Dell G15 Review - 3 BIG Problems!

Summary

Dell's G15 gaming laptop offers great value, but it comes with some important drawbacks. The 120Hz screen, while advertised as high-refresh, suffers from a low response time, leading to noticeable motion blur in games. Additionally, the laptop ships with slower x16 memory, which could hinder performance in some cases. Thermals are another concern, with high internal temperatures during intense workloads, although this is manageable with external cooling solutions. On the plus side, the G15 features impressive battery life, a mock switch for enhanced gaming performance, and solid build quality. Despite its flaws, it remains a competitive option at a lower price point than rivals like the Lenovo Legion 5.

Takeaways

• 😀 Dell's new G15 gaming laptop has some important issues to be aware of, particularly with the screen, memory, and thermals.
• 😀 The 120Hz screen in lower-tier configurations has a low 22ms response time, leading to noticeable blur during gaming, although a 165Hz screen option is available for higher configurations.
• 😀 The 165Hz screen offers better color gamut, higher brightness, and faster response time, making it the better choice for smoother gaming performance.
• 😀 In some regions like Australia, the AMD Ryzen model can only be purchased with the 120Hz screen, while the US offers the 165Hz option in higher-end configurations.
• 😀 The G15 comes with slower x16 memory, which impacts gaming performance, but this can be upgraded to faster x8 memory for better results.
• 😀 Despite the slower memory, the laptop performs well in games, particularly in comparison to other RTX 3060 laptops, with only a slight performance gap to the more expensive Lenovo Legion 5.
• 😀 The third major issue with the G15 is thermal throttling, where both CPU and GPU throttle under heavy workloads, though this is common in many gaming laptops.
• 😀 While temperatures can reach up to 100°C, it's within AMD specifications, and a cooling pad can help lower the temperature during heavy gaming sessions.
• 😀 The G15 offers excellent battery life, lasting over 12.5 hours in a YouTube playback test, though cheaper configurations have a smaller 57Wh battery.
• 😀 The laptop includes a MUX switch that allows for better performance by disabling integrated graphics and Optimus, though it's only accessible via BIOS rather than software.
• 😀 Despite being made of plastic, the G15 has a solid build quality and includes premium features like 2.5Gb Ethernet, with the RTX 3060 model offering faster USB ports compared to lower-tier options.

Q & A

What is the main issue with the screen of Dell's G15 gaming laptop?

The main issue with the screen on lower configurations is the 120Hz display, which has a low 22 millisecond response time. This causes noticeable blur while gaming, affecting the smoothness of the experience despite the high refresh rate.

Can the screen issue be fixed, and if so, how?

Yes, the screen issue can be fixed by upgrading to a higher-tier 165Hz screen. This option provides better color gamut, higher brightness, and faster response time, offering a smoother gaming experience.

Why can’t users in Australia get the AMD Ryzen version with the faster 165Hz screen?

In Australia, the AMD Ryzen model of the G15 is only available with the 120Hz screen, while users in the US can purchase the AMD Ryzen version with the 165Hz screen, but only in higher-end models with the RTX 3060.

What is the issue with the memory in the Dell G15?

The G15 ships with slower X16 memory instead of the faster X8 memory. This impacts performance, as demonstrated by a decrease in FPS in gaming benchmarks.

Can users upgrade the memory in the G15 to improve performance?

Yes, users can upgrade the memory themselves. This can help boost performance, but the default memory still provides decent gaming results in most cases.

What is the thermal issue with the G15?

The thermal issue arises from high CPU and GPU temperatures when under heavy workloads, leading to thermal throttling. This is a common issue in Dell’s past laptops and affects performance, although the laptop still performs well overall.

How does the thermal performance of the G15 compare to other laptops?

Despite higher temperatures, the G15 still performs well compared to other laptops. While the CPU can reach 100°C, this is within AMD’s specifications and doesn't significantly impact performance under typical gaming workloads.

Can cooling pads help reduce the thermal issues in the G15?

Yes, using a cooling pad can help lower temperatures in many cases, though the effect depends on the workload.

What are the positive aspects of the Dell G15 gaming laptop?

The G15 offers great battery life, lasting over 12 hours on a single charge, a dedicated MUX switch for optimizing performance, solid build quality despite being plastic, and features like 2.5 gigabit ethernet.

How does the battery life of the G15 vary depending on the configuration?

The G15 comes with either an 86 watt-hour battery (in higher configurations) or a 57 watt-hour battery (in cheaper models). The battery life can also be affected by the screen's power draw, with the 165Hz screen consuming more power.