Dell OptiPlex 3090 M vs. Lenovo ThinkCentre M72e Small

Comparison and Differences

Dell_OptiPlex_3090_M.jpg case front and back pannelLenovo_ThinkCentre_M72e_Small.jpg case front and back pannel
Model
Form factorMicroSmall
CPU optionsIntel Gen10 i3/i5/i7; Pentium; Celeron;Intel Gen2&3 i3/i5/i7; Celeron; Pentium;
ChipsetQ470H61
Dedicated GPU *N.A.GeForce GTX 1650 Low Profile
RAMSODIMM DDR4-2666/2933DIMM DDR3-1600
RAM slots22
RAM speed2933 MT/s1600 MT/s
RAM max64 GB16 GB
USB ports(4x) USB-A 3.0; (2x) USB-A 2.0;(6x)USB-A 2.0;
Video ports(2x) Display Port 1.4;DVI-D; VGA;
Other portsRJ45; Headset; Line-Out;RJ45; Hdph; (2x) Mic; Line-Out; Line-In; Serial; (2x) PS2;
Optional portsHDMI 2.0b/Displayport/VGA;Parallel; Serial; Media card reader (USB 2.0);
SATA ports13
PCI slotsN.A.PCIe 2.0 x16; (2x) PCIe 2.0 x1;
M.2 slotsM.2 2280/2230 M-key (PCIe 3.0 x4, NVMe); M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT) N.A.
Drive bays2.5in;2.5/3.5in; 5.25in;
PSU65 WTFX 240 W
Weight1.28 kg (2.82 lb)6.6 kg (14.55 lb)
Released20212012
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 3090 M and Lenovo ThinkCentre M72e Small

If you are looking for a more modern desktop, then you should go with the Dell OptiPlex 3090 M which was released in 2021. The Lenovo ThinkCentre M72e Small is older and entered production in 2012.

If you are looking for the smaller form factor the Dell OptiPlex 3090 M is the right one for you. It is smaller than the Lenovo ThinkCentre M72e Small 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 3090 M as it is running a newer generation CPU. This is not to say that Lenovo ThinkCentre M72e Small 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 3090 M is using the faster 2933 MT/s RAM. The Lenovo ThinkCentre M72e Small 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 3090 M as it has the ability to run 64 GB of RAM. The Lenovo ThinkCentre M72e Small 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 Lenovo ThinkCentre M72e Small has 6 USB ports. The Dell OptiPlex 3090 M is inferior in this regard and packs 5 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.

Unfortunately, only the Dell OptiPlex 3090 M has a DisplayPort. The Lenovo ThinkCentre M72e Small does not have one? Don't worry though, nowadays video adapters are cheap and you can get almost any combination of conversion types.

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 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 Lenovo ThinkCentre M72e Small is better equipped as it comes with 3 SATA slot(s), while the Dell OptiPlex 3090 M 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 3090 M. Sadly, the Lenovo ThinkCentre M72e Small 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 3090 M comes with a decent 65 Watt PSU, but the Lenovo ThinkCentre M72e Small 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_3090_M_motherboard.jpg motherboard layoutLenovo_ThinkCentre_M72e_Small_motherboard.jpg motherboard layout