Dell Vostro 3888 case front and back pannel

Dell Vostro 3888

Specification and Upgrade Options

The Dell Vostro 3888 is a scalable small business desktop designed for heavy office workloads, content creation, and home flexibility. First released in 2020, it is built on the B460 chipset and supports 10th gen Intel Core processors and up to 64GB of DIMM DDR4-2666/2933 memory. Thanks to its larger chassis, it accommodates dedicated graphics cards, making it an excellent candidate for a gaming PC conversion or a high-performance workstation.

If you are looking for a system with maximum upgradability, Dell Vostro 3888 is a good option. Models in this category usually have 4x PCIe slots, several drive bays and better cooling.

Specification

Model
Form factorMini Tower
CPU optionsIntel Gen10 i3/i5/i7; Celeron; Pentium;
ChipsetB460
Dedicated GPU *GeForce GTX 1660 Super
RAMDIMM DDR4-2666/2933
RAM slots2
RAM speed2933 MT/s
RAM max64 GB
USB ports(4x) USB-A 3.0; (4x) USB-A 2.0;
Video portsHDMI 1.4b; VGA;
Other portsRJ45; Headset; Mic; Line-Out;
Optional portsSD card reader
SATA ports2
PCI slotsPCIe 3.0 x16; (2x) PCIe 3.0 x1;
M.2 slotsM.2 2280/2230 M-key (PCIe 3.0 x4, NVMe); M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT);
Drive bays3.5in; 9.5mm
PSU260 W
Weight6.03 kg (13.28 lbs)
Released2020
Manuallink
Price**Check Price

* Dedicated GPU warning: Check if your particular power supply model has enough power. Additionally some PSUs don't come with an auxiliary PCIe power connector and you may need to buy a SATA to PCIe power adapter.
** As an Amazon associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Can you upgrade Dell Vostro 3888 to play games?

Yes, you can upgrade Dell Vostro 3888 for gaming with better processors, graphics card, memory, and storage devices. However, like many other business pre-built PCs, this model may have proprietary elements like the power supply, the chassis or the power connector, which can make it difficult for users to install aftermarket PSUs to support better GPUs. You can also find that there is space constrains inside the chassis, making it difficult to accommodete larger GPU to boost the gaming performance.

Does Dell Vostro 3888 support Windows 11?

Yes, Dell Vostro 3888 is compatible with Windows 11. According to Windows 11 specification, all models that have Intel 8th Gen processors (or newer) with TPM 2.0 support and a UEFI BIOS with Secure boot, are eligible to upgrade form Windows 10 to Windows 11 through Windows Update.

Processor

The Dell Vostro 3888 supports Gen10 Intel Core technology on a B460 chipset. 10th generation Intel Core CPUs (Comet Lake) expanded thread counts and improved overall platform stability. Performance varies by SKU, with higher-end models handling modern gaming, heavy multitasking, virtualization, and software development effectively. Emulation performance remains strong.

Best CPUs for Dell Vostro 3888 upgrade:

Model Cores (Threads) Base frequency Turbo
Core i5 10500 6(12) 3.1 GHz 4.5 GHz
Core i5 10600 6(12) 3.3 GHz 4.8 GHz
Core i7 10700 8(16) 2.9 GHz 4.7 GHz
Core i7 10700F 8(16) 2.9 GHz 4.7 GHz
Core i9 10900 10(9) 3.8 GHz 5.2 GHz
Core i9 10900F 10(20) 2.8 GHz 5.2 GHz

GPU upgrade

The Dell Vostro 3888 can safely support GPUs with suggested PSU of 260W, but more powerful cards require a PSU upgrade. With the stock PSU model, it supports up to an GeForce GTX 1660 Super

GPU upgrade options for Dell Vostro 3888 with the stock 260W power supply:

GPU Power consumption Memory Req.
NVIDIA GTX 1660 120 W 6 GB DDR5 *SATA to PCIe adapter
NVIDIA GTX 1060 125 W 6 GB DDR5 *SATA to PCIe adapter
* Typically, the stock power supply in a business PC does not have the necessary 6 or 8 pin connectors to power the GPU. In such cases, you may need to use a low-power GPU or a SATA to PCIe power adapter. Alternatively, you can change the entire PSU.

GPU compatibility in the Dell Vostro 3888 depends on several hardware constraints. The physical space available inside the chassis determines the maximum GPU length, height, and thickness that can be installed. In addition, the installed power supply unit (PSU) must provide sufficient wattage and the required PCIe power connectors for the selected graphics card.

Before you begin shopping for a new GPU, it is important to check the power supply unit (PSU) currently installed. This is because the Dell Vostro 3888 is often sold with different PSU wattages depending on the original configuration.

Memory

Dell Vostro 3888 supports up to 64 GB of DIMM DDR4-2666/2933 RAM across two DIMM slots, with memory speeds up to 2933 MT/s and dual-channel support depending on the installed configuration.

Actual supported memory capacity and memory channels may vary depending on the installed CPU and chipset.

Typical Dell Vostro 3888 memory configurations include 8 GB for everyday productivity and 16 GB for gaming, heavier multitasking, or professional workloads.

Wi-Fi Support

Dell Vostro 3888 supports Wi-Fi and Bluetooth combo card with the on-board M.2 2230 (Wi-Fi/BT) slot. The card contains a Wi-Fi module that supports various Wi-Fi standards, as well as a Bluetooth module. It is small circuit board that is designed to fit into a dedicated slot on the motherboard.

Keep in mind that the card is not always included and you have to install one yourself.

Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless adapter upgrades for Dell Vostro 3888:

Model Speed Frequency Interface
WiFi 6E (Gig+) Kit 3000 Mbit/s 2.4GHz / 5GHz NGFF M.2 A/E Key
Rekong AX210 3000 Mbit/s 2.4GHz / 5GHz NGFF M.2 A/E Key
Gigabyte GC-Wbax200 2400 Mbit/s 2.4GHz / 5GHz PCIe
TP-Link Archer TX50E 2400 Mbit/s 2.4GHz / 5GHz PCIe
TP-Link Archer T9UH 1300 Mbit/s 2.4GHz / 5GHz USB 3.0

Ports

Dell Vostro 3888 provides a fixed set of external I/O ports for connecting peripherals and displays. Port availability and versions determine supported data transfer speeds and display capabilities.

USB ports

Dell Vostro 3888 includes eight USB ports in total in the following configuration - (4x) USB-A 3.0; (4x) USB-A 2.0; with no USB 3.1 ports available.

Video ports

Dell Vostro 3888 does not include a DisplayPort output.

HDMI output is provided via one HDMI 1.4 port.

Motherboard video outputs require a CPU with integrated graphics. Systems equipped with a dedicated GPU must use the video ports on the graphics card instead.

SSD storage - M.2 sockets and SATA ports

The Dell Vostro 3888 comes with two SATA port(s) for connecting storage devices.

Dell Vostro 3888 has also one M.2 socket(s) that supports PCIe NVMe (PCIe 3.0 x4) or SATA M.2 drives with speed of up to 4 GB/s. This configuration works very well for both gaming and work related tasks.

The M.2 PCIe SSD connector in combination with an NVMe drive allows for higher transfer rates, compared to the old SATA interface. In some situations, NVMe device connected to the M.2 PCIe socket can be more than 5 times faster.

*Keep in mind that some M.2 connectors may not support SATA SSDs. Check the motherboard manual to confirm compatibility.

Best PCIe NVMe drives for Dell Vostro 3888 storage upgrade:

Model Form factor / Interface NAND type DRAM
Samsung 980 PRO SSD M.2/x4 PCIe 4.0/NVMe TLC Yes
CORSAIR MP600 PRO M.2/x4 PCIe 4.0/NVMe TLC Yes
SAMSUNG 970 EVO Plus M.2/x4 PCIe 3.0/NVMe TLC Yes
Western Digital Black SN770 M.2/x4 PCIe 4.0/NVMe TLC Yes
Kingston A2000 M.2/x4 PCIe 3.0/NVMe TLC Yes

Power Supply

The Dell Vostro 3888 comes with a 260 Watt PSU. Having a power supply with high power rating is important, especially if you are doing upgrade with addtional components, like dedicated GPU and more HDDs. Will this 260 W be enough, it all depends on your specific use. Please keep in mind that some models might have more than one PSU option. Whenever possible get the most powerful one, as it might make future upgrades easier.

Motherboard

Dell_Vostro_3888_motherboard.jpg motherboard layout