Dell OptiPlex 5000 M vs. Dell XPS 8900

Comparison and Differences

Dell_OptiPlex_5000_M.jpg case front and back pannelDell_XPS_8900.jpg case front and back pannel
Model
Form factorMicroMini Tower
CPU optionsIntel Gen 12 T i3/i5/i7/i9;Intel Gen6 i3/i5/i7;
ChipsetQ670Z170
Dedicated GPU *N.A.GeForce GTX 1080 Ti
RAMSODIMM DDR4-3200DIMM DDR4-2133/2400
RAM slots24
RAM speed3200 MT/s2133 MT/s
RAM max64 GB64 GB
USB ports(5x) USB-A 3.0; USB-C 3.1;(4x) USB-A 2.0; (6x) USB 3.0;
Video ports(2x) Display Port 1.4a;HDMI 1.4; DisplayPort 1.2;
Other portsRJ45; Audio; Line-Out/In;RJ45; Mic; Headset; Card Reader;
Optional portsHDMI 2.0b/Displayport/VGA/PS2/serial/USB Type-C;N.A.
SATA ports05
PCI slotsN.A.PCIe 3.0 x16; (x2) PCIe x4;
M.2 slots(2x)M.2 2230/2280 (PCIe 4.0 x4, NVMe); M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT) M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT)
Drive bays2.5in;(3x) 3.5in; (2x) 5.25in;
PSU90/130 W460 W
Weight1.33 kg (2.94 lbs)13.3 kg (29.32 lb)
Released20222015
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 5000 M and Dell XPS 8900

If you are looking for a more modern desktop, then you should go with the Dell OptiPlex 5000 M which was released in 2022. The Dell XPS 8900 is older and entered production in 2015.

If you are looking for the smaller form factor the Dell OptiPlex 5000 M is the right one for you. It is smaller than the Dell XPS 8900 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 5000 M as it is running a newer generation CPU. This is not to say that Dell XPS 8900 is bad - it can still run some powerful CPUs, albeit being an older generation.

Memory

The Dell XPS 8900 has 4 RAM slots while the Dell OptiPlex 5000 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 5000 M is using the faster 3200 MT/s RAM. The Dell XPS 8900 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 Dell XPS 8900 has 10 USB ports. The Dell OptiPlex 5000 M 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. What is nice about the Dell OptiPlex 5000 M, is that it has 1 USB 3.1 port(s) which allows transfer of up to 10Gb/s. Unfortunately, the Dell XPS 8900 has no such port, thus restricting your transfer speeds significantly. For people who want to use external drives on regular basis, this might be an issue.

DisplayPort is crucial for any desktop machine. It is good to see that both models are featuring DisplayPorts. However, the Dell OptiPlex 5000 M comes with 2 ports, while the Dell XPS 8900 has only 1. If you are planning to use multiple monitors, the Dell OptiPlex 5000 M is the better choice.

The Dell XPS 8900 comes with an HDMI port, while the Dell OptiPlex 5000 M 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 8900 is better equipped as it comes with 5 SATA slot(s), while the Dell OptiPlex 5000 M has 0 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 5000 M. Sadly, the Dell XPS 8900 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 5000 M comes with a decent 180 Watt PSU, but the Dell XPS 8900 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_5000_M_motherboard.jpg motherboard layoutDell_XPS_8900_motherboard.jpg motherboard layout