Dell ECS Slim, Core Ultra 5 225 at up to, 16GB, 512GB SSD

The Dell ECS Slim packs a Core Ultra 5-225 CPU that ranks at the 100th percentile for compact desktops, which is the best processor we've seen in this category. But the 512GB SSD and integrated graphics drag the overall score down to 61.5 out of 100. At $739 USD, it's a CPU bargain wrapped in a budget build.

Let's talk about that CPU, because it's the reason this machine exists. The Core Ultra 5-225 is a 10-core processor running at 3.30GHz base with a 4.90GHz boost clock and 20MB of Intel Smart Cache. In our database, that puts it at the absolute top of the charts for compact desktops. Not just good. The best. If you're doing heavy multitasking, running Excel models, or juggling a dozen browser tabs while on a video call, this chip will chew through it without breaking a sweat.

The rest of the performance picture is more grounded. 16GB of DDR5 RAM is solid but unremarkable at the 47th percentile. It's enough for most office workloads, but if you're the type who keeps 40 Chrome tabs open while editing photos, you'll feel the ceiling. The 512GB SSD is the real weak spot at the 31st percentile. That fills up fast if you're storing local media or large project files. And the integrated Intel UHD Graphics 730 is fine for dual monitors and 4K video playback, but it's not built for anything more demanding. The 180W power supply tells you Dell wasn't planning for a GPU upgrade either.

Stacked against the competition, the Dell ECS Slim is a specialist. The Lenovo Legion 90YA003GUS and HP OMEN GT16-0364 are gaming machines with dedicated GPUs that will absolutely destroy this Dell in graphics workloads, but they cost more and their CPUs don't touch the Core Ultra 5-225. The Apple iMac M4 is a different beast entirely, with better build quality and a gorgeous display, but you're locked into macOS and paying a premium. The Acer Nitro N60-180-UB33 and ASUS ROG G700TF-U7KF5070 are both gaming-focused rigs that trade CPU performance for GPU muscle. If you need graphics power, any of those four beat the Dell. If you need raw processor speed in a small footprint, the Dell wins on CPU alone.

At $739 USD, the Dell ECS Slim is a strange value proposition. You're paying for that top-tier CPU, and honestly, it's a bargain if processor performance is your main concern. But the 512GB SSD and integrated graphics mean you're getting a lopsided machine. For the same money, you could find competitors with dedicated GPUs and larger storage, though you'd likely sacrifice some CPU performance. If your work is CPU-bound, like data analysis or software compilation, this is a steal. If you need balanced performance across the board, you'll feel the compromises.

The Dell ECS Slim lands at 61.5 out of 100 in our database, which puts it right in the middle of the pack for compact desktops. The headline here is the CPU. Intel's Core Ultra 5-225 sits at the 100th percentile for processors in this category, which is frankly wild for a machine at this price point. You're getting a 10-core chip that boosts to 4.90GHz in a box that costs $739 USD. That's the kind of processor spec you'd normally see in machines costing several hundred more.

But the rest of the build tells a more modest story. 16GB of DDR5 RAM lands at the 47th percentile, which is about average for this class. The 512GB SSD sits at the 31st percentile, which is on the smaller side. And the integrated Intel UHD Graphics comes in at the 38th percentile, which is fine for spreadsheets and video calls but won't win any rendering contests. This is a workhorse for office tasks, not a gaming rig. Our gaming score of 12 out of 100 should tell you everything you need to know there.

Skip this if you need any kind of graphics performance. The gaming score of 12 out of 100 is not a typo. The integrated Intel UHD Graphics 730 sits at the 38th percentile, and the 180W power supply means you can't just drop in a GPU later. Also skip it if you need lots of local storage, since 512GB at the 31st percentile will fill up fast. And if you're looking for a balanced machine where every component pulls its weight, the lopsided nature of this build, great CPU, mediocre everything else, will frustrate you. This is a specialist's machine, not an all-rounder.

The Dell ECS Slim is a niche machine that nails its niche. If you need the fastest CPU you can get in a compact desktop under $800 USD, this is your box. The Core Ultra 5-225 at the 100th percentile is genuinely impressive, and the connectivity options are generous. But the 512GB SSD and integrated graphics hold it back from being a great all-rounder. Our 61.5 out of 100 score reflects that tension. It's a great office workhorse, a solid home productivity machine, and a terrible gaming PC. Know what you're buying, and you'll be happy.