Dell OptiPlex 5040 MT vs. Lenovo ThinkCentre M83 Tiny

Comparison and Differences

Dell_OptiPlex_5040_MT.jpg case front and back pannelLenovo_ThinkCentre_M83_Tiny.jpg case front and back pannel
Model
Form factorMini TowerMicro
CPU optionsIntel Gen6 i3/i5/i7Intel Gen4 i3/i5/i7; Pentium;
ChipsetQ170Q85
Dedicated GPU *GeForce GTX 1650 SuperN.A.
RAMDIMM DDR3L-1600 SODIMM DDR3-1600
RAM slots42
RAM speed1600 MT/s1600 MT/s
RAM max16 GB32 GB
USB ports(6x) USB-A 3.0; (4x) USB-A 2.0; (4x)USB-A 3.0; USB-A 2.0;
Video ports(2x) Display Port 1.2; HDMI 1.4;DisplayPort; VGA;
Other portsSerial; (2x) PS2; RJ45; Headset; Line-Out; RJ45; Headset; Mic;
Optional portsVGA; Media Card Reader;DisplayPort; USB-A 2.0; Serial; WiFi antenna;
SATA ports41
PCI slotsPCIe 3.0 x16; PCIe 3.0 x16 (wired x4); PCIe 3.0 x1; PCI; N.A.
M.2 slotsM.2 2280 M-key (PCIe 3.0 x4, NVMe) M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT)
Drive bays3.5in/5.25in; (2x) 2.5in; 5.25in (slim);2.5in;
PSU240 W65 W
Weight8.00 kg (17.64 lb)1.3 kg (2.9 lb)
Released20152013
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 5040 MT and Lenovo ThinkCentre M83 Tiny

If you are looking for a more modern desktop, then you should go with the Dell OptiPlex 5040 MT which was released in 2015. The Lenovo ThinkCentre M83 Tiny is older and entered production in 2013.

If you are looking for the smaller form factor the Lenovo ThinkCentre M83 Tiny is the right one for you. It is smaller than the Dell OptiPlex 5040 MT 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 5040 MT as it is running a newer generation CPU. This is not to say that Lenovo ThinkCentre M83 Tiny is bad - it can still run some powerful CPUs, albeit being an older generation.

Memory

The Dell OptiPlex 5040 MT has 4 RAM slots while the Lenovo ThinkCentre M83 Tiny 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.

None of the desktops has an advantage when it comes to the speed of the RAM being used. Both models support RAM speeds of up to 1600. Additionally, if you will be needing a lot of RAM, better go for the Lenovo ThinkCentre M83 Tiny as it has the ability to run 32 GB of RAM. The Dell OptiPlex 5040 MT 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 5040 MT has 10 USB ports. The Lenovo ThinkCentre M83 Tiny 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 Dell OptiPlex 5040 MT comes with 2 ports, while the Lenovo ThinkCentre M83 Tiny has only 1. If you are planning to use multiple monitors, the Dell OptiPlex 5040 MT is the better choice.

The Dell OptiPlex 5040 MT comes with an HDMI port, while the Lenovo ThinkCentre M83 Tiny 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 OptiPlex 5040 MT is better equipped as it comes with 4 SATA slot(s), while the Lenovo ThinkCentre M83 Tiny 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 5040 MT. Sadly, the Lenovo ThinkCentre M83 Tiny 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 Lenovo ThinkCentre M83 Tiny comes with a decent 65 Watt PSU, but the Dell OptiPlex 5040 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_5040_MT_motherboard.jpg motherboard layoutLenovo_ThinkCentre_M83_Tiny_motherboard.jpg motherboard layout