As a gamer, you know how hard it is to choose the right computer from the myriad of brands and models out there.
One reputable brand that offers a wide range of gaming computers is Dell.
Are Dell computers really good for gaming?
In this article, we’ll discuss whether Dell’s desktops and laptops are reliable choices for gaming and go over the features of a good gaming PC.
In addition, we’ll tell you whether a casual gamer needs a gaming PC and present alternatives for Dell’s gaming devices.
Is Dell Good For Gaming?
Yes, Dell is one of the oldest and most reputable players in the PC market.
Its computers have beautiful designs combined with good specs and high performance.
The company’s products are also reliable and user-friendly, making them a common choice among gamers of different tastes and budgets in today’s market.
Dell also matches the advertised prices of their gaming PCs on other platforms.
Many brands manufacture high-end gaming computers that might beat Dell in strength.
Still, few can compete with Dell’s reliability and durability.
Dell’s high-end laptops are well-built and have good battery lives, so they last long enough to give you a choice to either keep them or replace them with a newer one.
However, the lower-end, cheaper models might be less durable.
Why Dell Is Good For Gaming
1. Excellent Warranty
Many users choose Dell because of its reliable warranty coverage and different support options.
Dell has an international warranty, meaning you can take your gaming device on a trip with peace of mind, knowing that you’ll receive support outside your region.
However, some components, such as keyboards, are country-specific.
You might not find them at your destination.
Also, some countries may be outside of Dell’s service region.
Always check their website or contact their support system before traveling to sensitive areas.
2. Free Shipping
Dell ships its computers for free with no minimum purchase.
Plus, their return policies allow you to return them within 30 days from your purchase date.
For more information, visit this page.
3. Customization And Variety
You can customize your PC upon purchase if you have specific requirements but don’t want to build a desktop from scratch.
Dell offers various models with different specifications, so you should choose based on your own needs and the games you play.
If you’re an amateur gamer, your suitable device will be different from that of a professional player.
More visually driven games will need more GPU and CPU than the less power-hungry ones.
To ensure the Dell gaming PC will give you a good gaming experience, check the requirements of the specific games you play and compare them with your computer’s specs.
However, if you buy a Dell computer with enough CPU and GPU, you can play most games without difficulty.
Dell’s Best Gaming Machines
Dell offers a wide range of gaming computers, from budget-friendly and mid-range options to high-end prebuilt or customized Alienware devices.
Among its gaming desktops, the Alienware Aurora R12 is a high-end prebuilt desktop PC that can meet the needs of most gamers.
It comes with an Intel Core i7-11700KF processor, an Nvidia RTX 3080 graphics card, 16GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD, and a 1TB hard drive.
Among the company’s laptops, the Alienware m15 R4 is one of the best options.
The machine features an Intel Core i7-10870H processor, an RTX 3080 GPU, 32GB of RAM, 1 TB of SSD storage, and a 15.6-inch 1080p display with a 300Hz refresh rate.
This combination of specs gives you high FPS in any game.
If you want a portable machine that’s both strong and affordable, you should consider Dell’s G5 15 SE and G7 17 laptops.
The company also has other models, such as the XPS laptops, which aren’t explicitly designed for gaming but come with robust enough hardware to run most games smoothly.
Dell Gaming Desktops
Previously, Dell had two lines of gaming desktops: G-series and Alienware.
However, the G series gaming desktops have been discontinued, but the Alienware desktops are still available in different models.
Alienware Aurora desktops are the most gaming-specific among Dell products.
They’re equipped with the latest processors and have several upgrade options.
Alienware Aurora Ryzen Edition comes with up to 16-core third-generation AMD Ryzen processors that are fast and powerful enough to run most games flawlessly.
If you have specific requirements, you can customize your Alienware computer on the website or buy a prebuilt and replace the components you don’t like.
Some users believe Dell PCs are a bit overpriced, so building your own PC might be a better option if you’re on a budget.
However, it’ll take some effort, and you’ll need some computer knowledge, or you’ll have to get help from a professional.
If you plan on buying a prebuilt Dell desktop and upgrading it later, you don’t need to go for pricy Alienware ones.
You can buy a Dell office machine for about half the price and upgrade its CPU, RAM, and graphics card.
It’ll cost you much less than a high-end Alienware, but the difference in speed and quality won’t be noticeable.
Dell also manufactures gaming accessories, such as curved monitors, wired or wireless headsets, keyboards, and mice with programmable buttons.
Dell Gaming Laptops
Dell offers its gaming laptops in two lines that you can choose from based on your requirements and gaming style.
1. G-Series Laptops
Dell’s G-series laptops are more suitable for entry to mid-level gamers.
They use up to the latest Intel processors combined with Nvidia GeForce RTX graphics cards to handle the most power-hungry games on the market.
Their displays have refresh rates of up to 144 Hz, and their dual fans prevent thermal throttling and reduced performance.
2. Alienware Laptops
Alienware laptops are more advanced than the G-series but are also more expensive.
Their chassis are all-magnesium, so they’re smaller and more durable.
They use the latest Intel processors and AMD Radeon or Nvidia GeForce graphics cards, so they’re powerful enough to run most games smoothly.
Their screens come with up to 360 HZ of refresh rate.
Dell laptops generally have a lifespan of about five or six years.
If external damages don’t occur, they’ll work flawlessly without a decrease in operational efficiency.
Although they generally offer good quality, your gaming experience will depend on the specific model you choose and its specifications.
Always consider what you expect of a gaming laptop before choosing one.
Many users prefer Dell’s laptops over its desktops as the latter seem a bit overpriced.
Features Of A Good Gaming PC
No matter what types of games you play or how professional a gamer you are, your gaming PC should have specific features to give you a good gaming experience.
You should look for these on the product’s tech specs sheet on the website or ask the salesperson upon purchase.
Below, we’ll discuss a few of the features you should consider while choosing a gaming PC:
1. A Fast CPU
Games are generally heavy programs and need much processing power.
Although they mostly rely on GPU power, the CPU is also vital for your PC’s optimal performance.
In low-end gaming computers, a four-core CPU can do the job, but your CPU should have eight cores or more if you want maximum performance.
High-end PCs need the newest, fastest CPUs to process data optimally and perform well with intense gaming.
A two-core CPU might be enough if you’re on a budget, but it’ll be slow and won’t guarantee a good gaming experience.
2. Plenty Of RAM
RAM is essential for a gaming PC.
When the CPU is processing data and performing tasks, RAM keeps the temporary data.
More RAM means your PC can perform more tasks simultaneously.
A PC with 8 GB of RAM can run lower-demand games well, but you’ll need 16 GB or more for intense gaming.
Although enough RAM is essential for your PC, it won’t always enhance your gaming experience.
A good RAM means your PC can run multiple tasks simultaneously.
Still, if a video game has to use system memory instead of the graphics card’s VRAM (specialized video memory), it’ll be slow anyway.
3. Dedicated Graphics Card
The most significant feature of a good gaming PC is an efficient graphics card with enough video memory.
A good graphics card means you’ll get deeper and more detailed images and videos.
Dual cards allow you to enjoy HD gaming and still get the best graphics performance.
Graphics cards tend to be expensive, so a PC with the latest generation of graphics cards is usually more costly than others.
When you’re building your own PC, it can take roughly one-third of the cost.
4. Reliable Cooling System
All the high-end hardware in a good gaming PC is more power-demanding and tends to overheat quickly.
Good gaming PCs often have fans, heatsinks, and liquid cooling to sustain speed and performance and prevent components from getting damaged.
5. Abundant Storage
Hard drives are great for storing the extensive data of heavy games.
On the other hand, SSDs are faster and more stable.
Therefore, they give you better performance when booting your PC, opening a game, and saving your progress.
Many high-end PCs use dual drives, an SSD to load the game, and an HDD for bulk storage.
A good gaming PC also needs abundant storage, so choose one with at least 1 TB of storage.
Even if you don’t play demanding games, make sure your device doesn’t have less than 256 GB of storage.
Otherwise, you’ll have to repeatedly uninstall and install your games and won’t have a positive gaming experience.
6. A Display With A High Refresh Rate
Screens with high refresh rates will minimize stuttering and give you a better visual experience.
On the other hand, on screens with lower response times, you can react faster to what you see on the screen.
The displays on most gaming laptops have a refresh rate of 60 Hz, but the best ones have one of at least 120 Hz.
How To Choose A Good Gaming Computer
Before buying a gaming computer, answer the following questions:
1. What Games Will You Play On It?
Almost all games have a list of minimum requirements.
Check that list for the games you want to play and ensure your PC is strong enough to run them.
2. What Other Functions Do You Expect Of It?
Some people also want to use their gaming PC for YouTubing and recording, so they’ll need powerful CPUs.
Decide what you’ll do on your PC, check what specifications it requires, then choose your PC.
3. Can You Build It Yourself?
There are lots of high-quality prebuilt PCs out there.
However, if you want to save money or can’t find a machine to match your needs, you can buy the components separately and build your customized desktop.
You’ll need some computer knowledge, or you can enlist help from a professional.
Big companies get their components in bulk and at a much lower price than you.
Still, they have labor and shipping costs, and they need to turn a profit.
Therefore, their prices are almost always higher than what you’ll pay to build your own system.
Should You Build Your Own Gaming PC?
Building your own PC means you get almost all your requirements for a lower price, but it can be challenging.
Building your own gaming PC needs some computer knowledge or professional supervision.
Unless you need specific components or performance levels, buying a prebuilt PC from such a well-known brand like Dell gives you advantages like reliable warranty coverage.
You can also be confident that all the components will work together, and you won’t need to experiment with them.
For example, you must choose a power supply of the correct size.
You must also check if the processor you chose works well with the motherboard and whether your RAM is of the right speed.
After choosing all the right components, you should put them together so that all wires are attached to the right component and no piece blocks access to another.
Then, it’s time to buy the proper operating system and install it.
This process seems complicated to those with minimum computer knowledge.
Still, if you’re into the game, you can do it using a YouTube tutorial.
Here’s a comprehensive tutorial that teaches you everything you need to know about picking parts and building a PC.
If a warranty is important to you, you can buy your components and ask a local PC store to build the machine for you with a warranty of up to two years.
They’ll charge you an assembling fee, but it’ll be worth it because you can easily upgrade it later and use it for a long time.
Should You Buy A Gaming Laptop If You’re A Casual Gamer?
The main difference between a regular laptop and a gaming one is the high-end GPU.
Top-of-the-line GPUs are expensive and power-hungry.
However, they’re not necessary for casual gaming.
Many Intel and AMD processors have built-in graphic chips that work well enough for most people.
You can run most games on regular laptops, but they may not be as fast and visually intriguing as on a gaming laptop.
Gaming laptops give you faster performance, which might not be proportionate to their hefty prices.
If you want to invest in a gaming device, go for a desktop as it’s both stronger and cheaper.
Alternatives To Dell Gaming Computers
1. HP
Dell has a more varied range of gaming computers, but HP also has strong devices that can compete with Dell.
Both Dell and HP produce laptops with good battery life, giving users a good gaming experience without the need to constantly plug their laptops.
In terms of costs, HP tends to be less pricey than Dell.
Therefore, it’s a better option for gamers on a budget.
If you want to get a reliable and strong gaming computer, it’s worth the extra money.
Warranty is another factor that distinguishes the two brands.
Dell offers a standard warranty that mainly covers shipping damages and manufacturing defects for a year.
For HP, this period can be as long as four years.
However, the warranty won’t cover damages caused by components unauthorized by the manufacturer.
2. Acer
Dell is a more reputable brand, but Acer provides good quality for a more affordable price.
This price cut might mean the lack of some build quality compared to Dell, but the performance will still be satisfactory.
One of Acer’s best gaming laptops is the Acer Predator Helios 300 i7–8th gen that’ll give you a pleasant gaming experience without digging a hole in your pocket.
Leave a Reply