Dell G15 intel core i5 13450HX & RTX 3050 - Worth Your Money
In this in-depth review, we will explore the Dell G15, featuring the Core i5 13450HX processor and RTX 3050 graphics card. We aim to determine if this laptop is a worthy investment. Having tested it extensively for video editing and gaming, I will share my personal experiences and thoughts on this device.
Specifications Overview
The Dell G15 is powered by the Core i5 13450HX, a 10-core CPU with six performance cores and four efficiency cores, totaling 16 threads. It includes an NVIDIA RTX 3050 graphics card with 6GB VRAM and a 95W TGP. The laptop comes with 8GB single-channel DDR5 RAM, which can be upgraded to 32GB. It features a 15.6-inch Full HD 120Hz WVA panel and a 512GB M.2 NVMe SSD that can be upgraded to 1TB. An additional slot accommodates another 1TB SSD. Connectivity options include Bluetooth 5.2 and Wi-Fi 6.
Design and Build Quality
The Dell G15 maintains a design similar to its predecessor. The laptop is constructed primarily from plastic, with a sturdy base but a slightly flexible lid. Weighing in at 2.65 kg and a profile of 26.9 mm, it’s heavier than expected. Including the 240W adapter, the total weight reaches approximately 3.7 kg. The weight distribution is excellent, allowing for easy lid opening with one hand. The hinge design is sturdy, and the HD webcam on the top of the lid offers adequate video quality for online meetings, though an external webcam might be preferable for higher quality.
Keyboard and Touchpad
The keyboard includes a numeric keypad and orange backlighting. However, it feels cramped, especially the arrow keys, and the key travel is not satisfactory for extended typing or gaming sessions. The touchpad is responsive but has unstable clicking areas and audible click sounds when swiping.
Display Quality
The Dell G15 features a 15.6-inch Full HD WVA matte screen. Despite being a WVA panel, the response time is slow at 21 milliseconds. Color coverage includes 43% Adobe RGB, 62.2% sRGB, 41.6% DCI-P3, and 45% NTSC, making it unsuitable for color-critical work. The display is better suited for gaming and media consumption, with a peak brightness of 288 nits, limiting outdoor visibility.
Performance
CPU: Core i5 13450HX
The Core i5 13450HX is a fast mid-range mobile processor from Intel’s Raptor Lake series. It includes six performance cores with hyper-threading and four efficiency cores. In benchmarks like Cinebench R23, it performs remarkably well, beating even the M2 Max in single and multi-thread performance. It is capable of handling demanding professional tasks such as video editing and 3D animation.
GPU: NVIDIA RTX 3050
The NVIDIA RTX 3050 in this laptop comes with 6GB VRAM and is based on the GA107 chip. It offers more CUDA cores than its predecessor and is best suited for Full HD gaming at medium to high settings. While it can’t handle ray tracing in most games, it supports DLSS for performance boosts with slight quality reductions. The GPU performs well, but be aware that lower TGP variants will offer significantly lower performance.
Gaming and Thermal Performance
In gaming tests, the Dell G15 handles titles like Mortal Kombat 11 and Red Dead Redemption 2 well. The cooling system comprises two heat pipes shared between the CPU and GPU, with additional heat spreaders for VRAM and other components. The GPU’s maximum temperature of 72°C and the CPU’s maximum temperature of 87°C are within acceptable limits. The keyboard deck remains cool under load, and the fan noise is minimal in idle mode.
Battery Life and Audio
The Dell G15 offers decent battery life, lasting over 5 hours with lowered brightness and power efficiency activated. However, during gaming, battery life drops significantly. The laptop’s speakers are loud but lack bass and treble, making them better suited for spoken content rather than music or movies.
Storage and Connectivity
The SSD in the Dell G15 offers impressive read and write speeds. Ports include a LAN port, audio jack, USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A ports, a USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C port with DisplayPort output, an HDMI 2.1 connector, and a power plug. The RTX 3060 variant includes a Thunderbolt 4 connector.
Conclusion
The Dell G15 5530, with its Core i5 13450HX and RTX 3050, offers significant improvements over its predecessor. It performs well in gaming and professional tasks but has areas for improvement, such as the battery and keyboard. Priced around $1,500, it’s a solid choice if you find a good deal. For better performance, consider upgrading to the i7 13700HX variant.
