hours or more?

 

 

Most all laptops turn off the GPU if its not being used and just use the iGPU. Id still guess for most uses battery like will be in the 3-8 hour range if you have multiple programs running and a brighter screen.

 

I'm guessing you can't use a mac, as the new mbps seem very good here, with near the best battery life.

 

Id stop loooking if a laptop is gaming or not, just look at the specs, and ignore the gpu if your not using it. Gaming laptops normally have pretty good CPUs aswell, and many are well rounded systems.

[Stormseeker9]

13 minutes ago, Electronics Wizardy said:

 

 

I'm guessing you can't use a mac, as the new mbps seem very good here, with near the best battery life.

 

I can concur! Got the M1 and have had battery last more than 10h watching videos or 3-4 hours of light (ETS2) gaming on a battery.

 

think the longest I went without charging and light use was 2 days or so

 

 

oh and @paulyronI play poker on my  MBP in case that matters.

[paulyron]

I can't use mac because the programs requires windows.  Yes heard those new macs have very good battery.  But they can't use windows right?

 

 

But the dell xps 15 will have better battery life than literally every single gaming laptop right with the same or similar specs?  

 

 

So you are paying a lot more for the xps because of the better build, the name brand and the battery?  But I read lot of the gaming laptops... people say most of them don't last more than 3 hours total when not gaming though.  So does that mean gaming laptops in general have poor battery when if you do not do any gaming on it?  So if you use the xps 15 9520 with the 3050 on all the time but just web browse or youtube, then your battery would be 2 hours or maybe 3 at the most?  But if you were say gaming on it, it would get more than any gaming laptop but not by much more?  Again I only plan to get a new laptop for online poker and not gaming.

[paulyron]

When you say you play poker on your mac, what sites are you playing on and how many tables do you play at once?  Do you use any software like holdem manager or pokertracker?  I am assuming you play just for fun and only 1 or 2 tables right? 

 

 

Because I play a lot of tables and that is what I do for my income.  I don't make much though however.  But my old laptop cannot handle the new software these poker sites are using now so I need a new laptop.  I considered a mac because i heard the new ones have long battery but I wasn't sure if i could install windows in it.  I remember years ago people said buying a mac and installing windows in it was very foolish.  

[Electronics Wizardy]

16 minutes ago, paulyron said:

But the dell xps 15 will have better battery life than literally every single gaming laptop right with the same or similar specs?  

 

The XPS should have about the same battery life as a gaming laptop with simmilar specs.

 

17 minutes ago, paulyron said:

 

So you are paying a lot more for the xps because of the better build, the name brand and the battery?  But I read lot of the gaming laptops... people say most of them don't last more than 3 hours total when not gaming though.  So does that mean gaming laptops in general have poor battery when if you do not do any gaming on it?  So if you use the xps 15 9520 with the 3050 on all the time but just web browse or youtube, then your battery would be 2 hours or maybe 3 at the most?  But if you were say gaming on it, it would get more than any gaming laptop but not by much more?  Again I only plan to get a new laptop for online poker and not gaming.

Some gaming laptops have bad battery life as they don't have many power saving features. There are also many that have the same power savings features as the XPS, and get similar battery life. There doesn't seem to be much of a market of laptop with a high end cpu, but only a igpu. Gaming laptops are often the only way to get a high performance cpu in a consumer laptop

 

You can also get something like a Precision 5570 and other buiness laptop that have the 45w h series cpus and the iGPU for graphics, and a pretty big battery.

 

Id also consider getting ultrabook like laptop with great battery life, and then a desktop to do the compute and remote into the desktop as needed.

[Darkseth]

5 hours ago, paulyron said:

But they can't use windows right?

You can use a VM with Paralells, and isntall Windows 11 ARM on it.

Inside this Windows 11 ARM, you can even install x86 Applications, they will get emulated into ARM Code from Windows itself.

 

That works pretty damn good. I used it for an SAP S/4 Hana Application, Microsoft SQL Server Data Tools, PowerBI, SQL Server Management Studio. So somewhat complex Applications, they ran without any issue with every Function i used (even importing Data from a Server). Even more, i noticed zero slowdown, but these things don't really require super high Performance.

 

Even some smaller random application like a DS Rom Patcher (where who knows how bad they could've been coded) worked fine.

 

Depending which Applications you need and how often, i think this absolutely has Daily Driver-stability.

5 hours ago, paulyron said:

But the dell xps 15 will have better battery life than literally every single gaming laptop right with the same or similar specs?  

First of all, Dell XPS is NOT a Gaming Laptop. It's meant as a professional Laptop for Applications, everyday stuff and similar things. Just because there's a GPU included, it's not a "Gaming Laptop". Completely different Focus. Also, the GPU included probably doesn't have the highest TDP rating possible.

Yes, you can game on it as much as the GPU allows it.

 

But "Gaming" Laptops usually focus on highest possible CPU/GPU Performance, and a high refresh screen, before they focus on Display quality, brightness, build quality etc.

 

 

Since i don't know literaly every single gaming laptop, i can't promise you that. Look "Notebookcheck" Review, how long they measured the batterylife. That's what you can get.

Last years Model with 11th gen lasts for 7 hours wifi browsing with the 3,5k OLED screen. With 1920x1200 IPS it should be closer to 9-10 hours.

 

 

However: If you want Macbook-Battery life, you basicly have to buy Macbooks.

Maybe even focus on AMD Ryzen 6000 Chips, as Intel Chips are the least efficient Chips on the Market right now. Intel doesn't care about efficiency, they want highest possible Power and Performance.
Those E-Cores also aren't meant for saving Energy, but to maximize "Multicore Performance per Die-Area".

5 hours ago, paulyron said:

 

So you are paying a lot more for the xps because of the better build, the name brand and the battery?  But I read lot of the gaming laptops... people say most of them don't last more than 3 hours total when not gaming though. 

You're always paying for something.

On the XPS: High build quality, good speakers, VERY good Display. Even the base Display is good, the more expensive options get even better.

High Power CPU, small GPU for GPU related Tasks (like photo/video editing maybe or light Gaming or CAD etc), Thunderbolt 4.. The Design with the super slim bezels.

5 hours ago, paulyron said:

So does that mean gaming laptops in general have poor battery when if you do not do any gaming on it? 

That's because they often have smaller batterys, and very high TDP Hardware for high performance. Ther are probably models, that last for more than 6 hours web browsing.

Usually, the Dedicated GPU can be deactivated, and the IGP will be used. Still, it's powerfull hardware that needs Power.

5 hours ago, paulyron said:

 

So if you use the xps 15 9520 with the 3050 on all the time but just web browse or youtube, then your battery would be 2 hours or maybe 3 at the most?  But if you were say gaming on it, it would get more than any gaming laptop but not by much more?  Again I only plan to get a new laptop for online poker and not gaming.

See Tests, not random posts

 

Edit: Here i found it for you: https://www.notebookcheck.net/2022-Dell-XPS-15-9520-3-5K-OLED-laptop-review-Skip-or-buy.621506.0.html#toc-5

Latest model with i7 12700H, 3,5k OLED Screen, RTX 3050.

They got almost 9 hours on Wifi webbrowsing at 150 nits brightness.

They got 3 hours under full Load with maximum Brightness.

I'm sure, the 1920x1200 IPS base Display (which already is quite good, just not the sharpest) should be able to hit the 10 hour mark easily. Maybe even 11-12? (naturally: Low Display brightness, and probably a battery saving plan).

And it depends on "your" browsing. It can be very different from what Notebookcheck uses.

 

 

But why exactly are we talking about gaming Laptops? You are absolutely NOT gaming, and online Poker is more like a Browser Game. Every integrated GPU of the last 8 years can do that

Ignore Gaming Laptops, you can even ignore every Laptop with a GPU.

Dell XPS is an exception despite GPU. It's perfectly Valid to get it, because you want the bezels, it's almost the smallest 15" Laptop you can find. Great build quality, great display, great speakers, good trackpad... it's an overall very very good laptop, one of the best everyday mobile Computers. But a high price one.

 

Cheaper is possible, take a look into the Ideapad 5 Pro 16ARH7.

That's the latest model with AMD Ryzen 6000 series, which is known to be quite efficient.

it comes with a good and sharp 2560x1600 Display which is GREAT for Webbrowsing. Even the smallest Ryzen 5 6600HS is not just enough, it's even extremely overkill for you. But it will stay very efficient and you should be able to expect more than 10 hours web browsing i guess (undless they fucked up something).

16gb soldered Ram is more than enough for everyday normal Tasks, and the 512gb SSD can be upgraded if you need more.

[paulyron]

5 hours ago, Darkseth said:

You can use a VM with Paralells, and isntall Windows 11 ARM on it.

Inside this Windows 11 ARM, you can even install x86 Applications, they will get emulated into ARM Code from Windows itself.

 

That works pretty damn good. I used it for an SAP S/4 Hana Application, Microsoft SQL Server Data Tools, PowerBI, SQL Server Management Studio. So somewhat complex Applications, they ran without any issue with every Function i used (even importing Data from a Server). Even more, i noticed zero slowdown, but these things don't really require super high Performance.

 

Even some smaller random application like a DS Rom Patcher (where who knows how bad they could've been coded) worked fine.

 

Depending which Applications you need and how often, i think this absolutely has Daily Driver-stability.

First of all, Dell XPS is NOT a Gaming Laptop. It's meant as a professional Laptop for Applications, everyday stuff and similar things. Just because there's a GPU included, it's not a "Gaming Laptop". Completely different Focus. Also, the GPU included probably doesn't have the highest TDP rating possible.

Yes, you can game on it as much as the GPU allows it.

 

But "Gaming" Laptops usually focus on highest possible CPU/GPU Performance, and a high refresh screen, before they focus on Display quality, brightness, build quality etc.

 

 

Since i don't know literaly every single gaming laptop, i can't promise you that. Look "Notebookcheck" Review, how long they measured the batterylife. That's what you can get.

Last years Model with 11th gen lasts for 7 hours wifi browsing with the 3,5k OLED screen. With 1920x1200 IPS it should be closer to 9-10 hours.

 

 

However: If you want Macbook-Battery life, you basicly have to buy Macbooks.

Maybe even focus on AMD Ryzen 6000 Chips, as Intel Chips are the least efficient Chips on the Market right now. Intel doesn't care about efficiency, they want highest possible Power and Performance.
Those E-Cores also aren't meant for saving Energy, but to maximize "Multicore Performance per Die-Area".

You're always paying for something.

On the XPS: High build quality, good speakers, VERY good Display. Even the base Display is good, the more expensive options get even better.

High Power CPU, small GPU for GPU related Tasks (like photo/video editing maybe or light Gaming or CAD etc), Thunderbolt 4.. The Design with the super slim bezels.

That's because they often have smaller batterys, and very high TDP Hardware for high performance. Ther are probably models, that last for more than 6 hours web browsing.

Usually, the Dedicated GPU can be deactivated, and the IGP will be used. Still, it's powerfull hardware that needs Power.

See Tests, not random posts

 

Edit: Here i found it for you: https://www.notebookcheck.net/2022-Dell-XPS-15-9520-3-5K-OLED-laptop-review-Skip-or-buy.621506.0.html#toc-5

Latest model with i7 12700H, 3,5k OLED Screen, RTX 3050.

They got almost 9 hours on Wifi webbrowsing at 150 nits brightness.

They got 3 hours under full Load with maximum Brightness.

I'm sure, the 1920x1200 IPS base Display (which already is quite good, just not the sharpest) should be able to hit the 10 hour mark easily. Maybe even 11-12? (naturally: Low Display brightness, and probably a battery saving plan).

And it depends on "your" browsing. It can be very different from what Notebookcheck uses.

 

 

But why exactly are we talking about gaming Laptops? You are absolutely NOT gaming, and online Poker is more like a Browser Game. Every integrated GPU of the last 8 years can do that

Ignore Gaming Laptops, you can even ignore every Laptop with a GPU.

Dell XPS is an exception despite GPU. It's perfectly Valid to get it, because you want the bezels, it's almost the smallest 15" Laptop you can find. Great build quality, great display, great speakers, good trackpad... it's an overall very very good laptop, one of the best everyday mobile Computers. But a high price one.

 

Cheaper is possible, take a look into the Ideapad 5 Pro 16ARH7.

That's the latest model with AMD Ryzen 6000 series, which is known to be quite efficient.

it comes with a good and sharp 2560x1600 Display which is GREAT for Webbrowsing. Even the smallest Ryzen 5 6600HS is not just enough, it's even extremely overkill for you. But it will stay very efficient and you should be able to expect more than 10 hours web browsing i guess (undless they fucked up something).

16gb soldered Ram is more than enough for everyday normal Tasks, and the 512gb SSD can be upgraded if you need more.

Thanks for the very long response.  Well the thing is my old dell xps 15 9550 can no longer handle playing on the online poker site I play on anymore specifically because they changed their software.  Back then I had no issue playing a lot of tables.  Now once I go over a certain amount of tables, there is ton of freezing and lagging.  Also my graphics card is considered old right?  Intel HD 530 Graphics and Nvidia Geforce Gtx 960m.  

 

 

You mention an 8 year old laptop with integrated graphics should handle an online poker site but my current xps is less than 8 years old.  My current xps laptop is more than enough to do everything else such as web browsing and youtube etc but playing online poker, I have ton of lag/freezing with this site.  Again, their software has a lot to do with this as back then same laptop on even 8gb ram didn't had these issues.  

 

 

So based on all this information, what laptop would you recommend?  Would you say completely avoid a gaming laptop for what I want?  Again, it seem silly for me to get one of those asus or lenovo legion gaming laptop because I don't even play games besides online poker.  Also, I'm not a fan of a bulky laptop that looks like a gaming laptop if you know what i mean even if I use it mostly inside.  I would be using it inside plugged in almost always but if i want to take it outside for a bit, i prefer it to be a slim looking laptop like my current xps 15 etc.  The asus g14 seem thin and light but all i read about it how hot it gets and the fans.  I never ever paid attention to a laptop getting hot or the fan because I put it on a table and its plugged to 2 external monitors almost always.  Also if i were just to use the laptop only without external monitor, I think 14' is a bit too small and 15.6 is better.  Do you agree on that?

 

 

So based on that, you suggest getting the xps 15 then?  I know there is the  9510 and 9520.  On dell site, there is 9510 but you can only get it with the oled display and you cannot configure anything.  I want i7 processor and 16gb ram.  I don't mind the 512gb ssd for now as if I use that, it would last for a long time.  I do have a 1tb nvme ssd in my current xps 15 9550 at the moment but would you suggest wiping it and using it for the new laptop or not?  Also I want a long battery which is why i want to avoid oled.  Thus i want that nontouch 1920x1200 screen.  Now with those new macbooks, the price of it for the 14' one seem to be on sale.  The price is very similar to the xps 15 9550.  So would you suggest macbook?  Only issue i have with it is the 512gb ssd and you can't upgrade it.  

 

 

The thing is literally almost all gaming laptops cost less than the xps 15 9520 with the i7-12700, 16gb ram, 512gb ssd, 3050 graphic card and the 86wh battery.  Even the g14 cost less than that.  The g15 I believe cost more.  But most lenovo legion laptops and most gaming laptop cost less than the xps 15 9520.

 

 

But what about the dell ryzen g15 with the exact same specs as the dell xps 15 9520?  Same i7-12700h, 16gb ram, 512gb ssd, 3050 or 3060 and it literally has the same 86wh battery.  The cost is $1050 or $950 and the $1050 has the 3060 though its out of stock right now.  That is labeled a gaming laptop.  So the battery would be worst on the same 86wh battery compared to the xps or not?  It's like almost half the price of the xps 15 9520.  But would you recommend it?  What I don't like about it is... it looks like a gaming laptop though.  

 

 

So based on all this information, you still recommend the xps 15 9520 as the best choice right?  I mean I don't want to pay 2k for a laptop as that is a lot, but the xps 15 9520 seem to check all the boxes.  Such that it also has a long battery even if you doing web browsing or youtube. but you said its similar with a gaming laptop except it isn't as good as the xps 15 920?