Dell OptiPlex 5050M vs. Lenovo ThinkCentre M83 Small Pro

Comparison and Differences

Dell_OptiPlex_5050M.jpg case front and back pannelLenovo_ThinkCentre_M83_Small_Pro.jpg case front and back pannel
Model
Form factorMicroSmall
CPU optionsIntel Gen6&7 i3/i5/i7; Pentium; Intel Gen4 i3/i5/i7; Pentium;
ChipsetQ270Q85
Dedicated GPU *N.A.GeForce GTX 1660 Super
RAMSODIMM DDR4-2133/2400 DIMM DDR3-1600
RAM slots24
RAM speed2400 MT/s1600 MT/s
RAM max32 GB32 GB
USB ports(6x) USB-A 3.0; (4x)USB-A 3.0; (4x)USB-A 2.0;
Video portsDisplay Port 1.2; HDMI 1.4;(2x) DisplayPort; VGA;
Other portsRJ45; Headset; Line-Out; RJ45; Hdph; (2x) Mic; Line-Out; Line-In; Serial;
Optional portsSerial+PS2; Serial; VGA; DisplayPort 1.2; WiFi antenna; Parallel; Serial; (2x) PS2; Media card reader (USB 2.0);
SATA ports14
PCI slotsN.A.PCIe 3.0 x16; PCIe 2.0 x1; PCIe 2.0 x16 (wired x4);
M.2 slotsM.2 2280/2230 M-key (PCIe 3.0 x4, NVMe); M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT) N.A.
Drive bays2.5in;(2x) 2.5/3.5in; (2x) 5.25in;
PSU65 WATX 280/450 W
Weight1.18 kg (2.60 lb)11.20 kg (24.69 lb)
Released20172013
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 5050M and Lenovo ThinkCentre M83 Small Pro

If you are looking for a more modern desktop, then you should go with the Dell OptiPlex 5050M which was released in 2017. The Lenovo ThinkCentre M83 Small Pro is older and entered production in 2013.

If you are looking for the smaller form factor the Dell OptiPlex 5050M is the right one for you. It is smaller than the Lenovo ThinkCentre M83 Small Pro 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 5050M as it is running a newer generation CPU. This is not to say that Lenovo ThinkCentre M83 Small Pro is bad - it can still run some powerful CPUs, albeit being an older generation.

Memory

The Lenovo ThinkCentre M83 Small Pro has 4 RAM slots while the Dell OptiPlex 5050M 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 5050M is using the faster 2400 MT/s RAM. The Lenovo ThinkCentre M83 Small Pro is slower by supporting RAM speeds of up to 1600 MT/s. In addition, you will be able to install the same amount of RAM in both models, and most probably 32 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 Lenovo ThinkCentre M83 Small Pro has 8 USB ports. The Dell OptiPlex 5050M 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. 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 Lenovo ThinkCentre M83 Small Pro comes with 2 ports, while the Dell OptiPlex 5050M has only 1. If you are planning to use multiple monitors, the Lenovo ThinkCentre M83 Small Pro is the better choice.

The Dell OptiPlex 5050M comes with an HDMI port, while the Lenovo ThinkCentre M83 Small Pro 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 Lenovo ThinkCentre M83 Small Pro is better equipped as it comes with 4 SATA slot(s), while the Dell OptiPlex 5050M 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 5050M. Sadly, the Lenovo ThinkCentre M83 Small Pro 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 5050M comes with a decent 65 Watt PSU, but the Lenovo ThinkCentre M83 Small Pro has a more powerful one rated at 450 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_5050M_motherboard.jpg motherboard layoutLenovo_ThinkCentre_M83_Small_Pro_motherboard.jpg motherboard layout