Dell OptiPlex 3020 SFF vs. Dell OptiPlex 3050 SFF

Comparison and Differences

Dell_OptiPlex_3020_SFF.jpg case front and back pannelDell_OptiPlex_3050_SFF.jpg case front and back pannel
Model
Form factorSmallSmall
CPU optionsIntel Gen4 i3/i5; Celeron; Pentium;Intel Gen6&7 i3/i5; Pentium; Celeron;
ChipsetH81 B250
Dedicated GPU *GeForce GT 1030 Low ProfileGeForce GT 1030 Low Profile
RAMDIMM DDR3-1600 DIMM DDR4-2133/2400
RAM slots22
RAM speed1600 MT/s2400 MT/s
RAM max16 GB32 GB
USB ports(2x) USB-A 3.0; (6x) USB-A 2.0; (4x) USB-A 3.0; (4x) USB-A 2.0;
Video portsDisplayPort 1.2; VGA;Display Port 1.2; HDMI 1.4;
Other portsRJ45; Hdph; Mic; Line-Out; Line-In; RJ45; Headset; Line-Out;
Optional portsSerial+PS2;Serial+PS2; VGA; Media Card Reader;
SATA ports22
PCI slotsPCIe 2.0 x16; PCIe 2.0 x1; PCIe 3.0 x16; PCIe 3.0 x1;
M.2 slotsN.A.M.2 2280/2242 M-key (PCIe 3.0 x2, NVMe)
Drive bays2.5/3.5in; 5.25in(slim);3.5in/(2x)2.5in; 5.25in (slim);
PSU255 W180 W
Weight5 kg (11.02 lb)5.14 kg (11.42 lb)
Released20132017
Manuallinklink
Price**Check PriceCheck Price

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* 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 SFF and Dell OptiPlex 3050 SFF

If you are looking for a more modern desktop, then you should go with the Dell OptiPlex 3050 SFF which was released in 2017. The Dell OptiPlex 3020 SFF 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 OptiPlex 3050 SFF as it is running a newer generation CPU. This is not to say that Dell OptiPlex 3020 SFF 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 3050 SFF is using the faster 2400 MT/s RAM. The Dell OptiPlex 3020 SFF 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 OptiPlex 3050 SFF as it has the ability to run 32 GB of RAM. The Dell OptiPlex 3020 SFF can do a bit less at max 16 GB. Most of the times, this should be sufficient for the majority of users.

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.

The Dell OptiPlex 3050 SFF comes with an HDMI port, while the Dell OptiPlex 3020 SFF 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 2 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 OptiPlex 3050 SFF. Sadly, the Dell OptiPlex 3020 SFF 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 3050 SFF comes with a decent 180 Watt PSU, but the Dell OptiPlex 3020 SFF has a more powerful one rated at 255 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_SFF_motherboard.jpg motherboard layoutDell_OptiPlex_3050_SFF_motherboard.jpg motherboard layout