Dell Inspiron i560-3910NBK

Dell Inspiron i560-3910NBK

The Dell Inspiron i560-3910NBK ($649.98 list at Staples) is an attractive system in a box, which means it comes complete with a monitor, speakers, keyboard and mouse. For under $650, it's an attractive alternative to a 15 or 17-inch laptop, since the i560-3910NBK has a larger screen and more expandability. It's got a little more power to execute multimedia tasks quicker than other systems in its price range. The i560-3910NBK is built into the same glossy black chassis that I've seen before in previous Inspiron 560 and 580 desktops. The optical drives, front USB ports, and media card reader are hidden behind a door, presenting a sleek front panel to the user. You will need a screwdriver to get under the hood, but once inside you have room for upgrades. There's space for one optical drive, one hard drive, two SATA ports for the drives, two PCIe x1 cards, a PCI card, and a PCIe x16 graphics card. Just about the only thing you can't upgrade is the memory, since all the slots are filled. However, 8GB should suffice for 90 percent of users out there. Out back, there are the usual ports: Audio, VGA, 4 USB 2.0 ports, and a port for the power plug. What's out of the ordinary is the included HDMI port, a rarity in entry-level desktops.