Dell Precision 3520 review
Dell Precision 3520 — from 2016, 2.34 kg, performance 39.
Technical specifications
| Type | Workstation |
| Release year | 2016 |
| Screen | 15.6" · 1920x1080 |
| Processor | Intel Core i7 6820HQ , Intel Core i7 7820HQ , Intel Core i5 6440HQ |
| Graphics | Quadro M620 , Quadro M620 2GB |
| Max. RAM | 32 GB |
| Weight | 2.34 kg |
Performance scores
A $246 ticket into the workstation class
The Precision 3520 (2016) is the entry shelf of Dell's workstation line: a quad-core i7-6820HQ, a Quadro M620 professional card and 32GB of RAM, listed at $246 — 48% below the workstation-class median of $471. The highlights read honestly for the era: graphics at 18.35 against a class median of 42.23, memory at 32GB versus 64. This is not a machine that competes on metrics; it's one that puts ISV-certified hardware within ultra-budget reach.
What still works
The measured capability sheet retains some green: Overwatch clears its minimum bar, GTA V clears minimum, and VS Code runs comfortably on the quad-core with 32GB. As an office and development machine, the 3520 remains entirely serviceable — the memory pool especially is generous for this price point.
What the flags retire
Far Cry 5 fails its minimum by a wide margin, which retires any modern-gaming claim beyond the light titles above. The Quadro M620's professional credentials belong to a driver era that has closed — modern CAD and 3D packages assume hardware of a newer generation. Judge the card by the ok-flags, not by its workstation badge.
Price trajectory
From a $2,200 launch anchor the machine has settled at $246 — a 8.93% annual rate with a projected $204 in two years, a 17.06% drop. At this floor, depreciation is nearly irrelevant: the machine has already given up nearly 90% of its launch value.
Against its neighbors
Upward, HP's ZBook 15 G3 at $265 and ZBook 15 G4 at $269 offer the same era one generation fresher. Downward, the ZBook 15u G4 at $221 and Dell's own Precision M4800 at $221 undercut marginally. This is a tight price band of comparable legacy iron — condition and configuration matter more than the $20 gaps.
Bottom line
An honest ultra-budget workstation for office loads, development and very light gaming at minimum settings. Buy it for the price and the 32GB of RAM; don't buy it expecting the Quadro badge to translate into modern professional graphics work.
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⭐ What stands out
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graphics performance is lower than typical workstation class (+56.5%) (office tier).
budget segment of category -
memory capacity is lower than typical workstation class (+50%) (professional).
budget segment of category -
price is lower than typical workstation class (+47.8%) (ultra-budget).
budget segment of category
🔁 Alternatives
Compromise axis: mobility ↔ compute power
🎮 What it can run
⚙️ Configuration analysis
Top configuration is built for office apps, web browsing, and basic daily tasks.
🤔 How to choose
Universal advice for any use case.
- Reliability vs price: reliability (median 43.5) ↔ price (median 471).
- Weight vs CPU: mobility (median 36) ↔ overall performance (median 60.6).
- Upgradeability vs battery: upgradability (median 100) ↔ battery life (median 2.4).
Precision 3520: verdict
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