Overview of the Dell XPS in 2022
This article will share an overview of Dell XPS, an example system build for a gaming XPS PC under $2,000, and a list of games it can play. The Dell XPS, which stands for eXtreme Performance System, is perhaps the longest standing PC model of all time, dating back to 1990. This system was designed as a workhorse from its primordial beginnings. That holds true for today as well.
Customers have a broad range of configuration options with the XPS and a depth that will allow for it to live up to its name. For example, you can have the best mobile processor on the market – Intel’s 12th gen i9 processor, up to 64 GB RAM, NVIDIA’s RTX 3060 with 6GB VRAM, 2TB SSD M.2 hard drive, and your option of a 13″, 15″, or 17″ display. That, however, comes with a hefty price tag of $3,700. At that point, you are almost better off buying a strong PC build for under $2,000 and finding a general-use laptop to suit your mobile needs.
Dell XPS Gaming PC Configuration for Under $2,000
If I were to customize the Dell XPS for gaming for a price below $2,000, here are the hardware specs I would use:
- Intel i5-12500H
- Windows 11 Home
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 4GB GDDR6 Graphics Card (GPU)
- 512GB NVMe SSD M.2
- 17.0″ FHD+ InfinityEdge Non-Touch Anti-Glare 500 Nit Display
Dell XPS 17 vs 15 vs 13 for Gaming
First off, I would buy the Dell XPS 17 if I intended to use it as a gaming PC. The 15″ and 13″ screens on the other models are just too small for gaming. If you do end up going the route of XPS 13 or 15, you will want to consider buying a docking station and some extra monitors so you can game on a bigger screen. I would also recommend buying a third-party docking station purely for the price point. Dell’s WD22TB4 docking station for the XPS sells for $470. You can find a compatible one on Amazon for under $70. For example, here is a good docking station you can use for the Dell XPS:
The Intel i5-12500H Processor
When you look at the system requirements for some of the most modern games, the Intel i5 12500H will surpass them. This is the latest generation of Intel i5 processor and games created up to this point at most have specs calling for the 11th generation i5 as a recommendation. I have no doubt your gaming experience will not be throttled back by this processor. It will perform very well for gaming.
Windows 11 Home vs Pro
The reason why I selected Windows 11 Home for this build is because Windows 11 Pro is more aligned for business use. Pro’s primary function is to connect to a corporate domain so that it can be controlled by an IT administrator. Sure, it has Bitlocker, but unless you need it, I would stick with Home.
Graphics Card (GPU)
When it comes to the graphics card, the Intel Iris Xe just does not cut it all that great for gaming. It can leave you with a choppy experience on low graphics settings for a lot of the modern games out there. The NVIDIA RTX 3060 6GB GDDR6 is a great option, but it’s also expensive. The NVIDIA RTX 3050 4GB GDDR6 is the middle-ground and allows for this build to play modern games at good FPS for a smooth gaming experience and come below the $2,000 price point.
NVMe SSD M.2 Hard Drive
The 512GB NVMe SSD M.2 hard drive was a difficult choice, because data growth is continuing to rise. Modern games require upwards of 30-60GB to install. If you plan on playing multiple games, that can quickly consume your hard drive space and make you choose between which games you play in a given time period. However, it does keep the price down and most people don’t have more than two games installed at once that they play seriously. Plus, you can always uninstall and reinstall games later.
17.0″ FHD+ InfinityEdge Non-Touch Anti-Glare 500 Nit Display
The 17.0″ FHD+ InfinityEdge Non-Touch Anti-Glare 500 Nit Display was another difficult choice, because the alternative UHD option brings you to 4K or at the very least 1440p. Selecting this as a configuration option was a price over value decision. The FHD+ option will still allow you to play modern games at 1080p flawlessly with great FPS. Selecting the UHD option may get you 4K or 1440p resolution but depending on the game you play it might not give you a good gaming experience. Laptop GPU’s aren’t nearly as powerful as their desktop counterparts and when it comes to trying to play in 4K or 1440p you could find yourself getting frustrated due to stuttering and a choppy experience.
Playable Games with the Dell XPS 17
So, what games can you expect to play with this Dell XPS 17 configuration? See the table below for the games and the types of experience you might find.
| Game | Can you play it with Dell XPS? Describe the gaming experience. |
| Fortnite | Yes, it plays very well. On low settings with 1080p resolution, you can expect 200+ FPS, which is really good. You can increase your graphics settings. View Fortnite’s system requirements. |
| Counter-Strike: Global Offensive | Yes, it plays very well. On the lowest graphics settings with 1080p resolution you can expect 250+ FPS, which is really good. You can increase your settings. |
| Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege | Yes, it plays very well. On 1080p resolution with low graphics settings you can expect on average 200 FPS, which is really good. You can increase your settings. |
| Apex Legends | Yes, it plays good. On 1080p with low settings you achieve 100+ FPS. You might not be able to increase your graphics settings though. |
| Minecraft | Yes, it runs flawlessly with low graphics settings at 200+FPS. You can enable shaders and still get 90-100 FPS. |
| Hitman 3 | Yes, it plays very well. On medium graphics settings with 1080p resolution, you can expect 70+ FPS which is good. |
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | Yes, it plays very well. On high graphics settings with 1080p resolution, you will only get about 50-60 FPS. You may need to lower your settings. |
| Call of Duty: Warzone | Yes, it plays good. On 1080p with low settings you achieve 100+ FPS. You might not be able to increase your graphics settings though. |
| Grand Theft Auto V | Yes, it plays very well. On ultra graphics settings with 1080p resolution, you will only get about 60-80 FPS. That’s perfect! |
| PUBG Steam | Yes, it plays very well. On the lowest graphics settings with 1080p resolution you can expect 110-120 FPS, which is good. You can increase your settings. |
| Resident Evil Village | Yes, it plays okay, but not good. On medium graphics settings with 1080p resolution, you can expect 50-60 FPS which is okay, but not good. |
| Valorant | Yes, it plays good. On medium graphics settings with 1080p resolution, you can expect about 150 FPS on average. |
Overall Summary of the Dell XPS Laptop
The Dell XPS is a good model for a performance laptop. It’s broad range of options make it appealing to a wider audience allows for upgrades. It is hard to justify from a price point at the high end, however. Given you can build a much more powerful desktop PC for around the $2,000-$2,500 range, you really need to require both mobility and performance if you’re going to buy into the high-end specs. If you have been experiencing performance issues with your gaming laptop and have not been able to resolve it, then the Dell XPS is a good upgrade path.
A mid-range XPS like the configuration listed above can play all the modern games, but likely not all of them on ultra graphics with great performance. For that, you will need a desktop anyway. All in all, the XPS is a good buy for a gaming laptop. Just make sure you also get a warranty package that includes accidental damage, and parts replacement. Nothing can sour a buy like having new hardware go bad before its time.