Dell OptiPlex 3090 M vs. Lenovo ThinkCentre M900 Small

Comparison and Differences

Dell_OptiPlex_3090_M.jpg case front and back pannelLenovo_ThinkCentre_M900_Small.jpg case front and back pannel
Model
Form factorMicroSmall
CPU optionsIntel Gen10 i3/i5/i7; Pentium; Celeron;Intel Gen6 i3/i5/i7; Celeron; Pentium;
ChipsetQ470Q170
Dedicated GPU *N.A.GeForce GT 1030 Low Profile
RAMSODIMM DDR4-2666/2933DIMM DDR4-2133
RAM slots24
RAM speed2933 MT/s2133 MT/s
RAM max64 GB64 GB
USB ports(4x) USB-A 3.0; (2x) USB-A 2.0;(8x)USB-A 3.0;
Video ports(2x) Display Port 1.4;(2x) DisplayPort 1.2; VGA;
Other portsRJ45; Headset; Line-Out;RJ45; Hdph; (2x) Mic; Line-Out; Line-In; Serial;
Optional portsHDMI 2.0b/Displayport/VGA;2x USB-A 2.0; Media card reader (USB 2.0); (2x) PS2; eSATA;
SATA ports13
PCI slotsN.A.PCIe 3.0 x16; PCIe 3.0 x1; PCIe 3.0 x16 (wired x4); M2 to PCI adapter (optional);
M.2 slotsM.2 2280/2230 M-key (PCIe 3.0 x4, NVMe); M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT) M.2 (WiFi/BT or PCI extension card)
Drive bays2.5in;2.5in; 2.5/3.5in; 5.25in (slim);
PSU65 WTFX 210 W
Weight1.28 kg (2.82 lb)9 kg (19.8 lbs)
Released20212015
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 3090 M and Lenovo ThinkCentre M900 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 M900 Small is older and entered production in 2015.

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 M900 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 M900 Small is bad - it can still run some powerful CPUs, albeit being an older generation.

Memory

The Lenovo ThinkCentre M900 Small has 4 RAM slots while the Dell OptiPlex 3090 M 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 3090 M is using the faster 2933 MT/s RAM. The Lenovo ThinkCentre M900 Small is slower by supporting RAM speeds of up to 2133 MT/s. In addition, you will be able to install the same amount of RAM in both models, and most probably 64 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

In total the Lenovo ThinkCentre M900 Small has 8 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.

DisplayPort is crucial for any desktop machine. It is good to see that both models are featuring DisplayPorts. However, the Lenovo ThinkCentre M900 Small comes with 2 ports, while the Dell OptiPlex 3090 M has only 1. If you are planning to use multiple monitors, the Lenovo ThinkCentre M900 Small is the better choice.

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 M900 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 M900 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 M900 Small has a more powerful one rated at 210 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_M900_Small_motherboard.jpg motherboard layout