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Dell G3 15 3579 (i5-8300H, GTX 1050, FHD) Laptop Review

Value-oriented. The new Dell G series caters to gamers on tighter budgets who may find the Alienware series to be out of reach. While core performance remains intact, the cut corners for this inexpensive offering add up quickly.

Dell unveiled its G series of mainstream gaming laptops earlier this year as a spin-off and successor to the Inspiron Gaming series. According to Dell, divorcing gaming laptops from the Inspiron name will allow the OEM to expand its gaming lineup with more SKUs and sizes than ever before. We certainly don't disagree on that front as the G series spans 15.6-inch and 17.3-inch sizes under several G3, G5, or G7 model names for a very wide variety of options and configurations.

Our unit today is the 15.6-inch G3 15 3579 to represent the cheapest configuration (i5-8300H, GTX 1050, 1 TB HDD) that the G series currently has to offer. Core performance is similar to the Inspiron 15 7577 as they all carry the same GTX 1050 or GTX 1050 Ti, and GTX 1060 Max-Q options and even the same 56 Wh non-removable battery. The affordable G series is meant to complement the enthusiast Dell Alienware laptops that often retail for well over $1500 USD.

Direct competitors to our $850 USD G3 15 are numerous including the budget Gigabyte Sabre 15G, HP Pavilion Gaming, Asus Vivobook or FX/GL series, Lenovo Legion Y520, MSI GL/GP series, and the Acer Aspire series. We recommend checking out our review on the 17.3-inch G3 17 since Dell utilizes the same design language across the G3 lineup.

Dell G3 15 3579 (G3 15 3579 Series)
Processor
Intel Core i5-8300H 4 x 2.3 - 4 GHz, Coffee Lake-H
Graphics adapter
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile - 4 GB VRAM, Core: 1354 MHz, Memory: 7008 MHz, GDDR5, 389.01
Memory
8 GB 
, 1333.3 MHz, 19-19-19-43, Single-Channel
Display
15.60 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel 141 PPI, LG Philips LP156WF6, IPS, LGD053F, Dell P/N: 4XK13, glossy: no
Mainboard
Intel HM370
Storage
Seagate Mobile HDD 1TB ST1000LX015-1U7172, 1027 GB 
, 5400 rpm
Soundcard
Intel Cannon Lake-H/S - cAVS (Audio, Voice, Speech)
Connections
3 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 HDMI, 1 Kensington Lock, Audio Connections: 3.5 mm combo, Card Reader: SD
Networking
Realtek RTL8168/8111 Gigabit-LAN (10/100/1000MBit/s), Intel Wireless AC 9462 (b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 5
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 22.7 x 380 x 258 ( = 0.89 x 14.96 x 10.16 in)
Battery
56 Wh Lithium-Ion, 4-cell
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 Home 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: 720p
Additional features
Speakers: Stereo, Keyboard: Chiclet, Keyboard Light: yes, Dell Update, Dell Power Manager, Dell Mobile Connect, 12 Months Warranty
Weight
2.53 kg ( = 89.24 oz / 5.58 pounds), Power Supply: 604 g ( = 21.31 oz / 1.33 pounds)
Price
850 USD
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case

The G3 15 is designed to be one step below the Inspiron 15 7577. Gone are the "jet engine" style ventilation grilles in favor of a slimmer, sleeker, and more minimalist approach. Corners are rounder and smoother while the familiar Dell logo is now Teal in color instead of Red.

Unfortunately, the advantages over the Inspiron 15 7577 end here. The plastic surfaces of the G3 15 feel cheaper and more flexible for a poorer first impression. In fact, the cheap plastic palm rests remind us of the older HP Pavilion 15 or Omen 15. Our specific test unit also exhibits minor uneven gaps along the corner of the display. The new chassis is definitely a step backwards from the Inspiron 15 7577 when it comes to rigidity and quality.

Common complaints about the Inspiron 15 7577 are its heavy weight and large size. The G3 15 addresses this by being smaller, thinner, and lighter as our comparison  plugin below illustrates. The final dimensions are smaller than even the Gigabyte Sabre 15. For an entry-level gaming laptop, the G3 15 makes for a better portable option than its closest competitors.

Maximum lid angle of about 150 degrees
Maximum lid angle of about 150 degrees
No fingerprint-enabled Power button option
No fingerprint-enabled Power button option
The bottom panel curves upwards around the edges and corners much like on older Pavilion laptops
The bottom panel curves upwards around the edges and corners much like on older Pavilion laptops
The smooth matte surfaces are fingerprint magnets
The smooth matte surfaces are fingerprint magnets
389 mm / 15.3 inch 274.7 mm / 10.8 inch 24.95 mm / 0.982 inch 2.9 kg6.3 lbs383 mm / 15.1 inch 260 mm / 10.2 inch 29 mm / 1.142 inch 2.2 kg4.85 lbs384 mm / 15.1 inch 262 mm / 10.3 inch 25 mm / 0.984 inch 2.3 kg5.07 lbs378 mm / 14.9 inch 267 mm / 10.5 inch 26.9 mm / 1.059 inch 2.5 kg5.5 lbs380 mm / 15 inch 258 mm / 10.2 inch 22.7 mm / 0.894 inch 2.5 kg5.58 lbs360 mm / 14.2 inch 249 mm / 9.8 inch 17.2 mm / 0.677 inch 1.9 kg4.17 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs

Connectivity

The G3 15 offers the exact same ports as on the 17.3-inch G3 17. Port positioning is excellent as all ports are easy to reach with none too close up front. The HDMI 2.0 port allows for 4k60 output to an external monitor.

Thunderbolt 3 is an optional port not included on our test unit. While we can understand the desire to not integrate Thunderbolt 3 across the entire lineup for cost reasons, we feel that the system should at least come with USB Type-C Gen. 1 as standard. A gaming laptop released in 2018 with no USB Type-C gives an outdated impression.

Front: No connectivity
Front: No connectivity
Left: AC adapter, HDMI 2.0, RJ-45, 2x USB 3.0, 3.5 mm combo audio
Left: AC adapter, HDMI 2.0, RJ-45, 2x USB 3.0, 3.5 mm combo audio
Rear: No connectivity
Rear: No connectivity
Right: SD reader, USB 3.0, Noble Lock
Right: SD reader, USB 3.0, Noble Lock

SD Card Reader

Transfer rates from the integrated card reader are extremely slow at just 24 MB/s. Moving 1 GB worth of images from our UHS-II test card to desktop takes about 40 seconds compared to just 6 to 8 seconds on the XPS 15.

Furthermore, the card reader is not spring-loaded. A fully inserted SD card will still protrude by almost half its length.

SD Card Reader
average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs)
MSI GS63VR 7RG-005
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
181 MB/s +624%
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 7577 4K
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
29.77 MB/s +19%
Dell G3 15 3579
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
25 MB/s
MSI GL63 8RC-069US
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
15.2 MB/s -39%
maximum AS SSD Seq Read Test (1GB)
MSI GS63VR 7RG-005
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
204 MB/s +749%
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 7577 4K
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
30.97 MB/s +29%
Dell G3 15 3579
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
24.02 MB/s
MSI GL63 8RC-069US
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
21.77 MB/s -9%

Communication

The unit ships with an Intel 9462 capable of transfer rates of up to 433 Mbps only. It's a budget cost-cutting module because the pricier Intel 8260 and newer 9260 are capable of up to 867 Mbps and 1.73 Gbps, respectively. For casual gaming and browsing, the slower speeds will have almost no impact on user experience. We can observe no connectivity issues on our test unit.

Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Lenovo Yoga 730-15IKB
Realtek RTL8822BE Wireless LAN 802.11ac PCIe Adapter
650 MBit/s +92%
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 7577 4K
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
532 MBit/s +57%
Dell G3 15 3579
Intel Wireless AC 9462
339 MBit/s
MSI GL63 8RC-069US
Intel Wireless AC 9462
224 MBit/s -34%
iperf3 receive AX12
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 7577 4K
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
648 MBit/s +97%
Lenovo Yoga 730-15IKB
Realtek RTL8822BE Wireless LAN 802.11ac PCIe Adapter
616 MBit/s +87%
MSI GL63 8RC-069US
Intel Wireless AC 9462
340 MBit/s +3%
Dell G3 15 3579
Intel Wireless AC 9462
329 MBit/s

Accessories

There are no included extras outside of the AC adapter and Quick Start guide. A USB Type-A to Type-C adapter would have been a neat extra since the base configuration lacks USB Type-C.

Maintenance

The bottom panel is secured by a set of standard Philips screws. Unfortunately, the panel is also tightly attached to the rest of the notebook around the edges and corners. Dell has made servicing very difficult without special tools or risking damage. Users will find 2x SODIMM slots and dual storage bays inside not unlike on the G3 17.

Warranty

The standard one-year limited warranty applies with extensions of up to 4 years. Accidental damage and "Premium Plus" options are also available. Please see our Guarantees, Return policies and Warranties FAQ for country-specific information.

Input Devices

Keyboard

The "splash-resistant" chiclet keyboard (~34.5 x 10.3 cm) keys are soft in feedback and subsequently quiet with minimal clatter. Each key could have been firmer for a more satisfying typing experience closer to that of the XPS series. The NumPad and Arrow keys are even worse since they are smaller than the main QWERTY keys. Competing models like the Gigabyte Sabre 15 offer crisper keys that typists may like better.

The Blue backlight and Teal letters further distinguish the Dell G series from the Alienware series or older Inspiron Gaming series. It contrasts well with competing OEMs where Red is often the preferred color for gaming laptops.

Touchpad

The trackpad (~10.5 x 8 cm) is similar to the G3 17 and G5 15 in size and feel. It is slightly roughened in texture to avoid sticking when gliding across its surface. While cursor movements are reliable and smooth, the integrated mouse keys are very shallow in travel and on the spongy side. Firmer feedback would have made for a more agreeable experience should no external mouse be available.

Strangely, moving the cursor vertically along the right edge of the trackpad would sometimes cause the trackpad to not respond at all until we lift our finger. It's an annoying occurrence that we can find no toggle for in the settings menu.

The WASD keys glow will glow slightly brighter when the backlight is activated
The WASD keys glow will glow slightly brighter when the backlight is activated
Keys and trackpad are both shallow and spongy
Keys and trackpad are both shallow and spongy

Display

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the G3 15 utilizes the same LG Philips LP156WF6 IPS panel as on the Inspiron 15 7577. Even the Dell part number (4XK13) is exactly the same on both 1080p models. Display quality is nonetheless merely average. The backlight is weak at only about 200 nits maximum and contrast ratio is strangely lower than what we measured on the Inspiron 15 7577. These qualities are common for a budget gaming laptop as pricier models tend to offer 300 nit brightness levels with higher refresh rates, faster response times, and deeper contrast ratios. Users who want 4K UHD options will have to look at the G5 series.

Subjectively, the matte panel appears clean with only minimal graininess. The slightly uneven backlight bleeding is hardly noticeable.

Subpixel array (141 PPI)
Subpixel array (141 PPI)
Slight bleeding around the corners
Slight bleeding around the corners
210.2
cd/m²
214.7
cd/m²
222.4
cd/m²
196.1
cd/m²
208.2
cd/m²
212.5
cd/m²
180
cd/m²
182.1
cd/m²
200.8
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
LG Philips LP156WF6 tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 222.4 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 203 cd/m² Minimum: 9.2 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 81 %
Center on Battery: 208.2 cd/m²
Contrast: 612:1 (Black: 0.34 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 4.65 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5, calibrated: 3.84
ΔE Greyscale 4.1 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
57.9% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
36.7% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
39.75% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
57.9% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
38.48% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.3
Dell G3 15 3579
LG Philips LP156WF6, IPS, 15.60, 1920x1080
MSI GL63 8RC-069US
LG Philips LP156WF6-SPK6, IPS, 15.60, 1920x1080
Asus FX504GD
AU Optronics B156HTN03.8, TN LED, 15.60, 1920x1080
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 7577 4K
Name: AU Optronics B156ZAN, IPS, 15.60, 3840x2160
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 7577
ID: LG Philips LGD053F, Name: 156WF6, Dell P/N: 4XK13, IPS, 15.60, 1920x1080
Display
2%
-4%
74%
5%
Display P3 Coverage
38.48
39.4
2%
37.09
-4%
68.4
78%
40.4
5%
sRGB Coverage
57.9
59.2
2%
55.8
-4%
97.1
68%
60.5
4%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
39.75
40.72
2%
38.34
-4%
69.6
75%
41.77
5%
Response Times
-4%
3%
-16%
-24%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
32.4 ?(14.8, 17.6)
33.6 ?(16.8, 16.8)
-4%
41.6 ?(19.6, 22)
-28%
35.2 ?(17.2, 18)
-9%
41 ?(20, 21)
-27%
Response Time Black / White *
23.2 ?(13.2, 10)
24 ?(13.2, 10.8)
-3%
15.2 ?(10, 5.2)
34%
28.4 ?(16, 12.4)
-22%
28 ?(15, 13)
-21%
PWM Frequency
Screen
6%
-19%
33%
25%
Brightness middle
208.2
286.5
38%
260
25%
322.9
55%
257
23%
Brightness
203
258
27%
241
19%
309
52%
229
13%
Brightness Distribution
81
82
1%
85
5%
90
11%
84
4%
Black Level *
0.34
0.34
-0%
0.55
-62%
0.36
-6%
0.17
50%
Contrast
612
843
38%
473
-23%
897
47%
1512
147%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
4.65
5.57
-20%
7
-51%
3.99
14%
5.34
-15%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
15.99
16.8
-5%
22.52
-41%
8.97
44%
9.99
38%
Colorchecker dE 2000 calibrated *
3.84
4.16
-8%
5.27
-37%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
4.1
4.6
-12%
6.1
-49%
5.3
-29%
4.82
-18%
Gamma
2.3 96%
2.15 102%
1.97 112%
2.041 108%
2.46 89%
CCT
7352 88%
7564 86%
7894 82%
6941 94%
6587 99%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
36.7
37.4
2%
35.5
-3%
62.9
71%
38
4%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
57.9
58.9
2%
61
5%
96.8
67%
60
4%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
1% / 4%
-7% / -14%
30% / 34%
2% / 14%

* ... smaller is better

Color space is approximately 37 percent and 58 percent of the AdobeRGB and sRGB standards, respectively, to indicate a budget panel. In comparison, the color spaces of most flagship Ultrabooks tend to cover over 95 percent of sRGB for deeper and potentially more accurate colors. For gaming purposes, however, the narrow gamut here will not detract from the experience.

vs. sRGB
vs. sRGB
vs. AdobeRGB
vs. AdobeRGB

Further measurements with an X-Rite spectrophotometer reveal in imbalanced grayscale and an overly cool color temperature. Our calibration attempts improve both my noticeable margins. Colors, however, do not improve because of the narrow color gamut.

Grayscale before calibration
Grayscale before calibration
Saturation Sweeps before calibration
Saturation Sweeps before calibration
ColorChecker before calibration
ColorChecker before calibration
Grayscale after calibration
Grayscale after calibration
Saturation Sweeps after calibration
Saturation Sweeps after calibration
ColorChecker after calibration
ColorChecker after calibration

Display Response Times

Display response times show how fast the screen is able to change from one color to the next. Slow response times can lead to afterimages and can cause moving objects to appear blurry (ghosting). Gamers of fast-paced 3D titles should pay special attention to fast response times.
       Response Time Black to White
23.2 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 13.2 ms rise
↘ 10 ms fall
The screen shows good response rates in our tests, but may be too slow for competitive gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 47 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is similar to the average of all tested devices (21.6 ms).
       Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
32.4 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 14.8 ms rise
↘ 17.6 ms fall
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 37 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is similar to the average of all tested devices (33.9 ms).

Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)

To dim the screen, some notebooks will simply cycle the backlight on and off in rapid succession - a method called Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) . This cycling frequency should ideally be undetectable to the human eye. If said frequency is too low, users with sensitive eyes may experience strain or headaches or even notice the flickering altogether.
Screen flickering / PWM not detected

In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 18110 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured.

Outdoor visibility is poor due to the weak backlight. Glare is inevitable despite the matte overlay and onscreen content appears washed out as a result. Viewing angles are otherwise excellent with no major shifting in colors or contrast.

Outdoors on a bright cloudy day
Outdoors on a bright cloudy day
Outdoors under shade
Outdoors under shade
Outdoors on a bright cloudy day
Outdoors on a bright cloudy day
Wide IPS viewing angles
Wide IPS viewing angles

Performance

Core specifications are typical for an entry-level gaming laptop with CPU and GPU options ranging from the i5-8300H to the i7-8750H and GTX 1050 to the GTX 1060 Max-Q, respectively. The quad-core i5-8300H is a direct successor to the quad-core i5-7300HQ found on older budget gaming laptops. Users who want to go beyond the GTX 1060 Max-Q will have to look at Dell's higher-end Alienware series instead.

Processor

CineBench R15
CineBench R15

The Core i5-8300H in the Dell is performing where we expect it to be. Performance is on par with the last generation i7-7700HQ due to Hyper-Threading for 8 simultaneous threads versus just 4 on the i5-7300HQ. Jumping to the i7-8750H SKU will bring a 40 percent boost in CPU performance. For a budget gaming laptop, we find this higher-end Core i7 CPU to be a bit overkill.

Turbo Boost sustainability is good. Running CineBench R15 Multi-Thread in a loop results in a performance drop of just 3 percent over time.

See our dedicated page on the Core i5-8300H for more technical information and benchmarks.

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Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64 Bit
Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit
Asus Chimera G703GI
Intel Core i9-8950HK
206 Points +23%
Eurocom Sky X4C
Intel Core i7-8700K
192 Points +14%
MSI GT63 Titan 8RG-046
Intel Core i7-8750H
174 Points +4%
Average Intel Core i5-8300H
  (151 - 174, n=17)
168.6 Points 0%
Dell G3 15 3579
Intel Core i5-8300H
168 Points
Asus FX503VM-EH73
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
156 Points -7%
HP Spectre x360 15-ch011nr
Intel Core i7-8550U
149 Points -11%
Lenovo Legion Y520-15IKBA-80WY001VGE
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
147 Points -12%
Acer Swift 3 SF315-41-R6J9
AMD Ryzen 7 2700U
141 Points -16%
Dell Inspiron 15 5579-9672
Intel Core i5-8250U
140 Points -17%
Lenovo IdeaPad 720-15IKB
Intel Core i5-7200U
129 Points -23%
CPU Multi 64Bit
Eurocom Sky X4C
Intel Core i7-8700K
1359 Points +64%
Asus Chimera G703GI
Intel Core i9-8950HK
1312 Points +58%
MSI GT63 Titan 8RG-046
Intel Core i7-8750H
1091 Points +31%
Dell G3 15 3579
Intel Core i5-8300H
831 Points
Average Intel Core i5-8300H
  (609 - 850, n=17)
793 Points -5%
Asus FX503VM-EH73
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
733 Points -12%
Acer Swift 3 SF315-41-R6J9
AMD Ryzen 7 2700U
566 Points -32%
Dell Inspiron 15 5579-9672
Intel Core i5-8250U
562 Points -32%
HP Spectre x360 15-ch011nr
Intel Core i7-8550U
542 Points -35%
Lenovo Legion Y520-15IKBA-80WY001VGE
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
501 Points -40%
Lenovo IdeaPad 720-15IKB
Intel Core i5-7200U
331 Points -60%
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
168 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
831 Points
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
106.2 fps
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
99.6 %
Help

System Performance

PCMark 10 scores are about 20 percent slower than the MSI GL63 equipped with the same i5-8300H CPU and GTX 1050 GPU due to the very slow Seagate HDD in our Dell. Applications and windows open sluggishly and the HDD can be heard chugging along each time. We highly recommend avoiding the HDD configuration at all costs.

PCMark 10 Standard
PCMark 10 Standard
PCMark 8 Home Accelerated
PCMark 8 Home Accelerated
PCMark 8 work Accelerated
PCMark 8 work Accelerated
PCMark 10 - Score
Asus FX503VM-EH73
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, SanDisk SD8SN8U128G1002
4856 Points +59%
Lenovo Yoga 730-15IKB
GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i5-8550U, SK Hynix PC401 512GB M.2 (HFS512GD9TNG)
4347 Points +43%
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 7577 4K
GeForce GTX 1060 Max-Q, i7-7700HQ, SK hynix SC311 M.2
4306 Points +41%
MSI GL63 8RC-069US
GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i5-8300H, Toshiba HG6 THNSNJ256G8NY
3912 Points +28%
Average Intel Core i5-8300H, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile
  (3050 - 4479, n=6)
3900 Points +28%
Dell G3 15 3579
GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i5-8300H, Seagate Mobile HDD 1TB ST1000LX015-1U7172
3050 Points
PCMark 8
Home Score Accelerated v2
Asus FX503VM-EH73
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, SanDisk SD8SN8U128G1002
4940 Points +26%
Dell G3 15 3579
GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i5-8300H, Seagate Mobile HDD 1TB ST1000LX015-1U7172
3930 Points
MSI GL63 8RC-069US
GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i5-8300H, Toshiba HG6 THNSNJ256G8NY
3927 Points 0%
Average Intel Core i5-8300H, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile
  (3704 - 4030, n=6)
3898 Points -1%
Lenovo Yoga 730-15IKB
GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i5-8550U, SK Hynix PC401 512GB M.2 (HFS512GD9TNG)
3505 Points -11%
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 7577 4K
GeForce GTX 1060 Max-Q, i7-7700HQ, SK hynix SC311 M.2
3385 Points -14%
Work Score Accelerated v2
MSI GL63 8RC-069US
GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i5-8300H, Toshiba HG6 THNSNJ256G8NY
5270 Points +7%
Asus FX503VM-EH73
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, SanDisk SD8SN8U128G1002
5174 Points +5%
Average Intel Core i5-8300H, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile
  (4609 - 5271, n=6)
5051 Points +3%
Dell G3 15 3579
GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i5-8300H, Seagate Mobile HDD 1TB ST1000LX015-1U7172
4922 Points
Lenovo Yoga 730-15IKB
GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i5-8550U, SK Hynix PC401 512GB M.2 (HFS512GD9TNG)
4382 Points -11%
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 7577 4K
GeForce GTX 1060 Max-Q, i7-7700HQ, SK hynix SC311 M.2
4102 Points -17%
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
3930 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2
4922 points
PCMark 10 Score
3050 points
Help

Storage Devices

Internal storage solutions include a 2.5-inch SATA III bay and a M.2 2280 slot compatible with NVMe drives. Our test unit comes with just a single 1 TB Seagate FireCuda ST1000LX015 HDD that can also be found on the Inspiron 15 7577. Unsurprisingly, HD Tune results are nearly identical between the two systems. Performance is unimpressive as even the slowest SATA III SSD will run laps around our Seagate HDD.

See our table of HDDs and SSDs for more benchmark comparisons.

CDM 5
CDM 5
HD Tune
HD Tune
Dell G3 15 3579
Seagate Mobile HDD 1TB ST1000LX015-1U7172
Asus VivoBook 15 F510UF-ES71
Seagate Mobile HDD 1TB ST1000LM035
Asus FX504GD
Seagate Mobile HDD 1TB ST1000LX015-1U7172
Dell Latitude 7490
Toshiba KSG60ZMV256G
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 7577
Seagate Mobile HDD 1TB ST1000LX015-1U7172
CrystalDiskMark 5.2 / 6
117%
18%
10991%
3%
Write 4K
0.202
1.283
535%
0.27
34%
79.4
39207%
0.42
108%
Read 4K
0.461
0.493
7%
0.586
27%
27.37
5837%
0.41
-11%
Write Seq
53.5
79.3
48%
86.8
62%
343.9
543%
55.6
4%
Read Seq
107.2
136.7
28%
113.2
6%
472.7
341%
114.3
7%
Write 4K Q32T1
0.882
2.266
157%
0.242
-73%
206
23256%
0.238
-73%
Read 4K Q32T1
1.057
1.068
1%
0.963
-9%
188.3
17715%
0.942
-11%
Write Seq Q32T1
63.7
108.7
71%
98.4
54%
343.3
439%
68.2
7%
Read Seq Q32T1
77.1
143.7
86%
110.2
43%
533
591%
69.6
-10%
Seagate Mobile HDD 1TB ST1000LX015-1U7172
Transfer Rate Minimum: 0.7 MB/s
Transfer Rate Maximum: 136.2 MB/s
Transfer Rate Average: 97.5 MB/s
Access Time: 19.3 ms
Burst Rate: 103.4 MB/s
CPU Usage: 2.6 %

GPU Performance

The GeForce GTX 1050 for laptops is only about 5 to 10 percent slower than the same GPU for desktops. Users can expect a rough 30 percent increase from the last generation GTX 960M commonly found on many older gaming notebooks. Opting for the costlier GTX 1050 Ti or GTX 1060 Max-Q configurations will boost graphics performance by 30 percent and 80 percent, respectively, over the GTX 1050.

Demanding titles like Witcher 3 are playable at native 1080p when most details are turned down to the low-medium range. See our GTX 1050 GPU page for more technical information and benchmark comparisons.

3DMark 11
3DMark 11
Cloud Gate
Cloud Gate
Fire Strike
Fire Strike
3DMark 11
1280x720 Performance GPU
Alienware 15 R4
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i9-8950HK
23308 Points +204%
MSI GV62 8RE-016US
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i5-8300H
15101 Points +97%
Razer Blade 15 GTX 1060
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Max-Q, i7-8750H
14180 Points +85%
Asus Strix GL502VY-DS71
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ
12472 Points +63%
Alienware 13 R3 (i5-7300HQ, GTX 1050 Ti)
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i5-7300HQ
10325 Points +35%
Zotac GeForce GTX 1050 2GB
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 (Desktop), 4790K
8571 Points +12%
Average NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile
  (6744 - 8903, n=42)
7662 Points 0%
Dell G3 15 3579
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i5-8300H
7658 Points
Asus GL552VW-DH74
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ
5779 Points -25%
HP Spectre x360 15-ch011nr
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, i5-8550U
4708 Points -39%
Acer Aspire E5-575G-549D
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950M, i5-7200U
4251 Points -44%
1280x720 Performance Combined
Alienware 15 R4
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i9-8950HK
10700 Points +41%
Razer Blade 15 GTX 1060
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Max-Q, i7-8750H
8935 Points +18%
Asus Strix GL502VY-DS71
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ
8343 Points +10%
MSI GV62 8RE-016US
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i5-8300H
8215 Points +8%
Zotac GeForce GTX 1050 2GB
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 (Desktop), 4790K
7998 Points +5%
Dell G3 15 3579
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i5-8300H
7598 Points
Average NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile
  (4446 - 7607, n=42)
6827 Points -10%
Alienware 13 R3 (i5-7300HQ, GTX 1050 Ti)
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i5-7300HQ
6374 Points -16%
Asus GL552VW-DH74
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ
5808 Points -24%
HP Spectre x360 15-ch011nr
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, i5-8550U
4296 Points -43%
Acer Aspire E5-575G-549D
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950M, i5-7200U
4113 Points -46%
3DMark
1280x720 Cloud Gate Standard Graphics
Alienware 15 R4
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i9-8950HK
117493 Points +198%
MSI GV62 8RE-016US
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i5-8300H
82006 Points +108%
Razer Blade 15 GTX 1060
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Max-Q, i7-8750H
80748 Points +105%
Asus Strix GL502VY-DS71
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ
64343 Points +63%
Alienware 13 R3 (i5-7300HQ, GTX 1050 Ti)
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i5-7300HQ
51416 Points +31%
Zotac GeForce GTX 1050 2GB
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 (Desktop), 4790K
40922 Points +4%
Dell G3 15 3579
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i5-8300H
39385 Points
Average NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile
  (14979 - 40201, n=40)
36212 Points -8%
Asus GL552VW-DH74
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ
31747 Points -19%
Acer Aspire E5-575G-549D
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950M, i5-7200U
22439 Points -43%
HP Spectre x360 15-ch011nr
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, i5-8550U
19900 Points -49%
1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics
Alienware 15 R4
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i9-8950HK
17675 Points +186%
MSI GV62 8RE-016US
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i5-8300H
11968 Points +94%
Razer Blade 15 GTX 1060
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Max-Q, i7-8750H
11315 Points +83%
Asus Strix GL502VY-DS71
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M, 6700HQ
9608 Points +55%
Alienware 13 R3 (i5-7300HQ, GTX 1050 Ti)
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i5-7300HQ
8066 Points +30%
Zotac GeForce GTX 1050 2GB
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 (Desktop), 4790K
6797 Points +10%
Dell G3 15 3579
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i5-8300H
6183 Points
Average NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile
  (4935 - 6651, n=43)
6022 Points -3%
Asus GL552VW-DH74
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ
4645 Points -25%
HP Spectre x360 15-ch011nr
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, i5-8550U
3622 Points -41%
Acer Aspire E5-575G-549D
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950M, i5-7200U
3574 Points -42%
3DMark 11 Performance
7741 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
21325 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
5640 points
Help
low med. high ultra
BioShock Infinite (2013) 224 184 163 65.4
The Witcher 3 (2015) 113.9 68.9 39.4 22
Rise of the Tomb Raider (2016) 94.3 73.5 39.1 33

Stress Test

We stress the notebook with synthetic loads to test for potential throttling or stability issues. When subjected to Prime95 load, the CPU can be observed running at the maximum quad-core Turbo Boost clock rate of 3.9 GHz for the first few seconds before hitting 85 C. Once this temperature threshold is reached, clock rates drop to the 3.5 GHz to 3.7 GHz range in order to maintain a cooler core temperature of 75 C. Running both Prime95 and FurMark simultaneously will not throttle the CPU any further, but core temperature subsequently plateaus at a very high 94 C.

Running Witcher 3 is more representative of real-world gaming loads. When under such conditions, the CPU and GPU are both able to sustain Boost clock rates at reasonably cool core temperatures in the 60 C range each.

Running on batteries will limit CPU and GPU performance even when set to High Performance mode. A 3DMark 11 test run on batteries returns Physics and Graphics scores of just 5091 and 1751 points, respectively, compared to 8301 and 7658 points when on mains.

System idle
System idle
Prime95 stress
Prime95 stress
Witcher 3 stress
Witcher 3 stress
Prime95+FurMark stress
Prime95+FurMark stress
CPU Clock (GHz) GPU Clock (MHz) Average CPU Temperature (°C) Average GPU Temperature (°C)
Prime95 Stress 3.7 -- 76 --
FurMark Stress -- 1557 -- 54
Prime95 + FurMark Stress 3.7 ~1468 94 77
Witcher 3 Stress 4.0 1709 ~62 67

Emissions

System Noise

The cooling solution consists of dual fans and dual heat pipes not unlike on the G3 17. The system is silent when completely idle, but any sort of light activity like streaming or browsing will initiate the fans. Luckily, the fans are very quiet and almost unnoticeable during these low loads.

Higher loads like gaming will cause a steady fan noise of 47 dB(A) which is loud even for a gaming notebook. The MSI GL63, for example, tops out at 41 dB(A) when subjected to similar conditions. Even the older and more powerful Inspiron 15 7577 manages to run quieter than our G3 15 when gaming.

Based on our relatively cool core temperatures from above, the G3 15 can afford to run slightly warmer for quieter fan noise. Fan speed settings, however, are unavailable on this budget system.

Noise Level

Idle
29.8 / 29.8 / 30 dB(A)
Load
38.6 / 49.4 dB(A)
  red to green bar
 
 
30 dB
silent
40 dB(A)
audible
50 dB(A)
loud
 
min: dark, med: mid, max: light   Audix TM1, Arta (15 cm distance)   environment noise: 28 dB(A)
Dell G3 15 3579
GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i5-8300H, Seagate Mobile HDD 1TB ST1000LX015-1U7172
MSI GL63 8RC-069US
GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i5-8300H, Toshiba HG6 THNSNJ256G8NY
Lenovo Yoga 730-15IKB
GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i5-8550U, SK Hynix PC401 512GB M.2 (HFS512GD9TNG)
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 7577 4K
GeForce GTX 1060 Max-Q, i7-7700HQ, SK hynix SC311 M.2
Alienware 13 R3 (i5-7300HQ, GTX 1050 Ti)
GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i5-7300HQ, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
Noise
-2%
2%
3%
4%
off / environment *
28
28.6
-2%
30.5
-9%
28.5
-2%
29.7
-6%
Idle Minimum *
29.8
28.6
4%
30.5
-2%
28.8
3%
29.7
-0%
Idle Average *
29.8
31.6
-6%
30.5
-2%
29.2
2%
29.7
-0%
Idle Maximum *
30
31.6
-5%
30.5
-2%
29.2
3%
29.7
1%
Load Average *
38.6
38.6
-0%
37.5
3%
34.6
10%
32.7
15%
Witcher 3 ultra *
46.9
40.6
13%
44.1
6%
36.4
22%
Load Maximum *
49.4
56.8
-15%
37.5
24%
49.3
-0%
50
-1%

* ... smaller is better

Temperature

Witcher 3 load
Witcher 3 load

Surface temperatures when idling are warmest towards the center of the keyboard and on the right palm rest where the HDD lies underneath. Certain spots can become as warm as 40 C or 50 C when gaming as shown by our temperature maps below. The WASD keys, palm rests, and NumPad areas remain relatively cool for a comfortable gaming experience. Gaming is still not recommended without a flat desk because of the ventilation grilles and very warm temperatures along the bottom panel.

Hot spots on the G3 15 are definitely warmer than on the Inspiron 15 7577 when subjected to similar extreme loads even though our Inspiron configuration is significantly more powerful.

System idle (top)
System idle (top)
System idle (bottom)
System idle (bottom)
Witcher 3 load (top)
Witcher 3 load (top)
Witcher 3 load (bottom)
Witcher 3 load (bottom)
Maximum load (top)
Maximum load (top)
Maximum load (bottom)
Maximum load (bottom)
Max. Load
 47 °C
117 F
45 °C
113 F
33.4 °C
92 F
 
 38.8 °C
102 F
46.4 °C
116 F
32.2 °C
90 F
 
 24.6 °C
76 F
25 °C
77 F
29.8 °C
86 F
 
Maximum: 47 °C = 117 F
Average: 35.8 °C = 96 F
38.4 °C
101 F
52.6 °C
127 F
61.2 °C
142 F
31.4 °C
89 F
43.4 °C
110 F
33.6 °C
92 F
29.6 °C
85 F
26.4 °C
80 F
26 °C
79 F
Maximum: 61.2 °C = 142 F
Average: 38.1 °C = 101 F
Power Supply (max.)  59 °C = 138 F | Room Temperature 22 °C = 72 F | Fluke 62 Mini IR Thermometer
(±) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 35.8 °C / 96 F, compared to the average of 33.8 °C / 93 F for the devices in the class Gaming.
(-) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 47 °C / 117 F, compared to the average of 40.4 °C / 105 F, ranging from 21.2 to 68.8 °C for the class Gaming.
(-) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 61.2 °C / 142 F, compared to the average of 43.2 °C / 110 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 30.3 °C / 87 F, compared to the device average of 33.8 °C / 93 F.
(+) Playing The Witcher 3, the average temperature for the upper side is 31.2 °C / 88 F, compared to the device average of 33.8 °C / 93 F.
(+) The palmrests and touchpad are cooler than skin temperature with a maximum of 31.6 °C / 88.9 F and are therefore cool to the touch.
(-) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.9 °C / 84 F (-2.7 °C / -4.9 F).

Speakers

Sound quality from the stereo speakers is better than what we'd expect from a budget laptop. Audio is relatively balanced even when on high volume settings with no static or major reverberations. Bass, of course, is still lacking and average at best. The same Waves MaxxAudio software that shipped with the Inspiron 15 7577 can be found here on the G3 15.

Pink noise
Pink noise
Downward-facing speakers near the front corners
Downward-facing speakers near the front corners
dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2038.136.12535.537.43133.435.74033.233.25032.433.16333.733803231.810030.730.512529.837.416027.851.120027.655.225026.457.631526.361.240026.164.550025.563.963025.272.480025.173.3100025.266.512502464.9160024.165.1200023.963.5250023.864.3315023.862.3400023.766.5500023.673.2630023.570.9800023.362.21000023.362.81250023.471.31600023.370SPL36.380.4N2.749.4median 24.1median 64.3Delta1.44.535.335.132.931.831.83236.535.132.428.93328.936.328.848.32761.52752.924.860.92462.822.763.32269.521.267.82174.82075.919.472.718.97117.770.117.86917.671.817.668.117.671.417.673.717.670.417.571.617.671.617.669.617.459.717.583.630.662.51.5median 69.6median 17.84.72.4hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseDell G3 15 3579Apple MacBook 12 (Early 2016) 1.1 GHz
Frequency diagram (checkboxes can be checked and unchecked to compare devices)
Dell G3 15 3579 audio analysis

(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (73.3 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 15.5% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (13.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 2.8% away from median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (7.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3.3% away from median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (9% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (18.1% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 54% of all tested devices in this class were better, 8% similar, 38% worse
» The best had a delta of 6%, average was 18%, worst was 132%
Compared to all devices tested
» 33% of all tested devices were better, 8% similar, 60% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Apple MacBook 12 (Early 2016) 1.1 GHz audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (83.6 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 11.3% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (14.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 2.4% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (5.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 2% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (4.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(+) | overall sound is linear (10.2% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 5% of all tested devices in this class were better, 2% similar, 93% worse
» The best had a delta of 5%, average was 19%, worst was 53%
Compared to all devices tested
» 3% of all tested devices were better, 1% similar, 96% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Energy Management

Power Consumption

Prime95 initiated at the 20s mark. Consumption remains steady to indicate consistent CPU performance when under stress
Prime95 initiated at the 20s mark. Consumption remains steady to indicate consistent CPU performance when under stress

Idling on desktop draws about 8 W to 13 W depending on the profile and brightness setting. When gaming, consumption is very nearly the same as on the MSI GL63 and Asus FX504 each with the same i5-8300H CPU and GTX 1050 GPU. Interestingly, the G3 15 is slightly more demanding than the more powerful Inspiron 15 7577.

Maximum load will draw about 132 W from a medium-sized (~15 x 7.5 x 2.5 cm) 130 W adapter. A more capable 180 W adapter is included only with the GTX 1060 Max-Q configuration. We're very disappointed by this move because the G3 15 battery will continue to drain when running extreme loads even if connected to mains.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.27 / 0.49 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 7.9 / 9.6 / 13 Watt
Load midlight 93 / 132.7 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Metrahit Energy
Currently we use the Metrahit Energy, a professional single phase power quality and energy measurement digital multimeter, for our measurements. Find out more about it here. All of our test methods can be found here.
Dell G3 15 3579
i5-8300H, GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, Seagate Mobile HDD 1TB ST1000LX015-1U7172, IPS, 1920x1080, 15.60
MSI GL63 8RC-069US
i5-8300H, GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, Toshiba HG6 THNSNJ256G8NY, IPS, 1920x1080, 15.60
Lenovo Yoga 730-15IKB
i5-8550U, GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, SK Hynix PC401 512GB M.2 (HFS512GD9TNG), IPS, 3840x2160, 15.60
Asus FX504GD
i5-8300H, GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, Seagate Mobile HDD 1TB ST1000LX015-1U7172, TN LED, 1920x1080, 15.60
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 7577 4K
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1060 Max-Q, SK hynix SC311 M.2, IPS, 3840x2160, 15.60
Power Consumption
7%
27%
8%
11%
Idle Minimum *
7.9
7.1
10%
4.8
39%
7.2
9%
5.5
30%
Idle Average *
9.6
9.8
-2%
10.1
-5%
10.2
-6%
10.5
-9%
Idle Maximum *
13
10.4
20%
10.7
18%
10.9
16%
10.9
16%
Load Average *
93
88.8
5%
44
53%
93.3
-0%
72
23%
Witcher 3 ultra *
100.6
93.3
7%
95.8
5%
97.4
3%
Load Maximum *
132.7
132.5
-0%
94.7
29%
102.5
23%
130.4
2%

* ... smaller is better

Battery Life

Both the G3 15 and Inspiron 15 7577 use similar 56 W internal battery packs. Interestingly, battery life is longer than on the aforementioned Inspiron at about 6.5 hours of real-world WLAN use. The results are strange because the power consumption measurements above show the G3 15 to be the less efficient model overall. There are likely additional automatic power-saving measures on the G3 15 when running on batteries.

Charging from near empty to full capacity takes about 2 hours.

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
0h 00min
WiFi Websurfing
6h 32min
Load (maximum brightness)
2h 10min
Dell G3 15 3579
i5-8300H, GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, 56 Wh
MSI GL63 8RC-069US
i5-8300H, GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, 41 Wh
Lenovo Yoga 730-15IKB
i5-8550U, GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, 51.5 Wh
Asus FX504GD
i5-8300H, GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, 48 Wh
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 7577 4K
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1060 Max-Q, 56 Wh
Asus FX503VM-EH73
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, 64 Wh
Battery Runtime
-52%
-34%
-50%
-25%
-39%
Reader / Idle
440
697
449
599
340
WiFi v1.3
392
255
-35%
370
-6%
223
-43%
322
-18%
276
-30%
Load
130
41
-68%
50
-62%
56
-57%
90
-31%
67
-48%

Pros

+ reasonably cool core temperatures when gaming
+ 2x storage bays, 2x SODIMM slots
+ good Turbo Boost sustainability
+ low starting price
+ good battery life

Cons

- USB Type-C and Thunderbolt 3 are optional
- spongy keyboard keys and trackpad
- display backlight could be brighter
- abysmally slow 5400 RPM HDD
- loud fan noise when gaming
- difficult serviceability
- Slow SD card reader
- cheap plastic feel

Verdict

In review: Dell G3 15 3579
In review: Dell G3 15 3579

The Dell G3 is supposed to be an affordable gaming laptop positioned below the G5, G7, and Alienware series. It certainly gives the appropriate impression because it indubitably feels much cheaper and weaker than last year's Inspiron 15 7577. The plastic HP Pavilion-like palm rests, soft keyboard keys, soft trackpad, difficult serviceability, slow 1x1 WLAN, and dim display are all indicative of cut corners. Even USB Type-C is relegated to an option instead of a standard feature. It's hard to ignore all the cost-saving measures the G3 15 entails.

Fortunately, core performance is the highlight of the notebook. The system can sustain high Turbo Boost clock rates far better than expected and with cooler core temperatures when gaming. The new design is relatively lightweight and small for the price and we're glad to see that the abysmal TN panel option is finally gone. Fan noise could use some improvement because the system is louder than many of its competitors with the same GPU.

It's difficult to recommend the G3 15 even though it starts for under $900 USD. Users would be better off investing on the older Inspiron 15 7577 with the Core i7-7700HQ as it would give roughly the same performance as our G3 with the i5-8300H. The Inspiron is larger and heavier, but it makes up for its shortcomings with easier serviceability, quieter fans, Thunderbolt 3 port, and significantly better build quality from top to bottom.

The G3 15 is Dell's cheapest gaming laptop yet and it definitely doesn't hide it. Last year's Inspiron 15 7567 and 7577 are better in almost every way especially now that they can be found for about the same price.

Dell G3 15 3579 - 07/28/2018 v6(old)
Allen Ngo

Chassis
79 / 98 → 81%
Keyboard
75%
Pointing Device
84%
Connectivity
43 / 81 → 53%
Weight
60 / 10-66 → 89%
Battery
89%
Display
81%
Games Performance
89%
Application Performance
93%
Temperature
85 / 95 → 89%
Noise
84 / 90 → 93%
Audio
46%
Camera
39 / 85 → 46%
Average
73%
79%
Gaming - Weighted Average

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Dell G3 15 3579 (i5-8300H, GTX 1050, FHD) Laptop Review
Allen Ngo, 2018-08- 1 (Update: 2019-02-28)