Dell XPS 8960 Desktop Review: Alienware in Disguise

Dell XPS 8960 Desktop $1,400 at Best Buy Pros Excellent gaming and office performance Tame looks Ample front I/O Quiet operation Cons Proprietary motherboard limits upgrade options No dust filtration Lackluster storage speeds for the price The XPS 8960 is a solid update to Dell's long-running XPS desktop line. It has tame looks that could blend in at an office but has optional performance upgrades that'll let it run games exceptionally well -- an Alienware in a business suit if you will. The case's tight confines might seem like they'd choke its mighty components, but it runs demanding tasks and even 4K gaming all without making too much noise or running into serious thermal throttling. The pricing is even reasonable, at least for the components included in our test unit, with a $2,549 retail price discounted as low as $2,149 during the weeks we had it. However, given Dell's use of proprietary parts and a nonstandard design (it isn't an ATX motherboard), you may be limited with ... Read full article.