Customers often highlight the Inspiron Compact Desktop's easy setup, compact size, and affordable price. Many users appreciate its quiet operation and find its size convenient. While some users have concerns about the Windows 11 operating system and the onboard graphics processor, overall, customers are generally satisfied with the performance and reliability of this desktop.
This summary was generated by AI based on customer reviews.
The vast majority of our reviews come from verified purchases. Reviews from customers may include My Best Buy members, employees, and Tech Insider Network members (as tagged). Select reviewers may receive discounted products, promotional considerations or entries into drawings for honest, helpful reviews.
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Pros mentioned:
Compact, Easy setup, Speed
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Inspiron 3910
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Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I really enjoyed the purchase process and the computer is awesome. The 3910 is easy to use and very fast. This is my first desktop computer and I'm glad I finally purchased one. Easy fit in tight space too.
I would recommend this to a friend
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Best buy for the best stuff
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Posted . Owned for more than 2 years when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
There are other websites that can get you electronics but Best Buy Stands behind their products. that's why when ever I have a big ticket product to buy I got to BEST BUY! I know I can bring things in for service when I need to and they have the people and the power to fix it. No hassle and no issues when ever I buy Electronics from Best Buy. Even the help over the phone is great. 5starts from me
I would recommend this to a friend
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Extremely happy with my BestBuy purchase
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Posted . Owned for 2 months when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I bought this on a rainy day in January and the best buy staff were so helpful. BestBuy made this purchase a really good experience for me and the long drive to pick up this computer was definitely worth it. The machine works really well and I'm definitely glad I purchased from BestBuy.
I would recommend this to a friend
Rated 1 out of 5 stars
Aggravating issues
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Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Display issues with a monitor that has work well on previous computers. Also when I tried to play a DVD the computer starting downloading something and I never did get the DVD to work. Dell provided a generic link that didn't seem to pertain to my specific computer
No, I would not recommend this to a friend
Brand response from YourDellTeam
Posted .
Dear JohnC,
We want to thank you for taking the time to leave us a review and provide feedback on your Inspiron desktop. We are sorry to hear that you are experiencing an issue with your display. That is not the type of feedback we like to hear from our customers, or the type of product Dell intends to deliver. We have noted the details of your statement and will use them to improve current and future products. Below I have provided a troubleshooting link to help resolve your issue.
Should you need further assistance; we recommend that you contact Dell directly with the information below. Chat or call: https://bit.ly/DellSupportTeam Phone number to Dell: 1-800-624-9896.
Sincerely, Summer@Dell
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Works great.
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Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Very happy with it. Was pleased that BB was able to transfer my files to the new desktop. Of course, it always takes time to set up things the way you want them. All went well.
The only negative related to process not product. I was initially told that the problem was my Monitor. I bought a new Monitor and encountered the same problem so I had to return it and start the detective work again.Several days went into this process.
I would recommend this to a friend
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Fast Computer
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Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Very fast computer. It works very well and can run several programs at once.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Speed
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Dell
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Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Works for what I needed it for. super fast for now@
I would recommend this to a friend
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Excellent Desktop
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Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Nice size, fits easily anywhere. Plenty of USB ports. Nice price.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Price, Speed
Cons mentioned:
Graphics
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Fast daily desktop!
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I have had many different desktop computers over the years that have varied in features and all-around speed. The Dell Inspiron Compact desktop in mistic blue is extremely fast and easy to use. For the price this desktop sports an Intel Core I5-12400 processor with 12 gigs of RAM and a 256 gig SSD hard drive. Included with the desktop is a USB wired keyboard and mouse. Both work relatively well. The keyboard could have a better feel for typing and it would be nice to have a Bluetooth or wireless mouse and keyboard, but that’s being picky on my part. The video is Intel basic UHD included graphics and may not be up to gamers expectations. For gerneral video use it is fine.
For a compact desktop it has a lot of physical connection and expansion features. There are three USB ports in the front and a USB-C, card reader, power button and a DVD disc drive/ burner. The back has four USB ports and HDMI out, Mini jack audio out, Cat6 in and four expansion slots.
Included software includes the usual Microsoft office 365, assorted Dell software and a limited Power2 suite of applications for burning discs and picture editing. One nice feature of Microsoft live accounts is the ability to sync your information between computers, which made my set up quicker.
As for the speed of this desktop, it is very quick with internet searches, viewing YouTube videos and Netflix and working with all the Office apps. I have been very impressed at the speed of online searches and how quickly pages load. You can’t go wrong for the price and features this desktop has and the overall performance. I highly recommend it.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Compact
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Surprisingly Capable with future potential
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Even though I am familiar with Dell – my primary desktop is a maxxed out Dell gaming box that never games – this little box surprised me! Compact but powerful, it’s a great home office desktop that would also be at home as a client in a small business network. Setup is quick and painless, though you’ll likely have to sit through some updates/upgrades from both Windows and Dell. But they are important and worth the wait!
Windows 11 boots up quickly and performance is (again, surprisingly) snappy and responsive. The Intel CPU runs Windows effortlessly and fluid. It was a great choice. I am a bit confused by Dell’s choice of 12gb RAM over the usual 16gb, though. Seems like and unnecessary cutting of corners when DRAM prices are trending downward. But I’m happy to say that it doesn’t seem to hold this unit back in any way. In comparison while some might think the 256gb SSD might be limiting, I believe it is an adequate amount of storage for most in these days of cloud storage and inexpensive USB drives. Port wise, there are 8 USB ports. 4 of these are USB 2.0, 3 are USB 3.2 with an additional USB 3.2 Type C port thrown in for good measure. This should be enough to handle any peripherals the average person would use with room for growth in the future. There’s even a media card reader conveniently located on the front panel.
And there is some potential for growth and upgrades here, which is kind of rare for the price point these days. RAM is expandable to 64gb, and the SSD slot (M2 format) can support up to a 1TB stick. There’s even a SATA connection available to add an additional internal SSD/HDD drive which mounts to the back of the chassis. Between these options and the available USB ports, you can really add on to this and keep your investment going for a few years (I had a Dell desktop that saw almost a decade of use; first as a desktop, then as a Windows server and finally as a Linux server until the power supply finally gave in!
I will likely be making some of these upgrades in the near future. I’d originally planned to use this as a spare desktop and test bed for Windows 11 since my primary desktop doesn’t meet Win11 criteria (because of an ‘older’ processor) but after playing with it for a bit I think that with a few upgrades in RAM and storage I can use this as a small virtual machine server in my lab.
Regardless of how you might choose to use this Inspiron, I think you’ll be impressed with its performance, form factor and the fact that it does all this while remaining utterly quiet; all while sipping energy rather than gulping it. Based on this, I’d highly recommend it as a primary desktop for the family, a home office PC or a capable small business desktop/client.
I would recommend this to a friend
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
M personal choice for my office
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Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Love it, works great, Love it, works great, Love it, works great, Love it, works great, Love it, works good
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Performance
Cons mentioned:
Graphics
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Great Desktop, some install issued but worth it
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
The Dell 3919 compact desktop is a great desktop that packs a lot of computing power into a small desktop box that looks good too.
Dell includes everything you need to use this computer for business, school or home office use. Not only does this computer have the latest technology with USB ports a plenty 1USB 3.2 C,3 USB 3.2 and 4 USB 2.0. For storage a 256gb pcie SSD for fast performance and windows 11 Home to get you going. You also get a CD/DVD RW drive and and SD reader. There is an audio in/out combo port in the rear and Audio ports in the front. There are USB ports on the front for easy flash drive access. The system is powered by an Intel 12 gen i5 model 12400 with 6 cores and a speed up to 2.5 ghz coupled by 12 gb of 3200mhz DDR4 ram. Internet connections is through 1ghz Ethernet or Wireless-AX. There is 1 HDMI port and 1 Display port for video output powered by Intel UHD graphics. Keyboard and Mouse are included.
Setup was not so smooth, I believe the problem is HDMI drivers and Windows 11 as well as possible required bios updates. This may not happen if you use the display port. My setup went like this. 1st boot saw the dell logo, the F12 for boot options. Screen went black. I waited for 30 min just in case this was a windows 11 setup problem, not so lucky. Rebooted 3 times and got the advanced recovery screen. I tried fix boot up problems with no luck. I then allowed a reinstall of windows not keeping any of my files since I had none yet. After the reinstall the computer rebooted and I got a black screen again. On the next boot I pushed F12, went into the bios noticed the drive was set to RAID, changed that to AHCI, changed the display to internal from auto. Reboot still black screen. Pressed F12 again went to Dell smart assist and followed the prompts to reinstall the latest operating system and drivers, let that complete and rebooted. Windows 11 started reinstalling, I thought I was in the clear, got up to the add your Microsoft account and bam black screen again. Arrgh, in desperation pulled out the HDMI cable and re-plugged, the screen reappeared! The install went a little further black screen again pulled and re-plugged the HDMI screen came back and I was able to complete the install. Windows 11 booted up, the Dell support assistant promptly popped up, ran through the steps, Windows updates but the support assistant stalled there. Windows updates completed and needed a reboot. Rebooted and black screen again pulled and re-plugged the HDMI. At that point dell support assistant was able to proceed to dell updates and a bios update as well as an Intel chipset update were offered. I let those install, these. The system booted into UFEI then installed the updates. With the reboot Windows 11 appeared and the screen did not go black. The computer has been fine since. Because of this I believe it was probably the intel firmware update but it could have been the bios update that fixed the video problem.
After this I upgraded the OS to Windows 11 pro because I need to join this computer to my active directory domain this went forward without a hitch using an unused windows 8 pro key I had.
Hopefully Dell will fix this soon. In the meantime try using the display port for video or do the bios update and firmware updates first.
This computer now works great, fast able to handle large high resolution graphic files and viewers with ease. All my programs open much faster and run smoothly. I am able to play video files smoothly from the SSD and streaming from the internet.
The rear audio jack configures to whatever you plug in asking you what you plugged into it. Audio ports on the front are convenient for plugging in a gaming or communication headset.
The optical disk drive is a CD/DVD RW drive, I confirmed this when I installed a program from a CD. The drive can also burn DVDs.
The computer has 1 pci and 1 pcie slot open if you want to install a more powerful graphics card or other card. There is a mount if you want to replace the 256 gb SSD with a larger capacity PCIe NVMe SSD 2280.
The warranty includes 1 year of Hardware service Onsite/In-Home service after Remote Diagnostics for Parts and Labor.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Compact
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Dell’s Mighty Inspiron Mini Desktop 3910-a bargain
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Mini only in stature when compared to so-called full size desktop computer, this “little” dell packs a surprising power punch in its class.
If you’re accustomed to consumer Windows desktop computers as I am, you have witnessed an evolution. Compact components promised lighter weight. Intel processors have become more powerful, of course, with included Intel UHD Graphics (for non-gamers). This Dell has the latest Intel i5-2400 And they still include CD/DVD drives, an SD card slot, USB ports with faster transfer taking advantage of the latest technology, and more. Inside the easy-open cabinet it is almost empty, with accessible RAM that is simple to replace up to the maximum of 32GB (not needed) from the included 12GB of RAM.
This model comes with a 256GB SSD. No more spinning hard disk drives. SSDs are usually faster and longer lasting than the old HDDs and use much less power. In addition, accessing data on an SSD is faster than on a standard spinning hard drive. Some might see the 256GB SSD as a limitation on this model that does not include the build-to-order option. Most consumers today who do email and other tasks that are not processor-intensive probably have Gmail or a similar mail service. In these, the email is stored in the cloud, not on the computer’s drive, so the 256GB storage should not be limiting.
If considering an upgrade to this Dell, look at your current rig’s storage to see its size and how much storage remains. I’d bet that most of you with a 1TB drive in your old current computer haven’t used much of it unless you have tons and tons of photos and music ON that drive. Both can be managed through other means, such as cloud storage OR by moving some or all onto another drive inside the new computer or on a USB thumb drive plugged into a convenient port on the front or rear.
All that room inside can be useful. There are at least three connectors into which a flyweight little SSD can be plugged. Checking online at Best Buy, I see them from about $50 to $100 for up to 1TB of storage. It is incredibly simple to pop one in, and their light weight lets them just dangle inside without a tray or other means of support. That’s what I did. I took the 1TB SSD from the almost eight year old big ol’ tower computer and put it inside this new Dell. Plug and play and all the old data is there.
This new Dell comes with a trial version of Microsoft Office 365 that users can sign up for OR remove and use an existing Microsoft Office product, which is what I did. Also included is McAfee antivirus, but, frankly, all that is needed for most consumers is the included Microsoft Defender antimalware product, so that was deleted on mine. Just don’t be foolish – don’t open email from unknown senders. Don’t surf the Web to shady places. In other words, be a smart consumer and a smart computer user.
Another change I made on this computer which is standard to ME was to upgrade from the included Microsoft Windows 11 Home Edition to Windows Pro. Look it up! I think Pro is the way to go and it is not expensive. In fact, I transferred my license from Windows 10 pro on my old computer to Windows 11 pro without charge. That’s the way Microsoft operates. Thank you.
With a standard, ubiquitous Windows wired keyboard and wired mouse, just add a monitor and monitor cable, computer speakers and it’s show time.
**WHAT’S IN THE BOX**
• Computer and power cord
• Wired keyboard and wired mouse
• Documentation
**THE SETUP**
Unbox, plug in to power, connect a monitor, which, in this case, is a 1080 HD 24-inch Dell. Nothing fancy. Go through the setup process, connect existing Microsoft account. Do ALL the updates until there are no more. Keep checking until there is nothing more to do. This includes using the Dell software to check this computer in addition to Windows. That’s where there were a few to do, including a pair of BIOS updates. All finished!
Uninstall software as above. Install a few personal apps.
Will the included 12GB of RAM prove sufficient? Let’s see. It’s time to . . .
**PUT IT TO THE TEST**
Gee! This rig is pretty fast. Boot’s quickly. Let’s see how it performs.
Watch streaming content. The included graphics card did fine.
Compose documents, such as this review. No lags, no glitches.
Connect an external camera and try a Zoom conference. Perfect.
Play CDs and DVDs. No glitches, not waiting. The sound quality is determined by the quality of the attached speakers.
As an everyday computer for most consumers, there is NOTHING about which to complain.
Compared with the Dell computer replaced by this Dell, it is perfect. The old Dell had a [then] speediest Intel i7 processor and 16GB RAM. Though it is not eligible to upgrade to Windows 11, it chugs along just fine, but it takes over a minute to boot up fully. Even with its 1TB SSD as a main drive, the old computer was way past its prime. This new Dell with less RAM almost instantly boots up and runs with no perceived delays.
I think it’s a bargain!
**CONCLUSION**
Dell must be doing something right. The cost is astoundingly low for what is included.
This Dell Inspiron Compact Desktop model 3910 with the latest Intel i5 processor is highly recommended.
**WARRANTY**
Dell provides a one year warranty with the option to extend it
I would recommend this to a friend
Cons mentioned:
Graphics
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Good Desktop For Most Users at a Good Price Point
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
In the world of laptops, there is still a place for a desktop computer. They typically offer more power at a lower price point and will typically provide upgradability. A lot of desktops, including this little Dell model, have really reduced in both size and weight. This computer is surprisingly compact while still giving space inside the case. Also, things to the less-common spinning hard drives, these computers have become a lot lighter, making them easy to place where you want to without breaking your back to reach a port in the rear.
PROS
- Lightweight, as mentioned
- VERY quiet. I was impressed when I started running about 8 apps at one time and still couldn't hear the fans.
- Plenty of device ports in the front: 2x USB 2.0, 1x USB 3.2, and 1x USB-C, plus an SD card slot
- More ports in the back: 2x USB 2.0 and 2x USB 3.2
- 12 GB of memory - nice to see a manufacturer finally moving up from the old 8 GB standard, although I would expect this in a desktop at this point. Also nice to know that you can put up to 64 GB of memory into this machine.
- Easy to get inside the case (no tools required).
- Inside of the case is spacious given its compact size, mostly because there are very few cables cluttering that space.
- A minor but MUCH appreciated fact: The Service Tag, which includes the service tag number (basically an identifier for your computer) is right at the very top front of the PC, meaning you can view it quickly without having to pull the PC out to reach the rear of the machine.
CONS
- Disk space: Unless you are using this computer in the same capacity as a Chromebook, you're will need additional disk space, either by an external disk drive, or installing one inside the case, as it only has 256 GB. With the computer's default installation of Windows 11, MS Office (preinstalled), and my installation of Chrome, Steam, and one game from my Steam library, I had already used up a little shy of half the disk space.
- Weak in the graphics department. Dell is not calling this a gaming PC, so no fault, but out-of-the-box you will struggle with anything requiring moderate graphic processing.
- Thermals: Dell's design is to create a "tunnel" that heat from the processor is directed through, exhausting it straight out the back of the PC without the opportunity to spread throughout the case. However, while this also helps reduce the fan noise considerably, there is no other fan inside the case. Should you decide to add a graphics card to this PC, there is no other fan to draw the hot air out of the case.
- Keyboard/Mouse (minor): I consider this minor because mice and keyboards that come with desktops are usually basic and are commonly replaced by consumers with preferred models. The mouse and keyboard with this computer get the job done. The keyboard has chicklet style keys that have a lot of travel (I really have to press them and they produce some noise). The mouse is just ok. I have to have a button on the side of the mouse for the "back" function or I go crazy, so I don't bother with factory mice.
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
- Don't like Windows 11? Dell has drivers for Windows 10.
- DVD drive included. It's not commonly needed nowadays, but nice to have if you do need it.
- This PC can support 2 displays, with 1x HDMI connector and 1x Display Port connector. There is no VGA port, so you may need a convertor if using this PC with an older monitor or television.
Overall, this computer performs really well. While using it, I had multiple applications open simultaneously, including 3 Office apps, Chrome, Edge, Steam (no games running), the MyDell app, Dell Support Assist, and Solitaire, and I was only at about 78-80% on the memory and everything responded quickly. This computer is not going to meet your needs if you are a gamer, but if you typically run multiple apps on your computer at the same time and need a fast, responsive machine, this Dell PC will definitely meet your needs. With a couple more tweaks (graphic card and additional disk space), this computer will definitely meet my needs well into the future.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Compact
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
A Compact Package with Some Nice Surprises
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
And I thought the Inspiron name was reserved for laptops. Not so. This Inspiron is a desktop rig, and a compact and attractive one at that. I had almost forgotten about the pleasure of having a built in DVD drive, but I am happy to be reminded of the convenience it brings.
I have upgraded a couple of Windows 10 rigs to Windows 11, but this is my first experience with a cleanly installed (at Dell and not be me) version of the newest Windows operating system. With a 12th generation Intel processor, the Core i5 12400, running at up to 2.5ghz, six cores, 12GB of RAM, and an M.2 256 GB SSD, the presentation was lovely, and the price is right. The system is shipped with the home version of the operating system.
This would be a perfect general-purpose machine for just about any home office or student. The Intel UHD graphics served all my needs, but for those who want more, there are two expansion slots on the motherboard, a PCI-express x16 slot and a x1 slot for the addition of a video and audio card. The Intel AX201 card offers the latest Wi-Fi 6 standards, and the performance is top notch.
There is an interesting situation with the installation of SATA drives, if you need more storage. There are plenty of SATA and power connectors inside this little box, but there is not a hard drive cage to be found anywhere. Given the size of the unit, such is forgivable. The owner’s manual points out that a full size 3.5 or 2.5-inch drive can be mounted directly into the inside front of the case, and I found the four screw holes, but no screws were provided for that purpose.
The computer runs dead quiet and nice and cool to the touch. For my needs, it easily handled anything I threw at it. The supplied wired keyboard and mouse completed the package. The keyboard is not lighted but is full sized with a number pad. It is a pleasure to type on. The only component you will need to supply to use this rig is a monitor. And there are connections aplenty. I counted 8 USB ports: four on the back, and four on the front, one of which was USB-C. I connected my monitor with an HDMI cable, but a display port is offered as well.
A full software package is offered for the built in DVD drive. McAfee personal security is also provided with a trial subscription, as well as a 30-day trial of Microsoft office.
While enjoying this computer, I found a very nice surprise: the Dell Mobile Connect app. This is the first time I have ever been able use messaging through my iPhone on a Windows machine, and it works very nicely. You’ll have to have your phone relatively near as it uses Bluetooth to communicate with it, but I’m not complaining about that at all. Just install the app on your phone and the windows version on this computer and you will be ready to go. Yep, type a message from your computer using Dell Mobile Connect and you’ll be in blue bubble heaven with all your fellow iPhone friends!
Value, performance and utility. All the boxes are checked with this rig. Nice job, Dell!
I would recommend this to a friend
Cons mentioned:
Graphics
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Great Computer for Your Day-to-Day Usage
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
This Dell Inspiron 3910 Compact Desktop comes with the latest iteration of Intel's Core i5, the i5-12400, a 6-core, 2.5 GHz (max speed) Processor with integrated Intel UHD Graphics, 12GB of DDR4 3200 MHz System Memory, a 256 Gb Solid State Drive (SSD) for file storage, an internal DVD+RW drive for reading and writing CDs and DVDs, next generation standard WiFi 6 / 802.11ax WiFi Wireless Networking, Bluetooth, a 10/100/1000 (wired) Ethernet port, a HDMI output port, a DisplayPort output port, 4 USB 2.0 Type A Ports, 3 USB 3.2 Type A Ports, 1 USB 3.2 Type C Ports, a 180 watts Power Supply, a basic wired mechanical keyboard, a basic wired mouse, and is pre-loaded with a 64-bit Home version of Windows 11.
All-in-all this makes for a good middle of the modern road setup. I found that it has a powerful enough CPU to run multiple standard apps like Chrome, Word, Excel and Adobe Acrobat, and to watch videos, video chat or play music at the same time without a hitch. There is enough fast memory and cache to handle moderate gaming and computational programs for work or school. The SSD aids in quick booting, file transfer and program startups.
Where the Dell Inspiron 3910 lacks is in the graphics department. The integrated Intel graphics are just basic and what the unit could use is a good added graphics card. The integrated graphics are good enough for normal applications, but if you even want to think about gaming or pro-style photo or video editing, you will need to add an appropriate graphics card. If you do that, then I would also consider adding more memory and upgrading the power supply.
The other thing that I personally find as a deficit is the amount of file storage. I keep and / or create thousands of photos, videos and music files. I personally do not trust the Cloud and prefer to keep these files redundantly backed-up on physical storage. For me, a 256 Gb SSD is laughable, especially since Win 11, by itself, is such a hog. I would be adding additional internal SSDs and then add external drives (only because this unit is not internally expandable with HDDs).
That said, I find that this unmodified Dell - Inspiron Compact Desktop will do a great job on all the tasks and programs that most people do in their daily lives. And it does it at a relatively affordable price. I definitely suggest it for your day-to-day usage.
I would recommend this to a friend
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Powered cheaply
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
For the past 15 years or so, I have been an Apple user. However, my computer experience started with Microsoft Windows and DOS. I decided to get this Windows machine to do work at home.
It comes with a chicklet type USB wired keyboard and a wired mouse. The build quality of the keyboard and mouse is very basic, made mostly of plastic. The tower case however, is good looking. The power button is located on the front panel but I wish it was on the top instead because I have the tower on the floor. The power button should have been a different color like chrome or silver because as is, it is hard to distinguish it from the panel cover. The build of the case is generic, basic and it is built with light metals and plastic.
This machine is configured a 12th Generation Intel® Core™ i5-12400 CPU with six-core, twelve-way processing performance. It only has 12GB system memory (one 4GB module on one channel and an 8GB module on the other) installed but it good enough to power through some multi-tasking tasks. I use this as my work computer and I run a couple of applications that are memory intensive and they ran fine. Simple tasks like emails, non-professional photo and video editing, web browsing are a breeze with this machine. Ram is upgradeable up to 64GB but I think 32GB will be just fine for my needs.
There is a removable 256GB NVMe solid state drive (SSD) installed and it’s plenty enough to store some videos and photos and if you need more space, you can either add an internal storage device or an easier route would be to add one externally. There’s plenty enough USB ports to do just that. But if you want to install it internally, there is an extra SATA and power cable included inside the case. There is one slot to install a 3.5” HDD and it is behind the front panel. So if you’re running the HDD hard, there’s a chance that the front panel might get hot or really warm to the touch. Even with the internal HDD that I installed, this machine ran quietly.
I haven’t seen a DVD disc in years but yes, this machine still has a plain DVD+/-RW that reads and writes to a variety of media formats, including DVD+R/RW, DVD-R/RW and CD-R/RW. NO Blu-Ray capability though.
The integrated Intel UHD graphics will do for simple photo and video editing and light gaming but if you run more graphics intensive applications, you’ll need a more powerful graphics card. The highest resolution supported is Full HD, 1080P (1920x1080). At that resolution, text aren’t really sharp, icons look distorted. If you are going to connect a 4K monitor to this and want to get the full effect, you might want to invest in a better graphics card. According to their specs, there’s only three supported graphics card for this 3910 series, the Nvidia GeForce GT730, GTX1650 and GTX1660, but that doesn’t mean necessarily mean other graphics cards won’t work. There is an available PCI-express x16 slot and a x1 slot.
The audio uses a Cirrus Logic controller which supports 5.1 channel high definition audio, no Dolby Atmos support. There’s a line OUT port in the back and headset jack in the front panel. Also in the front panel are two USB-A 2.0, one USB-A 3.2, one USB type-C 3.2, a SD card reader. In the back, there are two USB-A 2.0, one USB-A 3.2, one DP display port 1.4, one HDMI 1.4 and a network port (supports 10/100/1000).
This machine also has Bluetooth 5.2 and the latest wireless protocol WiFi 6 (supports A/B/G/N/AC/AX). I didn’t see any issues connecting devices with Bluetooth and WiFi 6 worked well, getting full strength with maximum download and upload speeds from my service provider.
Pre-installed is the Windows 11 Home version. This took a bit of getting used to again coming from a Mac. The Start button is now in the middle on the bottom compared to the past Windows OS where the Start button was on the bottom left corner. After I installed the HDD, I needed to prepare the drive and so I was looking for disk management. It took awhile to find it… GOOGLED it. Other than that, same old Windows in my opinion. It also comes with 1-month trial versions of Office 365 and McAfee
Overall, this desktop works for me. My only complaint was the graphics card native resolution was only 1080P but that can be easily fixed with a better graphics card. It’ll work out better since you can choose your own card. The other annoyance was that I found the mouse and keyboard would not wake up the computer after it has been inactive for awhile, in a deep sleep. I would have to press the power button to wake it up.
I would recommend this to a friend
Cons mentioned:
Windows 11
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Best you can expect for the price
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Posted . Owned for 8 months when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Pros and Cons... the 12 GB of Ram really helps as I often have many browsers open when I am working online using my catalogs, apps, and sites when listing in my store. No beef about the speed. But... every time I am not using it for roughly 10 minutes when I leave the room, I have to reenter my Microsoft pin to reopen the browsers. Yes... it is loaded with windows 11 and we all hate new versions of Microsoft fixing what wasn't broken. This PC has it. If you haven't used windows 11 before, once again there are weird new menus and some you can't find from before. The ability to set your monitor to stay on longer was not to be found. In somebodies' infinite wisdom, they figure if you get up to use the bathroom you should have to log in again. I won't even repeat the words I speak each time. Very annoying. Settings program is much to be desired in its accessibility to what you want to correct to work in your favor. Why should you have to contact customer support over issues that shouldn't be there? Frequent updates. What they are I have no clue? But Dell says they are crucial to the PC function. So, I just let them rip. I hold my breath as in the past PC updates sometimes spell a day of bad behavior in its function. Sometimes during typing a new browser will open for what seems like no reason or the typing will go to a popup box. For the price I guess I can't complain much more. Now they want $2000 - $5000 for PC's that have integrity. Us poor people will have to make due with what we get. That is my opinion.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Easy setup
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Good Value and Quality
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Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
My old computer was eight years old and I was not able to continue getting Microsoft and other updates. Therefore, I needed a new computer. I had researched computers and had an idea of the Dell Desktop computer I wanted. I finally decided to buy the Dell- Inspiron Compact desktop- Intel Core i5-12400-12GB memory-256GB SSD. Zach, my sales rep, was very helpful. He took the time and discussed my computer needs. After our discussion, it was determined that the computer I was going to buy had more features than I needed for my purposes. I am very satisfied with my purchase. The computer was easy to setup, There was one minor issue that the Dell tech was able to resolve on the phone and he followed up to see if there were any other issues.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Compact, Easy setup, Price
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Good Product
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Posted . Owned for 1 week when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I like the price and size of the device, and the device is easy-to-use.