Dell 3040 Tiny Desktop 2019, Core i5-6500T, 16GB, 256GB SSD, Black

The Dell 3040 Tiny scores 44.8 out of 100 overall, with a CPU at the 9th percentile and storage at the 13th. The 16GB of RAM and SSD are fine, but the gaming score of 16.6 out of 100 tells you this is no powerhouse. At $270 USD with a monitor and peripherals, it's cheap, but you're buying very old hardware with a short warranty.

The i5-6500T is a 4-core chip running at 2.5GHz with a boost up to 3.10GHz. In our database, that lands at the 9th percentile for CPUs. Translation: it's one of the slowest processors we've seen in this category. It'll handle a browser with a dozen tabs and a Word doc, but anything heavier will make you wait. The 16GB of DDR3 RAM is a small mercy. DDR3 is old tech, but 16GB is enough to keep Windows 11 Pro from choking under normal multitasking.

The 256GB SSD is the other bright spot, sort of. It's at the 13th percentile for storage, which is disappointing. 256GB fills up fast once Windows 11 and a few apps settle in. Boot times will be quick thanks to the SSD, but you'll be managing disk space before long. The Intel HD Graphics 530 shows a 97th percentile GPU ranking, but that's a quirk of comparing integrated graphics across mini PCs. In real terms, it's fine for video playback and basic display output, including 4K over DisplayPort. Just don't expect it to do anything graphically demanding.

Stacked against the competition, the Dell 3040 Tiny struggles. The Lenovo ThinkCentre M70q Gen 5 and ASUS NUC 14 Pro both offer newer CPUs and better port selections. The Minisforum UM760 Slim brings a much stronger processor to the table for a similar footprint. Even the BOSGAME P3 Lite, which isn't exactly a powerhouse, outpaces this Dell in most categories. The one thing the 3040 Tiny has going for it is the bundled monitor and peripherals. None of those competitors include a 24-inch display at this price. But the core hardware is so far behind that the bundle feels like a consolation prize.

At $270 USD, the Dell 3040 Tiny is cheap, but cheap doesn't always mean good value. You're getting a full setup with a monitor, keyboard, and mouse, which is nice if you're starting from zero. But the CPU is at the 9th percentile and storage is at the 13th. That means you're paying for hardware that was mid-range in 2015. The 90-day warranty is short, and refurbished units can be a gamble. If you just need a basic office machine and the monitor bundle matters, it's not a rip-off. But if you can stretch your budget even a little, you'll get a lot more longevity elsewhere.

The Dell 3040 Tiny lands at a 44.8 out of 100 in our database, which is about as exciting as a lukewarm cup of office coffee. The one number that jumps out is the GPU percentile: 97th. But before you get excited, that's a ranking against other mini PCs, not gaming rigs. The Intel HD Graphics 530 is integrated, and the gaming score of 16.6 out of 100 tells the real story. This is a machine for spreadsheets and email, not frame rates.

For $270 USD, you get a 6th Gen Intel Core i5-6500T, 16GB of DDR3 RAM, and a 256GB SSD. That CPU sits at the 9th percentile, which means it's near the bottom of what we've tested. The RAM is 32nd percentile, and storage is 13th. It's a refurbished unit with a 90-day warranty, so you're buying old hardware with a short safety net. The 24-inch LED monitor and keyboard/mouse bundle sweeten the deal slightly, but the core specs are showing their age.

Skip this if you need any kind of performance. The CPU is at the 9th percentile, the storage is at the 13th, and the gaming score is 16.6 out of 100. If you do any photo editing, video work, or even heavy multitasking, this machine will frustrate you. Also skip it if you want a machine that'll last. The 90-day warranty and DDR3 RAM mean you're buying into a dead end. Anyone who can stretch their budget to a newer mini PC with a better CPU should do so without hesitation.

The Dell 3040 Tiny is a budget refurb that makes too many compromises. The 16GB of RAM and SSD are decent, but the 9th percentile CPU and 13th percentile storage drag the whole package down. The gaming score of 16.6 out of 100 means this is strictly an office machine, and even then, it's a slow one. The included monitor and peripherals add some value, but the 90-day warranty is a red flag. If you need a cheap desktop for light tasks and you're okay with old hardware, it'll work. But most people should save up for something newer.