Dell OptiPlex Dell Gaming OptiPlex Desktop RGB Computer PC, Review
This Dell OptiPlex is being sold as a gaming PC, but its ancient Radeon RX 550 graphics card tells a different story. We dug into the data to see if this $400 refurbished tower is a secret steal or just misleading.
The 30-Second Version
This is a refurbished office PC in a gaming costume. The RX 550 graphics card is a relic, making it a poor choice for modern games. Look elsewhere if you actually want to play anything released after 2018.
Overview
Let's be real about this Dell OptiPlex 'gaming' PC. It's a refurbished office computer with some RGB lights and an old graphics card slapped on. The one thing to know? This isn't a gaming PC. It's a decent budget workstation that can handle some older games on low settings. For $400, you're getting a functional Windows 11 Pro machine with an i7 and SSD, but the 'gaming' part of the label is doing some very heavy lifting.
Performance
Looking at our database, the performance scores tell the story. The CPU lands in the 39th percentile, which is fine for office work. The real kicker is the GPU sitting in the 33rd percentile. That AMD Radeon RX 550 4GB was a budget card when it launched years ago. It'll run CS:GO and older titles, but calling it the 'ultimate gaming display' equipment is a stretch. The 16GB of RAM and 512GB SSD are the real workhorses here, making general computing feel snappy.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Comes with Windows 11 Pro, which is a legit value add for a $400 PC. 90th
- The 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD combo is solid for everyday multitasking and boot times. 77th
- Refurbished units score high in our reliability data (78th percentile), so it's likely been checked over.
- Includes a keyboard and mouse, so it's a true out-of-the-box setup.
Cons
- The Radeon RX 550 is ancient. This is not a modern gaming GPU by any stretch. 19th
- WiFi 4 is painfully outdated. You'll want a cheap WiFi 6 USB adapter for decent speeds. 32th
- Some listings are confusing, mixing up specs like GTX 750 Ti and RX 550. 34th
- It's a heavy, bulky tower that scored terribly (25th percentile) for being compact.
The Word on the Street
Specifications
Full Specifications
Processor
| CPU | 3.4 GHz core_i7 |
| Cores | 4 |
| Frequency | 3.4 GHz |
Graphics
| GPU | Radeon RX 550 |
| Type | discrete |
| VRAM | 4 GB |
Memory & Storage
| RAM | 16 GB |
| Storage | 512 GB |
| Storage Type | SSD |
Build
| Form Factor | Tower |
| Weight | 9.2 kg / 20.2 lbs |
Connectivity
| Wi-Fi | WiFi 4 |
System
| OS | Windows 11 Pro |
Value & Pricing
At $400, it's a fair price for a complete, refurbished office PC with Windows 11 Pro. As a gaming PC? It's a terrible value. You're paying a premium for the 'gaming' branding and RGB lights on what is essentially decade-old graphics hardware.
vs Competition
Don't compare this to an HP Omen or Alienware Aurora. Those are real gaming desktops. A more honest comparison is against other refurbished business PCs like a Lenovo ThinkCentre or a base model Intel NUC. You could also look at building a modern budget PC with an AMD Ryzen 5 5600G APU, which has integrated graphics that would rival this RX 550, for not much more money and with all-new parts.
| Spec | Dell OptiPlex Dell Gaming OptiPlex Desktop RGB Computer PC, | HP OMEN HP OMEN 45L Gaming Desktop, Intel Core Ultra 7 | MSI MSI - EdgeXpert Mini Desktop - Arm 20 core - 128GB | Dell Dell Tower Plus Desktop Computer | Lenovo Lenovo Legion T7 34IAS10 90Y6003JUS Gaming Desktop | CLX CLX - Horus Gaming Desktop - AMD Ryzen 9 9950X - |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | 3.4 GHz core_i7 | Intel Core Ultra 7 265K | ARM | Intel Core Ultra 7 265 | Intel Core Ultra 9 285K | AMD Ryzen 9 9950X |
| RAM (GB) | 16 | 32 | 128 | 32 | 64 | 96 |
| Storage (GB) | 512 | 2048 | 4096 | 1024 | 2048 | 10048 |
| GPU | AMD Radeon RX 550 | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 | NVIDIA Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 |
| Form Factor | Tower | Desktop | Mini | Tower | Tower | Mid Tower |
| Psu W | - | 850 | 240 | 750 | - | 850 |
| OS | Windows 11 Pro | Windows 11 Pro | NVIDIA DGX OS | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Pro | Windows 11 Home |
Common Questions
Q: Can this run Fortnite or Warzone?
Not well. You'd be looking at very low settings and sub-60 FPS, if it runs at all. This GPU is not meant for modern competitive shooters.
Q: Is it good for video editing or streaming?
No. The older 4-core i7 and weak GPU will struggle. This is for web browsing, office apps, and maybe editing a family photo.
Q: Is the Windows 11 Pro license legit?
Yes, that's a genuine benefit of buying a refurbished business PC like this OptiPlex. The license is tied to the motherboard and should be fully activated.
Who Should Skip This
If you're looking for a gaming PC, skip this. Go look at a used gaming PC with at least a GTX 1660 or RX 580. If you're a student or remote worker who just needs a reliable computer for Zoom and documents, this could work, but even then, shop around for other refurbished business desktops first.
Verdict
We can't recommend this as a gaming PC. If you need a basic, refurbished computer for home office work, web browsing, and maybe some very light, old-school gaming, it's an okay option. But if gaming is your goal, even on a budget, your money is better spent elsewhere. This machine's best use case died about five years ago.