Dell Precision 15.6" 5560 Dark Gray Review
The Dell Precision 5560 offers workstation power at a budget price, but its awful 1080p screen is a massive compromise. Only consider it if you always use an external monitor.
Overview
The Dell Precision 5560 is a bit of a mixed bag. It's got a solid workstation foundation with an Intel Core i7-11850H, 32GB of RAM, and an Nvidia RTX A2000 GPU, all packed into a surprisingly portable 1.84kg chassis. That combo makes it a decent candidate for on-the-go 3D modeling or engineering work where you need certified drivers.
But you're not getting the latest and greatest here. This is older 11th-gen Intel hardware, and that shows up in the overall performance score of 53.9/100. It's a capable machine, but it's not setting any speed records.
Performance
Performance is okay, but not great. The 8-core i7-11850H lands in the 59th percentile for CPU power, so it's middle-of-the-pack. The RTX A2000 GPU is a solid mobile workstation card, but at the 57th percentile, it's not a powerhouse. It'll handle professional apps fine, but don't expect top-tier gaming or rendering speeds. The weakest link is the 15.6-inch 1080p screen, which scores in the bottom 17th percentile. For a machine at this price, that's a tough pill to swallow.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Lots of RAM and a 1TB SSD for multitasking. 97th
- Portable for a 15-inch workstation at 1.84kg. 76th
- Includes a certified RTX A2000 GPU for pro apps. 75th
- Has a Thunderbolt port for fast connectivity. 66th
Cons
- The 1080p screen is a major weak point. 25th
- Older 11th-gen Intel CPU holds back performance. 29th
- Reliability score is worryingly low at 28th percentile.
- Battery life is an unknown and likely not great.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Processor
| CPU | Intel Core i7 11850H |
| Cores | 8 |
| Frequency | 2.5 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 24 MB |
Graphics
| GPU | NVIDIA RTX A2000 |
| Type | discrete |
| VRAM | 4 GB |
| VRAM Type | GDDR6 |
Memory & Storage
| RAM | 32 GB |
| RAM Generation | DDR4 |
| Storage | 1 TB |
| Storage Type | SSD |
Display
| Size | 15.6" |
| Resolution | 1920 (Full HD) |
Connectivity
| USB-C Ports | 3 |
| USB Ports | 1 |
| Thunderbolt | 2 x Thunderbolt 4 / USB4 |
Physical
| Weight | 1.8 kg / 4.1 lbs |
| OS | Windows 11 Pro |
Value & Pricing
At $990, the value proposition is tricky. You're getting a lot of workstation-grade hardware—32GB RAM, a 1TB SSD, a pro GPU—for under a grand, which is rare. But you're also getting last-gen components and a truly mediocre screen. If your work absolutely requires an RTX A2000 and you're on a tight budget, it's an option. For everyone else, that screen is a deal-breaker.
vs Competition
Stack it up against the competition and the trade-offs are clear. The Lenovo ThinkPad P14s Gen 6 is a more modern, reliable mobile workstation, but it'll cost more. The ASUS Zenbook Duo offers a far more innovative dual-screen setup for creators. And if raw power is your goal, gaming laptops like the MSI Vector 16 HX will run circles around this Dell's GPU for similar money, though they lack the pro driver certification. This Dell wins on price for a pro GPU, but loses on almost everything else.
Verdict
Buy this only if you need a certified mobile workstation GPU on a strict budget and you plan to use an external monitor 100% of the time. The RTX A2000 and 32GB of RAM are legit for CAD or light simulation work. But for anyone who values screen quality, modern performance, or battery life, there are much better options out there, even at this price.