Dell OptiPlex 5070 MT vs. Dell OptiPlex 7040 SFF

Comparison and Differences

Dell_OptiPlex_5070_MT.jpg case front and back pannelDell_OptiPlex_7040_SFF.jpg case front and back pannel
Model
Form factorMini TowerSmall
CPU optionsIntel Gen8&9 i3/i5/i7; Celeron; Pentium;Intel Gen6 i3/i5/i7
ChipsetQ370Q170
Dedicated GPU *GeForce GTX 1650 SuperGeForce GT 1030 Low Profile
RAMDIMM DDR4-2400/2666DIMM DDR4-2133
RAM slots44
RAM speed2666 MT/s2133 MT/s
RAM max64 GB64 GB
USB portsUSB 3.1 Type C; (5x) USB-A 3.0; (4x) USB-A 2.0;(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+PS2; Media Card Reader; WiFi antenna; VGA; Media Card Reader;
SATA ports43
PCI slotsPCIe 3.0 x16; PCIe 3.0 x16(wired x4); (2x) PCIe x1;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 bays3.5in/5.25in; (2x) 2.5in; 5.25in (slim);3.5in/(2x)2.5in; 5.25in (slim);
PSU260 W180 W
Weight7.93 kg (17.49 lb)6.00 kg (13.22 lb)
Released20192015
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 5070 MT and Dell OptiPlex 7040 SFF

If you are looking for a more modern desktop, then you should go with the Dell OptiPlex 5070 MT which was released in 2019. The Dell OptiPlex 7040 SFF is older and entered production in 2015.

If you are looking for the smaller form factor the Dell OptiPlex 7040 SFF is the right one for you. It is smaller than the Dell OptiPlex 5070 MT 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 5070 MT 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

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 OptiPlex 5070 MT 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. 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 OptiPlex 5070 MT, 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 5070 MT 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 5070 MT is better equipped as it comes with 4 SATA slot(s), while the Dell OptiPlex 7040 SFF has 3 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 7040 SFF comes with a decent 180 Watt PSU, but the Dell OptiPlex 5070 MT 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_OptiPlex_5070_MT_motherboard.jpg motherboard layoutDell_OptiPlex_7040_SFF_motherboard.jpg motherboard layout