The Dell XPS Desktop 8960 (priced from £2,249, reviewed at £2,859) appears to be a standard office computer, but it is a gaming PC concealed within. This utilitarian beige or black tower, reminiscent of ’90s office furniture, conceals advanced internal components, including the latest Intel Raptor Lake 13th Generation processors and Nvidia GeForce RTX 4000 series graphics cards. 

Our Dell XPS Desktop 8960 review unit arrived equipped with notably robust components. Although it may not be optimal for 4K enthusiasts, it is sufficiently strong to run the latest high-end PC games at 1080p with excellent performance.

While some may hesitate due to its ordinary packaging, I believe that the Dell XPS Desktop 8960 presents exceptional value as a gaming personal computer, offering a distinctive feature that differentiates it from other leading gaming PCs available on the market.

Dell XPS 8960: Specs & Configuration

Component	Base model	Review Unit	Top Configuration
Price	$2,809.99 (about £2,230, AU$4,220)	$3,209.99 / £2,859 (about AU$4,925)	$5,074.99 (about £4,110, AU$7,780)
Processor	Intel Core i7-13700K	Intel Core i7-13700K	Intel Core i9-13900K
GPU	Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080	Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080	Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090
RAM	16GB DDR5	32GB DDR5	64GB DDR5
Storage	512GB	1TB	4TB
Ports	2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A with Power Share, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C 1x SD card slot, 1x 3.5 mm headphone/microphone combo jack (front); 1x DisplayPort 1.4 (UMA only), 2x USB 3.2 Type-A Gen 1, 2x USB 2.0 Type-A, 1x USB 3.2 Type-C, 1x Kensington lock, 7.1 audio 6-connector, 1x Gigabit Ethernet	Same as Base Model	Same as Base Model
Connectivity	Intel Killer Wi-Fi 6E AX1675, 2×2, 802.11ax, Bluetooth	Same as Base Model	Same as Base Model
Weight	29.41lbs (13.34kg)	Same as Base Model	Same as Base Model
Size	14.68 x 6.81 x 16.81 inches (372.90 x 173 x 426.90mm)	Same as Base Model	Same as Base Model

Dell XPS 8960: Design

As illustrated in the photographs included in this Dell XPS Desktop 8960 review, this gaming personal computer does not possess the appearance typically associated with such devices. The straightforward rectangular tower case features a design reminiscent of the ’90s office park aesthetic, which may appeal to those who prefer a subdued appearance. I believe you will appreciate the quietness and unobtrusiveness of the XPS 8960 when it is situated on your desk.

It weighs between 19 and 25 pounds and measures approximately 16.8 x 14.6 x 6.8 inches, making it easy to incorporate into your existing setup. Its size is just over a foot tall and nearly a foot and a half deep. I also found it reasonably easy to move, as I shifted it between my bedroom desk and the large 4K TV in my living room. 

Every unit is equipped with two fans and a 125-watt air cooling system, but there’s an option to upgrade to liquid cooling for those building higher-end setups. A sturdy metal grille on the lower part of the front panel gently draws in air, helping to keep the internal components cool. As a result, you’ll notice a comfortable flow of warm air exiting through the rear and side exhausts, especially when you’re gaming or tackling intensive tasks.

Dell XPS 8960: Ports

Our Dell XPS Desktop 8960 review unit offers a variety of ports to suit your needs. You’ll find some arranged vertically on the front panel, making them easily accessible, while the rest are conveniently located at the back. At the front, there’s an SD card reader, a 3.5mm headphone/microphone jack, two USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports, another with PowerShare, and a USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 port with PowerShare, providing you with versatile options for all your connectivity needs.

On the rear panel, a comprehensive array of six audio ports is available for configuring a 7.1 surround sound system, along with a DisplayPort 1.4 connector, two USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports, two legacy USB-A 2.0 ports, a USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 2×2 port, and a Gigabit Ethernet port.

Dell XPS 8960: Upgradability

Located in the upper-right corner of the rear panel, there is a single screw. Upon removal, it facilitates the straightforward detachment of the side panel (on the right side when viewed from the rear) to access the interior.

The inside of the casing feels cosy and well-organised. My substantial hands encountered difficulty manoeuvring freely within the constrained corners; however, I was generally able to successfully replace components and organise the wiring efficiently without significant trouble. If you, similar to me, are of considerable size, you may find it challenging to access and manipulate parts within the enclosure.

Dell XPS 8960: Performance

Clearly, with a 13th Generation Intel Core i7 processor and 32GB of RAM installed, our XPS 8960 review unit demonstrates excellent capability in managing daily operational tasks. Throughout the week of continuous usage as my primary workstation, I observed no indications of performance deficiencies, even when concurrently operating over 30 tabs across various browsers, alongside multiple applications and download processes running in the background.

	Dell XPS 8960	Alienware Aurora 15	Origin Chronos V3
Geekbench 5	19,134	22,494	24,054
25Gb file transfer (Mbps)	2,047	1,340	1,809
Handbrake Test(Min: Seconds)	2: 58	3: 12	2: 48

When the XPS 8960 was subjected to our comprehensive non-gaming performance evaluations, the results demonstrated a consistent pattern. Although it does not quite attain the benchmark scores of a more expensive and sophisticated gaming desktop, such as the Aurora R15, the XPS 8960 remains a highly competitive option at a significantly lower cost.

Our review unit of the XPS 8960 scored an impressive 19,134 in the Geekbench 5.4 multi-core CPU benchmark, placing it just slightly behind the Aurora R15 and Origin Chronos V3 in raw CPU performance.

Dell XPS 8960: Gaming Performance

Our review unit features several enhancements over the entry-level model, incorporating an Intel Core i7-13700K processor and 32GB of RAM alongside an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 GPU. During setup in a relatively small and poorly ventilated bedroom, I spent several hours playing Cyberpunk 2077 at 1080p resolution with all settings set to their maximum values. The experience was delightful. Notably, the XPS 8960 consistently maintained smooth gameplay at a rate of over 90 frames per second, without any discernible performance issues or frame drops.

Currently, at 1080p with Nvidia’s improved DLSS 3 upscaling, the performance remains impressive. I was particularly pleased that the RTX 4080 in our review unit managed the new Raytracing Overdrive mode in Cyberpunk seamlessly. This feature enables path-traced lighting, resulting in more realistic lighting, shadows, and reflections. 

As depicted in the charts within this review, the XPS 8960 does not quite attain the performance levels of some recent high-end gaming personal computers we have evaluated, such as the Alienware Aurora R15. Nevertheless, this expectation stems from the fact that the R15 we examined is both more expensive than the XPS 8960 and equipped with more advanced components, including a 13th-generation Core i9 processor and a more capable RTX 4090 graphics processing unit.

The recently evaluated Origin Chronos V3 gaming desktop is comparable to the XPS 8960 in terms of game framerates, despite its approximately $1,000 higher price point. Naturally, the Chronos V3 additionally provides increased storage capacity and is housed within a considerably smaller and more visually striking case compared to the XPS 8960.

However, if your primary concern is performance rather than an eye-catching case or distinctive design, the Dell XPS Desktop 8960 is capable of providing exceptional gaming capabilities at a competitive price.

Dell XPS 8960: Verdict

The Dell XPS Desktop 8960 represents the latest and most advanced XPS desktop model, offering sufficient performance to run top-tier PC games with stable frame rates in a design that would not look out of place in an attic or a back office.

I’ve always appreciated how Dell offers gaming PCs that echo the sleek style of the XPS design. It is also gratifying to observe the impressive performance of the XPS 8960, which benefits from the synergistic combination of Raptor Lake processors and Nvidia’s 40-series GPUs, as well as the remarkable capabilities of DLSS 3. The fact that I was able to engage with Cyberpunk 2077 at 1080p for extended periods, with settings maximised on our review unit, while scarcely hearing more than a whisper from the fans, underscores the remarkable power of contemporary gaming PCs, provided one has the means to acquire the latest and most advanced technology.

While larger or more extravagant gaming PCs are available on the market, the Dell XPS Desktop 8960 is the optimal choice for those seeking exceptional performance within a modestly designed package.

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