Features:  

The base Precision T3500 comes equipped with a Dual Core Intel Xeon processor running at 2.40GHz. That’s perfectly adequate for many users but there are a total of eight upgrade options for more demanding purposes. The fastest CPU available for this unit is the Quad Core Intel Xeon W3580 which clocks in at 3.33GHz for each of the four cores.

It also comes standard with 1GB of DDR3 SDRAM but is expandable up to 24GB of DDR3 ECC or non-ECC memory for those who need heavy graphics capabilities and a genuine work station experience. Hard drive capacity for the basic unit is 80GB but that can be upgraded to 1TB if needed. That may seem like a lot but the Dell Precision T3500 also offers the option of adding as many as three more hard drives, each with a capacity of between 80GB and 1TB.

Like other Dell work stations, the base package doesn’t include a monitor but like pricier models, the Precision T3500 can be outfitted with up to four monitors ranging up to the Dell UltraSharp 2209WA 22-inch wide screen.

As the Precision T3500 is a computer that will appeal to graphics centric professionals, the video card is particularly important. The standard component is a 256MB NVIDIA Quadro NVS 295. For the most demanding 3D applications, the 1.5GB NVIDIA Quadro FX 4800 is available as an option.

Dell is well known for excellent customer support and warranties and the Precision T3500 comes with a 3-year limited warranty as well as next business day on-site service following remote diagnosis. Given that this system may well be favored by businesses that don’t have a dedicated IT staff, the optional 3-year ProSupport for end users may be a worthy consideration.

Expert Reviews:  

Reviewers were generally impressed by the configuration flexibility that is available for the Dell Precision T3500 computers. They also found that the units provided an awful lot of computing power for the money and represented a good option for many small businesses with big computing requirements. While impressed by the ease and variety of configuration of the machine during the ordering process, after market modifications are less friendly.

In the never ending battle between computing needs and the money available to invest, the Dell Precision T3500 series strikes an uncommonly good balance. These computers will allow many small businesses that would be likely find high end work stations to be prohibitively expensive to run with the big dogs.