Dell OptiPlex 3020 MT vs. Dell XPS 8930

Comparison and Differences

Dell_OptiPlex_3020_MT.jpg case front and back pannelDell_XPS_8930.jpg case front and back pannel
Model
Form factorMini TowerMini Tower
CPU optionsIntel Gen4 i3/i5; Celeron; Pentium;Intel Gen8 i3/i5/i7;
ChipsetH81 Z370
Dedicated GPU *GeForce GTX 1660 SuperGeForce RTX 2060 Super
RAMDIMM DDR3-1600 DIMM DDR4-2666/2933
RAM slots24
RAM speed1600 MT/s2666 MT/s
RAM max16 GB64 GB
USB ports(2x) USB-A 3.0; (6x) USB-A 2.0; USB 3.1 Type C; USB 3.1 Type A; (2x) USB-A 2.0; (6x) USB-A 3.0;
Video portsDisplayPort 1.2; VGA;HDMI 1.4; DisplayPort 1.2;
Other portsRJ45; Hdph; Mic; Line-Out; Line-In; RJ45; Mic; Headset; Card Reader;
Optional portsSerial+PS2;N.A.
SATA ports33
PCI slotsPCIe 2.0 x16; (3x) PCIe 2.0 x1 PCIe 3.0 x16; (x2) PCIe x4;
M.2 slotsN.A.M.2 2280/2230 M-key (PCIe 3.0 x4, NVMe); M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT);
Drive bays(2x) 2.5/3.5in; (2x)5.25in;(3x) 3.5in;
PSUATX 290 W460 W
Weight7.6 kg (16.75 lb)8.20 kg (18.08 lb)
Released20132017
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 XPS 8930

If you are looking for a more modern desktop, then you should go with the Dell XPS 8930 which was released in 2017. The Dell OptiPlex 3020 MT is older and entered production in 2013.

Both models have the same form factor, meaning reoughtly they have the same phiysical size and form.

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 XPS 8930 as it is running a newer generation CPU. This is not to say that Dell OptiPlex 3020 MT is bad - it can still run some powerful CPUs, albeit being an older generation.

Memory

The Dell XPS 8930 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 XPS 8930 is using the faster 2666 MT/s RAM. The Dell OptiPlex 3020 MT is slower by supporting RAM speeds of up to 1600 MT/s. Additionally, if you will be needing a lot of RAM, better go for the Dell XPS 8930 as it has the ability to run 64 GB of RAM. The Dell OptiPlex 3020 MT can do a bit less at max 16 GB. Most of the times, this should be sufficient for the majority of users.

Ports

In total the Dell XPS 8930 has 10 USB ports. The Dell OptiPlex 3020 MT is inferior in this regard and packs 8 USB ports. In any case, if you miss USB ports, you can always purchase a USB hub. What is nice about the Dell XPS 8930, is that it has 2 USB 3.1 port(s) which allows transfer of up to 10Gb/s. Unfortunately, the Dell OptiPlex 3020 MT 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.

The Dell XPS 8930 comes with an HDMI port, while the Dell OptiPlex 3020 MT does not support the interface. Of course missing HDMI port is something that can be easily fixed with a good adapter (e.g. DisplayPort to HDMI).

SATA slots are located on the motherboard and it is where SSD, HDD and Optical Disk Drives are connected. Each of the two models being compared have 3 SATA slot(s). Keep in mind that having too few SATA slots might limit your options for connecting additional memory drives.

If you want the fastest transfer speeds for your SSD, an M.2 interface is crucial. Thus, if the M.2 SSD slot is a mandatory requirement for you, go with the Dell XPS 8930. Sadly, the Dell OptiPlex 3020 MT has no such slot, and you will be forced to use the SATA interface instead.

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 3020 MT comes with a decent 290 Watt PSU, but the Dell XPS 8930 has a more powerful one rated at 460 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_XPS_8930_motherboard.jpg motherboard layout