This is my first Laptop purchase. Intended use in priority order is:
-DAW (Cubase Pro)
-wireframe softwares like Balsomiq
-light use of graphics with softwares like Affinity Photo ~ GIMP2.
I plan on transferring and backing up project files daily from Laptop to Desktop.

I was ready to purchase the DELL until i was presented with two new Laptops yesterday. These specs + prices are very difficult for me to turn my back on.

If any seasoned laptop users have general thoughts or experiences with any of these models, please let me know. Below are the details, skip to the Summary for general info.

Which should i buy?

Dell Inspiron 5577 - Inspiron 15 5000 Gaming high performance laptop | Dell United States
Intel® Core™ i5-7300HQ Quad Core (6MB Cache, up to 3.5 GHz)
8GB, DDR4 2400MHz (up to 32GB)
15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) Anti-Glare LED-Backlit Display (TN display)
256GB SATA3 m.2 SSD
1x HDMITM 1.4a
3x USB 3.0 including 1 with PowerShare
1x 2-in-1 SD (UHS50) / MMC
1 year warranty

+Additional purchase: DELL 1yr Accidental coverage, 8GB DDR4 (Patriot Viper), 2.5" 128GB SSD, Ext. Lacie 500GB 7200 HDD, 15.6" IPS panel (AU OPTRONICS
DELL - $50 promo ($799.99) + Parts ($29 + $49.99 + $50 + $69.94 + $71.50) + Tax & s/h (approx $100 sum)= $1,098.92


Prostar Clevo N850HK1: https://www.amazon.com/Prostar-N850H..._cd_al_qh_dp_t
Intel Core i7-7700HQ 2.8 Ghz, 6MB Smart Cache
15.6" Full HD (1920x1080) Matte IPS Display
16GB DDR4 2400MHz - 2x 8GB (up to 32gb)
256GB M.2 SSD + 1TB 5400RPM Hard Drive
1x 6-in-1 Card Reader
1x HDMI™ output Port (with HDCP), 2x Mini DisplayPort 1.2
1x USB 2.0 Port, 2x USB 3.0 Port (Type-A), 1x USB 3.0 Port (Type-C)
1 Year Premium Warranty

+ Additional purchase: 2.5" 128GB SSD, Ext. Lacie 500GB 7200 HDD.
$1,149 & Free Shipping + Parts ($50 + $69.94) = $1268.94


Eluktronics N850HJ Pro Premium Gaming Laptop: https://flash.newegg.com/product/9SIA8S15HU1734
Intel® Core i7-7700HQ Quad Core (2.8-3.8GHz TurboBoost, 6MB L3 Cache)
8GB DDR4 2400MHz (up to 32gb)
15.6" LG® Full HD IPS Anti-Glare Display (1920 x 1080)
256GB Performance Flash M.2 SSD SATA III
2x USB 3.0 Ports, 1x USB 2.0, 1x USB 3.1 Gen 2 port (Type C)
1x HDMI (with HDCP), 2x Mini DisplayPorts
1x SD Card Reader
1 Year Eluktronics

+ Additional purchase: 8GB DDR4 RAM (Patriot Viper), 2.5" 128GB SSD, Ext. Lacie 500GB 7200 HDD.
Newegg Flash Sale ($899.95) & Free Shipping + Parts ($49.99 + $50 + $69.94) = $1,069.88


Misc:
DELL is best looking imo.
RGB keyboard is most likely programmable by groups, not independent keys.
DELL lights are white but text on keys are translucent and red.
All back lit keyboards can be turned off.
Accidental coverage is not covered except for Dell.
All weigh around 5 lbs~5.6 lbs.
Could not find any cases for any of these.


Summary
All are 7th Gen 4 core intel
All support 2x 2400hz DDR4 and up to 32gb.
All support M.2 SATA3 ~ PCIe Gen3x4
Dell is the only i5.
Dell is the only TN display.
Dell is the only 2 in 1 card reader.
Dell is the only w/o Finger Print security.

Current total for Prostar Clevo = $1268.94
" " " " Dell = $1,098.92
" " " " Eluktronics = $1,069.88

I just bought the eluktronics n870hk1 (the 17 inch equivalent of that pro star listing). I7-770hq, 256gb ssd, 2tb hhd, 16gb ram, ran about 1300$. It is surprisingly light than I thought it was. I haven't done any heavy lifting with it yet but its a snappy computer. The matte screen is practically unnoticeable, in a good way, I thought it would look weird and it doesn't. But as I understand it, this is one of the newer matte screens that do not affect the screen colors.

Do not get any variation of the n850Hj because by my understanding, it is the prior clevo model of the n850hk1 and there are a couple things that are better about the newer one. If you haven't guessed yet all these companies, prostar/eluktronics/sager/ all rebrand models of the clevo laptop hence they all have the same name.

Don't get the dell. If you are going to spend 1k+ on a computer don't get an i5. Also you doooo not want a TN display, that is one of the upgrades of the n850hk1 over the n80nj. Look up the difference of these online.

Thanks for responding thevisi0nary, I would not have known about that n850hj.
I have some questions for you..

Im guessing the N850HK1 is newer than the N850?
How's the fan noise on idle and when track making?
Where did you purchase yours? The Eluktronics website, doesnt allow me to customize their N850HK1, i'll email them about this...

oh also, do you know if it matters if i purchase the N850HK1 from Eluxtronics or from Pro-Star?

Yeah the hk1 is their newest I think. To me it gets as loud as any other laptop fan. I got mine through amazon, and messaged them prior to that to customize my order for the extra hard drive for another 90$/ I would contact them. I am not sure what the differences would be between the pro-star and the eluktronics. I know that eluktronics makes their own drives, not sure what else they impart on it.