Dell Inspiron 3881 vs. Dell OptiPlex 5060 SFF

Comparison and Differences

Dell_Inspiron_3881.jpg case front and back pannelDell_OptiPlex_5060_SFF.jpg case front and back pannel
Model
Form factorMini TowerSmall
CPU optionsIntel Gen10 i3/i5/i7; Celeron; Pentium;Intel Gen8 i3/i5/i7; Pentium;
ChipsetH470Q370
Dedicated GPU *GeForce GTX 1650 SuperGeForce GTX 1650 Low Profile
RAMDIMM DDR4-2666/2933DIMM DDR4-2400/2666
RAM slots24
RAM speed2933 MT/s2666 MT/s
RAM max64 GB64 GB
USB ports(3x) USB 3.0 Type A; USB 3.1 Type C; (4x) USB-A 2.0;USB 3.1 Type C; (5x) USB-A 3.0; (4x) USB-A 2.0;
Video portsHDMI 1.4; DisplayPort 1.4; VGA;(2x) Display Port 1.2;
Other portsRJ45; Headset; Line-Out; Card Reader;RJ45; Headset; Line-Out;
Optional portsN.A.HDMI2.0b/DP1.2/VGA/USB Type-C (DP Alt Mode); Serial+PS2; Media Card Reader; WiFi antenna;
SATA ports23
PCI slotsPCIe 3.0 x16; PCIe 3.0 x1;PCIe 3.0 x16; PCIe 3.0 x4 (open ended);
M.2 slotsM.2 2280/2230 M-key (PCIe 3.0 x4, NVMe); M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT); M.2 2280/2230 M-key (PCIe 3.0 x4, NVMe); M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT)
Drive bays3.25in; 9.5mm3.5in/(2x)2.5in; 5.25in (slim);
PSU260 W200 W
Weight6.40 kg (14.11 lb)5.81 kg (12.82 lb)
Released20202018
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 Inspiron 3881 and Dell OptiPlex 5060 SFF

If you are looking for a more modern desktop, then you should go with the Dell Inspiron 3881 which was released in 2020. The Dell OptiPlex 5060 SFF is older and entered production in 2018.

If you are looking for the smaller form factor the Dell OptiPlex 5060 SFF is the right one for you. It is smaller than the Dell Inspiron 3881 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 Inspiron 3881 as it is running a newer generation CPU. This is not to say that Dell OptiPlex 5060 SFF is bad - it can still run some powerful CPUs, albeit being an older generation.

Memory

The Dell OptiPlex 5060 SFF has 4 RAM slots while the Dell Inspiron 3881 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 Inspiron 3881 is using the faster 2933 MT/s RAM. The Dell OptiPlex 5060 SFF is slower by supporting RAM speeds of up to 2666 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 5060 SFF has 10 USB ports. The Dell Inspiron 3881 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. Both of the models have USB 3.1 ports which will allow you to exchange data with your peripherals at up to 10Gb/s. This is especially crucial if you are using external drives on a regular basis.

DisplayPort is crucial for any desktop machine. It is good to see that both models are featuring DisplayPorts. However, the Dell OptiPlex 5060 SFF comes with 2 ports, while the Dell Inspiron 3881 has only 1. If you are planning to use multiple monitors, the Dell OptiPlex 5060 SFF is the better choice.

The Dell Inspiron 3881 comes with an HDMI port, while the Dell OptiPlex 5060 SFF 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 5060 SFF is better equipped as it comes with 3 SATA slot(s), while the Dell Inspiron 3881 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 5060 SFF comes with a decent 200 Watt PSU, but the Dell Inspiron 3881 has a more powerful one rated at 260 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_Inspiron_3881_motherboard.jpg motherboard layoutDell_OptiPlex_5060_SFF_motherboard.jpg motherboard layout