Dell Inspiron Gaming Desktop Review (2018): Big Power, Small Price

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As a recipient of our Best Value for Gamers award, the Dell Inspiron Gaming Desktop is no stranger to Slickdeals’s community or its front page.
For the new model year, this VR-ready system features Intel’s 8th gen processor along with an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 graphics card. With available M.2 SSD storage, plenty of expandability, and a competitive price point, the Inspiron Gaming Desktop makes a strong argument against building your own computer from scratch.
See how easy it is to enter the world of PC gaming with a closer look at Dell’s popular enthusiast-level solution, the Inspiron Gaming Desktop (model 5680).
Special thanks to Dell for loaning us an Inspiron Gaming Desktop for this review.

Dell Inspiron Gaming Desktop (5680, VR Ready) Full Specifications

• Intel Core i7 8700 (6 Core, up to 4.6 GHz)
• 8GB DDR4 RAM
• 128GB M.2 SATA SSD + 1TB 7200RPM SATA HDD
• NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 w/ 3GB RAM
• 460W power supply
• Polar Blue LED lighting
• Ports: USB 3.1, USB 2.0, Display Port, HDMI

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Streamlined, Upgradable Design

The Inspiron Gaming Desktop’s signature asymmetrical design makes its return for the new model year, and still features functional vents that provide optimum airflow while emitting a Polar Blue glow. The front of the case has been simplified with a single row of USB ports plus a headphone jack, and the omission of a disc drive. For those who still need to use CDs/DVDs, a $50 chassis option adds a slim tray-loading optical drive along with a clear side window.
On the back panel, you’ll find more than enough connections for accessories and displays: four USB 3.1, two USB 2.0, HDMI, four Display Port out, ethernet, and 7.1 channel audio with microphone port.

Power to Play Every Game, and Then Some

The beauty of the Inspiron Gaming Desktop is that it’s ready to go right out of the box. There’s nothing to setup or adjust — connect your monitor and peripherals, then press the power button to start enjoying your favorite video games immediately. (Well, as fast as you can download them.)
From my experience with the previous version of this desktop, I know that the i7 processor paired with a GTX 1060 graphics card won’t even break a sweat for full HD (1080p) gaming. But I am, however, curious where its upper limits are as another way of gauging long-term value — future games will inevitable require more graphics processing power.
For my performance test, I enlisted the 3440 x 1440 Ultra-wide QHD screen resolution of our recently-reviewed Alienware 34-inch Curved Gaming Monitor and launched everyone’s favorite game of the moment, Fortnite. Using high graphics settings with a few less important effects dialed to medium, the Inspiron Gaming Desktop held 60 frames per second on the ultra-widescreen monitor with no issues.

Still confident the desktop could do more, I live-streamed Fortnite to Twitch via NVIDIA GeForce Experience using a side-by-side setup, and recorded everything on my screen with Windows Game Bar. Even with these three resource-intensive tasks happening at the same time on a giant monitor, the game still ran just fine. Yes, there were some occasional frame-rate drops, but the game was totally playable, and keep in mind this is also an uncommon scenario that I created for the purposes of the review.

Basically, this machine is a beast in a tuxedo, and its gaming power means that it’s a legitimate workstation too — the NVIDIA graphics card lets photo and video editing programs run much faster and smoother. And don’t forget, all current-generation Inspiron Gaming Desktops come standard with Dell Mobile Connect, which lets you control every aspect of your smartphone from the computer. See it in action on the XPS 13 laptop below:

Should You Buy the Dell Inspiron Gaming Desktop?

If you’re looking to transition from video game consoles to PC, or need more power but aren’t ready to build your own rig, the Dell Inspiron Gaming Desktop is a cost-effective way to experience new levels of performance without feeling overwhelmed. Thanks to the versatility offered by the 6-core i7 processor and the NVIDIA graphics card, you can do way more than just play games.

And when you begin enhancing your setup with better peripherals, like a larger monitor, more speakers, or virtual reality system, the Inspiron will continue to be the reliable foundation of your entertainment. It’s ready to accept these premium add-ons without the need for any modifications or adjustments.
Our test model’s particular configuration is available from Dell.com for $999.99 (at time of publishing), and a similarly-spec’ed Inspiron Gaming Desktop (with 16GB RAM) has been seen on Slickdeals for as low as $800.
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