Which of these 2 is better for gaming?

[stuman74]

My son has a laptop "intended" for school work, but he plays some of his Steam games on it as well. I ordered a cheap Alienware Alpha desktop from the refurb store using the Dell 35% off promo. I'm hoping it's better for just games (then he can dump them from the laptop). Here's a comparison of the key specs (note: I will add the SSD and RAM to the Alpha once it arrives).

Laptop:
Dell 3340 14"
i5-4310U
8 GB RAM
240 GB SSD
Integrated Intel HD 4400 Graphics
Windows 10

Desktop:
Alienware Alpha
i3-4130T
8 GB RAM
480 GB SSD
NVIDIA GeForce GTX GPU 2GB GDDR5
Windows 10

Thanks!

 

[UsandThem]

Most likely the Alpha (more powerful CPU), but without knowing the video card model, can't say for sure.

Some low-end Nvidia cards (like GTX 745) that come in the Dell perform worse, or the same as integrated Intel graphics. But since that laptop CPU is the energy efficient mobile CPU with HD 4400 graphics, almost any discrete card will outperform it.

Graphics wise, the video card in the Alpha will most likely not be that great outside of very casual gaming (depending on card model). It will struggle with newer games, and if they actually will run on it, the game settings will have to be dialed way back.

 

[Burpo]

Definitely the Alienware Alpha..
Read this review about the GPU..
"ALIENWARE rep told me that its comparable to the 860m"

 

[stuman74]

Most likely the Alpha (more powerful CPU), but without knowing the video card model, can't say for sure.

Not clear what you mean. I listed the graphics chips for both in the original post.

Definitely the Alienware Alpha..
Read this review about the GPU..
"ALIENWARE rep told me that its comparable to the 860m"

That is good to know for the comparison.

I have another question. I saw a couple other cheap models listed with the i3-4170T as well and the non-T i3-4170. Are these both noticeably faster than the i3-4130T?

 

[mnewsham]

the non-T i3-4170

The non-T i3-4170 is a dual core clocked at 3.7GHz, the i3-4170T is clocked at 3.2GHz, and the i3-4130T is clocked at 2.9GHz.

For gaming you generally want the fastest single core performance you can get (so the 3.7GHz i3-4170 in this instance). However the integrated graphics on these CPUs is lacking, so you will want something with a real GPU(like the alienware alpha), not integrated graphics.

 

[stuman74]

The non-T i3-4170 is a dual core clocked at 3.7GHz, the i3-4170T is clocked at 3.2GHz, and the i3-4130T is clocked at 2.9GHz.

For gaming you generally want the fastest single core performance you can get (so the 3.7GHz i3-4170 in this instance). However the integrated graphics on these CPUs is lacking, so you will want something with a real GPU(like the alienware alpha), not integrated graphics.

Thanks, I found this link as well:
http://ark.intel.com/compare/77481,81209,77490

I just placed an order for a 2nd one. I sure hope Dell didn't screw up the specs.
On the config page when I bought it, the CPU says this:
Processor: Intel Core 4th Generation i3-4170 Processor (3MB Cache, up to 3.7 GHz)

But in the detailed breakdown of my order (after I placed it) it says this:
6KN4F MOD,PRC,HSW,I3‐4170T,ANW DT

I sure hope it's not actually the "T" version!

 

[UsandThem]

Not clear what you mean. I listed the graphics chips for both in the original post

"NVIDIA GeForce GTX GPU 2GB GDDR5"

That tells me it is some type of a Nvidia GPU with 2 GB of ram.

Nvidia makes a lot of different GPUs.

But Burpo listed it was a 860m variant, so you have your answer.

 

[lakedude]

NVIDIA GeForce GTX GPU 2GB GDDR5

Not clear what you mean. I listed the graphics chips for both in the original post.

No, you really didn't...

 

[stuman74]

No, you really didn't...

http://www.dell.com/us/p/alienware-alpha/pd?oc=dkcwa05hbts
Isn't what I have listed the formal title for that GPU?

 

[lakedude]

Yes, I see what they have listed in your link but I don't believe that is a full description without some sort of model number.

nVidia has been using the term GTX along with a number to describe various video cards since 2005 or so. There are hundreds of video cards called GTX something or another. According to a quick browser search the term GTX appears on this list over 200 times...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Nvidia_graphics_processing_units

Even if we look at only recent cards called GTX something there are dozens to choose from...

 

[stuman74]

Yes, I see what they have listed in your link but I don't believe that is a full description without some sort of model number.

nVidia has been using the term GTX along with a number to describe various video cards since 2005 or so. There are hundreds of video cards called GTX something or another. According to a quick browser search the term GTX appears on this list over 200 times...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Nvidia_graphics_processing_units

Even if we look at only recent cards called GTX something there are dozens to choose from...

Got it. I'm not trying to be pissy or anything, just relaying what they officially refer to it as. I agree, it seems like a "Alienware Alpha NVIDIA GeForce GTX GPU 2GB GDDR5" perhaps (which sure seems like a modified 860M).