Dell OptiPlex 5090 MT vs. Dell OptiPlex 7080M

Comparison and Differences

Dell_OptiPlex_5090_MT.jpg case front and back pannelDell_OptiPlex_7080M.jpg case front and back pannel
Model
Form factorMini TowerMicro
CPU optionsIntel Gen10&11 i3/i5/i7;Intel Gen10 i3/i5/i7/i9;
ChipsetQ570Q470
Dedicated GPU *GeForce GTX 1660 SuperN.A.
RAMDIMM DDR4-2666/2933/3200SODIMM DDR4-2666/2933
RAM slots42
RAM speed3200 MT/s2933 MT/s
RAM max128 GB64 GB
USB portsUSB 3.1 Type C; (x5) USB-A 3.0; (x4) USB-A 2.0;USB 3.1 Type C; (3x) USB-A 3.1; (2x) USB-A 3.0;
Video ports(4x) Display Port 1.4; (x3) HDMI 2.0b; VGA;(2x) Display Port 1.4;
Other portsRJ45; Headset; Line-Out/In;RJ45; Headset; Line-Out/In;
Optional portsVGA /DisplayPort 1.4/HDMI 2.0b/USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C Port Alt-mode; SD Card;HDMI2.0b/DP1.4/VGA/USB Type-C (DP Alt Mode); Serial; Serial+PS2; (2x) WiFi antenna;
SATA ports41
PCI slotsPCIe 4.0 x16; PCIe 4.0 x4; (x2) PCIe x1;PCIe x8 Gen3 (optional)
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 2280 M-key (PCIe); M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT)
Drive bays(x2) 3.5in; (2x) 2.5in; 5.25in (slim);2.5in
PSU260/300/360 W90/130/180 W
Weight7.24 kg (15.95 lb)1.38 kg (3.04 lb)
Released20212020
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 5090 MT and Dell OptiPlex 7080M

If you are looking for a more modern desktop, then you should go with the Dell OptiPlex 5090 MT which was released in 2021. The Dell OptiPlex 7080M is older and entered production in 2020.

If you are looking for the smaller form factor the Dell OptiPlex 7080M is the right one for you. It is smaller than the Dell OptiPlex 5090 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 5090 MT as it is running a newer generation CPU. This is not to say that Dell OptiPlex 7080M is bad - it can still run some powerful CPUs, albeit being an older generation.

Memory

The Dell OptiPlex 5090 MT has 4 RAM slots while the Dell OptiPlex 7080M 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 5090 MT is using the faster 3200 MT/s RAM. The Dell OptiPlex 7080M is slower by supporting RAM speeds of up to 2933 MT/s. Additionally, if you will be needing a lot of RAM, better go for the Dell OptiPlex 5090 MT as it has the ability to run 128 GB of RAM. The Dell OptiPlex 7080M can do a bit less at max 64 GB. Most of the times, this should be sufficient for the majority of users.

Ports

In total the Dell OptiPlex 5090 MT has 10 USB ports. The Dell OptiPlex 7080M 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. It's great that both of the models have USB 3.1 ports which will allow you to exchange data with your peripherals at up to 10Gb/s. But if you need maximum connectivity, go with the Dell OptiPlex 7080M as it has 4 USB3.1 ports (the Dell OptiPlex 5090 MT has 3).

DisplayPort is crucial for any desktop machine. It is good to see that both models are featuring DisplayPorts. However, the Dell OptiPlex 5090 MT comes with 4 ports, while the Dell OptiPlex 7080M has only 2. If you are planning to use multiple monitors, the Dell OptiPlex 5090 MT is the better choice.

The Dell OptiPlex 5090 MT comes with an HDMI port, while the Dell OptiPlex 7080M 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 5090 MT is better equipped as it comes with 4 SATA slot(s), while the Dell OptiPlex 7080M has 1 slot(s).

An M.2 SSD can be several times faster than a SATA one. Thus, we are happy to see that both models support the M.2 interface. However, the Dell OptiPlex 7080M has 1 M.2 slots while the Dell OptiPlex 5090 MT comes with just 1.

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 7080M comes with a decent 180 Watt PSU, but the Dell OptiPlex 5090 MT has a more powerful one rated at 360 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_5090_MT_motherboard.jpg motherboard layoutDell_OptiPlex_7080M_motherboard.jpg motherboard layout