Customer Ratings & Reviews

While computer enthusiasts typically prefer the advantages of configuring and assembling their own custom built machine, there are instances where space constraints unfortunately require special dimensions that otherwise Micro-ATX/ITX cases cannot meet. As such small form factor and/or mini PCs can provide a solution, though performance and upgradability is often sacrificed. Thus, I was excited to test the newly upgraded Dell ECS120 SFF PC, featuring newly released Ultra 7 265 CPU! Furthermore, I wanted to see if a high end CPU can comfortably perform in a small form factor without any limitation. As one would expect, the unit design is fairly straightforward. If you haven’t previously seen or used any SFF PC in person, then the ECS1250 will certainly be quite a shock. Standing at just under a 12 inches and less than 4 inches wide, it can easily fit in the smallest of areas. Furthermore, at a mere 7 pounds it is also fairly easy to carry around, making it much more travel friendly than the majority of desktops. In addition, this will also facilitate in connecting the computer for the first time as certainly less bulk is easier to maneuver. As for the ECS1250 unit itself, there are four USB ports in the back (two are regulated to 2.0, while the other two are USB 3.2 Gen 1). Switching to the front, there are two USB 2.0 ports, and two USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (with one being Type-C). Additionally, there is an SD card reader and a headphone/mic combo jack (there are no 3.5mm jacks on the back of unit). For display connectivity, there is one HDMI 2.1 (TDMS) port and one DisplayPort 1.4 (HBR3 supported). Lastly, the ECS1250 has a single gigabit LAN connection and also supports Wi-Fi via an internal M.2 Wi-Fi/BT card. For most people, this should cover the basics with their connectivity needs, though it is extremely unfortunate that there are no USB 10 Gbps /20 Gbps port of any kind. Before moving on to my performance tests, I first would like to mention a couple of observations with regards to the internal components found inside the computer. Internally, the layout is pretty well managed; cables are seemingly organized and tidy. As far as the major components go, the ECS1250 features a WD SN5000S 1 TB M.2 SSD in the 2230mm size. Luckily, the motherboard has space for a 2280 drive should you choose to move the standoff to the corresponding hole. Below the SSD, there is a MediaTek MT7920 Wi-Fi/BT M.2 card installed for your convenience. Next, the board has two PCIe 1x slots and one 16x slot located at the bottom of the board. Connectively, the board also has one SATA port located just above the SSD, though unfortunately no SATA power connector was given (a proprietary 6 PIN connector labeled SATA power is available on the motherboard). As expected, this is left over from previous configurations that featured a mechanical drive along with the support bracket, both of which are absent here. As for memory, the unit comes with one stick of 16 GB-5600 MHz (SK-Hynix); the board has two slots total. According to Dell’s manual, the board supports a max of 64 GB at DDR5-5600 MHz (32 GB per DIMM slot), despite the Ultra 7 265 supporting up to 256 GB. Unfortunately, I did not have a single 64 GB stick to verify if the board is indeed restricted to the aforementioned size and speed, so keep that in mind if you are planning to upgrade the memory. However, the good news is that 64 GB should be plenty for most users. Lastly, the ECS1250 desktop features a 180w Dell power supply that is 80 plus bronze certified. Overall, as expected the ECS1250 will have some restrictions with regards to upgradability, but at the very least it is certainly welcome news that you can at least increase the memory and SSD. Additionally, with the available PCI-Express slots, you should be able to add more connectivity such as USB ports or perhaps a sound card, though obviously just make sure a low profile bracket is included with whichever add-in card you require. Moving on from the internal specifications, setup should be relatively simple to complete. As typical of OEMs installed partitions, memory and OS installation size are a bit bloated; of which should be tweaked provided that you are familiar with such processes. For testing purposes, I attempted to keep such tweaks to minimum but please note that upon your first boot, the memory usage is at 50% and the SSD is about 50 GB full. After removing all the startup items, Dell related executables, and uninstalled McAfee antivirus, the memory consumption drops to around 25-30%. While still a bit high for my personal taste, there wasn’t anything too alarming performance wise with the installation (though enthusiasts will more than likely fresh install) that would press for concern. Lastly, Dell has set M2 configuration to RAID by default; should you wipe out the partition for a fresh install, you will need the Intel VMD driver or change the setting to AHCI. For my performance tests, I wanted to first focus on the Ultra 7 as certainly it is the main attraction with the ECS120. The processor features 20 cores with a TDP rating of 65 watts. I proceeded to run CPU-Z benchmark. For all of my tests, I used a combination of HW Monitor 1.58 and HW Info 8.28. I also used CrystalMark 8.06 for my SSD benchmark. Lastly, I included two other CPUs that I have in my custom built machines, though keep in mind that those are unlocked and have much higher power consumption and thresholds. My CPU-Z results are as follows: Ultra 7 265 - Single: 852.7 / Multi: 12,376.1 (20 Cores / 20 Threads) Ryzen 9900X - Single: 881.0 / Multi: 13,068.5 (12 Cores / 24 Threads) I7-14700K - Single: 916.7 / Multi: 14,989.5 (20 Cores / 28 Threads) While the results above are expected, I was actually more impressed with the Ultra 7 than I expected as not only are we restricted power wise and with hyper-threading removed, the 265 is still fairly competitive. Moving on, I ran Cinebench R23 and posted the results below: Ultra 7 265 - Single: 2,208/ Multi: 26,352 (20 Cores / 20 Threads) Ryzen 9900X - Single: 2,236 / Multi: 32,483 (12 Cores / 24 Threads) I7-14700K - Single: 2200 / Multi: 35,724 (20 Cores / 28 Threads) As you can see, the single thread for all three CPUs are essentially within the margin of error. It is quite impressive to say the least. Additionally, the Ultra 7 was impressively cool throughout all of my testing; rarely did I see anything past the 60-68C, which is perhaps the most shocking aspect given the Ultra 7 is actively air cooled. Lastly, fan acoustics also surprised me as typically fans used by OEMs are nothing more than stock fans; however, during my tests I barely heard anything! For my last test, I ran CrystalMark 8.06 on the WD SN5000S. The results are as follows: Sequential Read Q8T1: 6,350.60MB/s / Sequential Write Q8T1: 5,635.09 MB/s Sequential Read 4K Q1T1: 73.35 MB/s / Sequential Write 4K Q1T: 128.58 MB/s The WD SN5000S should be fast enough for most users, though honestly I was fairly impressed at how good the 4K readings were. Usually drives are around the 40-50 MB/s range, but here we actually got above 70 MB/s and on an extremely size limited 2230mm drive no less. Overall, nothing of concern to report here. In conclusion, the Dell ECS1250 SFF is certainly a decent performing computer that satisfies all the major performance categories one would want in a desktop computer. The ECS1250 comes with a fast and efficient processor, combined with plenty of storage and memory to get you started while providing a solution to any space restriction you have. However, it is certainly not without some slight criticisms, mostly notably the lack of any 10 Gbps / 20 Gbps USB ports; at minimum another port or two would have been a huge plus. In addition, I personally would have also liked if the two USB 2.0 ports in the front were swapped with the two USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports in the back so that you could have full front access to the fastest ports. Lastly, while upgradability is understandably limited, there is still some fairly good value here, especially given the strength of the Ultra 7, the ability to upgrade the SSD to a 2280mm size, and increase the RAM to 64 GB. For little cost, the ECS1250 is a small and convenient package that performs exceptionally well. Furthermore, thermals were quite impressive, and fan operation was nearly silent. With that said, provided you are aware of the observations raised, the ECS1250 comes recommended.

It is not too bad, it would a little better to work with.

I was looking for a simple upgradable system and this is what fulfil my needs.

a lot of power in a box plenty of mem and storage good stuff

Excellent service…………………………….. ……………………………………………..

Great computer. We did by a 32 Ram to replace the 16. Sped it up even more. Well worth it!

Have had seveal Dells over the years. Have 2 now.

I received this product from Best Buy to review. This Dell desktop has been a great fit for my small business setup. I was looking for something reliable that could use separate from the computer I have for my day job to use with my personal work and business needs. This Dell handled everything smoothly without slowing down. I also really liked the compact design. It fits neatly under my desk and keeps my workspace clean and open. Setup was quick and I was up and running in about 30-40m, most of that being the windows setup screens. Out of curiosity, I loaded up a couple games from my steam library on it. It worked ok for older titles, but don’t expect it to replace a gaming PC. This one is clearly built for productivity, not performance-heavy gaming. If you’re looking for a dependable desktop for multitasking and office work, this one definitely delivers. Pros • Handles multiple office apps and browser tabs with ease • Fast performance thanks to the 1TB SSD and 16GB of memory • Small form factor is great for tight workspaces • Quiet and efficient while running Cons • No built-in Wi-Fi, I luckily had Ethernet at my desk. • Not ideal for gaming or creative work that needs a dedicated graphics card

Good service when that transferred data from old computer to new desktop.

Only using for video player by my entertainment center

Must be good because I can’t figure out how to use it.

Came quickly. Easy to set up, works fast. The whole process was very easy.

Awesome machine, purchase for sister in law and she love it.

Haven't had it long enough to really know. A few glitches so far.

Very pleased with service and price. Trust BestBuy

I’ve always liked the design and engineering of Dell computers. When it came time to replace an older tower, I was looking for performance and value. This system didn’t disappoint. I’m a home user that enjoys picture and video editing, as well as the typical internet usage. It’s reasonably fast when creating videos, and breezes through anything else I’ve done with it. Setup was very simple. I was moving from an existing Win11 system and was up and running in no time. This system came with Windows 11 home version, which was fine for my needs. I believe it would be a great system for general business use, and for that I’d consider Windows 11 pro. At some point in the future, I usually end up upgrading my system with additional hardware. It can support up to 64Gb of memory, which is more than I expect I’ll ever need. To add an HDD, you need to purchase the optional rotation bay. My speakers only have a 3.5mm jack, and without a rear audio connection, you’ll need to plug your speakers into the front headset jack. The days of the CD/DVD drive are behind us, so an optional USB CD/DVD drive is needed if that’s media you still like to use. The system comes with a wired USB connected keyboard and mouse. I’m surprised at this price point; that wireless is not the standard option. When building the configuration on the website, wireless is not an option. With a small power supply, you really can’t consider a GPU upgrade. I’d classify this system, as limited upgrade options. As a home computer it does that very well. It’s not a gaming system, or other graphic intensive use. For routine home use, you’ll love this system.

very slow startup, however is fine for my use. Have purchased many Dell over the years

Not sure what has happened to dell but this tower was so bad it went right back to the store. It has a ssd hard drive should be extremely fast it was slower than my 12 year old dell tower with a heavily used standard hdd. On top of that it was poorly packed from factory and this was new sealed they have got very cheap this is a sad time for the world there is no more quality or care about anything companies just don't care about their product or customers anymore. Real review by a real human who spent his real money!

I Would Say, No One Seemed To Know What They Were Doing, I Am Disabled, And they could Care Less , I Asked To Look At A Dell Tower. the First Person we Talked To, Said A Few, Very Few Words Then Just Left? So the Next Person was Just As Bad, Finaly Said We Don't Have Any In Stock. I Asked Well what Are Those Boxes On the Top Shelf, just Empty Boxes ? when I Got Home 20 minutes thinking about how No One Seemed To Care or just didn't Know How To Do anything, after I Had written A Check For $969.49 Cents ,I Diecided To Cancel My Order Was Told I Would Have To Wait at Least 10=14 Days , This Was On a Saturday, They Couldn't Have even Processed yet , At First Did Not Want To Give Me My Money Back!! Anyway I Did Get It Back, I have Done Business With For Many- many Years Always On The West Side, Nicest People, what they Were Doing.

The product is okay but not outstanding. Quality is decent for the price, but it didn’t fully meet my expectations. Delivery was on time, and packaging was fine.