Dell OptiPlex 3020 MT vs. Dell OptiPlex 980 DT

Comparison and Differences

Dell_OptiPlex_3020_MT.jpg case front and back pannelDell_OptiPlex_980_DT.jpg case front and back pannel
Model
Form factorMini TowerDesktop
CPU optionsIntel Gen4 i3/i5; Celeron; Pentium;Intel Gen1 i3/i5/i7; Pentium Dual Core;
ChipsetH81 Q57
Dedicated GPU *GeForce GTX 1660 SuperGeForce GTX 1650 Low Profile
RAMDIMM DDR3-1600 DIMM DDR3-1060/1333
RAM slots24
RAM speed1600 MT/s1333 MT/s
RAM max16 GB16 GB
USB ports(2x) USB-A 3.0; (6x) USB-A 2.0; (8x)USB-A 2.0;
Video portsDisplayPort 1.2; VGA;DisplayPort 1.2; VGA;
Other portsRJ45; Hdph; Mic; Line-Out; Line-In; RJ45; Hdph; (2x) Mic; Line-Out; Line-In; PS2/COM; Serial; Parallel; eSATA
Optional portsSerial+PS2;N.A.
SATA ports34
PCI slotsPCIe 2.0 x16; (3x) PCIe 2.0 x1 PCIe 2.0 x16; PCIe 2.0 x4;
M.2 slotsN.A.N.A.
Drive bays(2x) 2.5/3.5in; (2x)5.25in;(2x)3.5in; 5.25in;
PSUATX 290 W255 W
Weight7.6 kg (16.75 lb)8.30 kg (18.29 lb)
Released20132010
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 OptiPlex 3020 MT and Dell OptiPlex 980 DT

If you are looking for a more modern desktop, then you should go with the Dell OptiPlex 3020 MT which was released in 2013. The Dell OptiPlex 980 DT is older and entered production in 2010.

If you are looking for the smaller form factor the Dell OptiPlex 980 DT is the right one for you. It is smaller than the Dell OptiPlex 3020 MT 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 3020 MT as it is running a newer generation CPU. This is not to say that Dell OptiPlex 980 DT is bad - it can still run some powerful CPUs, albeit being an older generation.

Memory

The Dell OptiPlex 980 DT has 4 RAM slots while the Dell OptiPlex 3020 MT 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 3020 MT is using the faster 1600 MT/s RAM. The Dell OptiPlex 980 DT is slower by supporting RAM speeds of up to 1333 MT/s. In addition, you will be able to install the same amount of RAM in both models, and most probably 16 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

Both models have the same amount of USB ports for total count of 8. If this is not enough, using a USB hub is always a viable option. None of the desktop models has a USB 3.1 port (10Gb/s), so if you need a fast connection to your peripherals, like external Solid State Drive, you will need to look elsewhere.

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.

None of the models has an HDMI port. If your monitor supports only the HDMI interface, you will need to buy an adapter. Such adapters are cheap so nothing to worry about.

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 OptiPlex 980 DT is better equipped as it comes with 4 SATA slot(s), while the Dell OptiPlex 3020 MT has 3 slot(s).

M.2 SSD interface allows you to transfer data with higher speeds compared to the old SATA interface. Unfortunately, neither the Dell OptiPlex 3020 MT, nor the Dell OptiPlex 980 DT has one. However, you can still use a SATA SSD drive which should give you satisfactory performance.

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 980 DT comes with a decent 255 Watt PSU, but the Dell OptiPlex 3020 MT has a more powerful one rated at 290 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_OptiPlex_3020_MT_motherboard.jpg motherboard layoutDell_OptiPlex_980_DT_motherboard.jpg motherboard layout