Dell OptiPlex 3050 SFF vs. Fujitsu Esprimo E520

Comparison and Differences

Dell_OptiPlex_3050_SFF.jpg case front and back pannelFujitsu_Esprimo_E520.jpg case front and back pannel
Model
Form factorSmallSmall
CPU optionsIntel Gen6&7 i3/i5; Pentium; Celeron;Intel Gen4 i3/i5/i7; Pentium; Celeron
ChipsetB250B85
Dedicated GPU *GeForce GT 1030 Low ProfileRadeon RX 6400 Low Profile
RAMDIMM DDR4-2133/2400 UDIMM DDR3-1600
RAM slots24
RAM speed2400 MT/s1600 MT/s
RAM max32 GB32 GB
USB ports(4x) USB-A 3.0; (4x) USB-A 2.0; (2x) USB-A 3.0; (6x) USB-A 2.0
Video portsDisplay Port 1.2; HDMI 1.4;DVI; VGA
Other portsRJ45; Headset; Line-Out; RJ45; Headphones; (2x) Mic; Line in; Line out; PS/2; Serial
Optional portsSerial+PS2; VGA; Media Card Reader;Parallel; eSATA; DisplayPort
SATA ports24
PCI slotsPCIe 3.0 x16; PCIe 3.0 x1; PCIe 3.0 x16; (2x) PCIe 2.0 x1; PCIe 2.0 x16 (wired x4)
M.2 slotsM.2 2280/2242 M-key (PCIe 3.0 x2, NVMe) N.A.
Drive bays3.5in/(2x)2.5in; 5.25in (slim); (2x) 3.5in; 5.25 inch
PSU180 W280 W
Weight5.14 kg (11.42 lb)10.00 kg (24.00 lb)
Released20172014
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 3050 SFF and Fujitsu Esprimo E520

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 Fujitsu Esprimo E520 is older and entered production in 2014.

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 Fujitsu Esprimo E520 is bad - it can still run some powerful CPUs, albeit being an older generation.

Memory

The Fujitsu Esprimo E520 has 4 RAM slots while the Dell OptiPlex 3050 SFF 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 3050 SFF is using the faster 2400 MT/s RAM. The Fujitsu Esprimo E520 is slower by supporting RAM speeds of up to 1600 MT/s. In addition, you will be able to install the same amount of RAM in both models, and most probably 32 GB of RAM will be enough for most people. However, if you will be needing more RAM, make sure to check other desktop models too.

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 Fujitsu Esprimo E520 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 Fujitsu Esprimo E520 is better equipped as it comes with 4 SATA slot(s), while the Dell OptiPlex 3050 SFF has 2 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 3050 SFF. Sadly, the Fujitsu Esprimo E520 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 Fujitsu Esprimo E520 has a more powerful one rated at 280 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_3050_SFF_motherboard.jpg motherboard layoutFujitsu_Esprimo_E520_motherboard.jpg motherboard layout