Dell OptiPlex 3040M vs. Dell OptiPlex 5050M

Comparison and Differences

Dell_OptiPlex_3040M.jpg case front and back pannelDell_OptiPlex_5050M.jpg case front and back pannel
Model
Form factorMicroMicro
CPU optionsIntel Gen6 i3/i5; Pentium; Celeron; Intel Gen6&7 i3/i5/i7; Pentium;
ChipsetH110Q270
Dedicated GPU *N.A.N.A.
RAMSODIMM DDR3L-1600 SODIMM DDR4-2133/2400
RAM slots22
RAM speed1600 MT/s2400 MT/s
RAM max16 GB32 GB
USB ports(4x) USB-A 3.0; (2x) USB-A 2.0; (6x) USB-A 3.0;
Video portsDisplay Port 1.2; HDMI 1.4;Display Port 1.2; HDMI 1.4;
Other portsRJ45; Headset; Line-Out; RJ45; Headset; Line-Out;
Optional portsSerial+PS2/Serial/VGA; WiFi antenna;Serial+PS2; Serial; VGA; DisplayPort 1.2; WiFi antenna;
SATA ports11
PCI slotsN.A.N.A.
M.2 slotsM.2 2230 (WiFi/BT)M.2 2280/2230 M-key (PCIe 3.0 x4, NVMe); M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT)
Drive bays2.5in;2.5in;
PSU65 W65 W
Weight1.28 kg (2.82 lb)1.18 kg (2.60 lb)
Released20152017
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 3040M and Dell OptiPlex 5050M

If you are looking for a more modern desktop, then you should go with the Dell OptiPlex 5050M which was released in 2017. The Dell OptiPlex 3040M is older and entered production in 2015.

Both models have the same form factor, meaning reoughtly they have the same phiysical size and form.

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 5050M as it is running a newer generation CPU. This is not to say that Dell OptiPlex 3040M is bad - it can still run some powerful CPUs, albeit being an older generation.

Memory

Both models have have equal amount of ram slots (2 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 OptiPlex 5050M is using the faster 2400 MT/s RAM. The Dell OptiPlex 3040M is slower by supporting RAM speeds of up to 1600 MT/s. Additionally, if you will be needing a lot of RAM, better go for the Dell OptiPlex 5050M as it has the ability to run 32 GB of RAM. The Dell OptiPlex 3040M can do a bit less at max 16 GB. Most of the times, this should be sufficient for the majority of users.

Ports

Both models have the same amount of USB ports for total count of 6. If this is not enough, using a USB hub is always a viable option. 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.

The DisplayPort is usually the more popular video port used with desktops and laptops, while the HDMI is used predominantly in consumer electronics. That's why, it is good to see that both of the models come with a DisplayPort.

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 1 SATA slot(s). Keep in mind that having too few SATA slots might limit your options for connecting additional memory drives.

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 5050M. Sadly, the Dell OptiPlex 3040M 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

Looking at the Power Supply Unit (PSU) of the two models we don't see any differences. For either of them you get a maximum power of 65 Watts. However be careful, many models have more than one power supply option. When buying your computer, it is a good idea to get a version with the most powerful PSU. This will potentially allow you to upgrade to a more powerful GPU for example.

Motherboard

Dell_OptiPlex_3040M_motherboard.jpg motherboard layoutDell_OptiPlex_5050M_motherboard.jpg motherboard layout