Dell Precision 3660 Workstation review

?Have you ever needed a powerful workstation that balances raw processing power, modern components, and a price that makes sense for serious work?

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Overview

I tested the Dell Precision 3660 Workstation Desktop (2022) | Core i9-12900 – 2TB SSD Hard Drive – 64GB RAM – Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 | 16 cores @ 5.1 GHz – 8GB GDDR6 Win 11 Pro Black (Renewed) to see how it performs as a daily driver for demanding tasks. I want to give you a clear, hands-on assessment of what it’s like to use this renewed Precision 3660 for creative work, engineering, and gaming.

First impressions

When I first powered it on, the system felt solid and responsive right away, thanks to the NVMe SSD and the large pool of DDR5 RAM. The unit arrives in a refurbished condition but the chassis and internals felt well-maintained, and Windows 11 Pro booted quickly and behaved as expected.

Design and build quality

The chassis has the practical, utilitarian look I expect from Precision workstations, focusing on functionality rather than flashy aesthetics. I appreciated the easy-access side panel and the internal layout that makes swapping drives, adding RAM, or fitting a new card straightforward.

Specifications

I like having a concise spec breakdown to refer to, so I created a quick table that shows the core hardware you’ll care about. This gives a clear snapshot of what’s inside the machine without having to hunt through the listing.

Component	Specification
Model	Dell Precision 3660 Workstation Desktop (2022) — Renewed
CPU	Intel Core i9-12900 — 16 cores, up to 5.1 GHz boost
GPU	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 — 8GB GDDR6
RAM	64GB DDR5 @ 4800 MHz
Storage	2TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
OS	Windows 11 Pro
Networking	No Wi-Fi or Bluetooth card included (Wired Ethernet present)
Included Peripherals	Keyboard and mouse included
Color/Condition	Black — Renewed/Refurbished
Typical Use Cases	Professional workstation tasks, content creation, gaming

I found the table handy when I was comparing this configuration to other renewed and new systems.

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CPU performance and multitasking

I use multiple CPU-heavy apps at once, and the Core i9-12900 handles heavy multitasking gracefully. The 16-core arrangement (performance and efficiency cores combined) keeps background tasks from interrupting active workloads, and the high boost clockup to 5.1 GHz provides snappy single-thread performance when I need it.

I noticed faster compile times, smoother timeline scrubbing in video apps, and quick responsiveness with many browser tabs and chat or project management apps running. For everyday productivity plus pro workloads like rendering and encoding, the CPU gives me the headroom I need.

GPU performance and graphics

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 is a strong card for both creative work and gaming, and I felt comfortable using it for GPU-accelerated video effects, 3D viewport performance, and CUDA-based workflows. Ray-tracing and RTX-accelerated features are functional, and I saw real gains in CUDA-aware renders and hardware-accelerated encodes.

In gaming, the card delivers solid framerates at 1080p and 1440p depending on settings, and in creative applications like Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, and Blender, hardware acceleration noticeably sped export times and reduced preview stalls.

Memory and storage

The 64GB DDR5 RAM at 4800 MHz is one of my favorite aspects of this configuration, because it means I rarely see swap or paging even with large datasets and multiple VMs open. I can run big projects in Photoshop, Premiere, and a local database without worrying about memory bottlenecks.

The 2TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD makes daily work fast — fast boot, fast app launches, and quick file transfers. For large media projects I keep active projects on the NVMe and archive completed work to external drives or a network NAS.

Thermals and noise

Under sustained loads like long renders, the workstation does warm up, but Dell’s cooling design keeps temperatures within safe limits. I paid attention to fan ramps and found the noise level acceptable for a workstation: it gets louder under heavy load, but that’s typical for desktop workstations doing CPU- and GPU-heavy work.

If you need an ultra-quiet environment, I recommend setting up your workspace a bit away from the desk or looking into custom fan curves, but for most users the balance of cooling and acoustic output struck by this system is reasonable.

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Ports and connectivity

I appreciated the range of ports I used regularly, and the discrete GPU provides modern video outputs for professional monitors. I found multiple USB ports, audio jacks, and a wired Ethernet port that handled large file transfers without issues.

A very important note I want to stress is that this configuration does not come with a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth card. I had to add my own Wi-Fi/Bluetooth adapter for wireless convenience, which is simple but something to keep in mind if you expect out-of-the-box wireless connectivity.

Software and operating system

Windows 11 Pro comes preinstalled, and I appreciated the extra features Pro provides — BitLocker support, group policy controls, and other pro-oriented tools that can be useful for business users. I also like that Microsoft still allows easy downgrades to Windows 10 if you need compatibility with legacy software.

Out of the box, Windows was clean and responsive in my experience. I performed my usual driver updates and installed the apps I use for work; the system felt stable and ready for production use after a short setup routine.

Expandability and upgrades

One of the strengths I noticed is how upgrade-friendly the Precision 3660 is, with room for additional drives and spare RAM slots depending on your current configuration. Because it’s a desktop workstation, adding a Wi-Fi card, an additional NVMe or SATA drive, or even upgrading the GPU later is straightforward if you want to extend the life of the machine.

I recommended checking the available PSU headroom before adding very high-end GPUs or multiple drives, and confirming the exact internal layout with the seller if you plan to install larger or dual-slot cards.

Suitability for video editing workflows

I personally use this class of workstation for video editing, and the combination of the i9 CPU, 64GB of DDR5, and an RTX 3070 makes editing multi-cam H.264, H.265, and even some RED footage very workable. Timeline scrubbing is smooth, renders complete faster than on older machines, and hardware-accelerated export saves time.

For 4K workflows and larger color-graded timelines I would still manage project sizes carefully and use proxies when necessary, but for most content creators this machine provides a noticeable productivity boost.

Video editing: real-world workflow

When I exported a 10-minute 4K project with color grading and effects, the hardware-accelerated encode on the RTX 3070 sped things up considerably compared to CPU-only exports. I could continue editing while background exports ran, thanks to the abundant RAM and multitasking capability.

I found that keeping a dedicated scratch disk on the NVMe drive helped performance, and I used external storage for archiving completed projects to keep the system responsive.

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Suitability for 3D modeling and CAD

In 3D modeling and CAD applications the RTX 3070 delivers excellent viewport performance for medium to complex scenes and supports GPU rendering in many modern engines. The 64GB of RAM also helps when working with heavy assemblies or dense meshes in tools like SolidWorks, Rhino, or Blender.

If you’re doing extremely large assemblies or final production renders at scale, you may eventually want a GPU with more VRAM, but for most professional 3D work the Precision 3660 configuration I tested was more than adequate.

CAD/3D: what I noticed

I used the system for model manipulation and dataset visualization, and it handled large texture sets and complex shaders without constant slowdown. For engineers who rely on certified drivers and ISV support, checking Dell’s driver stack for specific CAD packages is a good step before committing.

Suitability for software development and virtualization

As a developer, I found the CPU and RAM combination great for running multiple local services, containers, and virtual machines. I was able to run several Docker containers, an IDE, database servers, and a browser with many tabs open without the machine struggling.

The NVMe drive also makes compiling large codebases feel quicker, and I appreciated the general responsiveness while work tasks and background builds ran concurrently.

Virtualization: practical notes

Running multiple VMs for testing was convenient thanks to the 64GB of RAM and fast storage. I recommend planning your partitioning and VM storage strategy up front, and if you do heavy virtualization consider adding an additional high-capacity drive for VM image storage.

Suitability for data science and machine learning

For entry to mid-level machine learning tasks, the RTX 3070’s CUDA cores and 8GB VRAM are useful for training small to modest models and for GPU-accelerated data processing. I ran smaller experiments and found training times reasonable for initial prototyping.

However, for larger datasets or deep learning workloads that need lots of GPU memory, you may eventually need a higher-VRAM GPU or a multi-GPU setup. The Precision 3660 gives a strong starting point and can support those who are scaling up from laptop-based experiments.

Suitability for gaming

Although this is a workstation, I played several modern titles and the system was a capable gaming machine at 1080p and 1440p with high settings. The RTX 3070 handled graphics-intensive scenarios well, and the CPU prevented any obvious bottlenecks in CPU-sensitive titles.

If gaming is secondary to professional work, this machine provides more than enough capability to play most games smoothly while remaining optimized for workstation tasks.

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Practical benchmarks and real-world tasks

Rather than focusing solely on synthetic benchmarks, I ran the suite of tasks I use daily: compile/build operations, rendering a short After Effects sequence, encoding a 4K ProRes clip, and running a few Blender test scenes. In every case, the combination of CPU cores, fast DDR5 RAM, and the NVMe drive reduced wait times and kept my workflow moving.

For editors and creators, those minutes saved per task add up across a week of work. Likewise, for developers and engineers, quicker build and test cycles reduce friction and speed up iteration.

Noise, thermals, and cooling options

I noticed that fan noise increases with sustained load, as is expected, but it remained acceptable for a desktop in an office setting. The chassis layout allows for airflow and heat dissipation, and the stock cooling seemed adequate for the components in this configuration.

If you need a quieter machine, I suggest looking into quieter case fans, a better CPU cooler compatible with the 12900, or a workstation placement strategy that reduces direct noise impact on your workspace.

Power consumption and PSU considerations

Workstations with an RTX 3070 and a Core i9 can draw significant power under load, so I paid attention to the power profile during intense CPU+GPU tasks. The unit’s power draw is typical for this class of machine, but if you plan on upgrading the GPU or adding many drives, check the PSU wattage and upgrade path.

I recommend confirming the PSU size on the specific renewed unit listing before making heavy upgrades, because refurbished units can sometimes have different internal configurations.

What I like (Pros)

• I like the combination of a 12th-gen Core i9 and DDR5 RAM for fast, modern performance that handles multitasking well.
• I like the RTX 3070 for a balance of creative GPU acceleration and gaming capability.
• I like the roomy 2TB NVMe SSD which provides fast storage and plenty of space for active projects.
• I like Windows 11 Pro being included for business features and modern OS support.
• I like the upgrade-friendly chassis that makes future improvements easy.

Each of these points made my daily tasks feel smoother and more productive.

What I don’t like (Cons)

• I don’t like that the configuration does not include Wi-Fi or Bluetooth; I had to buy an adapter.
• I don’t like that renewed units can vary in terms of warranty, PSU, and exact component condition — it’s important to verify details.
• I don’t like that fan noise increases under sustained heavy load, which might be an issue in quiet studio setups.

These are not dealbreakers for me, but they are important considerations depending on your needs.

Value and alternatives

I find the Precision 3660 to be a compelling value in the renewed market when the price is right, because it bundles modern CPU architecture, DDR5 RAM, and an RTX 3070 into a single system. If you compare to buying parts separately or to a new comparable workstation, you may save a meaningful amount by choosing renewed.

If you need more VRAM, an alternative might be a system with an RTX 3080 or a workstation GPU like an RTX A4000/A5000, but that comes at increased cost. If you want a quieter home-theater-grade machine, a high-end custom quiet build might be preferable.

Buying tips and checking renewed units

When buying a renewed Precision 3660, I make sure to check the seller’s warranty, return policy, and whether they disclose the PSU model and any replaced components. I also recommend verifying that the storage is new or securely wiped and that the unit includes the advertised RAM and drive sizes.

If Wi-Fi or Bluetooth matters to you, factor in the cost of adding an M.2 Wi-Fi card or a USB adapter. Finally, ask about driver updates and whether the system includes a clean Windows 11 Pro installation or additional bundled software.

Recommended upgrades and accessories

If I were keeping this machine long-term, I would consider adding a small Wi-Fi 6 card, an additional high-capacity HDD or SATA SSD for archives, and possibly a better CPU cooler if I planned heavy daily sustained loads. I also recommend using an external backup solution or NAS for long-term project storage.

For creators who need more VRAM or want accelerated multi-GPU setups, evaluating a different GPU or external GPU chassis (if compatible) may be worthwhile. A UPS and quality surge protector are also smart investments to protect your workstation and data.

Maintenance tips

I open the case every few months to check dust buildup and gently clean fans and heat sinks to keep thermals in check. I also keep drivers and firmware updated through Dell SupportAssist and the NVIDIA driver channels to maintain stability and performance.

Backing up your system image after a fresh setup is something I always do, so I can restore the machine to a working state quickly if anything goes wrong during upgrades or software changes.

Final verdict

I would recommend the Dell Precision 3660 Workstation Desktop (2022) | Core i9-12900 – 2TB SSD Hard Drive – 64GB RAM – Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 | 16 cores @ 5.1 GHz – 8GB GDDR6 Win 11 Pro Black (Renewed) for professionals and serious hobbyists who want a modern, capable workstation without paying new-system premiums. I found it to be a reliable, fast, and upgradable platform for editing, 3D work, development, and even gaming.

If you need out-of-the-box wireless connectivity, remember that this listing does not include Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, so plan for that small extra purchase. Overall, I think the combination of CPU, GPU, DDR5 RAM, and NVMe storage makes this renewed Precision a strong option for a wide range of demanding workflows.

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.