MSI Raider 18 HX AI (2025) vs Dell Alienware m18 R2
82
out of 100
VS
54
out of 100
Please select specific configurations for the laptops to get a more accurate comparative review
Review
Performance
System and application performance
Gaming
Performance in popular 3D games
Display
Viewing angle, color accuracy, brightness
Battery Life
Potential battery life in light and average use
Connectivity
Ports, webcam and other interfaces
Portability
Design, materials, durability and usability
Pick the usage scenario that best matches your needs
Value for money (Beta)
Key Differences
Advantages of the MSI Raider 18 HX AI (2025)
- Can run popular games at about 90-122% higher FPS
- Performs significantly better (up to 2.5x) in 3DMark Steel Nomad Lite
- Significantly easier to carry: weighs 630 grams less (around 1.39 lbs)
- Around 2x better multi-core CPU performance in the Cinebench 2024 test
- Thinner bezels and 6% higher screen-to-body ratio
Advantages of the Dell Alienware m18 R2
- Higher screen refresh rate: 480 versus 144 Hz
- Higher number of cutting-edge USB Type-C ports: 3 versus 2
Tests and Specifications
Comparison table of test results and technical specsCase
| Weight | 3.6 kg (7.94 lbs) | 4.23 kg (9.33 lbs) |
| Dimensions | 404 x 307.5 x 24-32.05 mm 15.91 x 12.11 x 0.94-1.26 inches |
410.3 x 319.9 x 24.1-25.1 mm 16.15 x 12.59 x 0.95-0.99 inches |
| Area | 1242 cm2 (192.7 inches2) | 1313 cm2 (203.3 inches2) |
| Screen-to-body ratio | ~75.6% | ~71.6% |
| Side bezels | 8.2 mm | 11.3 mm |
| Colors | Black | Black |
| Material | Top: Aluminum Middle: Plastic Bottom: Plastic |
Aluminum |
| Transformer | No | No |
| Opening angle | 145° | 135° |
Size comparison
| Cooling system | Active | Active |
| Vapor chamber | No | Optional |
| Liquid metal | No | Yes |
| Number of fans | 2 | 4 |
| Noise level (max. load) | 45.8 dB | 56.6 dB |
Display
| Size | 18 inches | 18 inches |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD |
| Refresh rate | 144 Hz | 480 Hz |
| PPI | 126 ppi | 126 ppi |
| Aspect ratio | 16:10 | 16:10 |
| Resolution | 1920 x 1200 pixels | 1920 x 1200 pixels |
| HDR support | No | No |
| Sync technology | No | G-Sync |
| Touchscreen | No | No |
| Coating | Matte | Matte |
| Ambient light sensor | No | No |
| Contrast | - | 1000:1 |
| Adobe RGB profile | - | 100% |
| Response time | - | 3 ms |
Max. brightness
Battery
Capacity
| Voltage | - | 11.4 V |
| Full charging time | 2:10 hr | 2:00 hr |
| Battery type | Li-Po | Li-Ion |
| Replaceable | No | No |
| Fast charging | Yes | Yes |
| Charging via USB (Power Delivery) | Yes, 140 W | Yes |
| Charging port position | Right, Bottom | Bottom |
| Charge power | 400 W | 280 / 360 W |
| Weight of AC adapter | 1375 grams | 1076 grams |
CPU
CPU name
| Base frequency | 2.7 GHz | 2.2 GHz |
| Turbo frequency | 5.4 GHz | 5.2 GHz |
| Cores | 24 (8P + 16E) | 16 (8P + 8E) |
| Threads | 24 | 24 |
| L3 Cache | 36 MB | 30 MB |
| Integrated GPU | Arc Graphics (4-Cores) | Intel UHD Graphics (16EU) |
| Fabrication process | 3 nm | 10 nm |
Benchmarks
Geekbench 6 (Single-Core)
Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core)
Cinebench 2024 (Single-Core)
Cinebench 2024 (Multi-Core)
Graphics Card
GPU name
| TGP | 175 W | 140 W |
| Nvidia Optimus | MUX | MUX |
| Type | Dedicated | Dedicated |
| Fabrication process | 4 nm | 5 nm |
| GPU base clock | 975 MHz | 2295 MHz |
| GPU boost clock | - | 2370 MHz |
| FLOPS | 42 TFLOPS | 16 TFLOPS |
| Memory size | 16 GB | 8 GB |
| Memory type | GDDR7 | GDDR6 |
| Memory bus | 256 bit | 128 bit |
| Memory speed | ~28 Gbps | ~16 Gbps |
| Shading units (cores) | 7680 | 3072 |
| Texture mapping units (TMUs) | 240 | 96 |
| Raster operations pipelines (ROPs) | 96 | 48 |
| GPU performance | 42 TFLOPS | 16 TFLOPS |
GPU Benchmarks
Steel Nomad Lite Score
| Blender GPU | 7934 | 3566 |
| Solar Bay | 113735 | 53453 |
Expected FPS based on average performance across 9 popular games. Details
RAM
RAM size
| Channels | 2x16 GB | 1x8 GB |
| Clock | 6400 MHz | 5600 MHz |
| Type | DDR5 | DDR5 |
| Upgradable | Yes | Yes |
| Total slots | 2 | 2 |
| Max. ram size | 96 GB | 64 GB |
Storage
Storage size
| Bus | PCI-E Gen 5.0 (4x) | PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x) |
| Storage type | SSD (M2) | SSD (M2) |
| Channels | 1x1024 GB | 1x512 GB |
| Upgradable | Yes | Yes |
| Total slots | 2 | 4 |
| NVMe | Yes | Yes |
Sound
| Audio chip | - | Realtek ALC3254 |
| Speakers | 4.2 (4 tweeters and 2 woofers) | 2.0 |
| Power | 4x2W, 2x2W | 2x2W |
| Dolby Atmos | No | Yes |
| Loudness | ~85.9 dB | ~82.5 dB |
| Microphones | 2 | 2 |
Connectivity
| Wi-Fi standard | v7 | v7 |
| Bluetooth | v5.4 | v5.4 |
| Fingerprint | Yes | No |
| Infrared sensor | Yes | Yes |
| Optical drive | No | No |
| Webcam | Above the display | Above the display |
| Webcam resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 |
| USB-A | 3x USB 3.2 | 3x USB 3.2 |
| USB Type-C | 2x USB 4.0 | 3x USB 4.0 |
| Thunderbolt | Thunderbolt 5 | Thunderbolt 4 |
| HDMI | 1x HDMI 2.1 | 1x HDMI 2.1 |
| DisplayPort | No | No |
| VGA | No | No |
| Audio jack (3.5 mm) | Yes | Yes |
| Ethernet (RJ45) | Yes | Yes |
| SD card reader | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary charging port | Yes | Yes |
Input
| Keyboard type | Island | Mechanical |
| Numpad | Yes | Yes |
| Backlight | Yes | Yes |
| Key travel | - | 1.8 mm |
| Size | 13.0 x 8.2 cm | 13.1 x 8.0 cm |
| Surface | Plastic | Glass |
| Windows Precision | Yes | Yes |
Further details
Notes on Raider 18 HX AI (2025):
- The first NVMe SSD slot supports PCIe Gen 5, the second Gen 4.
Notes on Alienware m18 R2:
- A 32GB memory option supports 6400 MHz via XMP, while others max out at 5600 MHz.
*Disclaimer! Ports, speakers, display, and other specifications can vary depending on the laptop's specific configuration or region.
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Total votes: 2