Is the Precision 5490 good for CAD and 3D work?

Yes. The RTX 1000 Ada GPU and ISV-certified drivers are aimed at CAD, BIM and 3D apps. The 32 GB of RAM covers most mid-size assemblies and scenes.

Can I upgrade the RAM and SSD?

The SSD is user-replaceable, so moving to a larger drive is straightforward. RAM is soldered on this model, so buy the 32 GB configuration you need up front.

How does it compare with the Precision 5480?

Both are 14-inch workstations. The 5490 moves to Intel Core Ultra with Ada-generation graphics, which brings better efficiency and newer professional GPU features.

Does it have Thunderbolt?

Yes, it has Thunderbolt 4 over USB-C, plus a 1/8-inch headphone jack. That supports docks, external monitors and fast storage.

Is 512 GB enough storage?

It is tight for video or large CAD libraries. Budget for an external SSD or a larger drive if you keep big project files locally.

What comes in the box?

Expect the laptop, a power adapter and paperwork. A dock, stylus and external monitor are sold separately.

Dell Precision 5490

Last price we saw

$2,681.09at Quill, last seen Nov 7

Prices change often: ask the agent below to check today's price at every store.

Prices are checked against each store and labelled with when.

Check today's price at Quill

Ask our agent about this product

It checks today's price at every store, compares the alternatives and answers in about a minute.

Our take on the Dell Precision 5490

The Dell Precision 5490 is a 14-inch mobile workstation with an Intel Core Ultra 7 (16 cores), 32 GB of RAM and Nvidia RTX 1000 Ada graphics. It is built for CAD, engineering and content work that needs ISV-certified drivers, and it includes a fingerprint reader, Thunderbolt 4 and Windows 11 Pro. The 512 GB SSD is modest for a workstation, so plan on external or cloud storage for large project files.

Best forEngineers and CAD users who need certified driversContent creators editing on the goBusiness buyers who want a compact workstationStudents in design or engineering programs

Pros

16-core Core Ultra 7 with 32 GB RAM handles heavy multitasking
RTX 1000 Ada graphics with ISV certification for professional apps
Thunderbolt 4 for fast docks and external drives
Fingerprint reader and Windows 11 Pro built in
14-inch chassis keeps it portable for a workstation

Cons

Dell Precision 5490 prices at every store

QuillNew
Out of stock
$2,681.09Free shippingObserved at 1:01 AM
Visit Quill

Store links may earn us a commission. Price via Klarna.

Dell Precision 5490 price history

Lowest price we've seen: $2,681.09 on Nov 7 at Quill. Tracked across 1 store since Nov 7.

Specifications

Connections: Thunderbolt, USB-C, 1/8" Headphone JackSource
Optical Drive: NoneSource
Processor: Intel Core Ultra 7Source
Windows Version: Windows 11 ProSource

Questions and answers

Is the Precision 5490 good for CAD and 3D work?: Yes. The RTX 1000 Ada GPU and ISV-certified drivers are aimed at CAD, BIM and 3D apps. The 32 GB of RAM covers most mid-size assemblies and scenes.
Can I upgrade the RAM and SSD?: The SSD is user-replaceable, so moving to a larger drive is straightforward. RAM is soldered on this model, so buy the 32 GB configuration you need up front.
How does it compare with the Precision 5480?: Both are 14-inch workstations. The 5490 moves to Intel Core Ultra with Ada-generation graphics, which brings better efficiency and newer professional GPU features.
Does it have Thunderbolt?: Yes, it has Thunderbolt 4 over USB-C, plus a 1/8-inch headphone jack. That supports docks, external monitors and fast storage.
Is 512 GB enough storage?: It is tight for video or large CAD libraries. Budget for an external SSD or a larger drive if you keep big project files locally.
What comes in the box?: Expect the laptop, a power adapter and paperwork. A dock, stylus and external monitor are sold separately.