Good performance and amazing autonomy for a gamer notebook
Main specifications of the test model:
- Intel Core i7-7700HQ Processor
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GB Video Card
- Memory 16GB RAM
- 1TB HD Storage and 128GB SSD M.2
- 15.6-inch LED Backlight Screen (1920 x 1080)
- Dimensions 38.4 x 27.4 x 2.5 cm
- 74 Wh Battery
- Weight 2.62 kg
- Cost of this configuration: R $ 6,400
Design
Visual bold but a little heavier
The 15 Gaming won a look very different from the one used in last year's edition. The look continues to wear a black black with a few details in red, but its size has increased a little, both in thickness and weight. Its lines are now more straight, with angles that pass on an idea of robustness.
The detail that draws the most attention in your look is the air vents on the back. The metal heat dissipation structure is large and visible from the outside, which gives the model a more aggressive appearance along with the triangular lines on the front. Apart from these two details, the rest of the notebook's design is discreet, with a rubberized finish across the entire computer case.
The FullHD resolution screen uses a matte finish, which helps when using the notebook in places with too much light. The LED backlight has good colors, however, as is often the case with this technology, the colors distort a lot if you do not move the screen angle correctly.
This is not a lightweight or compact device, since it has wide edges around the screen and weighs 2.7 kilos. Although not the smallest, it has not yet reached proportions such as those seen on top-of-the-line models, with more than 3kg, for example. It can be carried in a backpack, but it is not a good request for those who want to "walk light" in their daily lives.
One element that I always find important in a notebook, especially in the more expensive ones, is its potential for upgrades. Parts like processor and video cards are difficult to change in a notebook, but it is good to have access to some components. The Dell 15 Gaming in its 2017 edition "got it right" in this regard: taking just one screw you have access to the HD, battery, wireless module, slot m.2 and two slots of RAM, making it much easier to upgrade the memories, SSD, replace a worn-out battery, or perform basic maintenance by cleaning the fans.
My only though are the infamous "plastic toothpicks" that keep the lid closed. Even using a flexible tool and slowly opening, some of these fittings have broken. Dell might have put in a few more screws, instead of using that fragile way to fix the bottom cover. Fortunately, in our case, it did not lack that fit, and the cap remained firm after it was reattached.
