Dell OptiPlex 5060M vs. Dell OptiPlex 7040 SFF

Comparison and Differences

Dell_OptiPlex_5060M.jpg case front and back pannelDell_OptiPlex_7040_SFF.jpg case front and back pannel
Model
Form factorMicroSmall
CPU optionsIntel Gen8 i3/i5/i7; Pentium;Intel Gen6 i3/i5/i7
ChipsetQ370Q170
Dedicated GPU *N.A.GeForce GT 1030 Low Profile
RAMSODIMM DDR4-2400/2666DIMM DDR4-2133
RAM slots24
RAM speed2666 MT/s2133 MT/s
RAM max32 GB64 GB
USB portsUSB 3.1 Type C; (5x) USB-A 3.0;(6x) USB-A 3.0; (4x) USB-A 2.0;
Video ports(2x) Display Port 1.2;(2x) Display Port 1.2; HDMI 1.4;
Other portsRJ45; Headset; Line-Out; Serial; (2x) PS2; RJ45; Headset; Line-Out;
Optional portsHDMI2.0b/DP1.2/VGA/USB Type-C (DP Alt Mode); Serial; Serial+PS2; WiFi antenna;VGA; Media Card Reader;
SATA ports13
PCI slotsN.A.PCIe 3.0 x16; PCIe 3.0 x4;
M.2 slotsM.2 2280/2230 M-key (PCIe 3.0 x4, NVMe); M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT) M.2 2280 M-key (PCIe 3.0 x4, NVMe)
Drive bays2.5in3.5in/(2x)2.5in; 5.25in (slim);
PSU90 W180 W
Weight1.18 kg (2.60 lb)6.00 kg (13.22 lb)
Released20182015
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 5060M and Dell OptiPlex 7040 SFF

If you are looking for a more modern desktop, then you should go with the Dell OptiPlex 5060M which was released in 2018. The Dell OptiPlex 7040 SFF is older and entered production in 2015.

If you are looking for the smaller form factor the Dell OptiPlex 5060M is the right one for you. It is smaller than the Dell OptiPlex 7040 SFF 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 5060M as it is running a newer generation CPU. This is not to say that Dell OptiPlex 7040 SFF is bad - it can still run some powerful CPUs, albeit being an older generation.

Memory

The Dell OptiPlex 7040 SFF has 4 RAM slots while the Dell OptiPlex 5060M 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 5060M is using the faster 2666 MT/s RAM. The Dell OptiPlex 7040 SFF is slower by supporting RAM speeds of up to 2133 MT/s. Additionally, if you will be needing a lot of RAM, better go for the Dell OptiPlex 7040 SFF as it has the ability to run 64 GB of RAM. The Dell OptiPlex 5060M can do a bit less at max 32 GB. Most of the times, this should be sufficient for the majority of users.

Ports

In total the Dell OptiPlex 7040 SFF has 10 USB ports. The Dell OptiPlex 5060M 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. What is nice about the Dell OptiPlex 5060M, is that it has 1 USB 3.1 port(s) which allows transfer of up to 10Gb/s. Unfortunately, the Dell OptiPlex 7040 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.

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.

The Dell OptiPlex 7040 SFF comes with an HDMI port, while the Dell OptiPlex 5060M 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 7040 SFF is better equipped as it comes with 3 SATA slot(s), while the Dell OptiPlex 5060M has 1 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 5060M comes with a decent 90 Watt PSU, but the Dell OptiPlex 7040 SFF has a more powerful one rated at 180 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_5060M_motherboard.jpg motherboard layoutDell_OptiPlex_7040_SFF_motherboard.jpg motherboard layout