Dell OptiPlex 3020 SFF vs. Dell OptiPlex 790 USFF

Comparison and Differences

Dell_OptiPlex_3020_SFF.jpg case front and back pannelDell_OptiPlex_790_USFF.jpg case front and back pannel
Model
Form factorSmallUltra Small
CPU optionsIntel Gen4 i3/i5; Celeron; Pentium;Intel Gen2 i3/i5/i7; Celeron; Pentium;
ChipsetH81 Q65
Dedicated GPU *GeForce GT 1030 Low ProfileN.A.
RAMDIMM DDR3-1600 DIMM DDR3-1333
RAM slots22
RAM speed1600 MT/s1333 MT/s
RAM max16 GB8 GB
USB ports(2x) USB-A 3.0; (6x) USB-A 2.0; (7x)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;
Optional portsSerial+PS2;N.A.
SATA ports22
PCI slotsPCIe 2.0 x16; PCIe 2.0 x1; N.A.
M.2 slotsN.A.N.A.
Drive bays2.5/3.5in; 5.25in(slim);2.5in; 5.25in(slim);
PSU255 W200 W
Weight5 kg (11.02 lb)3.27 kg (7.20 lb)
Released20132011
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 790 USFF

If you are looking for a more modern desktop, then you should go with the Dell OptiPlex 3020 SFF which was released in 2013. The Dell OptiPlex 790 USFF is older and entered production in 2011.

If you are looking for the smaller form factor the Dell OptiPlex 790 USFF is the right one for you. It is smaller than the Dell OptiPlex 3020 SFF 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 SFF as it is running a newer generation CPU. This is not to say that Dell OptiPlex 790 USFF 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 3020 SFF is using the faster 1600 MT/s RAM. The Dell OptiPlex 790 USFF is slower by supporting RAM speeds of up to 1333 MT/s. Additionally, if you will be needing a lot of RAM, better go for the Dell OptiPlex 3020 SFF as it has the ability to run 16 GB of RAM. The Dell OptiPlex 790 USFF can do a bit less at max 8 GB. Most of the times, this should be sufficient for the majority of users.

Ports

In total the Dell OptiPlex 3020 SFF has 8 USB ports. The Dell OptiPlex 790 USFF is inferior in this regard and packs 7 USB ports. In any case, if you miss USB ports, you can always purchase a USB hub. 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 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.

M.2 SSD interface allows you to transfer data with higher speeds compared to the old SATA interface. Unfortunately, neither the Dell OptiPlex 3020 SFF, nor the Dell OptiPlex 790 USFF 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 790 USFF comes with a decent 200 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_790_USFF_motherboard.jpg motherboard layout