Dell OptiPlex 5050 SFF vs. Dell XPS 8930

Comparison and Differences

Dell_OptiPlex_5050_SFF.jpg case front and back pannelDell_XPS_8930.jpg case front and back pannel
Model
Form factorSmallMini Tower
CPU optionsIntel Gen6&7 i3/i5/i7; Pentium; Intel Gen8 i3/i5/i7;
ChipsetQ270Z370
Dedicated GPU *GeForce GT 1030 Low ProfileGeForce RTX 2060 Super
RAMDIMM DDR4-2133/2400 DIMM DDR4-2666/2933
RAM slots44
RAM speed2400 MT/s2666 MT/s
RAM max64 GB64 GB
USB ports(6x) USB-A 3.0; (4x) USB-A 2.0; USB 3.1 Type C; USB 3.1 Type A; (2x) USB-A 2.0; (6x) USB-A 3.0;
Video ports(2x) Display Port 1.2; HDMI 1.4;HDMI 1.4; DisplayPort 1.2;
Other portsSerial; (2x) PS2; RJ45; Headset; Line-Out; RJ45; Mic; Headset; Card Reader;
Optional portsVGA; Media Card Reader;N.A.
SATA ports33
PCI slotsPCIe 3.0 x16; PCIe 3.0 x4;PCIe 3.0 x16; (x2) PCIe x4;
M.2 slotsM.2 2280/2242 M-key (PCIe 3.0 x4, NVMe) M.2 2280/2230 M-key (PCIe 3.0 x4, NVMe); M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT);
Drive bays3.5in/(2x)2.5in; 5.25in (slim); (3x) 3.5in;
PSU180 W460 W
Weight5.26 kg (11.57 lb)8.20 kg (18.08 lb)
Released20172017
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 5050 SFF and Dell XPS 8930

Both computers, the Dell OptiPlex 5050 SFF and the Dell XPS 8930, were released during the same year - 2017.

If you are looking for the smaller form factor the Dell OptiPlex 5050 SFF is the right one for you. It is smaller than the Dell XPS 8930 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 XPS 8930 as it is running a newer generation CPU. This is not to say that Dell OptiPlex 5050 SFF is bad - it can still run some powerful CPUs, albeit being an older generation.

Memory

Both models have have equal amount of ram slots (4 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 XPS 8930 is using the faster 2666 MT/s RAM. The Dell OptiPlex 5050 SFF 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

Both models have the same amount of USB ports for total count of 10. If this is not enough, using a USB hub is always a viable option. What is nice about the Dell XPS 8930, is that it has 2 USB 3.1 port(s) which allows transfer of up to 10Gb/s. Unfortunately, the Dell OptiPlex 5050 SFF 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 5050 SFF comes with 2 ports, while the Dell XPS 8930 has only 1. If you are planning to use multiple monitors, the Dell OptiPlex 5050 SFF 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 slots are located on the motherboard and it is where SSD, HDD and Optical Disk Drives are connected. Each of the two models being compared have 3 SATA slot(s). Keep in mind that having too few SATA slots might limit your options for connecting additional memory drives.

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 SFF comes with a decent 180 Watt PSU, but the Dell XPS 8930 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_5050_SFF_motherboard.jpg motherboard layoutDell_XPS_8930_motherboard.jpg motherboard layout