Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

The Dell XPS, our pick for the best desktop, is on sale today

By Michael Bizzaco August 22, 2024

Dell XPS Desktop 8960 with the side panel removed. — Jacob Roach / Digital Trends / Digital Trends

We here at Digital Trends take our computers very seriously. So when we say something like “a highly flexible desktop that can accommodate almost any budget and purpose,” you can bet we’re talking about one of the best desktop computers we’ve ever used. The model we’re alluding to is the Dell XPS Desktop 8960, which just so happens to be our favorite desktop PC for 2024! It’s also on sale through the manufacturer for $1,200.

Why you should buy the Dell XPS Desktop

Whether you’re looking for a reliable at-home setup for drafting a novel, editing photos, browsing the web, or engaging in some demanding MMORPG gameplay, the XPS Desktop has got you covered. Do keep in mind that the version we highlighted in our best-of roundup (Intel Core i7-13700K, NVIDIA RTX 4080, 32GB of RAM, 1TB of storage) is not the same configuration that you’ll get as part of this particular Dell deal. The deal version includes an Intel Core i7-14700, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060, 16GB of RAM, and 1TB of storage.

When the XPS Desktop is operating on all thrusters, you’re going to want make sure the tower stays nice and cool. Fortunately, Dell was way ahead of us on that note, as the XPS Desktop chassis was tailor-made to encourage air flow and quieter-running components. There’s also no shortage of inputs and outputs on this machine, including popular connections like USB-C, USB-A, Gigabit Ethernet, an SD card slot, and a six-connector stack of assignable audio ports.

If you decide that you’d like to upgrade your system at some point, the XPS Desktop even includes extra slots for PCIe, DIMM, SSD, and HDD additions. It’s hard to say how long this Dell markdown is going to stick around for, so now is always the best time to save!

Own the Dell XPS Desktop for $1,200, and be sure to have a look at some of other great desktop computer deals we found this week! We also have a big list of laptop deals for you to look through if you’re in need of something portable. And if you’d rather combine laptop and tablet tech, we also have a solid list of 2-in-1 deals to peruse!

Topics

Michael Bizzaco

AV Contributor

Michael Bizzaco has been selling, installing, and talking about TVs, soundbars, streaming devices, and all things smart home…

Computing

Alienware early Black Friday deals: Save up to $600 on RTX 4090 configuration

Alienware Aurora seen from the side with a panel open

If you're thinking of picking up a gaming PC during Black Friday, know that Alienware makes some of the best high-end gaming gear on the market. Luckily, there are a lot of early Black Friday deals that we're seeing, even with Black Friday so far away. To that end, we've gone out and collected some of our favorite Alienware gaming PC deals with various specs for you to pick from. We've also included a couple of Alienware gaming monitor options for you to pair with your new PC if you're thinking of upgrading that. Also, be sure to check out the wider Alienware Black Friday deals for a few more options.
Alienware 27 Gaming Monitor AW2724HF -- $330 $380 13% off

If you're looking to grab yourself a new gaming monitor for your Alienware desktop, this 27-inch version that runs at 1080p is a great option, especially since it can hit a whopping 360Hz top refresh rate. That's great for those who play competitive games, and even if you don't, it's a solid screen for a budget or mid-range GPU, especially with $50 knocked off the price.

Computing

I love the RGB on this Alienware Aurora R16 gaming PC and it’s $700 off today

Alienware Aurora R16 sitting on a coffee table.

You already know from the title but I just have to say, I love the RGB design on this desktop gaming PC. No, it doesn't offer much to performance -- which is a real shame -- but it does add style points and in a well-placed spot, that's a big deal for your office or gaming room. And if you’re looking for a powerful new gaming rig for your home, this Alienware Aurora R16 gaming desktop is packed with the latest hardware. You get all of that for $2,500 instead of $3,200. With a significant discount of $700, this is one of the best gaming PC deals around and certainly one not to be missed if you’re looking for a permanent setup. If that sounds like you, keep reading and we’ll break down all the hardware and reasons why you might wish to buy.

Why you should buy the Alienware Aurora R16 gaming PC
Alienware makes some of the best gaming PCs you can buy with a penchant for high-end setups which are great investments for a long time to come. With the Alienware Aurora R16 gaming desktop, you get all the hardware you could possibly want. Never mind all of that, for now. The tasteful RGB adorns the front of the case, which you can see in the image, and although the glass side panel is tinted, you can also see the illuminated fan and components inside. Sexy, I know.

Computing

Early Black Friday RAM deals 2024: 33% off desktop and laptop RAM kits

If you're thinking of building or upgrading a PC, then you'll really want to grab yourself some great Black Friday RAM deals. A lot of folks may not really think about RAM because it's not as big of a deal as a GPU or CPU, but RAM can affect performance, so it's worth grabbing something good. Not only that, but certain operating systems, like Windows 11, love to eat up RAM, so upgrading it can make a huge difference to your day-to-day experience, especially if you're only running 8GBs. That's why we've gone out and collected some of our favorite early Black Friday RAM deals below.
CORSAIR VENGEANCE LPX DDR4 3200MHz RAM 32GB (2x16GB) -- $54 $80 33% off

While most people are probably either running 8GB of RAM or even 16GB of RAM, upgrading with this two-pack that brings you up to a total of 32GB is going to make a world of difference. That's especially so given that it's going for just $54 after a 33% discount.