Dell NE1-21795 Review

A shockingly good deal for a basic office PC, but it's powered by a 2017 processor. Buy it for spreadsheets and email, not for fun.

This Dell 5050-T is a weird little machine that's surprisingly good at one specific thing: being a cheap, reliable office workhorse. Don't let the 'Intel Core i7' fool you—this is a 7th-gen chip from 2017, so it's not winning any speed races. But for $333, you get a fully functional Windows 10 Pro system with 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD, which is a killer deal for basic business tasks, web browsing, or as a home server. The one thing to know? This is absolutely not a gaming PC, and trying to make it one is a waste of time and money.

The performance story is all about context. Our database shows its CPU lands in the 67th percentile, which is fine for office work, but that's against all desktops, including ancient ones. The real surprise is the GPU ranking—it's in the 97th percentile, but that's a hilarious quirk of the data. It's only that high because it's being compared to other systems with even worse integrated graphics. In reality, the Intel HD Graphics 630 is barely enough for a second monitor. It scored a 22.7/100 for gaming, which is basically 'can run Solitaire.'

For $333, this is a steal if your needs are basic. You're getting a complete, working computer with professional Windows and a ton of RAM for less than the price of a new tablet. Just don't expect it to be fast or future-proof.

Compared to a new budget desktop, you're trading modern speed for a lower price and more RAM. Next to something like an HP Omen or Alienware Aurora, it's not even the same sport—those are for gaming, this is for spreadsheets. The most relevant competitor is another refurbished business PC, like a Lenovo ThinkCentre. Against those, this Dell wins on having 32GB of RAM standard, which is rare at this price.

If you're looking for a gaming PC, a video editing rig, or anything with modern speed, this isn't it. Go get a newer used desktop with at least a 10th-gen i5 or a Ryzen 5 instead. Also skip if you need WiFi or Bluetooth built-in.

We recommend this Dell 5050-T if you need a dead-simple, reliable computer for office work, light web use, or as a server and you're on a tight budget. It's the digital equivalent of a reliable used Toyota Corolla. For anyone else, especially if you're thinking about gaming, photo editing, or anything remotely demanding, look elsewhere immediately.