Dell Positions Petite Workstation as Perfect Fit for Pandemic-Squeezed Workspaces

With a starting price just under $600, the Dell Precision 3240 Compact aims to limit consumption of budget dollars as well as desktop space.

Dell has announced availability and pricing for the Dell Precision 3240 Compact, a small–form factor desktop workstation that was announced in May and originally scheduled for a September release. The workstation is independent software vendor (ISV)-certified; supports virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and artificial intelligence (AI) applications; and can run as many as seven 4K displays at 60 Hz. It’s intended for a variety of compute-demanding professionals who face physical space limitations, including engineers, designers, and architects who create simulations and perform 2D/3D modeling tasks on lightly threaded applications. 


Banana for scale: the Dell Precision 3240 Compact minimizes the space needed for a workstation tower. Image source: Dell.

Features include:

• Dimensions of 7.40" (H) x 2.76" (W) x 7.03" (D)
• Volume of approximately 2.3 L and starting weight of 3.77 lbs
• Tenth-generation Intel Core or Xeon processors
• Accelerated memory speeds as fast as 2,933 MHz, with capacities expandable to 64 GB and optional error-correcting code (ECC) memory
• Up to 4 TB of hard disk drive/solid-state drive (HDD/SSD) storage, including PCIe NVMe SSD options; RAID optional
• Multiple mounting options, including on the monitor stand or on the underside of the desktop
• Optional Wi-Fi capabilities
• Front-access USB 3.2 ports
• Protective dust and cable covers
• Operating system options include Windows 10 Pro for Workstations and Ubuntu Linux 18.04 LTS
• Dell Optimizer for Precision, an AI-based optimization software application that automatically tunes performance of all Dell workstations using machine learning.

Mounting options for the Dell Precision 3240 Compact include behind a monitor. Image source: Dell.

According to the company, the 3240’s small footprint makes it well suited to offices that are straining to create more distance between employees, as well as newly home-bound workers using closets as makeshift cubicles. “With some planning to return to the office over the coming months, many businesses and institutions are looking to reshape office layouts, striking a delicate balance that promotes both worker safety and productivity,” said Tom Tobul, vice president of Product Management for Commercial Specialty Computing, Client Solutions, Dell, in a product launch blog post. “Open office space will be a commodity, and those who continue to work remotely may also be seeking smaller devices that can be tucked away easily.”

The Dell Precision 3240 is now available, and pricing starts at $599. An NVIDIA Quadro RTX 3000 professional graphics option will become available in October. 
 

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