Dell G7 17 Review Summary
If you are new to the gaming industry, you might want to try the Dell G7 17 7790. This gaming laptop is an excellent multi-functional gaming machine that allows you to play your favorite games and work on productivity tasks.
The Dell G7 17 7790 is one of Dell’s best mid-range laptops that features a simple design with upgradable hardware and great all-around performance. When using this laptop, you must keep your expectations in check. You get what you pay for; a mid-range price with similar performance to match.
This gaming laptop comes in different variations of specs at varying prices. But we’ll talk about the 7790, which has the highest specs and costs around $2000. However, if you’re looking for more affordable gaming laptops, you can check out our article about the best gaming laptops under $1500.
Overall, for an entry-level mid-range laptop, the Dell G7 17 7790 does the job without breaking the bank.
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Dell G7 17 7790 Specifications
Manufacturer: Dell
Screen Size: 17.3-inches
Weight: 7.21 lbs
Dimensions (L x W x H): 11.7 x 15.91 x 0.98 inches
Screen Resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels
Display: 17.3″ FHD IPS 144Hz display
Processor (CPU): 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9750H
Graphics Processor (GPU): NVIDIA GTX 1660 Ti
RAM: 16 GB DDR4
Clock Speed: 4.5 GHz
Memory Speed: 2666 MHz
Hard Drive: 512GB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD
Web Camera: HD webcam (720p)
Average Battery Life: 7 hours
Ports: 3 x USB 3.1 port (USB Type-A), 1 x Thunderbolt 3 port, 1 x mini-Display Port 1.3, 1 x Gigabit Ethernet, 1 x 3.5mm headset jack port
Dell G7 17 Review: Gaming Performance and Overall Performance
The Dell G7 17 7790 is built with the 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9750H processor and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti graphics processor. That being said, the performance of this gaming laptop isn’t perfect. It’s not exactly mind-blowing considering its specs. However, that should already be a no-brainer considering that the Dell G7 17 is an entry-level gaming laptop.
This gaming laptop can’t wholeheartedly replace a desktop PC. But despite that, this is undoubtedly the perfect gaming laptop for those who are new to gaming or casual users.
Although the performance isn’t exactly “perfect,” it depends on what you’re running on the Dell G7 17. You can run almost any game on this laptop—even AAA game titles—but that doesn’t mean that it’ll run smoothly. With its given specs, it can run most games, but not on high settings. Running games on high settings might cause the laptop to lag. It could also cause overheating, which in turn would cause thermal throttling.
Overworking the Dell G7 17 could raise the CPU temperature. It may be normal for a gaming laptop to overheat, but that does not mean it’s healthy. Meanwhile, running less demanding games, playing music, or just simply browsing on this gaming PC is a lot better and could be run at full power.
A feature we like about the Dell G7 17 is that it features an Alienware Command Center. With this feature, not only can you customize the technology for each game you play, but you can also personalize the space and setup to make your software appear and feel exactly how you want it without interrupting your gameplay. The intuitive interface connects all of your system settings with a gaming library, making it quick to retrieve gaming information.
The Dell G7 17 also features Intel Optane Memory, a huge cache file location for your hard drive’s spindle type. Intel Optane memory is solely useful as a storage accelerator. It does not replace or add to the memory (RAM) on your gaming machine.
Dell G7 17 Review: Storage and Storage Options
Dual drives are supported by the Dell G7 17. It has an M.2 NVMe SSD socket as well as a standard SATA connector for HDDs. With so many storage configurations to select from, you can find one that suits your storage requirements.
The Dell G7 17 7790 is built with a 512GB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD and 16 GB of DDR4 RAM. The storage and RAM may be a bit tight for professional gamers, but for casual gamers and newbies, it’s more than enough.
But don’t worry, you can easily upgrade it. You can upgrade the Dell G7 17 7790 to up to a maximum memory capacity of 32 GB of RAM, and the SSD or HDD drives can be upgraded to a maximum capacity of 2 TB.
Dell G7 17 Review: Build and Design
The Dell G7 17 has a very simple design that some may or may not like. It’s quite interesting that the manufacturers decided to add horizontal stripes all around the build of the gaming laptop (as seen below).
Front
Left side
Right side
Back
This may have been their way of making the gaming laptop appear thinner. But in reality, the Dell G7 17 is quite chunky.
The Dell G7 17 is fairly durable due to its thick construction. Because of its sturdy construction, you won’t have to worry about accidental bumps and knocks. This gaming laptop, however, isn’t ideal for traveling or using on the road due to its large and hefty structure. Since it is difficult to carry along the road, playing games on this gaming laptop on the go may be difficult. But if you’re not planning to take this gaming laptop anywhere else other than your gaming room, then it’s fine.
The top lid is quite simple, with the Dell logo with blue accents. This design would’ve been better if not for the fingerprint-prone material.
Overall, it’s sleek and sturdy but lacks the flair of a gaming laptop. It has a mediocre build quality that’s perfect for those who don’t want a laptop that screams “gaming laptop.”
Connectivity
Left side
Right side
On the right side of the Dell G7 17 7790, you’ll find one USB Type-A port and one SD card reader. Meanwhile, on the left side of the gaming laptop, you’ll find one Thunderbolt 3 port, one USB 3.1 Type-A port, and a 3.5mm headphone jack port.
Back side
Almost all the ports that are important are at the back of the Dell G7 17. You’ll find a Noble Lock, an AC adapter, one HDMI port, one USB Type-A port, a mini-DisplayPort, and a Gigabit RJ-45. These ports on the rear are extremely helpful in making your gaming setup less cluttered with cables.
Keyboard
This gaming laptop has a quad-zone RGB backlit keyboard, which is an upgrade over most newer Alienware machines, which only have a single-zone backlit keyboard. With the use of the Alienware Command Center, you can use it for lighting control.
Except for the arrow keys and NumPad keys, which are smaller, their keys are reasonably sized. Having smaller arrow keys and NumPad keys on such a large chassis seems questionable. However, aside from that, the keyboard layout is good and comfy, and most gamers would be okay with its keyboard build.
The Dell G7 17’s keyboard is sufficient for both typing and gaming, with short key travel and an excellent clicky sound that provides adequate feedback.
Touchpad
The touchpad is an adequate size. It’s accurate and responsive, but the integrated mouse keys have relatively weak feedback when clicked.
Cooling System
The Dell G7 17 has an excellent dual-fan cooling system that keeps your laptop cool. However, when overworked with demanding games, the fan noise increases, which may be an indication of overheating.
Overheating on a gaming laptop is normal to some extent. However, if it reaches a certain temperature, it could cause permanent damage to your gaming laptop. If you want to know how to cool your gaming laptop, check out this article here.
Dell G7 17 Review: Display
The Dell G7 17 7790 features a 17.3″ FHD IPS 144Hz display. It’s crisp and accurate. It has minimal graininess that’s not really noticeable unless you really look into the display. But generally, the display is quite decent and is a lot better than other laptops considering that it’s a mid-range laptop.
Dell G7 17 Review: Battery Life
A 60Whr Lithium polymer battery powers the Dell G7 17 7790. The 60Whr battery is expected to provide up to 7 hours of battery life under normal conditions. However, when used for extended gaming sessions, the average battery life may be shorter than its regular 7-hour battery life.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much is the Dell G7 17?
As of today, the Dell G7 17 7790 is currently $2,199.00. But, you can get it for less or more expensive depending on the configuration of the model or unit you’re going to purchase the gaming laptop.
Is the Dell G7 17 Upgradable?
Yes, both the RAM and storage of the Dell G7 17 are upgradeable. The RAM can be upgraded up to 32 GB, while the storage can be upgraded up to 2 TB.
Is the Dell G7 17 Good for Gaming?
We can argue that the Dell G7 17 is a good mid-range gaming laptop. It supports most games, which is great because some mid-range laptops do not. However, keep in mind that, while the Dell G7 17 is sufficient for gaming, it is not the best.
Are There Any Cheaper Alternatives to the Dell G7 17?
There are definitely a lot of cheaper alternatives to the Dell G7 17. You can check out our article about the best Acer gaming laptop for cheaper alternatives.
Dell G7 17 Review: Final Verdict
Overall, the Dell G7 17 is a great and high-performing gaming laptop considering its price. This gaming laptop allows you to play most games at medium to high settings, and it has decent battery life. So, although its specifications and performance aren’t as mind-blowing as the other gaming laptops, it is a great stepping stone for those who are just starting out on their gaming journeys.
If you want to check out more gaming laptop reviews, check us out here.
Happy gaming!
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