Dell Inspiron One 2320: Stuck in the Middle With You
by Dustin Sklavos on November 17, 2011 12:30 AM ESTApplication and Futuremark Performance
The HP TouchSmart 610 we reviewed had one of Intel's fastest desktop processors at its core but was hopelessly hamstrung by a dire 5400-RPM hard drive. Dell's Inspiron One 2320 has its fortune flipped; the 2TB hard drive is speedy by mechanical drive standards, but the processor is a low-voltage desktop part, peaking at just 2.6GHz on all four cores. This is still decent, but it's actually no faster on all four cores than Intel's slowest notebook quad-core CPU. I have to wonder if Dell saved enough money by going this route instead of just using a notebook quad to justify its inclusion. [Ed: Dell is a large OEM; of course they saved money!]
Unfortunately, the Inspiron's i5-2400S winds up being one of the slowest processors we've tested in recent memory, at least in a desktop system. It's still plenty fast, but I have to wonder if Dell didn't do themselves a disservice by employing the underpowered i5-2400S. Maybe they should've just split the difference and gone for an i7-2630QM?
Meanwhile the GeForce GT 525M is worlds behind desktop cards we'd consider the bare minimum for gaming at 1080p, essentially tying in performance with the AMD Radeon HD 5570 in the TouchSmart 610. If Dell wants to match the performance of its competition, that's fine, but that performance was one of the major problem areas of the TouchSmart 610. Gamers, consider yourself warned for what we'll see on the next page.
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mbmack - Monday, November 21, 2011 - link
I have enjoyed reading all of the posted comments regarding the Dell Inspiron 2320 and the HP All-In-One models. Clearly you guys know your computers! I am a stay-at-home mom of 4 kids and I am looking to purchase an all-in-one touchscreen computer. I think I have narrowed my choices down to either the Dell Inspiron One 2320 or the HP TouchSmart 610x, but am not quite certaint. I am a general everyday multi-purpose - email, web browsing, photo storage/editing, word processing, video watching - user who does not do any "real" gaming. My young boys like to play basic games though, and will no doubt venture into more hardcore games as they get older. I would like a system which has a strong & fast processor, has plenty of memory for data & photo storage, can handle semi-advanced gaming, and will live a good long life. I want to cover my needs fully, but without going overboard. I am also sensitive to energy efficiency & want a system with a good built-in fan to keep it from over heating, which I understand can be a problem with some AIO models. I am not a very tech-saavy consumer, so I would really appreciate any advice & guidance on the must-have system requirements to fit my bill. If there is a machine you particularly like or dislike, please let me know.Also, can anyone tell me the notable difference/advantage between an Intel Core processor & an AMD Athlon processor? Which is a better choice?
Thank you so much for your guidance!
mbmack - Monday, November 21, 2011 - link
I meant I am not certain.... not certaint!heyyu - Thursday, January 26, 2012 - link
I've had my 2320 for a few days now. I love everything about it, except for the screen quality. My wife's description of the problem is that it seems like it has a film of plastic over it, causing the screen to be quite dim. I just got back from Best Buy, hoping I got a lemon, but unfortunately, the floor model there had the exact same problems. Stupid TN panel.If you are still wanting to take the plunge, I'd suggest trying the Dell Outlet. I got a fully loaded one for around $700. Too bad the screen stinks.
jpa813 - Wednesday, March 14, 2012 - link
is it possible to change the service tag in the bios. i changed the motherboard over the weekend and the service tag number doesnt match the one on the back of my machine.andy6134 - Wednesday, July 4, 2012 - link
Please help.. URGENT !! No GRAPHIC CARD ?