Acer Veriton X2680g vs. Dell OptiPlex 3000 M

Comparison and Differences

Acer_Veriton_X2680g.jpg case front and back pannelDell_OptiPlex_3000_M.jpg case front and back pannel
Model
Form factorSmallMicro
CPU optionsIntel Gen11 i3/i5/i7; Pentium; CeleronIntel Gen 12 T i3/i5/i7; Celeron; Pentium
ChipsetB560B660
Dedicated GPU *Radeon RX 6400 Low ProfileN.A.
RAMUDIMM DDR4-2933SODIMM DDR4-3200
RAM slots42
RAM speed2933 MT/s3200 MT/s
RAM max64 GB64 GB
USB ports(2x) USB-A 3.0; (4x) USB-A 2.0; (2x) USB-A 3.1(2x) USB-A 2.0; (2x) USB-A 3.0;
Video portsDisplayPort 1.4; HDMI 2.0; VGADisplay Port 1.4a; HDMI 1.4b;
Other portsRJ45; (2x) Mic, Speaker; Line in; Line out; PS/2 ports; SerialRJ45; Audio; Line-Out/In;
Optional portsSerial; Parallel; Card readerHDMI 2.0b/Displayport/VGA;
SATA ports41
PCI slotsPCIe 4.0 x16; (2x) PCIe 3.0 x1N.A.
M.2 slotsM.2 2280/2230 M-key (PCIe 4.0 x4, NVMe); M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT)M.2 2230/2280 (PCIe 3.0 x4, NVMe); M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT)
Drive bays3.5in; 5.25 inch slim2.5in;
PSU180/300 W65/90 W
Weight5.00 kg (11.02 lb)1.33 kg (2.94 lbs)
Released20212022
Manuallinklink
Price**Check PriceCheck Price

** As an Amazon associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
* 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.

Differences between Acer Veriton X2680g and Dell OptiPlex 3000 M

If you are looking for a more modern desktop, then you should go with the Dell OptiPlex 3000 M which was released in 2022. The Acer Veriton X2680g is older and entered production in 2021.

If you are looking for the smaller form factor the Dell OptiPlex 3000 M is the right one for you. It is smaller than the Acer Veriton X2680g and will fit more easily under your desk.

Processor

Usually the newer the generation of the CPU, the better the performance and efficiency is. If your budget allows it, you should go with the Dell OptiPlex 3000 M as it is running a newer generation CPU. This is not to say that Acer Veriton X2680g is bad - it can still run some powerful CPUs, albeit being an older generation.

Memory

The Acer Veriton X2680g has 4 RAM slots while the Dell OptiPlex 3000 M has only 2 slot(s). This is not something to worry about. Just make sure you take it into consideration when planning how much RAM you are going to use.

The Dell OptiPlex 3000 M is using the faster 3200 MT/s RAM. The Acer Veriton X2680g is slower by supporting RAM speeds of up to 2933 MT/s. In addition, you will be able to install the same amount of RAM in both models, and most probably 64 GB of RAM will be enough for most people. However, if you will be needing more RAM, make sure to check other desktop models too.

Ports

In total the Acer Veriton X2680g has 10 USB ports. The Dell OptiPlex 3000 M is inferior in this regard and packs 4 USB ports. In any case, if you miss USB ports, you can always purchase a USB hub. What is nice about the Acer Veriton X2680g, is that it has 2 USB 3.1 port(s) which allows transfer of up to 10Gb/s. Unfortunately, the Dell OptiPlex 3000 M has no such port, thus restricting your transfer speeds significantly. For people who want to use external drives on regular basis, this might be an issue.

The DisplayPort is usually the more popular video port used with desktops and laptops, while the HDMI is used predominantly in consumer electronics. That's why, it is good to see that both of the models come with a DisplayPort.

In case your monitor supports HDMI only, you will be happy to hear that both models come with an HDMI port.

SATA ports are placed on the system board and it is where you connect your HDD, SSD and Optical Disk Drives. More SATA slots will allow you to have more drives running at the same time. In this regard the Acer Veriton X2680g is better equipped as it comes with 4 SATA slot(s), while the Dell OptiPlex 3000 M has 1 slot(s).

When your goal is to have the fastest SSD transfer speeds, an M.2 interface is crucial. Thus, it is good that both models have M.2 SSD slots. Today M.2 SSDs are not much more expensive than the average SATA drives, so it really does not make sense to invest in SATA drives anymore.

Make sure that the available M.2 slot supports the PCIe (also called NVMe) interface. This is important as there are M.2 slots which support only the inferior SATA III interface. For comparison, the SATA III interface has max speeds of 6Gb/s, while the PCIe 3.0 x4 will support speeds up to 32Gb/s!

Power Supply

Having a Power Supply Unit with high power rating is important, if you are going to use components which require extra power. The Dell OptiPlex 3000 M comes with a decent 90 Watt PSU, but the Acer Veriton X2680g has a more powerful one rated at 300 Watts. Choosing either one depends on your specific requirements and use case. Also don't forget that some models might have more than one PSU option - try to always get the most powerful one, especially if you plan to upgrade to a powerful GPU.

Motherboard

Acer_Veriton_X2680g_motherboard.jpg motherboard layoutDell_OptiPlex_3000_M_motherboard.jpg motherboard layout