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Side-by-side specification comparison of two reference models
A full side-by-side comparison of reference models XPS 15 9550 and GT72S Dominator within the same category.
Side-by-side specification comparison of two reference models
| Specification | XPS 15 9550 | GT72S Dominator |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Not for sale | Not for sale |
| General | ||
| Brand | Dell | MSI |
| Product Family | Dell XPS | — |
| Model | XPS 15 9550 | GT72S Dominator |
| Model Number | XPS 15 9550 | — |
| Launch Year | 2016 year | 2016 year |
| Form Factor | Clamshell | Clamshell |
| Laptop Category | Mainstream | Gaming |
| Operating System | Windows 10 | Windows 10 |
| Operating System Architecture | 64-bit | 64-bit |
| Processor | ||
| Processor Manufacturer | Intel | Intel |
| Processor Family | Intel Core i5 | Intel Core i7 |
| Processor Model | Intel Core i5-6300HQ | Intel Core i7 6820HK 2.7GHz |
| Processor Generation | 6th Gen (Skylake) | 6th Gen |
| CPU Architecture | Skylake-H | x86-64 |
| CPU Process Node | 14 nm | 14 nm |
| CPU Cores | 4 cores | 4 cores |
| Efficiency Cores | 0 cores | 0 cores |
| CPU Threads | 4 threads | 8 threads |
| CPU Base Clock | 2.3 GHz | 2.7 GHz |
| CPU Max Boost Clock | 3.2 GHz | 3.6 GHz |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB | — |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB | 8 MB |
| Processor Base Power | 45 W | 45 W |
| Maximum Processor Power | 45 W | — |
| CPU Manageability Technology | Intel Standard Manageability; Intel vPro not supported | — |
| AI / NPU | ||
| Platform AI Performance | — | 0 TOPS |
| Graphics | ||
| Graphics Type | Discrete | Discrete |
| GPU Manufacturer | NVIDIA | NVIDIA |
| GPU Model | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M | Nvidia GeForce GTX 980M |
| GPU Architecture | Maxwell | Maxwell |
| VRAM Capacity | 2 GB | 8 GB |
| VRAM Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| GPU TGP | 50 W | — |
| GPU Boost Clock | 1176 MHz | — |
| MUX Switch | — | Yes |
| Maximum External Displays | 3 displays | 3 displays |
| Maximum External Resolution | 3840 x 2160 @ 60 Hz | 3840 x 2160 @ 30 Hz |
| Memory | ||
| Installed Memory | 8 GB | 16 GB |
| Maximum Memory | 32 GB | 64 GB |
| Memory Type | DDR4 | DDR4 SDRAM |
| Memory Speed | 2133 MT/s | 2133 MT/s |
| Memory Form Factor | SO-DIMM | SO-DIMM |
| Memory Slots | 2 slots | 4 slots |
| Memory Slots Used | 1 slots | 2 slots |
| Memory Upgradeable | Yes | Yes |
| Memory Channels | Dual-channel capable | Dual-channel |
| Storage | ||
| Primary Storage Type | SSD | SSD |
| Storage Capacity | 256 GB | 256 GB |
| Storage Interface | SATA III / PCIe NVMe | PCIe NVMe; SATA |
| Storage PCIe Generation | — | PCIe 3.0 |
| Storage Form Factor | M.2 + optional 2.5-inch | M.2 2280; 2.5-inch |
| Installed Storage Drives | 1 drives | 2 drives |
| Maximum Storage Drives | 2 drives | 3 drives |
| M.2 Storage Slots | 1 slots | 2 slots |
| 2.5-inch Drive Bay | Yes | Yes |
| RAID Support | — | No |
| Card Reader | Yes | Yes |
| Card Reader Formats | SD/SDHC/SDXC | SD; SDHC; SDXC |
| Card Reader Standard | SD 4.0 | SDXC |
| Display | ||
| Display Size | 15.6 inch | 17.3 inch |
| Display Resolution | 3840 x 2160 | 1920 x 1080 |
| Resolution Class | UHD 4K | FHD |
| Display Technology | LED-backlit LCD | IPS LCD |
| Panel Type | IPS | IPS |
| Touchscreen | Yes | — |
| Refresh Rate | 60 Hz | 75 Hz |
| Variable Refresh Rate | — | Yes |
| VRR Range | — | NVIDIA G-SYNC Hz |
| Display Brightness | 400 nits | — |
| Color Depth | 8-bit | — |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 | 16:9 |
| Display Finish | Anti-glare | Anti-glare |
| Adaptive Sync Technology | — | NVIDIA G-SYNC |
| Viewing Angle | 160° degree | — |
| Flicker-Free | Yes | — |
| Camera & Biometrics | ||
| Webcam Resolution | 720p HD | 1080p Full HD |
| Webcam Frame Rate | 30 fps | 30 fps |
| Camera Features | — | Fixed-focus RGB webcam |
| Audio | ||
| Speaker Configuration | 2 speakers | Dynaudio speakers + woofer |
| Audio Technology | Waves MaxxAudio Pro | Nahimic; ESS SABRE HiFi |
| Microphone Configuration | Digital-array microphone | Integrated microphone |
| Audio Jack | Yes | Yes |
| Keyboard & Input | ||
| Keyboard Type | Full-size island-style keyboard | Full-size keyboard |
| Keyboard Backlight | Yes | Yes |
| Keyboard RGB | — | Yes |
| Keyboard RGB Zones | — | Multi-zone RGB |
| Numeric Keypad | — | Yes |
| Touchpad Type | Multi-touch precision touchpad | Multi-touch touchpad |
| Wireless & Networking | ||
| Wi-Fi Standard | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) | Wi-Fi 5 |
| Wi-Fi IEEE Standard | 802.11ac | IEEE 802.11ac |
| Wi-Fi Bands | 2.4 GHz; 5 GHz | 2.4 GHz; 5 GHz |
| Wi-Fi Spatial Streams | 2x2 | 2x2 |
| Wi-Fi Module | Intel dual-band wireless | — |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | Bluetooth 4.1 |
| Ethernet | — | Yes |
| Ethernet Speed | Not present | Gigabit Ethernet |
| WWAN | No | — |
| SIM Slot | — | — |
| Ports & Expansion | ||
| USB Type-A Port Count | 2 ports | 6 ports |
| USB Type-A Specifications | USB 3.x Type-A | 6x USB 3.0 |
| USB Type-C Port Count | 1 ports | 1 ports |
| USB Type-C Specifications | USB 3.x Type-C; DisplayPort Alt Mode where supported | USB 3.1 Type-C |
| USB4 Port Count | 0 ports | 0 ports |
| Thunderbolt Port Count | 1 ports | 0 ports |
| HDMI Port Count | 1 ports | 1 ports |
| HDMI Version | HDMI 1.4 | HDMI 1.4 |
| DisplayPort Output | Mini DisplayPort / USB-C DisplayPort Alt Mode | Mini DisplayPort 1.2 |
| RJ-45 Port Count | 0 ports | 1 ports |
| 3.5 mm Audio Combo Port Count | 1 ports | 2 ports |
| SD Card Slot Count | 1 ports | 1 ports |
| microSD Card Slot Count | 0 ports | — |
| Smart Card Reader | No | — |
| Security Lock Slot | Yes | Yes |
| Internal PCIe Slots | 1 M.2 storage slot(s) | — |
| Battery & Power | ||
| Battery Capacity | 56 Wh | 87 Wh |
| Battery Cells | 3 cells | 9 cells |
| Battery Chemistry | Lithium-ion | Lithium-ion |
| Power Adapter | 130 W | 230 W |
| Power Connector | Barrel power connector | Barrel connector |
| Dimensions & Build | ||
| Width | 357 mm | 428 mm |
| Depth | 235 mm | 294 mm |
| Thickness | 17 mm | 48 mm |
| Weight | 2.04 kg | 3.78 kg |
| Chassis Material | Aluminum; carbon fiber | Aluminum; Plastic |
| Lid Material | Aluminum | — |
| Base Material | Carbon fiber composite | — |
| Hinge Opening Angle | 135 degree | 180 degree |
| MIL-STD Testing | Not claimed | — |
| IP Rating | — | Not rated |
| Security & Manageability | ||
| TPM | TPM 2.0 | Firmware TPM 2.0 |
| BIOS / UEFI Password Support | Yes | Yes |
| Drive Password Support | Yes | Yes |
| Secure Boot | Yes | Yes |
| Enterprise Manageability | Consumer BIOS/UEFI management | — |
| Smart Card Support | No | — |
| BIOS Recovery / Self-Healing | BIOS recovery supported | Standard BIOS recovery |
| Sensors | ||
| Hall Sensor | — | Yes |
| Certifications & Sustainability | ||
| ENERGY STAR | Not claimed | — |
| EPEAT | Not claimed | — |
| TCO Certified | Not claimed | — |
| RoHS Compliance | Yes | Yes |
| Recycled Materials | Not claimed | — |
| Environment & Warranty | ||
| Operating Temperature | 5 to 35 °C | 5–35 °C °C |
| Operating Humidity | 10 to 90 (non-condensing) % RH | 20–80% RH, non-condensing % RH |
| Storage Temperature | -20 to 60 °C | -20–60 °C °C |
| Warranty | 1 years | 2 years |
| Warranty Type | Limited hardware warranty; region dependent | Limited warranty |
XPS 15 9550 and GT72S Dominator share specifications such as Storage Capacity (256 GB), Launch Year (2016 year), Form Factor (Clamshell), Operating System (Windows 10).
The main differences: Processor Model (XPS 15 9550: Intel Core i5-6300HQ, GT72S Dominator: Intel Core i7 6820HK 2.7GHz); GPU Model (XPS 15 9550: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M, GT72S Dominator: Nvidia GeForce GTX 980M); Installed Memory (XPS 15 9550: 8 GB, GT72S Dominator: 16 GB); Display Size (XPS 15 9550: 15.6 inch, GT72S Dominator: 17.3 inch).
XPS 15 9550 may suit users who need its differing values, while GT72S Dominator benefits those who need its paired strengths. Review the specs table above before deciding.
