<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM DELL COMPUTER CORPORATION FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS OF AND FOR THE SIX MONTH PERIOD ENDED JULY 30, 1995, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> JAN-28-1996 <PERIOD-END> JUL-30-1995 <CASH> 66,563 <SECURITIES> 503,271 <RECEIVABLES> 671,767 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 381,962 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 1,728,363 <PP&E> 145,185 <DEPRECIATION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,885,286 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 877,530 <BONDS> 0 <COMMON> 458 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 1 <OTHER-SE> 802,396 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,885,286 <SALES> 2,341,526 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 2,341,526 <CGS> 1,842,732 <TOTAL-COSTS> 1,842,732 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 7,838 <INCOME-PRETAX> 178,549 <INCOME-TAX> 51,776 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 126,773 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 126,773 <EPS-PRIMARY> 2.43 <EPS-DILUTED> 2.36