Here is a quick rundown of my current computers. As a SQL Server DBA, all of my primary machines are Windows. I’ve standardized all of my machines on Windows 10 to make things consistent for me.
Main Laptop
My current laptop is a Dell XPS 9550.

Dell XPS 9550
Here is the current configuration:
Since I’m not a PC gamer, the video card didn’t play a big factor in buying this PC. But the upgradable NVMe SSD and RAM were key. I also opted for non-touch screen, since I rarely used the touchscreen on the Lenovo Yoga Pro 2 I gave to my wife.
- Memory: 32 GB
- Hard Drive: Toshiba 512GB NVMe SSD
- Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-6700HQ CPU @ 2.60GHz[Cores 4] [Logical/Core 2]
- Video Card: GeForce GTX 960M
- Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Pro
Legacy Systems
This machine replaced my older Dell XPS L501X from 2010. And that one replaced my Dell Studio XPS 1535 from 2008.

Dell XPS L501X and 1535
All of them have been great and have helped get me where I am.
Main Desktop
This is the machine I wish I could use more. But, being a desktop, it has to stay at home. This is the Alienware Aurora R4. It’s 2 years old, but perfect for my purposes.
My Alienware Aurora R4
Future Plans
At this time, I don’t have plans to upgrade to a new machine, either desktop or laptop. I know the newest XPS laptops have faster processors, but my current machine is fast enough for now. The one upgrade I may perform is a hard drive update from 512GB NVME drive to 1 or 2TB drive. The only limitation is I can only use the half width NVME drive because my XPS has the extended battery, which physically covers the full width NVME spot.
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