Dell OptiPlex 3040M vs. Dell OptiPlex 7040 MT

Comparison and Differences

Dell_OptiPlex_3040M.jpg case front and back pannelDell_OptiPlex_7040_MT.jpg case front and back pannel
Model
Form factorMicroMini Tower
CPU optionsIntel Gen6 i3/i5; Pentium; Celeron; Intel Gen6 i3/i5/i7
ChipsetH110Q170
Dedicated GPU *N.A.GeForce GTX 1650 Super
RAMSODIMM DDR3L-1600 DIMM DDR4-2133
RAM slots24
RAM speed1600 MT/s2133 MT/s
RAM max16 GB64 GB
USB ports(4x) USB-A 3.0; (2x) USB-A 2.0; (6x) USB-A 3.0; (4x) USB-A 2.0;
Video portsDisplay Port 1.2; HDMI 1.4;(2x) Display Port 1.2; HDMI 1.4;
Other portsRJ45; Headset; Line-Out; Serial; (2x) PS2; RJ45; Headset; Line-Out;
Optional portsSerial+PS2/Serial/VGA; WiFi antenna;VGA; Media Card Reader;
SATA ports14
PCI slotsN.A.PCIe 3.0 x16; PCIe 3.0 x16 (wired x4); PCIe 3.0 x1; PCI;
M.2 slotsM.2 2230 (WiFi/BT)M.2 2280 M-key (PCIe 3.0 x4, NVMe)
Drive bays2.5in;3.5in/5.25in; (2x) 2.5in; 5.25in (slim);
PSU65 W240 W
Weight1.28 kg (2.82 lb)8.00 kg (17.64 lb)
Released20152015
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 3040M and Dell OptiPlex 7040 MT

Both computers, the Dell OptiPlex 3040M and the Dell OptiPlex 7040 MT, were released during the same year - 2015.

If you are looking for the smaller form factor the Dell OptiPlex 3040M is the right one for you. It is smaller than the Dell OptiPlex 7040 MT and will fit more easily under your desk.

Processor

The two models have the same generation of Intel processors. We think that the 6 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 OptiPlex 7040 MT has 4 RAM slots while the Dell OptiPlex 3040M 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 7040 MT is using the faster 2133 MT/s RAM. The Dell OptiPlex 3040M 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 7040 MT as it has the ability to run 64 GB of RAM. The Dell OptiPlex 3040M 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 OptiPlex 7040 MT has 10 USB ports. The Dell OptiPlex 3040M 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.

DisplayPort is crucial for any desktop machine. It is good to see that both models are featuring DisplayPorts. However, the Dell OptiPlex 7040 MT comes with 2 ports, while the Dell OptiPlex 3040M has only 1. If you are planning to use multiple monitors, the Dell OptiPlex 7040 MT is the better choice.

In case your monitor supports HDMI only, you will be happy to hear that both models come with an HDMI port.

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 7040 MT is better equipped as it comes with 4 SATA slot(s), while the Dell OptiPlex 3040M has 1 slot(s).

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 7040 MT. Sadly, the Dell OptiPlex 3040M 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 3040M comes with a decent 65 Watt PSU, but the Dell OptiPlex 7040 MT has a more powerful one rated at 240 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_3040M_motherboard.jpg motherboard layoutDell_OptiPlex_7040_MT_motherboard.jpg motherboard layout