Inspiron Desktop for $439... Worth it?

RSmith on 16/03/2021 - 21:04
Last edited 17/03/2021 - 09:41 by 1 other user

Hi is the Dell Inspiron desktop (brand new) with the below specs worth buying for $439?

Processor: 10th Gen Intel® Core™ i5-10400 processor(6-Core12M Cache2.9GHz to 4.3GHz)
Operating System: Windows 10 Home, 64-bit, English
Video Card: Intel UHD Graphics 630 with shared graphics memory
Hard Drive: 1TB 7200RPM 3.5" SATA HDD
Memory: 12GB (8Gx1 + 4Gx1) DDR4, 2666MHz
Wireless: 802.11ac 1x1 Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
Monitor: If accessories are purchased, they may ship separately
Microsoft Office: No Microsoft Office License Included 30 day Trial Offer Only
Security Software: McAfee LiveSafe 12 Month Subscription
Warranty: 1 Year Hardware Service with Onsite/In-Home Service After Remote Diagnosis
Accidental Damage Service: None
Keyboard: Dell KB216 Wired Keyboard English Black
Mouse: Dell MS116 Wired Mouse Black
Ports: 4 USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports. 4 USB 2.0 ports. 1 headset (headphone and microphone combo) port. 1 Line-out port.
1 HDMI 1.4b port. 1 VGA port. 1 RJ-45 ethernet port.
Optical Drive: No Optical Drive
Slots - External: 1 SD 3.0 card-slot.1 Padlock ring slot.1 Kensington security-cable slot. Internal: 1 PCIe x16.1 PCIe x1.1 M.2 2230 slot for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth combo card.1 M.2 2230/2280 slot for PCIe solid-state drive. 2 SATA slots for 3.5-inch HDD, 2.5-inch HDD/SSD. 1 SATA slot for slim Optical Disk Drive (ODD).
Dimensions & Weight
Height: 324.30 mm (12.77 in.). Width: 154 mm (6.06 in.). Depth: 293 mm (11.54 in.). Starting weight: 4.925 kg (10.85 lb)
Weight (maximum): 6.02 kg (13.26 lb)
Chassis: Black
Power: 200 W Bronze. 260 W Bronze
Regulatory: ENERGY STAR® qualified configurations available. EPEAT Bronze Registered configurations available.
CEL. WEEE. Japan Energy Law. South Korea E-standby. South Korea Eco-label. EU RoHS. China RoHS.

Selling for $698 on Dell's site

8GB RAM though.

Computing Computer Dell Desktop Computer

Comments

  • bdl on 16/03/2021 - 21:11
    +3

    I've always found Inspiron build quality crap compared with Optiplex

  • xuqi on 16/03/2021 - 21:24
    +3

    CPU alone retails for $239+:

    https://www.ple.com.au/Products/640030/Intel-Core-i5-10400-2…?
    https://www.pcbyte.com.au/store/product/intel-core-i5-10400-…
    https://www.computeralliance.com.au/intel-s1200-core-i5-1040…

    It comes with a wattage PSU so you'll be limited with future upgrades (GPU), but fine as a desktop-duty PC for the asking price.

  • norstar on 16/03/2021 - 21:29
    +2

    Stick a 250gb nvme m.2 ssd drive in it for around 55 bucks and it will be worth the money.

  • Mechz on 16/03/2021 - 21:31
    +1

    Seems ok but you'll hate life without an SSD for the OS.

    • RSmith on 16/03/2021 - 21:37
      +2

      Yeah. Can add SSD later.

  • Kangal on 16/03/2021 - 21:40
    -1
    1. Can it support any full-size GPU inside (likely not, but still needs to be asked)
    2. Desperately needs an SSD
    3. CPU performance seems questionable
    4. Memory is tad slow, and weird combo.
      …overall, not a good package.

    Free Windows10 Basic, free keyboard, free mouse are good.

    But for $440, its a toss up. Normally this would go for around $600 but it would have 2x 8GB memory and a 1TB SSD, and a slightly better CPU. So it seems cheap or "value". The unfortunate thing being that these are like those other systems that have little/no upgrade path.

    I normally recommend Dell OptiPlex SFF systems, and tell them to throw in a Low-Profile card in there. Used to pair really well, cheap, and very compact. Even they're getting long in the tooth. Here's what I found:
    $318 - PLUS4P - 3770, 16GB, 240gb SSD, Wifi

    $550 - PLUSS1 - same as above, No USB-Wifi, GTX 1050 Ti

    $650 - PLUSS1 - same as above, No USB-Wifi, GTX 1650 LP card

    Me?
    I'd probably buy the $650 PC, take the dGPU out and SSD. Put the HDD in there and sell the PC for $300 on gumtree. Total cost is now $350. Then buy that $440 PC. Throw the SSD and dGPU in that one. Total cost $790, and at least now it has decent system and graphics performance. Or more likely, look for a better system, such as from TechFast.

    edit: for an idea, here's what a typical $800 build from TechFast looks like.

    • toomuchdogfur on 17/03/2021 - 10:45

      It's literally cheaper to just buy the GPU and SSD though?

      $439 Inspiron PC + $279 ASUS GTX 1650 Compact + $57 WD 240GB NVMe SSD = $775

      This way you also get to keep the 1TB spinny disk as storage alongside the 240GB NVMe boot SSD.

      • Kangal on 17/03/2021 - 11:32

        Imma honest, I never bothered to look at the Dell website.
        GPU prices are crazy, they're asking +$400 for a 1650. That's nuts! I figured the way above is less rip-off.

        Not sure why the downvote tho?

        • toomuchdogfur on 17/03/2021 - 13:06

          Hah all good. Yeah I'd hate to buy a GPU right now…

          I didn't downvote you though.

          • Kangal on 28/03/2021 - 18:23

            @toomuchdogfur: Thanks for that, yeah, only an idiot would've downvoted that comment.

            I did some further digging, and you can't actually do what you proposed above.
            Firstly, not sure if there are any of those GTX 1650's left for sale, at least, at that (high) $279 price. Secondly, that Compact Card is not low-profile… although it looks like it will actually fit inside that Mid-Tower Inspiron system. However, it runs off one 6-pin connector, and that is not available on the Dell Inspiron. You also can't replace the PSU, unless you manage to source yourself a converter cable to power on the proprietary Motherboard. Otherwise, you have to rely on actual Low-Profile cards which use only the Pcie slot for power delivery.

            So, the odd ~$700 system I proposed above seems like the best bet. However, I'd still take the ~$850 TechFast system instead…. or you know, build something more decent for more money (that way you only cry once). It's going to take two years from now to hit normalcy, by then, these next-gen consoles are going to be more compelling from the perspective of graphics and exclusive titles.

  • wombok2 on 16/03/2021 - 21:45

    might want to change the title, the price you mentioned is not for the specification you listed.

    • RSmith on 16/03/2021 - 21:46

      No. The price I got is from Dell's website through EPP.

      • wombok2 on 16/03/2021 - 21:59
        +3

        then the price is actually not bad for pre-built, just add a SSD and clone your OS to there and call it a day.

        • RSmith on 16/03/2021 - 22:00

          Cheers.

  • bazingaa on 17/03/2021 - 00:58

    good price

  • toomuchdogfur on 17/03/2021 - 10:51
    +1

    Looks like a good deal, just add a NVMe SSD like everyone says and you have a pretty zippy everyday PC. 6c/12t Intel CPU and 12GB RAM (odd configuration aside) will be more than enough for general use.

    If you want to game on it eventually I'd look elsewhere though - the PSU won't have much headroom and the case itself looks pretty poorly ventilated. A 1050Ti/1650 might be alright, but anything higher will be a waste of money as it'll run into power/thermal issues = throttled performance and a cooked card.

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join