The RGB component connector is used to send an analog video signal to a secondary display device, such as a TV or projector. The cable has 3 connectors (red, green, and blue) for video. The digital component video connector became popular in both computers and home-theatre applications.

Select the correct video source on the monitor or projector. For example, if you are using the HDMI 1 video connector on the monitor, set the source to HDMI 1. To learn more about how to change the video source, see the documentation of your Dell monitor or projector. Other kinds of drives are something of a non-starter. You do get SATA power connectors coming off the power supply, and three SATA motherboard data connections (one is used by the optical drive). But there's no place in the chassis to actually mount a 2.5-inch SSD or a 3.5-inch hard drive, and we'd be very leery of having a drive left dangling or just placed loose in this small case. So your storage upgrade options are much more limited than what the system's spec sheet might suggest, unless you're cool with double-sided tape as a drive-mounting solution.

Verdict: A Decent Basic PC...Just Respect the Limitations

Possible upgrades aside, we’re reviewing the most barebones version of the Dell Inspiron Desktop, and so we tested it against similar systems in terms of specs and price. All other products will be delivered via the fastest available method (excluding bank holidays and weekends) and generally within 3-5 days, depending on customer location. This article provides help with Microsoft Office programs, A Guide to the various Microsoft Office programs available on your Dell personal computer. The DVI connector is used to transmit analog or digital video signals depending on the type of DVI connector that is available. The DVI connector on a device can be one of three types, depending on which signals it implements: DVI-A (analog only), DVI-D (digital only, single-link or dual-link), and DVI-I (combines digital and analog in the same connector; digital may either support single or dual link). The pin configuration in each type of connector is unique. For more information about DVI, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Visual_Interface . Turning the unit around reveals one important change: A DisplayPort replaces the VGA port from last year’s model, an input that has been phased out by more modern displays. Its inclusion opens up the option for running dual monitors with more modern panels, a productivity perk that’s become more commonplace in today's office and hybrid-work environments.

Dell's usual plastic chassis and steel inner frame come in at about 11 pounds, with the exterior measuring 12.8 by 6.1 by 11.5 inches (HWD). It’s no Geekom MiniAir, but this compact tower should fit on most desks without too much intrusion. Accessing the Dell Inspiron Desktop’s internals is as easy as loosening two screws and sliding off a side panel. Doing so gives you a couple of options for upgrades further down the line. Next to the CPU cooler are the memory slots to upgrade to up to 16GB of RAM, the baseline for most high-end machines, if you’re noticing programs are slightly sluggish. (Note that only one of the two DIMM slots was filled in our test unit, which means the model was not operating in dual-channel mode.)

In our test configuration, the Dell Inspiron Desktop makes for a suitable basic home or hybrid-work desktop for productivity tasks. This clearly isn't a true mini PC, but you gain true desktop functionality here, with room for some modest upgrades while saving more space than with many mini-tower desktops. For help with connecting to a Dell wireless monitor, see the Dell knowledge base article Guide to Dell Wireless Monitors.

NOTE: Video-out connector to connect a secondary display is not available on all Dell all-in-one computers. To identify if the Dell all-in-one computer supports a secondary display, see the documentation of your Dell desktop or all-in-one.

Ratings & Reviews

In addition to measuring core productivity performance, we run a number of tests on graphical output. 3DMark’s Time Spy subtest is designed for computers with dedicated GPUs, while the Night Raid test is better suited for systems that use integrated graphics. We also run two tests in the GFXBench suite that measure the devices' performance of low-level routines, like texture mapping, and high-level ones, like image rendering: 1440p Aztec Ruins and 1080p Car Chase. The Acer Aspire TC (2022) remains our first-place budget desktop in most of our productivity tests, blasting right past the Dell Inspiron. Where the Dell Inspiron does top the Acer is in the storage test, although it's second to the Dell Inspiron (3891), if not by much.

Accidental Damage-Additional Information: Accidental Damage Service excludes theft, loss, and damage due to fire, flood or other acts of nature, or intentional damage. Customer may be required to return damaged unit to Dell. Limit of 1 qualified incident per contract year. For more information, consumers visit Accidental Damage Service Contract (Consumer) or commercial customers visit Accidental Damage Service Contract (Commercial). The power supply can be removed, but it's a proprietary design, not typical ATX or SFX, so you'd be hard-pressed to find a suitable upgrade; the main power connection to the motherboard is not a typical 24-pin connector. If you think you'll eventually want to install a video card, this is not the mini-tower to get. The graphics benchmarks that the Dell Inspiron Desktop could run show the typical limitations of integrated graphics. The 12th Gen Intel Core CPU is powerful enough for basic tasks, but it lags behind the Acer Aspire TC (2022) and the Lenovo IdeaCentre 510A in the Night Raid test.The HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) connector is the most common digital audio/video connector that is available on many computers, monitors, TVs, and projectors. HDMI supports the transmission of both video and audio signals on a single cable. There are several versions of HDMI standards. With each latest version of HDMI, new features are added. The HDMI connector on the device and the HDMI cable are designed with one specific version of the HDMI standard. For example, HDMI version 2.0a and above supports High Dynamic Range (HDR) video. There are five types of HDMI connectors: standard HDMI, dual-link HDMI, mini HDMI, micro HDMI, and HDMI automotive connector. For more information about HDMI, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HDMI . After identifying the video connectors and you have a compatible video cable, connect the computer to the monitor or projector. The DisplayPort connector is used to transmit digital audio and video signals simultaneously, although each is optional and can be transmitted without the other. There are several versions of DisplayPort standards. With each latest version of DisplayPort, new features are added. The DisplayPort connector on the device and the DisplayPort cable are designed with one specific version of DisplayPort standard. For example, DisplayPort version 1.2 and above supports Multi-Stream Transport (MST) or daisy-chaining compatible monitors. DisplayPort cables and ports may have either a "full-size" connector or a "mini" connector. These connectors differ only in their physical shape, the capabilities of DisplayPort are the same regardless of which connector is used. Using a mini DisplayPort (mDP) connector does not affect the performance or feature support of the connection. For more information about DisplayPort, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DisplayPort . on Dell internal analysis using publicly available specs in August 2023 comparing maximum effective capacity for PowerStore 1200 and FlashArray //X20. Assumes average 4:1 data reduction for PowerStore, 5:1 for Pure Storage. Actual results vary.