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Dell Inspiron 15 7000 7577 (i5-7300HQ, GTX 1060 Max-Q) Laptop Review

Max-Q done right. Nvidia's Max-Q technology launched for an absurdly high price of $3000+ USD. Not five months later, users can now own that same technology for under $900 USD. This latest Inspiron is perhaps the best example of Max-Q for the masses.

It hasn't even been a full year since we first published on the Inspiron 15 7567 and Dell has already refreshed the chassis with key component changes. The new Inspiron 15 7577 is the late 2017 successor that brings Max-Q technology to the most affordable price range we've seen yet. This notable change should theoretically deliver faster graphics performance at quieter noise levels over the 7567 series where the GTX 1050 Ti was the highest available option. Our review page will compare and contrast the advantages that this latest redesign brings to the budget Inspiron gaming family.

The Inspiron 7577 starts at just under $900 USD with an i5-7300HQ CPU, GTX 1060 Max-Q GPU, FHD IPS matte display, and 128 GB SSD + 1 TB HDD while the highest-end SKU will cost $1600 USD with an i7-7700HQ, GTX 1060 Max-Q GPU, 4K UHD IPS display, and up to a 512 GB NVMe SSD. The fact that Dell includes the exact same GPU across the entire lineup is a notable change from the Inspiron 7567 where there were multiple GPU options. Competitors in this price range are plentiful including the Asus ROG GL503, Lenovo Legion Y520, Acer Nitro 5, Gigabyte Sabre 15, Samsung Odyssey, HP Omen 15, and the MSI GF62VR to name a few.

Dell Inspiron 15 7000 7577 (Inspiron 15 7000 Series)
Processor
Intel Core i5-7300HQ 4 x 2.5 - 3.5 GHz, Kaby Lake
Graphics adapter
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Max-Q - 6 GB VRAM, Core: 1063 MHz, Memory: 8008 MHz, GDDR5, 382.78, Optimus
Memory
8 GB 
, 1200.5 MHz, DDR4-2400, PC4-19200, Single-Channel, 17-17-17-39
Display
15.60 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel 141 PPI, ID: LG Philips LGD053F, Name: 156WF6, Dell P/N: 4XK13, IPS, glossy: no
Mainboard
Intel HM175 (Skylake PCH-H)
Storage
Soundcard
Intel Skylake PCH-H High Definition Audio Controller
Connections
3 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 USB 3.1 Gen2, 1 Thunderbolt, 1 HDMI, 1 Kensington Lock, Audio Connections: 3.5 mm combo, Card Reader: SD reader, 1 Fingerprint Reader, Brightness Sensor
Networking
Realtek RTL8168/8111 Gigabit-LAN (10/100/1000MBit/s), Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265 (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 4.2
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 24.95 x 389 x 274.7 ( = 0.98 x 15.31 x 10.81 in)
Battery
56 Wh Lithium-Polymer
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 Home 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: 720p
Additional features
Speakers: Stereo, Keyboard: Chiclet, Keyboard Light: yes, Quick Start guide, Waves MaxxAudio, McAfee, Dell Update, Dell SupportAssist, 12 Months Warranty
Weight
2.744 kg ( = 96.79 oz / 6.05 pounds), Power Supply: 726 g ( = 25.61 oz / 1.6 pounds)
Price
950 USD
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case

Inner plastic bezel does not sit perfectly against the edge of the screen
Inner plastic bezel does not sit perfectly against the edge of the screen

The new chassis retains the core outline of the Inspiron 7567. For example, the tapered front and back edges remain while the tacky red grilles are now gone for more neutral gray-colored grilles. Visually, the changes make the notebook stand out in the ever-growing crowd of budget gaming notebooks even if users may not like the Ruffles-inspired grilles. The dark gray magnesium alloy surfaces are smooth and uniform from top to bottom and will attract fingerprints just as well as on the Inspiron 7567. The front corners of the notebook are unfortunately still quite sharp to the touch compared to the rounded corners of most other notebooks.

Looks aside, build quality is excellent around the base. The center of the keyboard remains absolutely rigid when applying pressure and side-to-side twisting is nigh impossible unless if twisting vigorously. There is almost no creaking and gaps between materials are even throughout. The Inspiron 7577 is certainly one of the stronger gaming notebooks available in its price category.

Where the system falters is on its display as costlier Dell systems like the XPS 15 and Alienware 15 series have the advantage in terms of rigidity and quality. The lid of the Inspiron 7577 exhibits more creaking when opening and closing than do most other gaming notebooks and is more susceptible to side-to-side twisting as well. The center of the outer lid warps slightly to pressure and the inner bezel is not perfectly aligned to the edge of the screen on our unit as shown by the image to the right. If there's one area to improve upon for future revisions, then it would definitely be the display. The single-bar hinge is otherwise evenly firm up to its maximum of 140 degrees with no teetering when typing.

The new design is ever-so-slightly thinner and smaller than the outgoing Inspiron 7567, but the changes in dimensions are so minimal that they are essentially irrelevant to making the system any more portable in practice. As shown by our comparison chart below, the Dell is still very nearly the same size as many of its closest competitors and is slightly heavier than them as well. Users who want a more travel-friendly gaming notebook may want to consider the thinner MSI GS63VR or the lighter Asus GL503VD.

Rear "jet engine"-style cooling design remains. Consequently, hinge angle is narrower and cannot be opened past 140 degrees
Rear "jet engine"-style cooling design remains. Consequently, hinge angle is narrower and cannot be opened past 140 degrees
The criss-cross red grilles of the Inspiron 7567 have been replaced by a gray parallel pattern on both the front and back
The criss-cross red grilles of the Inspiron 7567 have been replaced by a gray parallel pattern on both the front and back
390 mm / 15.4 inch 266 mm / 10.5 inch 26.75 mm / 1.053 inch 2.7 kg5.95 lbs389 mm / 15.3 inch 276 mm / 10.9 inch 25 mm / 0.984 inch 2.6 kg5.78 lbs389 mm / 15.3 inch 274.7 mm / 10.8 inch 24.95 mm / 0.982 inch 2.7 kg6.05 lbs385 mm / 15.2 inch 275 mm / 10.8 inch 27 mm / 1.063 inch 2.8 kg6.06 lbs380 mm / 15 inch 265 mm / 10.4 inch 26 mm / 1.024 inch 2.5 kg5.56 lbs378 mm / 14.9 inch 267 mm / 10.5 inch 26.9 mm / 1.059 inch 2.5 kg5.5 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs

Connectivity

The most important update in terms of connectivity is the addition of Thunderbolt 3. In comparison, systems in this category like the Sabre 15 include USB Type-C with no Thunderbolt 3 support while others like the Samsung Odyssey omit USB Type-C completely. All other ports from the Inspiron 7567 have returned on the Inspiron 7577 albeit slightly rearranged.

Port positioning and spacing are perfect given what is available. All ports are on the left- and right-hand edges towards the rear of the unit with USB Type-A readily available on both sides. MSI should definitely take note as we can't say the same for the tightly-packed ports on the GS series.

Right: 3.5 mm combo audio, 2x USB 3.1, USB Type-C + Thunderbolt 3, HDMI 2.0
Right: 3.5 mm combo audio, 2x USB 3.1, USB Type-C + Thunderbolt 3, HDMI 2.0
Rear: No connectivity
Rear: No connectivity
Left: Noble Lock, AC adapter, Gigabit Ethernet, USB 3.1, SD reader
Left: Noble Lock, AC adapter, Gigabit Ethernet, USB 3.1, SD reader
Front: No connectivity
Front: No connectivity

SD Card Reader

Mounted SD cards do not sit fully inside on the system
Mounted SD cards do not sit fully inside on the system

Dell has not upgraded the integrated SD card reader despite the chassis redesign. Read rates are still very slow at about 29 MB/s with our Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC UHS-II test card whereas the card reader on the XPS 15 tops out at over 252 MB/s. Transferring 1 GB worth of images from the card to desktop will take about 38 seconds.

The card reader is not spring-loaded unlike on most other notebooks, either. A fully inserted SD card will protrude by about half its length and is thus unsafe for transport without first removing it from the notebook.

SD Card Reader
average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs)
Dell XPS 15 9560 (i7-7700HQ, UHD)
 
120.5 MB/s +347%
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 7577
 
26.95 MB/s
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 7567
 
22.2 MB/s -18%
maximum AS SSD Seq Read Test (1GB)
Dell XPS 15 9560 (i7-7700HQ, UHD)
 
252.6 MB/s +758%
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 7577
 
29.44 MB/s
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 7567
 
27.2 MB/s -8%

Communication

All SKUs come equipped with a 2x2 Intel 8265 M.2 module as the sole option. We would have liked to see the gaming-centric Killer 1535 as an upgrade since it is so prevalent on the costlier XPS series, but we suppose that Dell wants to keep it as an exclusive to the higher tier family. Average transmit and receive rates are essentially the same as on the XPS 15 9560, so Inspiron users will only be missing out on specific Killer 1535 software features.

Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Dell XPS 15 9560 (i7-7700HQ, UHD)
Killer Wireless-n/a/ac 1535 Wireless Network Adapter
529 MBit/s +1%
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 7577
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
522 MBit/s
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 7567
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165 (jseb)
306 MBit/s -41%
iperf3 receive AX12
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 7577
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
654 MBit/s
Dell XPS 15 9560 (i7-7700HQ, UHD)
Killer Wireless-n/a/ac 1535 Wireless Network Adapter
648 MBit/s -1%
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 7567
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165 (jseb)
246 MBit/s -62%

Accessories

There are no included extras outside of the AC adapter and small Quick Start guide. Even a cleaning cloth would have been a nice addition for wiping off the inevitable grime on the matte surfaces of the notebook. Optional accessories like the Dell DA200 or other USB-based docking stations can make use of the new Thunderbolt 3 port.

Maintenance

Similar to the older Inspiron 7567, the bottom panel of the 7577 is held in place by only a single Philips screw. The main problem is that the hooks around the edges and corners are very tight when compared to other notebooks. A sharp edge or an old credit card is absolutely recommended for an easier time servicing.

Once the panel is removed, we can begin to see some differences between the 7567 and 7577 as shown by the images below. The most easily noticeable omission on the newer model is perhaps the dedicated subwoofer in favor of a thinner and leaner battery.

Inspiron 7577
Inspiron 7577
Inspiron 7567
Inspiron 7567

Warranty

The standard one-year limited warranty applies with options to extend up to four years of Premium Support Plus. Dell offers a wider range of warranty options compared to smaller specialized gaming manufacturers like MSI, Gigabyte, or Razer because of its wide-reaching Latitude notebooks for businesses. Please see our Guarantees, Return Policies & Warranties FAQ for country-specific information.

Input Devices

Keyboard

The chiclet keyboard (~34.4 x 10.4 cm) is perhaps the worst aspect of the notebook. When we previewed a pre-production unit of the Inspiron 7577 back in August, we felt that the keyboard keys were much too flat and lacking in feedback. We had given the system the benefit of the doubt since the chassis was not final, but the keyboard has not really improved on the shipped design. The 1.4 mm key travel feels lighter and spongier compared to the keyboards on the MSI GS/GE series, the Asus ROG series, and the Lenovo Legion series. The keys of the XPS 15 series are firmer and more satisfying than what has been provided here on the Inspiron. This is somewhat disappointing because the underlying chassis base is otherwise rigid and does not yield whilst typing.

Other than the weak key feedback, clatter is low-moderate and slightly louder than on the SteelSeries keys on MSI notebooks. The half-sized Arrow keys are even softer in feedback and feel like an afterthought. The optional two-level red backlight is highly recommended when working under dimmer lighting conditions since the dark red lettering of the keys do not contrast perfectly against the plastic black key caps.

Touchpad

The trackpad is exactly the same size as it was on the Inspiron 7567 at 10.6 x 8 cm. Its surface is textured very slightly to provide a smooth glide, but can stick a bit if gliding across very slowly for more accurate cursor movements. The trackpad is firm, does not warp to pressure, and is reliably consistent for both cursor control and multi-touch gestures.

The integrated mouse keys are shallow in travel and easier to click on the bottom- and left-hand corners than on the center surface. Feedback is adequate and with a loud auditory click when pressed not unlike on most Ultrabooks. We still prefer the dedicated mouse keys on the MSI GT/GE series as they are firmer and more accurate than the integrated solution found here. The drawback, of course, is the smaller trackpad (10.9 x 6.1 cm) on the MSI.

Basic QWERTY keyboard with no auxiliary keys
Basic QWERTY keyboard with no auxiliary keys
Key feedback is spongy and could use improvement
Key feedback is spongy and could use improvement

Display

Available display options include matte FHD IPS and 4K UHD IPS with no TN options for US customers. We see this as a definite upgrade as we found the TN panel on certain Inspiron 7567 SKUs to be subpar for a gaming notebook. Note that Dell is sourcing the exact same LG Philips LGD053F IPS FHD panel from the older 7567 series for the newer 7577 series and so users can expect very nearly the same display quality and colors between them.

Measured contrast is respectable at about 800:1 and colors are indeed more accurate out of the box compared to the older TN configuration. While the 7577 display is now more comparable to the displays of its closest competitors, Dell has not upped the intensity of the backlight at all. Most other gaming notebooks and Ultrabooks have significantly brighter displays than our Inspiron.

Subjectively, the matte panel is very sharp with almost no graininess issues unlike on the majority of matte displays. Uneven backlight bleeding is kept to a bare minimum and is essentially unnoticeable when gaming or during movie playback.

Note that our measurements below reflect only the FHD IPS display. We will try and perform these same tests on a second Inspiron 7577 SKU with the 4K UHD panel at a future date.

Minimal uneven backlight bleeding
Minimal uneven backlight bleeding
Subpixel array (141 PPI)
Subpixel array (141 PPI)
223.9
cd/m²
220.9
cd/m²
215.5
cd/m²
228.6
cd/m²
235.4
cd/m²
219.4
cd/m²
219.3
cd/m²
231.3
cd/m²
214.7
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
ID: LG Philips LGD053F, Name: 156WF6, Dell P/N: 4XK13 tested with X-Rite i1Basic Pro 2
Maximum: 235.4 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 223.2 cd/m² Minimum: 13.52 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 91 %
Center on Battery: 235.4 cd/m²
Contrast: 841:1 (Black: 0.28 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 5.6 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 3.6 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
55.4% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
35.2% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
38.32% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
55.6% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
37.07% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.23
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 7577
ID: LG Philips LGD053F, Name: 156WF6, Dell P/N: 4XK13, IPS, 15.60, 1920x1080
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 7567
AU Optronics AUO38ED B156HTN 28H80, TN, 15.60, 1920x1080
Acer Nitro 5 AN515-51-788E
LG Philips LP156WF6-SPK6, IPS, 15.60, 1920x1080
HP Omen 15-ce002ng
AUO42ED, IPS, 15.60, 1920x1080
Lenovo Legion Y520-15IKBN-80WK001KUS
LP156WF6-SPK3, IPS, 15.60, 1920x1080
Display
-2%
12%
72%
Display P3 Coverage
37.07
36.42
-2%
41.7
12%
65.8
78%
sRGB Coverage
55.6
54.9
-1%
62.2
12%
90.9
63%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
38.32
37.62
-2%
43.17
13%
66.5
74%
Response Times
-16%
11%
-17%
-48%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
35.6 ?(20, 15.6)
36 ?(17, 19)
-1%
35 ?(16, 19)
2%
43.2 ?(21.2, 22)
-21%
58.8 ?(33.6, 25.2)
-65%
Response Time Black / White *
27.6 ?(15.6, 12)
36 ?(19, 17)
-30%
22 ?(12, 10)
20%
31.2 ?(16.4, 14.8)
-13%
36 ?(23.6, 12.4)
-30%
PWM Frequency
21550 ?(99)
Screen
-61%
9%
36%
-13%
Brightness middle
235.4
246
5%
276
17%
304
29%
239
2%
Brightness
223
235
5%
265
19%
289
30%
244
9%
Brightness Distribution
91
75
-18%
91
0%
86
-5%
88
-3%
Black Level *
0.28
0.55
-96%
0.25
11%
0.26
7%
0.35
-25%
Contrast
841
447
-47%
1104
31%
1169
39%
683
-19%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
5.6
10.97
-96%
5.06
10%
3.46
38%
7.3
-30%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
20.3
10.13
50%
7.72
62%
24.7
-22%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
3.6
14.25
-296%
6.25
-74%
2.46
32%
4.9
-36%
Gamma
2.23 99%
1.83 120%
1.76 125%
2.38 92%
2.19 100%
CCT
7214 90%
11200 58%
6873 95%
6915 94%
7332 89%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
35.2
35
-1%
40
14%
59
68%
35
-1%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
55.4
55
-1%
62
12%
91
64%
55
-1%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
-26% / -42%
11% / 10%
30% / 36%
-31% / -18%

* ... smaller is better

Color space is only 55 percent and 35 percent of the sRGB and AdobeRGB standards, respectively, compared to over 91 percent and 59 percent on the AU Optronics panel found on the Omen 15. It's disappointing to see that gamut has not improved at all over the outgoing Inspiron 7567. The limited color space matters little for gaming and browsing, but most Ultrabooks and costlier gaming notebooks like the Asus UX550 series offer deeper and potentially more accurate colors for users who demand them.

vs. sRGB
vs. sRGB
vs. AdobeRGB
vs. AdobeRGB
vs. Inspiron 7567 (TN)
vs. Inspiron 7567 (TN)

Further measurements with a X-Rite spectrophotometer reveal moderately imbalanced colors and an average grayscale. Colors like Yellow and Teal are relatively stable across all saturation levels while others like Magenta and especially Blue become more inaccurate the higher the saturation level. The color unevenness and limited gamut make for a poor display for digital artists.

Grayscale and colors improve noticeably after calibration. Nonetheless, colors still become increasingly inaccurate at higher saturation levels due to the narrow gamut of the panel. Magenta and Blue in particular remain the most inaccurate colors.

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
27.6 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 15.6 ms rise
↘ 12 ms fall
The screen shows relatively slow response rates in our tests and may be too slow for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 66 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (21.6 ms).
       Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
35.6 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 20 ms rise
↘ 15.6 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. » 43 % 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 passable under shade as the matte panel helps in reducing glare. Any brighter and colors immediately become washed out from the overwhelming ambient light. It's clear that the notebook was not designed for frequent outdoor use based solely on its middling backlight brightness. Viewing angles are otherwise very wide with no major yellowing or color shifting from extreme angles.

Outdoors under shade
Outdoors under shade
Outdoors on overcast day. Backlight is sufficient for indoor use only
Outdoors on overcast day. Backlight is sufficient for indoor use only
Outdoors on overcast day
Outdoors on overcast day
Wide IPS viewing angles
Wide IPS viewing angles

Performance

There have been no processor changes from the Inspiron 7567. The same quad-core i5-7300HQ and quad-core i7-7700HQ options remain just like on essentially every other gaming notebook of this year in the mainstream to high-end categories. We don't expect this to change anytime soon at least until both Ryzen Mobile and 45 W Coffee Lake CPUs become readily available.

RAM options range from 8 GB up to 32 GB. Our test unit is equipped with only a single 8 GB module for single-channel performance. All SKUs share the same 6 GB GTX 1060 Max-Q GPU with Optimus, which is surprising as manufacturers will typically equip lower-end configurations with half the VRAM to cut costs.

Processor

Unsurprisingly, the quad-core i5-7300HQ in the Inspiron 7577 performs similarly to the outgoing Inspiron 7567. Raw performance benefits over the Skylake i5-6300HQ are minimal at best while the more powerful quad-core i7-7700HQ will be anywhere from 25 to 45 percent faster depending on the operation according to CineBench benchmarks. The newer Ryzen 7 1700 and i7-8550U are also significantly faster than the i7-7300HQ in multi-core and single-core operations, respectively. In other words, this particular Core i5 CPU is beginning to show its age now that the next generation of processors from Intel and AMD are emerging.

CPU performance is stable with no throttling over long periods. Running CineBench R15 Multi-Thread in a loop results in stable scores over time as shown by our graph below. One notable outlier fell to as low as 360 points before bouncing back up to normal, but we believe this was due to automatic background activity kicking in rather than the processor itself. We reran the loop test to check and was unable to repeat the dip in score.

See our dedicated CPU page on the Core i5-7300HQ for more technical information and benchmark comparisons.

CineBench R10 32-bit
CineBench R10 32-bit
CineBench R11.5 64-bit
CineBench R11.5 64-bit
CineBench R15
CineBench R15
0102030405060708090100110120130140150160170180190200210220230240250260270280290300310320330340350360370380390400410420430440450460470480490500510520Tooltip
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64 Bit
Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit
Lenovo Yoga 920-13IKB-80Y7
Intel Core i7-8550U
170 Points +30%
Razer Blade Pro RZ09-0220
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
160 Points +22%
Asus GL702ZC-GC104T
AMD Ryzen 7 1700
144 Points +10%
Apple MacBook Pro 15 2016 (2.6 GHz, 450)
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
141 Points +8%
HP Omen 17-w100ng
Intel Core i5-6300HQ
132 Points +1%
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 7577
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
131 Points
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 7567 Gaming (Core i5-7300HQ, GTX 1050)
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
129 Points -2%
Lenovo IdeaPad Y50
Intel Core i7-4700HQ
125 Points -5%
CPU Multi 64Bit
Asus GL702ZC-GC104T
AMD Ryzen 7 1700
1408 Points +174%
Razer Blade Pro RZ09-0220
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
733 Points +43%
Apple MacBook Pro 15 2016 (2.6 GHz, 450)
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
666 Points +30%
Lenovo Yoga 920-13IKB-80Y7
Intel Core i7-8550U
576 Points +12%
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 7567 Gaming (Core i5-7300HQ, GTX 1050)
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
514 Points 0%
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 7577
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
514 Points
Lenovo IdeaPad Y50
Intel Core i7-4700HQ
490 Points -5%
HP Omen 17-w100ng
Intel Core i5-6300HQ
464 Points -10%
Cinebench R11.5
CPU Single 64Bit
Lenovo Yoga 920-13IKB-80Y7
Intel Core i7-8550U
1.91 Points +26%
Razer Blade Pro RZ09-0220
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
1.66 Points +9%
Asus GL702ZC-GC104T
AMD Ryzen 7 1700
1.63 Points +7%
Apple MacBook Pro 15 2016 (2.6 GHz, 450)
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
1.53 Points +1%
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 7577
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
1.52 Points
HP Omen 17-w100ng
Intel Core i5-6300HQ
1.49 Points -2%
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 7567 Gaming (Core i5-7300HQ, GTX 1050)
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
1.49 Points -2%
Lenovo IdeaPad Y50
Intel Core i7-4700HQ
1.46 Points -4%
CPU Multi 64Bit
Asus GL702ZC-GC104T
AMD Ryzen 7 1700
15.76 Points +166%
Apple MacBook Pro 15 2016 (2.6 GHz, 450)
Intel Core i7-6700HQ
7.23 Points +22%
Razer Blade Pro RZ09-0220
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
7.14 Points +21%
Lenovo Yoga 920-13IKB-80Y7
Intel Core i7-8550U
5.94 Points 0%
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 7577
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
5.92 Points
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 7567 Gaming (Core i5-7300HQ, GTX 1050)
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
5.56 Points -6%
HP Omen 17-w100ng
Intel Core i5-6300HQ
5.32 Points -10%
Lenovo IdeaPad Y50
Intel Core i7-4700HQ
5.29 Points -11%
Cinebench R10
Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
Asus GL702ZC-GC104T
AMD Ryzen 7 1700
29330 Points +63%
Razer Blade Pro RZ09-0220
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
20943 Points +17%
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 7577
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
17971 Points
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 7567 Gaming (Core i5-7300HQ, GTX 1050)
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
17197 Points -4%
HP Omen 17-w100ng
Intel Core i5-6300HQ
16456 Points -8%
Lenovo Yoga 920-13IKB-80Y7
Intel Core i7-8550U
15599 Points -13%
Lenovo IdeaPad Y50
Intel Core i7-4700HQ
14329 Points -20%
Rendering Single 32Bit
Lenovo Yoga 920-13IKB-80Y7
Intel Core i7-8550U
6452 Points +19%
Razer Blade Pro RZ09-0220
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
5521 Points +2%
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 7577
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
5433 Points
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 7567 Gaming (Core i5-7300HQ, GTX 1050)
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
5006 Points -8%
Lenovo IdeaPad Y50
Intel Core i7-4700HQ
4999 Points -8%
HP Omen 17-w100ng
Intel Core i5-6300HQ
4815 Points -11%
Asus GL702ZC-GC104T
AMD Ryzen 7 1700
4286 Points -21%
wPrime 2.10 - 1024m
Lenovo Yoga 920-13IKB-80Y7
Intel Core i7-8550U
378 s * -14%
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 7567 Gaming (Core i5-7300HQ, GTX 1050)
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
351.3 s * -6%
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 7577
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
331.1 s *
Lenovo IdeaPad Y50
Intel Core i7-4700HQ
323 s * +2%
Razer Blade Pro RZ09-0220
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
212.1 s * +36%

* ... smaller is better

Cinebench R10 Shading 32Bit
6829
Cinebench R10 Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
17971
Cinebench R10 Rendering Single 32Bit
5433
Cinebench R11.5 OpenGL 64Bit
60.6 fps
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64Bit
5.92 Points
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Single 64Bit
1.52 Points
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
99.6 %
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
98.3 fps
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
514 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
131 Points
Help

System Performance

The Inspiron 7577 consistently outperforms the older Inspiron 7567 with the same i5-7300HQ CPU but slower GTX 1050 GPU. The higher-end Inspiron 7567 SKU with the quad-core i7-7700HQ CPU is still the more favorable system to PCMark due to the faster processor. Had our Inspiron 7577 test unit been the i7-7700HQ SKU instead, then our benchmark scores would have likely been higher.

We experienced no notable software hiccups during our time with the unit.

PCMark 8 Home Accelerated
PCMark 8 Home Accelerated
PCMark 8 Work Accelerated
PCMark 8 Work Accelerated
PCMark 8 Creative Accelerated
PCMark 8 Creative Accelerated
PCMark 10 Standard
PCMark 10 Standard
PCMark 8
Home Score Accelerated v2
Acer Nitro 5 AN515-51-788E
GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Intel SSD 600p SSDPEKKW256G7
4177 Points +11%
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 7567
GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Intel SSDSCKKF256H6
3850 Points +2%
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 7577
GeForce GTX 1060 Max-Q, i5-7300HQ, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
3759 Points
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 7567 Gaming (Core i5-7300HQ, GTX 1050)
GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i5-7300HQ, Toshiba MQ02ABD100H
3638 Points -3%
Dell XPS 15 9560 (i7-7700HQ, UHD)
GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Lite-On CX2-8B512-Q11
3588 Points -5%
Work Score Accelerated v2
Acer Nitro 5 AN515-51-788E
GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Intel SSD 600p SSDPEKKW256G7
5096 Points +5%
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 7567
GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Intel SSDSCKKF256H6
5068 Points +4%
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 7577
GeForce GTX 1060 Max-Q, i5-7300HQ, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
4856 Points
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 7567 Gaming (Core i5-7300HQ, GTX 1050)
GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i5-7300HQ, Toshiba MQ02ABD100H
4749 Points -2%
Dell XPS 15 9560 (i7-7700HQ, UHD)
GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Lite-On CX2-8B512-Q11
4422 Points -9%
Creative Score Accelerated v2
Acer Nitro 5 AN515-51-788E
GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Intel SSD 600p SSDPEKKW256G7
5291 Points +12%
Dell XPS 15 9560 (i7-7700HQ, UHD)
GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Lite-On CX2-8B512-Q11
5114 Points +8%
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 7577
GeForce GTX 1060 Max-Q, i5-7300HQ, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
4723 Points
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 7567 Gaming (Core i5-7300HQ, GTX 1050)
GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i5-7300HQ, Toshiba MQ02ABD100H
4334 Points -8%
PCMark 10 - Score
Acer Nitro 5 AN515-51-788E
GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Intel SSD 600p SSDPEKKW256G7
4474 Points +2%
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 7577
GeForce GTX 1060 Max-Q, i5-7300HQ, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
4406 Points
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 7567 Gaming (Core i5-7300HQ, GTX 1050)
GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i5-7300HQ, Toshiba MQ02ABD100H
3618 Points -18%
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
3759 points
PCMark 8 Creative Score Accelerated v2
4723 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2
4856 points
PCMark 10 Score
4406 points
Help

Storage Devices

The same M.2 2280 slot and 2.5-inch SATA III bay from the Inspiron 7567 have returned unscathed. Users can configure from a standard 128 GB M.2 SSD up to a 512 GB NVMe SSD with secondary HDD storage up to 1 TB. Our test configuration is equipped just a single 256 GB Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP NVMe SSD. We appreciate the fact that Dell has included a dedicated heat spreader for the NVMe SSD this time around as they are known to run very warm.

Sequential read and write rates from the Samsung SSD are nearly equal to the same Samsung SSD found on our Lenovo Legion Y520 test unit. Our recorded numbers with AS SSD are very close to the advertised sequential read and write rates of 2800 MB/s and 1100 MB/s, respectively, for the PM961. Copy transfer rates are strangely slower on our Dell despite multiple retries.

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

The loose and flappy 2.5-inch SATA connector is back
The loose and flappy 2.5-inch SATA connector is back
M.2 module with heat spreader sits adjacent to the M.2 WLAN module
M.2 module with heat spreader sits adjacent to the M.2 WLAN module
AS SSD
AS SSD
CDM 5
CDM 5
PCMark 8 Storage
PCMark 8 Storage
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 7577
Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 7567
Intel SSDSCKKF256H6
Gigabyte Sabre 15G
Liteonit CV3-8D128
Lenovo Legion Y520-15IKBN-80WK001KUS
Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
HP Omen 17-w100ng
SanDisk Z400s SD8SNAT-128G
AS SSD
-56%
-64%
41%
-94%
Copy Game MB/s
382.5
286.2
-25%
323.5
-15%
1115
192%
159.8
-58%
Copy Program MB/s
274.8
224
-18%
195.3
-29%
502
83%
80.6
-71%
Copy ISO MB/s
814
425.4
-48%
446.8
-45%
1912
135%
233.4
-71%
Score Total
2405
734
-69%
752
-69%
2617
9%
537
-78%
Score Write
594
227
-62%
234
-61%
807
36%
236
-60%
Score Read
1241
332
-73%
337
-73%
1232
-1%
206
-83%
Access Time Write *
0.037
0.057
-54%
0.073
-97%
0.027
27%
0.162
-338%
Access Time Read *
0.058
0.094
-62%
0.141
-143%
0.065
-12%
0.14
-141%
4K-64 Write
375.8
118.3
-69%
132.2
-65%
529
41%
155
-59%
4K-64 Read
929
258.6
-72%
257
-72%
919
-1%
137.4
-85%
4K Write
100.2
66.6
-34%
53.8
-46%
139.4
39%
64.2
-36%
4K Read
46.95
25.16
-46%
28.3
-40%
48.57
3%
17.76
-62%
Seq Write
1181
416.1
-65%
479.8
-59%
1392
18%
166.7
-86%
Seq Read
2652
481.6
-82%
516
-81%
2649
0%
507
-81%

* ... smaller is better

Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
CDM 5/6 Read Seq Q32T1: 3323 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write Seq Q32T1: 1189 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Read 4K Q32T1: 414.3 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write 4K Q32T1: 362.3 MB/s
CDM 5 Read Seq: 2000 MB/s
CDM 5 Write Seq: 1191 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Read 4K: 44.22 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write 4K: 132.4 MB/s

GPU Performance

We've already said that the GTX 1060 Max-Q performs very similarly to a standard GTX 1060 with single-digit differences in 3DMark scores. Our Fire Strike data below reconfirms these initial results as the Inspiron 7577 is only about 7 to 9 percent slower than the GTX 1060 in the costlier Razer Blade Pro. The GTX 1060 Max-Q is amazingly still on par with the GTX 980M found on flagship gaming notebooks of the last generation. Users upgrading from a GTX 1050 will see a 70 percent boost in performance while the GTX 1070 Max-Q will bring about another 40 percent boost over the GTX 1060 Max-Q.

See our dedicated page on the GTX 1060 Max-Q GPU for more technical information and benchmark comparisons.

3DMark 11
3DMark 11
Ice Storm Unlimited
Ice Storm Unlimited
Cloud Gate
Cloud Gate
Fire Strike
Fire Strike
Fire Strike Extreme
Fire Strike Extreme
Fire Strike Ultra
Fire Strike Ultra
3DMark
1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics
Asus G701VIK-BA049T
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7820HK
23091 Points +125%
Alienware 15 R3 Max-Q
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Max-Q, i7-7820HK
18505 Points +80%
Aorus X5 v7
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7820HK
16349 Points +59%
Gigabyte Aero 15X
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q, i7-7700HQ
14607 Points +42%
AMD Radeon RX 480 8 GB Reference
AMD Radeon RX 480 (Desktop), 4790K
12186 Points +19%
Razer Blade Pro RZ09-0220
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-7700HQ
11049 Points +8%
HP Omen 15-ce002ng
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Max-Q, i7-7700HQ
10349 Points +1%
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 7577
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Max-Q, i5-7300HQ
10263 Points
EVGA SC17
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M, 6820HK
9820 Points -4%
Lenovo Legion Y520-15IKBN-80WK001KUS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i7-7700HQ
7682 Points -25%
Asus GL503VD-DB74
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i7-7700HQ
5952 Points -42%
Acer Swift 3 SF315-51G-57E5
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, i5-8250U
3688 Points -64%
Fire Strike Extreme Graphics
Alienware 15 R3 Max-Q
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Max-Q, i7-7820HK
8682 Points +79%
Gigabyte Aero 15X
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q, i7-7700HQ
6780 Points +40%
AMD Radeon RX 480 8 GB Reference
AMD Radeon RX 480 (Desktop), 4790K
5444 Points +12%
Razer Blade Pro RZ09-0220
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-7700HQ
5298 Points +9%
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 7577
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Max-Q, i5-7300HQ
4851 Points
EVGA SC17
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M, 6820HK
4663 Points -4%
Lenovo Legion Y520-15IKBN-80WK001KUS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i7-7700HQ
3662 Points -25%
Asus GL503VD-DB74
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i7-7700HQ
2805 Points -42%
3DMark 11
1280x720 Performance GPU
Asus G701VIK-BA049T
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7820HK
31412 Points +140%
Alienware 15 R3 Max-Q
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Max-Q, i7-7820HK
24425 Points +87%
Aorus X5 v7
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7820HK
22241 Points +70%
Gigabyte Aero 15X
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q, i7-7700HQ
18689 Points +43%
AMD Radeon RX 480 8 GB Reference
AMD Radeon RX 480 (Desktop), 4790K
17919 Points +37%
Razer Blade Pro RZ09-0220
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-7700HQ
13668 Points +5%
HP Omen 15-ce002ng
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Max-Q, i7-7700HQ
13279 Points +2%
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 7577
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Max-Q, i5-7300HQ
13075 Points
EVGA SC17
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M, 6820HK
12890 Points -1%
Asus GL503VD-DB74
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i7-7700HQ
7471 Points -43%
Acer Swift 3 SF315-51G-57E5
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, i5-8250U
4742 Points -64%
1280x720 Performance Combined
Asus G701VIK-BA049T
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile, i7-7820HK
11329 Points +81%
AMD Radeon RX 480 8 GB Reference
AMD Radeon RX 480 (Desktop), 4790K
10801 Points +72%
Aorus X5 v7
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7820HK
10574 Points +69%
Alienware 15 R3 Max-Q
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Max-Q, i7-7820HK
9607 Points +53%
EVGA SC17
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M, 6820HK
9256 Points +48%
Gigabyte Aero 15X
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q, i7-7700HQ
9152 Points +46%
Razer Blade Pro RZ09-0220
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-7700HQ
8830 Points +41%
HP Omen 15-ce002ng
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Max-Q, i7-7700HQ
8762 Points +40%
Asus GL503VD-DB74
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i7-7700HQ
7219 Points +15%
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 7577
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Max-Q, i5-7300HQ
6264 Points
Acer Swift 3 SF315-51G-57E5
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, i5-8250U
4267 Points -32%
3DMark 11 Performance
10176 points
3DMark Ice Storm Standard Score
96790 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
17325 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
8292 points
3DMark Fire Strike Extreme Score
4467 points
Help

Gaming Performance

3DMark performance has always translated well to real-world gaming performance for Nvidia GPUs. In this case, the GTX 1060 Max-Q GPU in the Dell is consistently about 5 to 10 percent slower than a full-fledged GTX 1060 for laptops and 15 percent slower than a 6 GB GTX 1060 for desktops.

The slower i5-7300HQ CPU does not appear to make much of a difference in frame rates for most titles when compared to the Omen 15 with the same GTX 1060 Max-Q GPU but faster quad-core i7-7700HQ. Nearly all tested titles are playable at 1080p and at maximum settings at a locked 30 FPS whereas a desktop GTX 1060 can handle most games at near-maximum settings at a locked 60 FPS. It's still unfortunate that Dell offers no G-Sync options as most titles hover between the 30 and 60 FPS range where the variable refresh rate technology is at its best.

Rise of the Tomb Raider - 1920x1080 Very High Preset AA:FX AF:16x
MSI GE73VR 7RF Raider
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Toshiba HG6 THNSNJ256G8NY
91.4 fps +65%
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 Founders Edition 6 GB
GeForce GTX 1060 (Desktop), 6700K
66.9 fps +21%
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 Founders Edition 6 GB
GeForce GTX 1060 (Desktop), 6700K
66.5 fps +20%
Razer Blade Pro RZ09-0220
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Samsung SSD PM951 MZVLV256HCHP
58.7 fps +6%
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 7577
GeForce GTX 1060 Max-Q, i5-7300HQ, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
55.4 fps
HP Omen 15-ce002ng
GeForce GTX 1060 Max-Q, i7-7700HQ, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
51.1 fps -8%
Asus Strix GL502VT-DS74
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Lite-On CV1-8B128
42.8 fps -23%
Lenovo Legion Y520-15IKBN-80WK001KUS
GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
38 fps -31%
Gigabyte Sabre 15G
GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Liteonit CV3-8D128
34.2 fps -38%
MSI GL72 6QF
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 950 Pro 256GB m.2 NVMe
25.6 fps -54%
The Witcher 3 - 1920x1080 Ultra Graphics & Postprocessing (HBAO+)
MSI GE73VR 7RF Raider
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Toshiba HG6 THNSNJ256G8NY
58.6 fps +66%
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 Founders Edition 6 GB
GeForce GTX 1060 (Desktop), 6700K
44.4 fps +26%
Razer Blade Pro RZ09-0220
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Samsung SSD PM951 MZVLV256HCHP
38.3 fps +9%
Lenovo Legion Y520-15IKBN-80WK001KUS
GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
38 fps +8%
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 7577
GeForce GTX 1060 Max-Q, i5-7300HQ, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
35.2 fps
HP Omen 15-ce002ng
GeForce GTX 1060 Max-Q, i7-7700HQ, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
34.6 fps -2%
Gigabyte Sabre 15G
GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Liteonit CV3-8D128
22 fps -37%
BioShock Infinite - 1920x1080 Ultra Preset, DX11 (DDOF)
MSI GE73VR 7RF Raider
GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Toshiba HG6 THNSNJ256G8NY
135 fps +42%
Razer Blade Pro RZ09-0220
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Samsung SSD PM951 MZVLV256HCHP
102.6 fps +8%
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 7577
GeForce GTX 1060 Max-Q, i5-7300HQ, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
95.3 fps
Lenovo Legion Y520-15IKBN-80WK001KUS
GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
74 fps -22%
Asus Strix GL502VT-DS74
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Lite-On CV1-8B128
69.5 fps -27%
Gigabyte Sabre 15G
GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Liteonit CV3-8D128
61 fps -36%
MSI GL72 6QF
GeForce GTX 960M, 6700HQ, Samsung SSD 950 Pro 256GB m.2 NVMe
49.9 fps -48%
low med. high ultra
Guild Wars 2 (2012) 45.7
BioShock Infinite (2013) 95.3
Metro: Last Light (2013) 64.3
Thief (2014) 64.6
The Witcher 3 (2015) 73.4 35.2
Batman: Arkham Knight (2015) 74 49
Metal Gear Solid V (2015) 60
Fallout 4 (2015) 73.9 61.3
Rise of the Tomb Raider (2016) 67.5 55.4
Overwatch (2016) 98.4
Mafia 3 (2016) 36.2
Prey (2017) 97.1
Dirt 4 (2017) 118 87.1 46.5
F1 2017 (2017) 94 77 56
Middle-earth: Shadow of War (2017) 84 65 48

Stress Test

We stress the notebook with unrealistic loads to test for potential hardware issues and throttling. When under Prime95 stress, the CPU can be observed running at a stable 3.1 GHz clock rate and a core temperature of 62 C. A 3.1 GHz clock rate is the maximum rated Turbo Boost of all four cores of the i5-7300HQ and so it is excellent to see the CPU operating at peak power reliably on the Dell. Core temperature stabilizes at over 30 C cooler than the quad-core i7-7700HQ in the Sabre 15 when subjected to similar Prime95 loads. Running both Prime95 and FurMark will not throttle the CPU since its core temperature is already quite low by notebook standards.

Witcher 3 stress is more representative of gaming loads than the synthetic benchmarks above. The GPU can be observed operating at a stable 1481 MHz against its base clock rate of 1063 MHz and at a cool core temperature of just 56 C. In comparison, the GTX 1050 GPU in the Sabre 15 stabilizes at a much warmer 78 C Wh while the GTX 1050 Ti in the Lenovo Legion Y520 stabilizes at around 66 C under similar Witcher 3 conditions. GPU performance is steady with consistent frame rates when gaming as the graph below shows.

Running on battery power will limit both CPU and GPU potential. A 3DMark 11 run on batteries (High Performance, dGPU enabled) returns Physics and Graphics scores of 3798 and 4826 points, respectively, compared to 6015 and 13075 points when on mains. We noticed odd frame pacing behavior when gaming on batteries that we hope Dell will address in a future update.

Prime95 stress
Prime95 stress
FurMark stress
FurMark stress
Prime95+FurMark stress
Prime95+FurMark stress
Witcher 3 stress
Witcher 3 stress
0123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839Tooltip
The Witcher 3 ultra
CPU Clock (GHz) GPU Clock (MHz) Average CPU Temperature (°C) Average GPU Temperature (°C)
Prime95 Stress 3.1 -- 62 46
FurMark Stress -- 975 55 54
Prime95 + FurMark Stress 3.1 962 67 57
Witcher 3 Stress ~3.2 1481 57 56

Emissions

System Noise

The cooling solution still consists of twin ~50 mm fans and a pair of heat pipes between them. This time, however, the heat pipes appear to be slightly larger than the ones on the Inspiron 7567.

Fan noise is surprisingly quiet for a gaming notebook. Both fans will idle during low loads like word processing or light browsing for a truly silent experience, which is uncommon in this category of notebooks. Competing models like the Sabre 15 or Omen 15 have fans that are almost always active and frequently pulsating no matter the Power Profile setting. Running the first benchmark section of 3DMark06 three times in a row will only cause the fans to spin at a lowly 30.3 dB(A) compared to over 40 dB(A) on the Sabre 15 and older Asus GL502VT.

Running Witcher 3 will bump fan noise up significantly to a steady 39.5 dB(A) to be just under the 40 dB(A) limit set forth by Nvidia for all of its Max-Q products. The older Inspiron 7567 is much louder at 46.3 dB(A) when subjected to similar Witcher 3 loads despite its slower GTX 1050 GPU. Extreme CPU and GPU loads with Prime95 and FurMark will cause the fans to be even louder, but this is unrepresentative of real-world loads.

Coil whine or electronic noise is not present at all on our test unit.

Dual ~50 mm internal fans
Dual ~50 mm internal fans
Both fans are very quiet during low to medium loads.
Both fans are very quiet during low to medium loads.
Inspiron 7577 (White: background, Red: System idle, Blue: 3DMark06, Orange: Witcher 3, Green: Prime95+FurMark)
Inspiron 7577 (White: background, Red: System idle, Blue: 3DMark06, Orange: Witcher 3, Green: Prime95+FurMark)
Inspiron 7567
Inspiron 7567
MSI GS63VR 7RF
MSI GS63VR 7RF

Noise Level

Idle
28 / 28 / 28 dB(A)
Load
30.3 / 46.5 dB(A)
  red to green bar
 
 
30 dB
silent
40 dB(A)
audible
50 dB(A)
loud
 
min: dark, med: mid, max: light   BK Precision 732A (15 cm distance)   environment noise: 28 dB(A)
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 7577
GeForce GTX 1060 Max-Q, i5-7300HQ, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 7567 Gaming (Core i5-7300HQ, GTX 1050)
GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i5-7300HQ, Toshiba MQ02ABD100H
Gigabyte Sabre 15G
GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Liteonit CV3-8D128
Lenovo Legion Y520-15IKBN-80WK001KUS
GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, i7-7700HQ, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
Asus Strix GL502VT-DS74
GeForce GTX 970M, 6700HQ, Lite-On CV1-8B128
HP Omen 15-ce002ng
GeForce GTX 1060 Max-Q, i7-7700HQ, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
Noise
-12%
-21%
-7%
-13%
-16%
off / environment *
28
28
-0%
28.2
-1%
27.7
1%
28.7
-3%
30
-7%
Idle Minimum *
28
31.6
-13%
33
-18%
30.5
-9%
31
-11%
30
-7%
Idle Average *
28
31.8
-14%
33.3
-19%
30.5
-9%
31
-11%
33
-18%
Idle Maximum *
28
31.8
-14%
34.7
-24%
30.6
-9%
32
-14%
37
-32%
Load Average *
30.3
36.3
-20%
44.5
-47%
40
-32%
40.7
-34%
41
-35%
Witcher 3 ultra *
39.5
46.3
-17%
49.2
-25%
40
-1%
42
-6%
Load Maximum *
46.5
49
-5%
52.8
-14%
42.6
8%
47.6
-2%
50
-8%

* ... smaller is better

Temperature

Surface temperatures are flat across the board when idling or during very low processing loads. The hot spot is observed to be directly above the first row of keyboard keys not unlike on the older Inspiron 7567 design to ensure that heat is as far away from the palm rests and commonly used keys as possible. This spot can be as warm as 44 C when under extreme loads but is thankfully much cooler at about 36 C when running Witcher 3. Additionally, the temperature is very localized on the system meaning that more of the notebook surface remains cool whereas the Omen 15 with the same GTX 1060 Max-Q GPU runs warmer on average under similar conditions.

Idling load (top)
Idling load (top)
Idling load (bottom)
Idling load (bottom)
Maximum stress (top)
Maximum stress (top)
Maximum stress (bottom)
Maximum stress (bottom)
Max. Load
 34.8 °C
95 F
44 °C
111 F
38.2 °C
101 F
 
 32.2 °C
90 F
41.8 °C
107 F
31.8 °C
89 F
 
 28 °C
82 F
27.6 °C
82 F
29.8 °C
86 F
 
Maximum: 44 °C = 111 F
Average: 34.2 °C = 94 F
43.8 °C
111 F
43.6 °C
110 F
43.2 °C
110 F
28.8 °C
84 F
33.4 °C
92 F
30.4 °C
87 F
26.2 °C
79 F
26.2 °C
79 F
26.4 °C
80 F
Maximum: 43.8 °C = 111 F
Average: 33.6 °C = 92 F
Power Supply (max.)  37.4 °C = 99 F | Room Temperature 20 °C = 68 F | Fluke 62 Mini IR Thermometer
(±) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 34.2 °C / 94 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 44 °C / 111 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 43.8 °C / 111 F, compared to the average of 43.2 °C / 110 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 24.7 °C / 76 F, compared to the device average of 33.8 °C / 93 F.
(+) Playing The Witcher 3, the average temperature for the upper side is 27.9 °C / 82 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 29.8 °C / 85.6 F and are therefore cool to the touch.
(±) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.9 °C / 84 F (-0.9 °C / -1.6 F).

Speakers

As already mentioned, the Inspiron 7577 drops the dedicated subwoofer found on the 7567. Our pink noise measurements below show that bass has suffered slightly as a result with an overemphasis on treble. The 8k Hz frequency band is particularly loud and strong when the "Details" knob is set to maximum on the pre-installed Waves MaxxAudio Pro software. Adjusting this feature down to around 50 percent will create a more balanced audio experience than on the GS63VR. Maximum volume will slightly reverberate the palm rests but otherwise introduces no static.

The one-touch voice recording feature is a simple and handy tool in the Waves software. There is noticeable background noise and static that make it poor for video purposes but acceptable in an office meeting environment.

Inspiron 15 7577
Inspiron 15 7577
Inspiron 15 7567 (Red: System idle, Pink: Pink noise)
Inspiron 15 7567 (Red: System idle, Pink: Pink noise)
MSI GS63VR
MSI GS63VR
Audio settings for pink noise recording
Audio settings for pink noise recording
Recording equalizer is only for show and is not adjustable
Recording equalizer is only for show and is not adjustable
Easy-to-use voice recording features
Easy-to-use voice recording features
dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2035.1412535.540.23136.139.84036.839.55033.340.36333.240.78032.741.610031.343.1125314616030.550.420029.653.125028.356.13152757.940026.657.650026.260.363025.664.880024.865.8100024.362.1125024.365.6160023.966.6200023.566.6250023.465.9315023.262.7400022.968.1500022.974.1630022.876.8800022.880.91000022.873.51250022.864.11600022.960.9SPL36.184.1N2.754.8median 24.3median 64.1Delta2.15.135.335.132.931.831.83236.535.132.428.93328.936.328.848.32761.52752.924.860.92462.822.763.32269.521.267.82174.82075.919.472.718.97117.770.117.86917.671.817.668.117.671.417.673.717.670.417.571.617.671.617.669.617.459.717.583.630.662.51.5median 69.6median 17.84.72.4hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseDell Inspiron 15 7000 7577Apple MacBook 12 (Early 2016) 1.1 GHz
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 7577 audio analysis

(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (80.9 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 13% lower than median
(+) | bass is linear (6.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 2.7% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (5.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 8% higher than median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (10.6% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (18.9% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 59% of all tested devices in this class were better, 8% similar, 32% worse
» The best had a delta of 6%, average was 18%, worst was 132%
Compared to all devices tested
» 38% of all tested devices were better, 8% similar, 54% 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%

Frequency Comparison (Checkbox selectable!)
Graph 1: Pink Noise 100% Vol.; Graph 2: Audio off

Energy Management

Power Consumption

The power efficiency of the Inspiron 7577 is where the notebook really shines. When compared to the 15.6-inch Asus GL502VY with the GTX 980M GPU, the Inspiron 7577 is over twice as efficient under medium (3DMark06) loads and around 60 percent more efficient when under extreme stress. This is particularly noteworthy because the performance of the GTX 1060 Max-Q is on par with the GTX 980M as our synthetic and gaming benchmarks above have shown, so the jump in performance-per-Watt is massive between the Maxwell and Pascal Max-Q series.

When compared to more recent available models like the Gigabyte Sabre 15G (GTX 1050) or MSI GF62VR (GTX 1060), the Dell is still at an advantage. Running Witcher 3 draws about 89 W on the Dell whereas the same benchmark draws 95 W and 126 W from the Gigabyte and MSI, respectively. The GTX 1060 Max-Q offers a 35 percent graphics boost over the GTX 1050 Ti without necessarily drawing more power when taking into account the entire notebook.

Maximum load with Prime95 and FurMark will draw about 113 W from a medium-sized (~15.5 x 7.3 x 3.0 cm) 180 W AC adapter. In comparison, the Inspiron 7567 shipped with a smaller 130 W adapter. We were expecting much higher consumption rates from the Dell system as the Omen 15 (7700HQ, GTX 1060 Max-Q) draws about 158 W under similar maximum loads. We can observe no abnormal throttling to explain the very low readings even after double-checking the data.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.28 / 0.43 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 7.1 / 7.6 / 8.6 Watt
Load midlight 59.5 / 112.8 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 Inspiron 15 7000 7577
i5-7300HQ, GeForce GTX 1060 Max-Q, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP, IPS, 1920x1080, 15.60
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 7567
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, Intel SSDSCKKF256H6, TN, 1920x1080, 15.60
Gigabyte Sabre 15G
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, Liteonit CV3-8D128, IPS, 1920x1080, 15.60
MSI GF62VR 7RF-877
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, Intel SSD 600p SSDPEKKW256G7, TN LED, 1920x1080, 15.60
Asus Strix GL502VY-DS71
6700HQ, GeForce GTX 980M, SanDisk SD8SN8U1T001122, IPS, 1920x1080, 15.60
Power Consumption
1%
-19%
-85%
-144%
Idle Minimum *
7.1
4.4
38%
8
-13%
16.2
-128%
20.6
-190%
Idle Average *
7.6
6.8
11%
10.9
-43%
18.2
-139%
22.1
-191%
Idle Maximum *
8.6
8.3
3%
11
-28%
18.9
-120%
22.5
-162%
Load Average *
59.5
81
-36%
76.7
-29%
82.7
-39%
130.6
-119%
Witcher 3 ultra *
89
94.9
-7%
125.7
-41%
Load Maximum *
112.8
127
-13%
106.4
6%
162.3
-44%
177.2
-57%

* ... smaller is better

Battery Life

The system ships with a 24 percent smaller battery capacity than on the outgoing Inspiron 7567 and even the older Inspiron 7559. Battery life has suffered as a result from over 10 hours on the Inspiron 7567 to "just" 7 hours on the new Inspiron 7577 when subjected to similar WLAN conditions.

When looking more closely at the battery life changes, we can begin to predict why Dell decided to reduce the cell count from 6 to 4. The 74 Wh battery in the Inspiron 7567 was very large for its price category and runtimes were already hours longer than its closest competitors. By moving to a smaller battery for the 7577 series, Dell can still boast longer runtimes than the competition while likely cutting costs simultaneously.

Charging from near empty to full capacity will take about 2 hours.

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
10h 59min
WiFi Websurfing
6h 56min
Load (maximum brightness)
1h 36min
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 7577
i5-7300HQ, GeForce GTX 1060 Max-Q, 56 Wh
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 7567
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, 74 Wh
Gigabyte Sabre 15G
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, 47 Wh
Lenovo Legion Y520-15IKBN-80WK001KUS
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile, 45 Wh
Asus Strix GL502VT-DS74
6700HQ, GeForce GTX 970M, 64 Wh
MSI GF62VR 7RF-877
i7-7700HQ, GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile, 41 Wh
Battery Runtime
37%
-27%
-39%
-22%
-68%
Reader / Idle
659
1174
78%
493
-25%
509
-23%
584
-11%
166
-75%
WiFi v1.3
416
622
50%
261
-37%
240
-42%
356
-14%
115
-72%
Load
96
81
-16%
77
-20%
46
-52%
56
-42%
41
-57%

Pros

+ silent during very low loads; quieter than other gaming notebooks
+ relatively cool core temperatures when gaming
+ GTX 1060 Max-Q standard across all SKUs
+ no CPU or GPU throttling when on mains
+ IPS now standard across all SKUs
+ 2x storage; M.2 NVMe support
+ relatively low starting price
+ Thunderbolt 3 standard
+ strong chassis base
+ accessible internals
+ fingerprint reader
+ long battery life

Cons

- no G-Sync or 5 ms refresh rate options; forced Optimus
- performance throttling if running on batteries
- no more dedicated subwoofer; weaker bass
- keyboard backlight is optional, not standard
- smaller battery capacity than Inspiron 7567
- weak keyboard feedback; shallow travel
- wobbly lid is susceptible to twisting
- display backlight could be brighter
- no Killer 1535 WLAN options
- slow SD card reader
- narrow color gamut
- heavy

Verdict

In review: Dell Inspiron 15 7000 7577. Test model provided by Dell US
In review: Dell Inspiron 15 7000 7577. Test model provided by Dell US

The Inspiron 7577 is an amazing gaming system for the price all thanks to its strong base, accessible internals, and GTX 1060 Max-Q GPU. The GPU swap alone has made the machine run quieter and faster and more efficiently than all SKUs of the Inspiron 7567. It's not everyday that an immediate successor offers a 35 to 70 percent boost in graphics performance for a meager 5 to 10 percent higher power consumption and still manage to have quieter fans when gaming.

When compared to competitors like the Omen 15 (7700HQ, GTX 1060 Max-Q) or MSI GF62VR (7700HQ, GTX 1060), the Dell easily outclasses both overall. Power consumption is lower than the MSI by about 40 percent for a very small 5 to 10 percent reduction in graphics performance. In turn, fan noise is reduced significantly and battery life is hours longer. The system even manages to be quieter than the Omen 15 despite having the same Max-Q GPU and same 3D performance scores. Throw in Thunderbolt 3 and a low starting price of $900 USD and the Inspiron 7577 has quickly become our favorite gaming notebook for under a grand.

Some key drawbacks separate the Inspiron 7577 from costlier models like the Alienware 15 or Aorus X5. Firstly, the 1080p display is lacking in features. Colors are no match for the panels on the aforementioned systems where >90 percent of sRGB coverage is possible. As crisp as they are on the Dell, the colors just aren't as deep as they could have been. We would have gladly given up the 4K UHD panel on the higher-end Inspiron 7577 configuration if it had meant G-Sync, faster display response times, more accurate colors, and a brighter display backlight for the series. Secondly, the keyboard keys are softer than expected from a 15-inch gaming notebook. We already know that Dell can do better than this as proven by the superior keyboards of the Latitude and XPS series, so there's no reason why the Inspiron shouldn't get a similar treatment. Other smaller complaints like the lack of per-key RGB lighting, very slow SD card reader, weaker speakers, and a relatively heavy weight are less crucial to the gaming experience compared to keyboard comfort, display, noise, and performance.

The Inspiron 7577 is the best gaming notebook for users on a tight budget. It's surprisingly quiet and long-lasting with strong graphics performance that go beyond its asking price. The display and keyboard are the two aspects that feel "budget-grade" in this otherwise exceptional mainstream offering.

Dell Inspiron 15 7000 7577 - 01/03/2018 v6(old)
Allen Ngo

Chassis
84 / 98 → 85%
Keyboard
80%
Pointing Device
82%
Connectivity
59 / 81 → 73%
Weight
58 / 10-66 → 86%
Battery
89%
Display
83%
Games Performance
91%
Application Performance
89%
Temperature
91 / 95 → 96%
Noise
92 / 90 → 100%
Audio
56%
Camera
42 / 85 → 50%
Average
77%
83%
Gaming - Weighted Average

Pricecompare

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Dell Inspiron 15 7000 7577 (i5-7300HQ, GTX 1060 Max-Q) Laptop Review
Allen Ngo, 2017-11-24 (Update: 2019-03-31)