Dell Inspiron 3881 vs. Dell OptiPlex M 7010 2023

Comparison and Differences

Dell_Inspiron_3881.jpg case front and back pannelDell_OptiPlex_M_7010_2023.jpg case front and back pannel
Model
Form factorMini TowerMicro
CPU optionsIntel Gen10 i3/i5/i7; Celeron; Pentium;Intel Gen 12&13 i3/i5/i7; Celeron; Pentium
ChipsetH470Q670
Dedicated GPU *GeForce GTX 1650 SuperN.A.
RAMDIMM DDR4-2666/2933SODIMM DDR4-3200
RAM slots22
RAM speed2933 MT/s3200 MT/s
RAM max64 GB64 GB
USB ports(3x) USB 3.0 Type A; USB 3.1 Type C; (4x) USB-A 2.0;(2x) USB-A 2.0; (4x) USB-A 3.0;
Video portsHDMI 1.4; DisplayPort 1.4; VGA;Display Port 1.4a; HDMI 1.4b;
Other portsRJ45; Headset; Line-Out; Card Reader;RJ45(2.5GHz); Audio
Optional portsN.A.HDMI 2.0b/Displayport/VGA/PS2/serial/USB Type-C;
SATA ports21
PCI slotsPCIe 3.0 x16; PCIe 3.0 x1;N.A.
M.2 slotsM.2 2280/2230 M-key (PCIe 3.0 x4, NVMe); M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT); M.2 2230/2280 (PCIe 4.0 x4, NVMe); M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT)
Drive bays3.25in; 9.5mm2.5in;
PSU260 W65/90 W
Weight6.40 kg (14.11 lb)1.34 kg (2.95 lb)
Released20202023
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 Dell Inspiron 3881 and Dell OptiPlex M 7010 2023

If you are looking for a more modern desktop, then you should go with the Dell OptiPlex M 7010 2023 which was released in 2023. The Dell Inspiron 3881 is older and entered production in 2020.

If you are looking for the smaller form factor the Dell OptiPlex M 7010 2023 is the right one for you. It is smaller than the Dell Inspiron 3881 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 M 7010 2023 as it is running a newer generation CPU. This is not to say that Dell Inspiron 3881 is bad - it can still run some powerful CPUs, albeit being an older generation.

Memory

Both models have have equal amount of ram slots (2 RAM). Usually two RAM slots are more than enough for most cases. However, the count should be taken into account when planning how much and what combination of RAM you are going to need for your system.

The Dell OptiPlex M 7010 2023 is using the faster 3200 MT/s RAM. The Dell Inspiron 3881 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 Dell Inspiron 3881 has 8 USB ports. The Dell OptiPlex M 7010 2023 is inferior in this regard and packs 6 USB ports. In any case, if you miss USB ports, you can always purchase a USB hub. What is nice about the Dell Inspiron 3881, is that it has 1 USB 3.1 port(s) which allows transfer of up to 10Gb/s. Unfortunately, the Dell OptiPlex M 7010 2023 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.

DisplayPort is crucial for any desktop machine. It is good to see that both models are featuring DisplayPorts. However, the Dell OptiPlex M 7010 2023 comes with 2 ports, while the Dell Inspiron 3881 has only 1. If you are planning to use multiple monitors, the Dell OptiPlex M 7010 2023 is the better choice.

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 Dell Inspiron 3881 is better equipped as it comes with 2 SATA slot(s), while the Dell OptiPlex M 7010 2023 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 M 7010 2023 comes with a decent 90 Watt PSU, but the Dell Inspiron 3881 has a more powerful one rated at 260 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

Dell_Inspiron_3881_motherboard.jpg motherboard layoutDell_OptiPlex_M_7010_2023_motherboard.jpg motherboard layout