Dell OptiPlex 3020M vs. Dell XPS 8700

Comparison and Differences

Dell_OptiPlex_3020M.jpg case front and back pannelDell_XPS_8700.jpg case front and back pannel
Model
Form factorMicroMini Tower
CPU optionsIntel Gen4 i3/i5; Celeron; Pentium;Intel Gen4 i3/i5/i7;
ChipsetH81 Z87
Dedicated GPU *N.A.GeForce GTX 1080 Ti
RAMSODIMM DDR3-1600 DIMM DDR3-1333/1600
RAM slots24
RAM speed1600 MT/s1600 MT/s
RAM max16 GB32 GB
USB ports(2x) USB-A 3.0; (4x) USB-A 2.0; (4x) USB-A 2.0; (5x) USB 3.0;
Video portsDisplayPort 1.2; VGA;HDMI 1.2; DisplayPort 1.2;
Other portsRJ45; Headset; Mic/Hdph;RJ45; Mic; Headset; Card Reader;
Optional portsWiFi antenna; Serial+PS2; N.A.
SATA ports15
PCI slots N.A.PCIe 3.0 x16; (x3) PCIe x1; (2x) mPCI;
M.2 slotsM.2 2230 (WiFi)N.A.
Drive bays2.5in;(3x) 3.5in; (2x) 5.25in; mSATA;
PSU65 W460 W
Weight1.28 kg (2.82 lb)13.8 kg (30.42 lb)
Released20132013
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 3020M and Dell XPS 8700

Both computers, the Dell OptiPlex 3020M and the Dell XPS 8700, were released during the same year - 2013.

If you are looking for the smaller form factor the Dell OptiPlex 3020M is the right one for you. It is smaller than the Dell XPS 8700 and will fit more easily under your desk.

Processor

The two models have the same generation of Intel processors. We think that the 4 generation of Intel Processors have enough power to execute all of the home and office tasks that most people will care to do.

Memory

The Dell XPS 8700 has 4 RAM slots while the Dell OptiPlex 3020M 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.

None of the desktops has an advantage when it comes to the speed of the RAM being used. Both models support RAM speeds of up to 1600. Additionally, if you will be needing a lot of RAM, better go for the Dell XPS 8700 as it has the ability to run 32 GB of RAM. The Dell OptiPlex 3020M 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 8700 has 9 USB ports. The Dell OptiPlex 3020M 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. 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 XPS 8700 comes with an HDMI port, while the Dell OptiPlex 3020M 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 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 XPS 8700 is better equipped as it comes with 5 SATA slot(s), while the Dell OptiPlex 3020M has 1 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 3020M, nor the Dell XPS 8700 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 3020M comes with a decent 65 Watt PSU, but the Dell XPS 8700 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_3020M_motherboard.jpg motherboard layoutDell_XPS_8700_motherboard.jpg motherboard layout