Refurbished Dell Precision 5560 vs 5570: Which 15" Workstation Should You Buy?
Posted by Team RTR on
If you've been shopping for a refurbished mobile workstation, you've probably noticed the Dell Precision 5560 and the Precision 5570 look almost identical. That's because they are: Dell used the same slim 15.6-inch body for both. The difference is what's inside, and that's what decides which one is the better buy for you. We have both in stock right now, so here's a straight comparison.
Same body, same ports
Dell lists both models at 344.4 mm wide and 7.7 mm thick at the front. The 5560 weighs 4.50 lb and the 5570 weighs 4.62 lb, per Dell's spec manuals, so you won't feel a difference in your bag.
The ports are the same on both:
- Two Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports with Power Delivery
- One USB 3.2 Gen 2 USB-C port with DisplayPort
- An SD card slot and a headphone/mic combo jack
- A wedge-shaped security lock slot
Both charge over USB-C, and you can plug the charger into any of the three USB-C ports. Dell rates each Thunderbolt 4 port for two 4K displays or one 8K display, and Dell's 5570 display guide says you can connect up to three external displays directly to its USB-C ports. There's no full-size USB-A or HDMI port on either, so plan on a USB-C hub, adapter or Dell Thunderbolt dock if you use older accessories.
Every unit we have of both models has a 15.6-inch FHD+ (1920 x 1200) screen. That 16:10 shape gives you a little more vertical room than a standard 1080p laptop, which helps with spreadsheets, timelines and CAD toolbars.
What's different: processor, memory and graphics
Precision 5560 (11th gen). Our 5560 units all run the Intel Core i9-11950H, an 8-core processor, with DDR4 memory (16GB or 32GB depending on the unit) and NVIDIA RTX A2000 graphics with 4GB of video memory. See the Precision 5560 we have in stock.
Precision 5570 (12th gen). Our 5570 units run either the Core i9-12900H or the Core i7-12800H, both 14-core processors, with 16GB of newer DDR5 memory. Most have NVIDIA RTX A2000 graphics with 8GB of video memory; one i7 unit has the RTX A1000 with 4GB.
In plain terms: the 5570 has more processor cores, faster-generation memory and, on the A2000 units, twice the video memory. The 5560 gives you the same build and the same pro-grade NVIDIA RTX graphics family for less money, and some of our 5560s come with 32GB of RAM already installed.
Price and condition
Right now our Precision 5560 units are priced from $600 to $700, in Grade A- (great condition with light scuffs or scratches) and Grade B+ (good condition with light visible wear such as scratches, dings or a minor screen blemish). All are fully functional.
Our Precision 5570 units run $600 to $750 in Grades A-, B+ and B, mostly with 16GB of RAM.
That means for about the same money, you're choosing between a 5560 with 32GB of RAM and a 5570 with a newer, higher-core-count processor and 16GB.
Which one should you pick?
Choose the Precision 5560 if:
- Your software leans on memory more than processor cores, like large spreadsheets, many browser tabs, virtual machines or big photo libraries. A 32GB 5560 gives you headroom out of the box.
- You run CAD, 3D viewing or GPU-accelerated apps that are certified for NVIDIA RTX workstation graphics, and 4GB of video memory covers your projects.
- You want the Precision 5000 build and RTX graphics for less than a comparable 5570.
Choose the Precision 5570 if:
- You render, compile, encode video or run other jobs that use every core you can give them. The jump from 8 to 14 cores is the biggest difference between these two.
- Your models, scenes or local AI tools need more than 4GB of video memory. The A2000 8GB units are the ones to look at. We wrote more about that in our post on the Precision 5570 for AI work.
- You want the newer platform with DDR5 memory.
If you're not sure, tell us what software you run and we'll point you to the right unit.
How we prepare every Precision
Each laptop is tested and graded before it ships, so the grade on the listing matches what arrives. Every unit ships with Windows 11 Professional.
You're also covered after you buy:
- 90-day hardware warranty covering parts and labor (batteries are covered for 30 days)
- 30-day returns. If it's defective or not as described, we repair, replace or refund with a prepaid label and no restocking fee. Change-of-mind returns carry a 10% restocking fee, and the return label is still free.
- Free shipping to the 48 contiguous states and Washington, DC. Orders ship within 2 business days.
Ready to pick one?
Browse our refurbished Dell Precision 5560 units or compare a Precision 5570 with RTX A2000 8GB. Questions about a specific unit? Call us at 978-965-2728 or email Sales@RenewableTechnologyResources.com, and we'll help you choose the right workstation for your work.