Dell OptiPlex 3000 SFF vs. Dell OptiPlex 5050 MT

Comparison and Differences

Dell_OptiPlex_3000_SFF.jpg case front and back pannelDell_OptiPlex_5050_MT.jpg case front and back pannel
Model
Form factorSmallMini Tower
CPU optionsIntel Gen 12 i3/i5/i7/i9; PentiumIntel Gen6&7 i3/i5/i7; Pentium;
ChipsetB660Q270
Dedicated GPU *AMD Radeon RX 6400 Low ProfileGeForce GTX 1650 Super
RAMDIMM DDR4-3200DIMM DDR4-2133/2400
RAM slots24
RAM speed3200 MT/s2400 MT/s
RAM max64 GB64 GB
USB ports(4x) USB-A 2.0; (4x) USB-A 3.0;(6x) USB-A 3.0; (4x) USB-A 2.0;
Video portsDisplay Port 1.4a; HDMI 1.4b;(2x) Display Port 1.2; HDMI 1.4;
Other portsRJ45; Audio; Line-Out/In;Serial; (2x) PS2; RJ45; Headset; Line-Out;
Optional portsHDMI 2.0b/Displayport/VGA;VGA; Media Card Reader;
SATA ports24
PCI slotsPCIe 3.0 x16; PCIe 3.0 x1;PCIe 3.0 x16; PCIe 3.0 x16 (wired x4); (2x) PCIe 3.0 x1;
M.2 slotsM.2 2230/2280 (PCIe 4.0 x4, NVMe); M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT) M.2 2280/2242 M-key (PCIe 3.0 x4, NVMe)
Drive bays3.5in; 2.5in;3.5in/5.25in; (2x) 2.5in; 5.25in (slim);
PSU180/300 W240 W
Weight5.03 kg (11.09 lb)7.93 kg (17.49 lb)
Released20222017
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 3000 SFF and Dell OptiPlex 5050 MT

If you are looking for a more modern desktop, then you should go with the Dell OptiPlex 3000 SFF which was released in 2022. The Dell OptiPlex 5050 MT is older and entered production in 2017.

If you are looking for the smaller form factor the Dell OptiPlex 3000 SFF is the right one for you. It is smaller than the Dell OptiPlex 5050 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 3000 SFF as it is running a newer generation CPU. This is not to say that Dell OptiPlex 5050 MT is bad - it can still run some powerful CPUs, albeit being an older generation.

Memory

The Dell OptiPlex 5050 MT has 4 RAM slots while the Dell OptiPlex 3000 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 3000 SFF is using the faster 3200 MT/s RAM. The Dell OptiPlex 5050 MT is slower by supporting RAM speeds of up to 2400 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 OptiPlex 5050 MT has 10 USB ports. The Dell OptiPlex 3000 SFF is inferior in this regard and packs 8 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 5050 MT comes with 2 ports, while the Dell OptiPlex 3000 SFF has only 1. If you are planning to use multiple monitors, the Dell OptiPlex 5050 MT is the better choice.

In case your monitor supports HDMI only, you will be happy to hear that both models come with an HDMI port.

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 5050 MT is better equipped as it comes with 4 SATA slot(s), while the Dell OptiPlex 3000 SFF has 2 slot(s).

When your goal is to have the fastest SSD transfer speeds, an M.2 interface is crucial. Thus, it is good that both models have M.2 SSD slots. Today M.2 SSDs are not much more expensive than the average SATA drives, so it really does not make sense to invest in SATA drives anymore.

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 5050 MT comes with a decent 240 Watt PSU, but the Dell OptiPlex 3000 SFF has a more powerful one rated at 300 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_3000_SFF_motherboard.jpg motherboard layoutDell_OptiPlex_5050_MT_motherboard.jpg motherboard layout