As March comes to a close, the yearly Dell Techfest is in full swing and the sale sees deep discounts on laptops, desktops, monitors, and computer accessories. With up to $500 in discounts and Dell’s track record for quality computing products, there are some compelling reasons to shop now—but how does one choose amongst all the options? We’re here to save you from the agony of choice as well as help you maximize your savings.But first, here are some important specs to keep in mind when shopping for a new rig:CPU—the Central Processing Unit is the brain of your computer, enabling it to execute instructions. The more powerful, the better.GPU—the Graphics Processing Unit isn’t important to just gamers. The GPU performs parallel operations and is essential for smooth decoding as well as rendering 3D videos and animation.RAM—Random Access Memory is the temporary workspace where instructions are executed and data are processed. All program execution and data processing takes place here, so if you’ve got a lot of tabs and applications open simultaneously, you’ll want more GBs.HDD/SSD—hard drives and solid state drives have external versions if you’re not comfortable with opening up your tower or laptop. These are therefore the easiest to expand, so they’re less pressing in terms of consideration. With those in mind, these are the best deals we could find on Dell and Alienware products:
The XPS 13 9315 has a 13.4-inch 1,920 by 1,200 display with a 60Hz refresh rate and is powered by a 12th Gen Intel Core i7 processor. Weighing in at less than 3lbs, this ultraportable laptop is easy to slip into your bag and take it with you to work on the go.
For those with more casual computing needs like email drafting and occasional web browsing, this sub-$300 Inspiron 15 3525 will fit the bill without breaking the bank. The Ryzen 5 processor is powerful enough to juggle multiple tabs at once in conjunction with the 8GB of RAM, while the 512GB SSD will boot up quickly and hold a decent number of files.
Perhaps a touch screen is more your speed? Check out the Inspiron 16 5630, which sports a 16-inch touch display with a 1,920-by-1,200 resolution. While not as ultraportable as the XPS 13 before it, it does possess a 13th Gen Intel i7 processor and costs the same so it really comes down to what features you value most.
This beast of a gaming laptop is less portable than the previous ones in our list, but what you lose in portability you gain in powerful performance whether you’re gaming or rendering video and 3D models. The RTX 4060 GPU pairs well with the 16-inch 1,920-by-1,200 display, which will all but remove the need to use a secondary display. In his review of a similar configuration, our expert rated the Alienware x16 R1 as “excellent,” saying that it “comes fully loaded to play any PC game with an excellent mechanical keyboard and an RGB extravaganza.” Did I mention that the track pad lights up?
The Dell Inspiron 3020 sports a zippy 13th Gen Intel i7, a 512GB SSD, and 16GB of RAM—a combination well suited for daily use. A multitude of ports enable you to connect peripheral devices like a second monitor, headphones and speakers, and more, and the compact size means this tower can fit easily into most workspaces. Included with this purchase is a Dell Multimedia Keyboard (KB216) and a Dell Optical Mouse (MS116).
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The Aurora R16 was a refresh of the Alienware tower, giving it more airflow as well as appealing to a wider audience. These changes aren’t just aesthetic; in his review of a similar build, our expert praised the quieter performance of the Aurora R16 when compared to previous Aurora iterations as well as the performance for the price. Included with this configuration is the latest 14th Gen Intel i7 CPU, an RTX 4070 Ti Super GPU, a 1GB SSD, and 16GB of RAM.
An all-in-one desktop is a great choice for those with limited desk space or who want to keep things streamlined. Built into a 23.8-inch 1080p display are an Intel i7 processor, MX550 GPU, a 1TB SSD, and 16GB of RAM. Also included with your purchase is a mouse and keyboard, so you can make this one purchase and have everything you need to get started on your next project.
I use this 27-inch 1080p monitor to work from home and can wholeheartedly recommend it. It’s a large step up from my laptop monitor in terms of screen real estate, and the height-adjustable stand and ComfortView feature make it very comfortable for use during long hours of use.
More Dell Deals to Consider
*Deals are selected by our commerce team
FAQ
Is Dell a Good Brand?Dell was the first to legitimize direct sales of PCs by mail order and to provide quality telephone support. It was also the first major manufacturer to pre-load applications selected by the customer. That being said, they’ve been around for a long time (since 1984) and have the quality and know-how to back it up.What’s the Best Dell Computer?That depends on how you’re going to use it. The Dell XPS 8960 desktop is best for most buyers as a high-end desktop while the Alienware Aurora R16 is the best midrange gaming desktop, according to our experts. The XPS 15 (9530) desktop is the best replacement for your desktop while the Dell Precision 5680 makes an incredible mobile workstation.How do we Test Computers?Laptops and desktops are compared to others in their category on the basis of price, features, design, and hands-on, repeatable performance tests. They’re also run through a battery of benchmarks and real-world applications to test the strengths and weaknesses of the individual components. You can find more information about laptop testing here and desktop testing here.
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