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Side-by-side specification comparison of two reference models

⁦Compare Alienware 17 R4 vs Precision 5520⁩

A full side-by-side comparison of reference models Alienware 17 R4 and Precision 5520 within the same category.

Reference model ⁦Dell Alienware 17 R4⁩

⁦Alienware 17 R4⁩

Dell

Not for sale

View model
Reference model ⁦Dell Precision 5520⁩

⁦Precision 5520⁩

Dell

Not for sale

View model

Specifications

Side-by-side specification comparison of two reference models

Specification ⁦Alienware 17 R4⁩ ⁦Precision 5520⁩
Price Not for sale Not for sale
General
Brand Dell Dell
Product Family ⁦Dell Alienware 17 R4⁩ Dell Precision
Model ⁦Alienware 17 R4⁩ ⁦Precision 5520⁩
Model Number ⁦Alienware 17 R4⁩ ⁦Precision 5520⁩
Launch Year ⁦2017 year⁩ ⁦2016 year⁩
Form Factor Clamshell Clamshell
Laptop Category Gaming Mobile Workstation
Operating System ⁦Windows 10⁩ ⁦Windows 10⁩
Operating System Architecture ⁦64-bit⁩ ⁦64-bit⁩
Processor
Processor Manufacturer Intel Intel
Processor Family ⁦Intel Core i7⁩ ⁦Intel Core i7⁩
Processor Model ⁦Intel Core i7-7700HQ⁩ ⁦Intel Core i7-6820HQ⁩
Processor Generation ⁦7th Gen (Kaby Lake)⁩ ⁦6th Gen (Skylake)⁩
CPU Architecture Kaby Lake-H Skylake-H
CPU Process Node ⁦14 nm⁩ ⁦14 nm⁩
CPU Cores ⁦4 cores⁩ ⁦4 cores⁩
Efficiency Cores ⁦0 cores⁩ ⁦0 cores⁩
CPU Threads ⁦8 threads⁩ ⁦8 threads⁩
CPU Base Clock ⁦2.8 GHz⁩ ⁦2.7 GHz⁩
CPU Max Boost Clock ⁦3.8 GHz⁩ ⁦3.6 GHz⁩
L2 Cache ⁦1 MB⁩ ⁦1 MB⁩
L3 Cache ⁦6 MB⁩ ⁦8 MB⁩
Processor Base Power ⁦45 W⁩ ⁦45 W⁩
Maximum Processor Power ⁦45 W⁩ ⁦45 W⁩
CPU Manageability Technology Intel Standard Manageability; Intel vPro not supported Intel vPro supported on eligible business systems
Graphics
Graphics Type Discrete Discrete
GPU Manufacturer NVIDIA NVIDIA
GPU Model ⁦NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060⁩ ⁦NVIDIA Quadro M1200⁩
GPU Architecture Pascal Maxwell
VRAM Capacity ⁦6 GB⁩ ⁦4 GB⁩
VRAM Type ⁦GDDR5⁩ ⁦GDDR5⁩
GPU TGP ⁦80 W⁩ ⁦45 W⁩
GPU Boost Clock ⁦1670 MHz⁩ ⁦1150 MHz⁩
Maximum External Displays ⁦4 displays⁩ ⁦4 displays⁩
Maximum External Resolution ⁦7680 x 4320 @ 60 Hz⁩ ⁦5120 x 2880 @ 60 Hz⁩
Memory
Installed Memory ⁦16 GB⁩ ⁦8 GB⁩
Maximum Memory ⁦32 GB⁩ ⁦32 GB⁩
Memory Type ⁦DDR4⁩ ⁦DDR4⁩
Memory Speed ⁦2400 MT/s⁩ ⁦2133 MT/s⁩
Memory Form Factor SO-DIMM SO-DIMM
Memory Slots ⁦2 slots⁩ ⁦2 slots⁩
Memory Slots Used ⁦2 slots⁩ ⁦1 slots⁩
Memory Upgradeable Yes Yes
Memory Channels Dual-channel Dual-channel capable
Storage
Primary Storage Type SSD SSD
Storage Capacity ⁦256 GB⁩ ⁦256 GB⁩
Storage Interface SATA III / PCIe NVMe SATA III / PCIe NVMe
Storage Form Factor ⁦M.2 + 2.5-inch⁩ ⁦M.2 + optional 2.5-inch⁩
Installed Storage Drives ⁦2 drives⁩ ⁦1 drives⁩
Maximum Storage Drives ⁦4 drives⁩ ⁦2 drives⁩
M.2 Storage Slots ⁦3 slots⁩ ⁦1 slots⁩
2.5-inch Drive Bay Yes Yes
RAID Support ⁦RAID 0/1⁩
Card Reader Yes
Card Reader Formats SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card Reader Standard ⁦SD 4.0⁩
Display
Display Size ⁦17.3 inch⁩ ⁦15.6 inch⁩
Display Resolution ⁦1920 x 1080⁩ ⁦1920 x 1080⁩
Resolution Class FHD FHD
Display Technology LED-backlit LCD LED-backlit LCD
Panel Type IPS IPS
Refresh Rate ⁦60 Hz⁩ ⁦60 Hz⁩
Display Brightness ⁦300 nits⁩ ⁦400 nits⁩
Color Depth ⁦8-bit⁩ ⁦8-bit⁩
Aspect Ratio 16:9 16:9
Display Finish Anti-glare Anti-glare
Viewing Angle ⁦178° degree⁩ ⁦160° degree⁩
Flicker-Free Yes Yes
Camera & Biometrics
Webcam Resolution HD webcam ⁦720p HD⁩
Webcam Frame Rate ⁦30 fps⁩ ⁦30 fps⁩
Audio
Speaker Configuration ⁦2 speakers + subwoofer⁩ ⁦2 speakers⁩
Audio Technology Alienware Sound Center Waves MaxxAudio Pro
Microphone Configuration Digital-array microphone Digital-array microphone
Audio Jack Yes Yes
Keyboard & Input
Keyboard Type Full-size island-style keyboard Full-size island-style keyboard
Keyboard Backlight Yes Yes
Keyboard RGB Yes
Numeric Keypad Yes
Spill-Resistant Keyboard Yes
Touchpad Type Precision touchpad Multi-touch precision touchpad
Wireless & Networking
Wi-Fi Standard ⁦Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)⁩ ⁦Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)⁩
Wi-Fi IEEE Standard ⁦802.11ac⁩ ⁦802.11ac⁩
Wi-Fi Bands ⁦2.4 GHz; 5 GHz⁩ ⁦2.4 GHz; 5 GHz⁩
Wi-Fi Spatial Streams ⁦2x2⁩ ⁦2x2⁩
Wi-Fi Module Killer Wireless-AC Intel dual-band wireless
Bluetooth Version 4.1 4.2
Ethernet Yes
Ethernet Speed ⁦10/100/1000 Mbps⁩ Not present
WWAN No No
SIM Slot
Ports & Expansion
USB Type-A Port Count ⁦2 ports⁩ ⁦2 ports⁩
USB Type-A Specifications ⁦USB 3.x Type-A⁩ ⁦USB 3.x Type-A⁩
USB Type-C Port Count ⁦2 ports⁩ ⁦1 ports⁩
USB Type-C Specifications ⁦USB 3.x Type-C; DisplayPort Alt Mode where supported⁩ ⁦USB 3.x Type-C; DisplayPort Alt Mode where supported⁩
USB4 Port Count ⁦0 ports⁩ ⁦0 ports⁩
Thunderbolt Port Count ⁦1 ports⁩ ⁦1 ports⁩
Thunderbolt Version ⁦Thunderbolt 3⁩
HDMI Port Count ⁦1 ports⁩ ⁦1 ports⁩
HDMI Version ⁦HDMI 2.0⁩ ⁦HDMI 1.4⁩
DisplayPort Output Mini DisplayPort / USB-C DisplayPort Alt Mode Mini DisplayPort / USB-C DisplayPort Alt Mode
RJ-45 Port Count ⁦1 ports⁩ ⁦0 ports⁩
3.5 mm Audio Combo Port Count ⁦1 ports⁩ ⁦1 ports⁩
SD Card Slot Count ⁦0 ports⁩ ⁦1 ports⁩
microSD Card Slot Count ⁦0 ports⁩ ⁦0 ports⁩
Smart Card Reader No No
Security Lock Slot Yes Yes
Internal PCIe Slots ⁦3 M.2 storage slot(s)⁩ ⁦1 M.2 storage slot(s)⁩
Battery & Power
Battery Capacity ⁦99 Wh⁩ ⁦56 Wh⁩
Battery Cells ⁦6 cells⁩ ⁦3 cells⁩
Battery Chemistry Lithium-ion Lithium-ion
Power Adapter ⁦240 W⁩ ⁦130 W⁩
Power Connector Barrel power connector Barrel power connector
Dimensions & Build
Width ⁦424 mm⁩ ⁦357 mm⁩
Depth ⁦332 mm⁩ ⁦235 mm⁩
Thickness ⁦29.99 mm⁩ ⁦17 mm⁩
Weight ⁦4.42 kg⁩ ⁦2 kg⁩
Chassis Material Aluminum; magnesium alloy; plastic Aluminum; carbon fiber
Lid Material Aluminum Aluminum
Base Material Magnesium alloy Carbon fiber composite
Hinge Opening Angle ⁦135 degree⁩ ⁦135 degree⁩
MIL-STD Testing Not claimed Business-platform durability testing; no blanket MIL-STD claim
IP Rating
Security & Manageability
TPM ⁦TPM 2.0⁩ ⁦TPM 2.0⁩
BIOS / UEFI Password Support Yes Yes
Drive Password Support Yes Yes
Secure Boot Yes Yes
Enterprise Manageability Consumer BIOS/UEFI management Dell business BIOS/UEFI manageability
Smart Card Support No No
BIOS Recovery / Self-Healing BIOS recovery supported Dell BIOS recovery and management features
Certifications & Sustainability
ENERGY STAR Not claimed Not claimed
EPEAT Not claimed Not claimed
TCO Certified Not claimed Not claimed
RoHS Compliance Yes Yes
Recycled Materials Not claimed Not claimed
Environment & Warranty
Operating Temperature ⁦5 to 35 °C⁩ ⁦5 to 35 °C⁩
Operating Humidity ⁦10 to 90 (non-condensing) % RH⁩ ⁦10 to 90 (non-condensing) % RH⁩
Storage Temperature ⁦-20 to 60 °C⁩ ⁦-20 to 60 °C⁩
Warranty ⁦1 years⁩ ⁦1 years⁩
Warranty Type Limited hardware warranty; region dependent Limited hardware warranty; region dependent

Summary: Which Product Should You Choose?

Choose Alienware 17 R4 if you need:

  • Processor Model at ⁦Intel Core i7-7700HQ⁩ (vs ⁦Intel Core i7-6820HQ⁩)
  • GPU Model at ⁦NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060⁩ (vs ⁦NVIDIA Quadro M1200⁩)
  • Installed Memory at ⁦16 GB⁩ (vs ⁦8 GB⁩)
  • Display Size at ⁦17.3 inch⁩ (vs ⁦15.6 inch⁩)

Choose Precision 5520 if you need:

  • Processor Model at ⁦Intel Core i7-6820HQ⁩ (vs ⁦Intel Core i7-7700HQ⁩)
  • GPU Model at ⁦NVIDIA Quadro M1200⁩ (vs ⁦NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060⁩)
  • Installed Memory at ⁦8 GB⁩ (vs ⁦16 GB⁩)
  • Display Size at ⁦15.6 inch⁩ (vs ⁦17.3 inch⁩)

Overall, choosing between Alienware 17 R4 and Precision 5520 depends on your use case and which specs matter most. They share Storage Capacity (⁦256 GB⁩) and Display Resolution (⁦1920 x 1080⁩). They differ mainly on Processor Model. Review the differences above, choose by your priorities, and confirm availability before buying.

What is the difference between Alienware 17 R4 and Precision 5520?

Alienware 17 R4 and Precision 5520 share specifications such as Storage Capacity (⁦256 GB⁩), Display Resolution (⁦1920 x 1080⁩), Brand (Dell), Form Factor (Clamshell).

The main differences: Processor Model (Alienware 17 R4: ⁦Intel Core i7-7700HQ⁩, Precision 5520: ⁦Intel Core i7-6820HQ⁩); GPU Model (Alienware 17 R4: ⁦NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060⁩, Precision 5520: ⁦NVIDIA Quadro M1200⁩); Installed Memory (Alienware 17 R4: ⁦16 GB⁩, Precision 5520: ⁦8 GB⁩); Display Size (Alienware 17 R4: ⁦17.3 inch⁩, Precision 5520: ⁦15.6 inch⁩).

Alienware 17 R4 may suit users who need its differing values, while Precision 5520 benefits those who need its paired strengths. Review the specs table above before deciding.