Dell G7 17 (7700) Gaming laptop review: half a step away from ideal

I confess, there could be much more reviews of Dell gaming laptops on our website. The last time we visited the Inspiron 7567 model was back in 2017. Believe me, the editors are not to blame for the lack of reviews of new Dell products. Meanwhile, models such as the G5 5590 have become famous for their low price with good performance. And now the long-awaited novelty has finally arrived – the G7 17 (7700) model. Let’s see if this series of Dell gamebooks becomes as popular.

 

 

 

⇡#Specifications, equipment and software

The table below clearly shows that on sale around the world you will find a huge number of modifications of the G7 17 – the updated series of Dell laptops includes six NVIDIA graphics accelerators at once, as well as three Intel Core chips. Let’s add here the moment that laptops are equipped with batteries of different capacities, different displays, and also have a different set of connectors (both external and internal) and controllers – it’s easy to get confused.

 

Dell G7 17 (7700)
Primary display	17.3″, 1920 × 1080, IPS, 120Hz, 45% NTSC 17.3″ 1920 x 1080 IPS 144Hz 72% NTSC 17.3″, 1920 × 1080, IPS, 300Hz, 72% NTSC
CPU	Intel Core i9-10885H Intel Core i7-10875H Intel Core i5-10300H
Video card	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER 8GB GDDR6 NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 8GB GDDR6 NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q 8GB GDDR6 NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 6GB GDDR6 NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti 6 GB GDDR6 NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti 4GB GDDR6
		RAM	Up to 32 GB, DDR4-2933
Install Drives	2 × M.2 in PCI Express x4 3.0 mode 1 × SATA 6Gb/s
Optical drive	None
Interfaces (maximum configuration)	1 × USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C (Thunderbolt 3 compatible) 3 x USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A 1 x 3.5mm mini jack 1 x HDMI 1 × mini-DisplayPort 1.4 1 x RJ-45 1 × card reader
Built-in battery	56 or 97 Wh
External power supply	240W
Dimensions	398 × 290 × 23 mm
Notebook weight	3.29kg
Operating system	Windows 10 Home Windows 10 Pro
Warranty	1 to 4 years old
Price	$2,100 for Core i7 model, RTX 2070 Max-Q, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD, 144Hz display

 

Well, far from the most sophisticated version of the Dell G7 17 came to us. The laptop uses a 6-core Core i7 and a full version of the GeForce RTX 2070. The computer has 16 GB of DDR4-2933 RAM and a terabyte solid state drive. Unfortunately, at the time of this writing, I did not find such a modification for sale, however, the exact same version with the RTX 2070 in Max-Q design – Dell G7 17 7700 (G717-2482) – could be taken at retail for $ 2,100 – this one of the lowest prices for models with such graphics and the lowest among versions with a 17-inch screen.

The Killer E2500 gigabit controller is responsible for the wired network in the laptop, and the Killer Wireless-AX 1650i is responsible for the wireless connection. The updated Wi-Fi module supports IEEE 802.11b / g / n / ac / ax standards with a frequency of 2.4 and 5 GHz and a maximum bandwidth of up to 2.4 Gb / s and Bluetooth 5.0.

The laptop came with an external power supply unit with a capacity of 240 W and a mass of about one kilogram – quite large and generally redundant for the test version of the “brick”. It has long been desirable to see sources 500-600 grams lighter, and in general, such a 180 W model will be quite enough. On the other hand, we are dealing with a heavy and dimensional “seed” – a kind of substitute for a desktop in the house, which is unlikely to travel often with its owner.

⇡#Appearance and Input Devices

I think the design of the Dell G7 17 can be called recognizable. This is austerity in appearance, but with a touch of futurism. The second epithet, however, suggests itself for all laptops in which the display lid hinges are located as close to the center as possible. It seems that the screen seems to levitate above the body. The lid, by the way, opens rather tightly, the maximum opening angle is approximately 140 degrees.

The laptop is pleasant not only externally, but also in terms of build quality. I will say the standard words: the case does not play, does not creak, does not bend – and, for example, I am not at all repelled by the fact that the parts of the Dell G7 17 are partially made of plastic. Pleasant to the touch coating hides where the case is made of aluminum (lid, keyboard area, ends on the right and left), and where it is made of plastic (everything else). However, grease, fingerprints and dust on a black background are clearly visible – a laptop needs to be constantly looked after.

The manufacturer claims that “G7 17 has a thin body”, but this is not entirely true. The laptop measures 19mm at its thinnest point and 23mm at its thickest. It is important that the weight of the model, depending on the configuration, varies from 2.85 to 3.29 kg, and do not forget that you will also have to carry a kilogram PSU with you. Unfortunately, the test sample does not support the USB PowerDelivery function.

Beautifully designed front and back panels complete the memorable appearance of the Dell G17 17. RGB backlighting is displayed on the entire front wall – the biggest “chip” in gaming laptops in recent times.

But the small frames on the top and sides of the screen make me happy – this is also the de facto standard in modern laptops, but with it any models look much prettier.

As I said, different modifications of the Dell G17 17 received a different set of connectors. The assembly with the GeForce GTX 1650 Ti does not have a Tunderbolt 3 interface – it only has one USB 3.2 Gen2 C-type port. And in this modification, a simple gigabit controller is used.

One of the three USB 3.2 Gen 1 supports PowerShare technology, which allows you to charge external devices connected to this connector, even when the laptop is in sleep mode, until the battery is discharged by a certain percentage of its full capacity.

It also has an SD card reader! Best regards to all manufacturers who do not get rid of this very useful adapter. Although there are fewer such laptops every day, alas.

The G17 keyboard received a numeric keypad. Next to it you will find branded buttons A / B / C / D – you can “hang” any functions (macroes) on them using Alienware Command Center proprietary software. On the left there is a Game Shift button that activates the laptop’s “loud” mode of the same name. All buttons are equipped with RGB backlight, they are divided into four independent zones.

In general, working and playing at the keyboard of the “seventeenth” is quite convenient. Keys that should be large are large. And there are no “perversions” like “and let’s make Ctrl smaller than the little finger”.

I have no complaints about the touchpad either. He, like all “relatives”, allows you to control the operating system with gestures. The touchpad itself is quite large (11.5 × 8 cm) and is traditionally placed closer to the left side for gaming solutions. Pressing is distinct, with a pronounced and audible click. I did not notice any flaws when working with the touchpad, but in games it is definitely more convenient to use the mouse.

The webcam allows you to shoot in 720p resolution at 30 Hz. The video quality is poor, indoors with artificial lighting, the picture is dark and very noisy. For streaming, such an image is definitely not suitable. Satisfactory quality can only be obtained in bright natural light. For example, outside on a sunny day.

⇡#Internal design and upgrade options

The laptop is very easy to disassemble. The side screws, when unscrewed, simultaneously lift the bottom, so you don’t have to “tinker” with something thin and flat – all that remains is to carefully detach the base from the rest of the case.

The cooling system of the Dell G7 17 is alarming. The G-laptops of the past generation used a cooler with four heat pipes – while they were attached to two overall radiators. In our case, only three heat pipes are used, and one of the radiators has become noticeably smaller. But in the test model, rather hot components are used.

But in terms of upgrade, the hero of the review proves to be very cool. In our case, 16 GB of DDR4-2933 RAM is installed, and this amount will be enough for modern games for a long time. But if there is not enough space on the terabyte Western Digital WDC PC SN730, then you can always install a second M.2-SSD.

A version with a high-capacity battery arrived for our test – 97 Wh, so it lacks a SATA 6 Gb / s connector and a seat for a 2.5-inch drive. In the G7 17 variant with a 56-Wh battery, an HDD/SSD of this form factor can be installed.

⇡#Test Methodology

 

 

The updated testing methodology for gaming laptops puts even more emphasis on PC gaming. Laptop performance was measured using various software.

Games (Full HD resolution):

• Counter Strike: Global Offensive. DirectX 9. Map Benchmark. Maximum quality, MSAA 8x + FXAA.
• World of Tanks enCore. DirectX 11. Benchmark. Ultra mode, TSSAA HQ.
• Dota 2. DirectX 11. Match recording. Maximum quality.
• The Witcher III: Wild Hunt. DirectX 11. Novigrad and surroundings. Maximum quality.
• GTA V. DirectX 11. Built-in benchmark (last scene). Maximum quality, FXAA + 2x MSAA, advanced quality settings on, 16x AF, image resolution scaling off
• The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition. DirectX 11. Riverwood and surroundings. Maximum quality, TAA. No mods.
• Total War Three Kingdoms. DirectX 11. Built-in benchmark. Max mode, TAA.
• Far Cry New Dawn. DirectX 11. Built-in benchmark. Maximum quality, HD textures – on, TAA.
• Assassin’s Creed Odyssey. DirectX 11. Built-in benchmark. Highest mode.
• Metro: Exodus. DirectX 12. Built-in benchmark. Ultra Mode
• Battlefield V. DirectX 12. The Last Tiger mission. Ultra Mode, TAA, DXR Off
• Shadow of the Tomb Raider. DirectX 12. Built-in benchmark. Maximum quality, DXR – off, TAA.
• Deus Ex: Mankind Divided. DirectX 12. Built-in benchmark. Maximum quality, 2x MSSA.
• Gears 5. DirectX 12. Built-in benchmark. Ultra Mode
• Red Dead Redemption 2. Vulkan. Built-in benchmark (last scene). Maximum quality (advanced settings – off), TAA.
• DOOM Eternal. Vulcan. Beginning of the game. Ultra Mode

The gaming performance of the laptop was determined using the well-known MSI Afterburner program. It allows you to get the rendering time of each frame. The use of the 99th percentile instead of the minimum frames per second is due to the desire to clean up the results from random bursts of performance that were provoked by reasons not directly related to the operation of the main components of the platform.

Testing the laptop in games and applications was carried out with the activation of the fastest mode suitable for these tasks.

Applications:

• Corona 1.3. Testing rendering speed using the renderer of the same name. Measures the build speed of the standard BTR scene used to measure performance.
• Blender 2.83. Determination of the final rendering speed in one of the popular free packages for creating three-dimensional graphics. The duration of building the final model pavillon_barcelona_v1.2 from Blender Benchmark is measured.
• x265 HD Benchmark. Testing the speed of video transcoding to H.265/HEVC format. The tables and graphs show the average integer value obtained after five runs of the test.
• CINEBENCH R20. Performance measurement of photorealistic 3D rendering in CINEMA 4D animation package, CPU test. The tables and graphs show the average integer value obtained after five runs of the test.
• Adobe Premiere Pro 2020 – Rendering a project in 4K resolution.
• Topaz Video Enhance AI v1.2.3. Performance testing in an AI-based program to improve video detail. The test uses the original video at 1280×720 resolution, which is scaled up by 150% using the Artemis-HQ model: P, HQ, MC.

Comprehensive benchmarks:

• Futuremark PCMARK10 Professional Edition 2.1.2177. Testing in Essentials scenarios (typical work of an average user: launching applications, surfing the Internet, video conferencing), Productivity (office work with a word processor and spreadsheets), Digital Content Creation (creation of digital content: photo editing, non-linear video editing, rendering and 3D visualization -models).
• 3DMark Professional Edition 2.11.6846. Testing in Time Spy and Fire Strike scenes.
• Unigine Superposition Benchmark. 1080p Extreme testing.

Notebook testing in resource-intensive applications was carried out in the default mode without any adjustment of the parameters of the central processor and cooler.

Display testing is performed using the X-Rite i1Display Pro colorimeter and the DisplayCAL 3 application.

The battery life of the laptop was tested in two modes. The first load option – web surfing – involves alternately opening and closing the tabs of the Computeruniverse.ru and Unsplash.com sites with an interval of 30 seconds. For this test, the current version of the Google Chrome browser at the time of testing is used. In the second mode, video in .mkv format and Full HD resolution is played in the built-in player of Windows OS with the repeat function activated. In all cases, the same display brightness was set to 200 cd / m², and the keyboard backlight (if any) and the sound were turned off.

In games and other applications, the results of the following laptops are considered:

 

Test participants
Model	Screen	Processor	RAM	Graphics	Drive	Battery
MSI GS66 Stealth	15.6”, 1920 × 1080, IPS (IGZO)	Intel Core i7-10750H, 6/12 cores/threads, 2.6 (5.0) GHz, 45W	16 GB DDR4-2666 Dual Channel	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 6GB GDDR6	SSD, 1TB	99 Wh
ASUS ROG Zephyrus Duo 15	15.6”, 3840 × 2160, IPS	Intel Core i9-10980HK, 8/16 cores/threads, 2.4 (5.3) GHz, 45W	32 GB DDR4-3200 Dual Channel	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER Max-Q 8GB GDDR6	SSD, 2TB	90 Wh
Acer Predator Helios 300 (PH315-53)	15.6”, 1920 × 1080, IPS	Intel Core i7-10750H, 6/12 cores/threads, 2.6 (5.0) GHz, 45W	24 GB DDR4-3200 Dual Channel	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q 8GB GDDR6	SSD, 1 TB HDD, 1 TB	58 Wh
Dell G7 17 (7700)	17.3”, 1920 × 1080, WVA	Intel Core i7-10750H, 6/12 cores/threads, 2.6 (5.0) GHz, 45W	16GB DDR4-2933 Dual Channel	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 8GB GDDR6	SSD, 1TB	97 Wh

 

⇡#Display and sound

On sale you can find the G7 17 with three types of matrices at once. The simplest version received a 120-Hz IPS screen with a color gamut of 45% NTSC – I think here the image quality will be at an average level. The most popular version, judging by the availability of goods in the store, was the variant with a 144-Hz matrix, and we are talking about the AU Optronics B173HAN – the same display is used in the G-series laptops of the last generation. Also on sale you can find a modification with a 300-Hz screen.

The test results of AU Optronics B173HAN are shown below. The display is excellent, here, in principle, there is nothing to add. The contrast is high, and therefore it will be comfortable to play and watch movies. Deviations in color reproduction do not cause serious criticism: the color gamut of the matrix almost corresponds to the sRGB standard. So the Dell G7 17 is also suitable for those who not only have fun, but also work on a laptop.

 

Dell G7 17 (matrix – AU Optronics B173HAN)
Minimum brightness	15 cd/m2
Maximum brightness	310 cd/m2
Color temperature	6737 K
Contrast	1468:1
sRGB gamut	96%
Adobe RGB color gamut	66.1%
Grey scale deviation: average (maximum)	0.54 (1.17)
ColorChecker24 test deviation: mean (maximum)	0.53 (1.5)
Viewing angles	correspond to the declared
Glow effect	present
PWM	not seen at all brightness levels

 

The sound in the laptop is also good – by the standards of mobile computers, of course. The volume margin is decent, and there is even bass when listening to music.

⇡#Efficiency of the cooling system

We are used to the fact that modern gaming laptops have several operating modes – including productive ones. A mobile PC is tuned to perform at its maximum, or to withstand a certain level of performance at a certain level of noise. The Dell G7 17 has only one mode of operation – and there is a Game Shift button. The problem is that I could not get the fans to spin up – either with a key or by activating a function in the Alienware Command Center program. I suppose the problem turned out to be local, since in the reviews of other G7 I did not find confirmation of the total inoperability of Game Shift. So the laptop passed all tests in default mode.

 

Summary of laptop operation and setup
Laptop mode	Default
Declared GPU Speed ​​(Boost) and Memory Speed	1455 MHz, 11 Gbps
Real GPU frequency in The Witcher III: minimum, maximum, average	1545, 1755, 1577 MHz
Maximum noise level	41.1 dBA
Average power consumption: GPU, CPU	104, 31 W
GPU temperature: average, maximum	86, 87 °C
CPU temperature: average, maximum	93, 99 °C
Performance, points
Test results in 3DMark Time Spy	7096
3DMark Fire Strike test results	15958
Test results in Unigine Superposition (1080p Extreme)	4679

 

There were complaints about the cooling efficiency of the Dell G7 components. Earlier, I complained about the fact that in the new version they frankly saved on the cooler – and we are seeing the fruits of such savings. So, the GPU heats up to 87 degrees Celsius – this leads to the fact that the actual GPU frequency is not much higher than the declared Boost frequency. At the same time, the 6-core Intel also heats up to 99 degrees Celsius, dropping the frequency of all cores to 3.3 GHz, which is 900 MHz less than the value declared for the Core i7-10750H. The fact is that the PL1 parameter for the processor in the Dell G7 17 is set at 30 W – that is, 15 W lower than the standard TDP. Naturally, this is due to the fact that the cooling system “does not pull” two such hot chips at the same time. Consequently, Dell engineers did everything consciously.
You can’t call a quiet laptop in this mode, but a figure of 41.1 dBA is still a good result. Many gaming laptops with this set of components are noisier.

It is also unpleasant that the laptop case is very hot in the middle part – the hands really get hot.

In working applications, the processor frequency drops even lower. For example, Adobe Premiere Pro 2020 averaged 2.9GHz across all six cores, with PL1 ranging from 30W to 44W. With other gaming laptops, we see that many manufacturers are taking various steps (using liquid metal, three fans, evaporative chambers) to increase this value to 60-70W, and some to 90W.

Looking ahead a little, I will say that such a laptop setup did not affect its performance in the best way. And if you believe the reviews on the Web, then the inclusion of the Game Shift function does little to save the situation – the performance of the laptop increases by only a couple of percent. Downvolting in the case of the G7 17 turned out to be impossible – in the XTU program, the ability to reduce the CPU voltage was simply blocked.

 

Laptop cooling performance in Adobe Premiere Pro 2020
		Default
CPU frequency	Medium	2.9 GHz
CPU temperature	Maximum	93 °C
	Medium	73 °C
Noise level	Maximum	36.1 dBA
CPU power consumption	Average	35W
Test task execution time (less is better)		1259 s

 

⇡#Laptop performance

For the first time, a laptop with a GeForce RTX 2070 was tested by us at the beginning of 2019 – so regular readers are well aware of the performance of this graphics. The test results show that in all 16 cases, the frame rate did not fall below 30 frames per second. The Dell G7 17 had the hardest time in Metro: Exodus (some locations in the game squander the frame rate a lot, although the average FPS is good), Red Dead Redemption 2, Horizon Zero Dawn and Assassin’s Creed Odyssey – in these games, you will have to lower the graphics quality.

The low efficiency of the CPU in games is shown by testing in various benchmarks.

 

Test results in games, Full HD, FPS
	AVG	1% MIN
Multiplayer Games
World of Tanks enCore	158	111
Dota 2	120	80
Counter Strike: Global Offensive	204	55
PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds	145	93
Old but still popular games
The Witcher III: Wild Hunt	88	54
GTA V	70	50
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition	126	82
(Relatively) modern games
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey	52	40
Far Cry New Dawn	78	53
Total War Three Kingdoms	63	44
Red Dead Redemption 2	54	35
Battlefield V	88	50
Metro: Exodus	64	30
Shadow of the Tomb Raider	86	71
Gears 5	80	59
DOOM Eternal	162	116
Horizon Zero Dawn	68	44

 

In resource-intensive applications, in some cases, the Dell G7 17 lags behind another laptop with a 6-core Core i7-10750H in some cases. For example, in Blender 2.83, the test laptop lost to the Acer model by as much as 16%. The reasons for this lag, however, are clear.

But in the same tests, if you use the GPU, the Dell G7 17 is already ahead, since the regular GeForce RTX 2070 is ahead of the Max-Q version of the same graphics.

Below are the results of testing the laptop in the PCMARK10 comprehensive benchmark.

In a number of tests (archiving, working with graphics and photo and video content, interaction with browsers, as well as office applications), the laptop drive plays an important role. In Predator, the main storage device is a Western Digital WDC PC SN730 SSD.

⇡#Laptop offline

The laptop comes with a 97 Wh lithium-ion battery. If you’ll be using the Dell G7 17 mostly at home, it might make sense to get a model with a smaller battery. This will allow you to install an additional 2.5-inch drive. But in general, we see that the test sample has excellent survivability – take note.

In the Dell Power Manager program, you can enable the fast charging feature. When activated, the laptop battery charges 80% in one hour. In normal mode, the Dell G7 17 charges for about two hours.

 

Battery life, screen brightness 200 cd/m2
Web	9 hours 19 minutes
View video	9 hours 6 minutes

 

⇡#Conclusions

Let’s first list the advantages of the tested laptop. I liked the build quality of the laptop, the easy access to parts and the ability to upgrade this computer. At the same time, you can choose the laptop battery capacity yourself, and if the laptop will be used exclusively at home, then it definitely makes sense to take the version with a seat for 2.5-inch drives. The modification with a 144-Hz matrix has a good screen with high contrast and slight deviations in color reproduction. The Dell G7 17 has good sound and excellent battery life. We also found out that this is one of the most affordable representatives with GeForce RTX 2070 graphics, which today runs almost all games in Full HD resolution using the maximum graphics quality.

As you can see, the Dell G7 17 has plenty of advantages, but I cannot close my eyes to the fact that the manufacturer frankly saved on the cooling system. Perhaps, with Core i5 and less productive graphics, the laptop cooler will cope with the task, but in our case, the capabilities of the hardware were artificially limited.

FAQ Dell G7 17 (7700) review

What type of SSD storage is typically found in high-end gaming laptops like the HP Omen 17?

High-end gaming laptops like the HP Omen 17 often come with NVMe SSD storage, known for its fast read and write speeds, enhancing game loading times and overall system responsiveness.

How does DDR4 RAM benefit a gaming notebook?

DDR4 RAM in a gaming notebook provides higher bandwidth and faster speeds compared to older RAM types, enabling smoother gameplay and efficient multitasking for gamers.

What is the significance of a high refresh rate in a 17-inch gaming laptop’s display?

A high refresh rate in a 17-inch gaming laptop’s display, like in the Lenovo Legion, improves the gaming experience by providing smoother motion, reducing motion blur, and offering a more responsive feel in fast-paced games.

Does the Dell G7 7700 support Gigabit Ethernet for gaming?

Yes, the Dell G7 7700 supports Gigabit Ethernet, providing a high-speed wired internet connection that is beneficial for online gaming, ensuring stable and fast network performance.

What graphics card does the HP Omen 17 typically feature for gaming?

The HP Omen 17 typically features a powerful graphics card like the NVIDIA RTX 2070, offering high-quality graphics rendering for an immersive gaming experience.

How does the NVIDIA RTX 2070 GPU enhance the gaming performance on a 17-inch gaming laptop?

The NVIDIA RTX 2070 GPU in a 17-inch gaming laptop provides powerful graphics processing, supporting advanced features like real-time ray tracing and AI-enhanced graphics for a visually stunning gaming experience.

What are the benefits of having 16GB of RAM in a gaming laptop like the Dell G7 Gaming series?

Having 16GB of RAM in a gaming laptop like the Dell G7 Gaming series allows for efficient multitasking and smooth running of demanding games and applications, providing an enhanced gaming and computing experience.

How does Wi-Fi 6 technology improve the gaming experience on laptops like the Lenovo Legion?

Wi-Fi 6 technology in laptops like the Lenovo Legion enhances the gaming experience by offering faster wireless speeds, reduced latency, and improved network efficiency, especially beneficial for online gaming.

What type of processor is typically found in the HP Omen 17 gaming notebook?

The HP Omen 17 gaming notebook typically features a 10th Gen Intel Core processor, providing high-performance capabilities, fast processing speeds, and improved efficiency for demanding games and applications.

Why is the inclusion of an RGB keyboard significant in gaming laptops?

The inclusion of an RGB keyboard in gaming laptops adds to the overall aesthetic appeal with customizable lighting, and it also enhances the gaming experience by allowing gamers to set different color profiles for specific games or keys.