KitGuru KitGuru.net – Tech News | Hardware News | Hardware Reviews | IOS | Mobile | Gaming | Graphics Cards
Many enthusiast users reading Kitguru will build their own system, using a carefully sourced list of parts and components within their price range. Building a customised, home brew system like this can give satisfaction and long term pleasure, especially when used as a high resolution gaming rig.
However, with the main system out of the way there can often be a demand for a secondary system, perhaps for the whole family to use, or to fulfill office and design criteria within a different environment.
The Dell Inspiron 620 MT is targeted as a ‘jack of all trades' computer, with a relatively balanced list of internal components, including a Core i3 processor, 4GB of DDR3 memory, DVD burner, Nvidia discrete graphics and a large 1TB hard drive running the 64 bit version of Windows 7 Home Premium.
The chassis design is pleasant enough, with Dell keen to offer some personalised customisation options. For an extra £10 you can ditch the plain black appearance and add a coloured fascia to the front of the case. It seems somewhat superfluous and a slightly superficial decision, but in reality it does add a little zest to the overall appearance.
The Core i3 2100 is a capable processor design, and it powers through all the tasks that an end user targeting this market would reasonably require. It goes without saying that if your demands are less ‘office' and more ‘3D rendering' then budgeting for a Core i7 system would be a wise decision. Just be prepared to dig deeper into your wallet.
Graphically, with the low cost Nvidia GT 420 installed, this system will never set the performance world alight, but it is capable of hardware acceleration with high definition media playback, alleviating CPU load.
Internally, we are slightly disappointed with some of Dells build decisions. They are using Hynix memory without heatspreaders, and a low cost ‘AVC' CPU cooler. While working to such a strict budget will always force compromises, we find it unacceptable in 2011 to be using memory without headspreaders. Long term it makes for a more stable system and will add virtually nothing to the system build cost. In fairness, the CPU cooler performed fairly well, aided by the cool running Core i3 processor design.
The Dell Inspiron 620 MT is a competitively priced workhorse system, ideal for office use, high definition multimedia playback and very light, lower resolution gaming duties.
You can specify your own system, over here.
Pros:
- Price point is very good
- Core i3 processor is very capable
- external appearance is attractive
- connectivity is strong
- Runs fairly quiet
- physical footprint is small
Cons:
- not much graphics grunt
- some compromises made internally
Kitguru says: A decent all round system which is ideal when used as a machine for the family, or within an office environment.
Good timing, I was looking at one of these a few days ago for the missus.
Looks ideal for a family as review says. Inexpensive, and Core i3. Dont think many people would need one of these for gaming duties.
Fair review. Core i3 seems great. I want to get a new laptop with a core i3 in it. ive an older core duo system and its starting to feel a bit long in the tooth
Looks like a family machine to me, not really for a gamer at all. SHame they didnt do a version with a bundled monitor. I think people might expect a screen on the config tool
THe plain black one looks best IMO. not into the colored gimmicky stuff.
I wish Dell would use better power supplies instead of their own poorly branded models. even an entry level thermaltake or something
These are nice little systems but people like me aren’t ever really impressed with pricing of something like this that I can build for the same price or at least slightly cheaper. I also wish that Dell would just add a couple of pounds to the tag and put a decent PSU and some memory heatspreaders on this thing. A lot of people that will be purchasing a system usually keep a computer quite a long time because it fits their very limited computing needs. Longevity seems like it should be at the forefront of design but perhaps that’s just my thought.
Bought an Inspiron 620 MT less than 3 months ago. Had motherboard replaced twice (wouldn’t power up), hard drive replaced (return to depot) and video card (HDMI port not working following ‘repair’) All data gone and I now have to set up from scratch again. This has no WiFi as standard and no option to have it added! I am getting very frustrated with Dell after nearly 10 yrs of having used desktops and laptops.
I am looking to update my Inspiron 530, I only use it for emails and “Photoshop” work, would the 620 and St2220 monitor be a reasonable combination?
Dave Norris
Seems like a good price now and for what you need, it would be fine. Just make sure you get a reasonable amount of memory installed, depending on how heavy your photoshop work is.