Dell OptiPlex 390, Core i5, 512GB, 512GB SSD, 750 Ti

The Dell OptiPlex 390 is a refurbished budget desktop with an old Core i5, a GTX 750 Ti, 16GB RAM, and a 512GB SSD. It's fine for basic tasks and older games, but the outdated GPU and terrible port selection hold it back. At around $340 USD, it's cheap, but you can get much better performance for not much more money.

The Core i5 in this OptiPlex 390 sits at the 41st percentile for CPUs in our database. That's below average, but it's still a real quad-core chip that can handle everyday tasks without falling over. Browsing, office apps, streaming, and light multitasking are all fine. The 16GB of RAM helps, though it ranks at the 33rd percentile, which tells you most modern desktops ship with more or faster memory. Still, 16GB is enough to keep a bunch of browser tabs and a few apps open without constant swapping.

The GTX 750 Ti 4GB lands at the 56th percentile for GPUs. That's middle of the pack, which sounds okay until you remember this card is ancient by gaming standards. It'll run esports titles and older games at playable frame rates, but don't expect much from anything released in the last five years. The 512GB SSD is also around the 31st percentile, which is on the smaller side, but it's an SSD, so boot times and app launches will feel snappy. The weakest spot is ports, sitting at the 6th percentile. This old OptiPlex chassis just doesn't have modern connectivity, and you'll feel that when you try to plug in anything newer than a USB-A device.

Stacked against something like the HP OmniDesk M02-0234, the OptiPlex 390 feels like a relic. The OmniDesk is a newer machine with better port selection and more modern internals, though it'll cost you more. The Apple Mac mini M4 is in a completely different league for performance and efficiency, but it's also way more expensive and not a gaming machine in the traditional sense. If you want a small, quiet, and fast desktop for work, the Mac mini or a Lenovo ThinkCentre M70q Gen 5 makes way more sense.

For budget gaming specifically, the Minisforum DeskMini UM880 Plus and GMKtec Nucbox K8 Plus both offer far better integrated graphics than the GTX 750 Ti, and they're tiny. The OptiPlex 390's only real advantage is price and the fact that it's a full tower with a discrete GPU, even if that GPU is ancient. If you're dead set on spending as little as possible and don't mind old hardware, this Dell is an option. But most people would be happier saving up a bit more for one of those mini PCs.

At $340 USD, the Dell OptiPlex 390 is cheap, but cheap doesn't always mean good value. You're getting a full setup with keyboard, mouse, and Windows 11 Pro, which is nice. But the hardware inside is old, and the port situation is rough. For comparison, a new budget mini PC like the GMKtec Nucbox K8 Plus or Minisforum DeskMini UM880 Plus will cost more but offer dramatically better performance and modern connectivity. If you're on a tight budget and only play older games, this OptiPlex might work. But if you can stretch your budget even a little, you'll get a lot more for your money elsewhere.

The Dell OptiPlex 390 is one of those refurbished office towers that got a second life as a budget gaming rig. You're looking at a machine that pairs an old Intel Core i5 quad-core at 3.1GHz with a GTX 750 Ti 4GB, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. It runs Windows 11 Pro and even comes with an RGB keyboard and mouse. At around $340 USD, it's aimed at people who want a cheap desktop for light gaming, schoolwork, or a home office setup without spending new-PC money.

This isn't a new computer. It's a renewed OptiPlex, which means someone took an old business tower, cleaned it up, slapped in some upgrades, and added RGB lights to the front panel. The seller says it's professionally inspected and tested, and it ships with a 90-day warranty. That's a short window, but it's pretty standard for refurbished gear at this price.

So is the Dell OptiPlex 390 good for gaming? For older titles and esports games like CS:GO, Dota 2, and GTA V at medium settings, sure. But this is not a machine for modern AAA games. The GTX 750 Ti was a solid budget card back in 2014, and it can still handle lighter stuff, but it's well past its prime. If you're shopping for a cheap refurbished desktop, this one is a mixed bag, and we'll get into why below.

Skip the Dell OptiPlex 390 if you want to play modern games, need fast wireless connectivity, or plan to use lots of peripherals. The GTX 750 Ti is too old for current titles, WiFi 4 is slow by today's standards, and the port selection is one of the worst we've seen. If you need a compact, quiet machine for work or light gaming, look at the Minisforum DeskMini UM880 Plus or GMKtec Nucbox K8 Plus instead. And if you want a reliable long-term desktop, the Lenovo ThinkCentre M70q Gen 5 or Apple Mac mini M4 are much better investments.

Should you buy the Dell OptiPlex 390? Only if you're on a very tight budget and your expectations are realistic. It's fine for web browsing, office work, and older games at medium settings. The 16GB of RAM and 512GB SSD make it feel snappier than you'd expect from a machine this old. But the GTX 750 Ti is a serious limitation, and the lack of modern ports will annoy you daily.

If you need a cheap desktop for basic tasks and light gaming, this could work. But if you want to play anything modern or plan to keep this machine for more than a year or two, look elsewhere. The refurbished market is full of better options if you're willing to spend a little more.