Dell OptiPlex 5000 Tower vs. Dell OptiPlex 5090 M

Comparison and Differences

Dell_OptiPlex_5000_Tower.jpg case front and back pannelDell_OptiPlex_5090_M.jpg case front and back pannel
Model
Form factorMini TowerMicro
CPU optionsIntel Gen 12 i3/i5/i7/i9; PentiumIntel Gen10&11 i3/i5/i7;
ChipsetQ670Q570
Dedicated GPU *AMD Radeon RX 6600N.A.
RAMDIMM DDR4-3200DIMM DDR4-2666/2933/3200
RAM slots42
RAM speed3200 MT/s3200 MT/s
RAM max128 GB64 GB
USB ports(4x) USB-A 2.0; (5x) USB-A 3.0; USB-C 3.1;USB 3.1 Type C; (x5) USB-A 3.0; (x4) USB-A 2.0;
Video ports(2x) Display Port 1.4a;(2x) Display Port 1.4;
Other portsRJ45; Audio; Line-Out/In;RJ45; Headset; Line-Out/In;
Optional portsHDMI 2.0b/Displayport/VGA/PS2/serial/USB Type-C; Serial port; SD-card slotVGA /DisplayPort 1.4/HDMI 2.0b/USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C Port Alt-mode; SD Card;
SATA ports43
PCI slotsPCIe 3.0 x16; PCIe 3.0 x4; (2x) PCIe 3.0 x1;PCIe 3.0 x16; PCIe 3.0 x4;
M.2 slots(2x) M.2 2230/2280 (PCIe 4.0 x4, NVMe); M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT) M.2 2280/2230 M-key (PCIe 3.0 x4, NVMe); M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT)
Drive bays3.5in; (2x) 2.5in; 5.25in (slim);2.5in
PSU240/260/400 W90/130 W
Weight7.34 kg (16.18 lb)1.17 kg (2.58 lb)
Released20222021
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 5000 Tower and Dell OptiPlex 5090 M

If you are looking for a more modern desktop, then you should go with the Dell OptiPlex 5000 Tower which was released in 2022. The Dell OptiPlex 5090 M is older and entered production in 2021.

If you are looking for the smaller form factor the Dell OptiPlex 5090 M is the right one for you. It is smaller than the Dell OptiPlex 5000 Tower 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 5000 Tower as it is running a newer generation CPU. This is not to say that Dell OptiPlex 5090 M is bad - it can still run some powerful CPUs, albeit being an older generation.

Memory

The Dell OptiPlex 5000 Tower has 4 RAM slots while the Dell OptiPlex 5090 M 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.

None of the desktops has an advantage when it comes to the speed of the RAM being used. Both models support RAM speeds of up to 3200. Additionally, if you will be needing a lot of RAM, better go for the Dell OptiPlex 5000 Tower as it has the ability to run 128 GB of RAM. The Dell OptiPlex 5090 M 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 5000 Tower has 10 USB ports. The Dell OptiPlex 5090 M 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. 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.

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.

None of the models has an HDMI port. If your monitor supports only the HDMI interface, you will need to buy an adapter. Such adapters are cheap so nothing to worry about.

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 5000 Tower is better equipped as it comes with 4 SATA slot(s), while the Dell OptiPlex 5090 M has 3 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 5000 Tower has 1 M.2 slots while the Dell OptiPlex 5090 M 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 5090 M comes with a decent 130 Watt PSU, but the Dell OptiPlex 5000 Tower has a more powerful one rated at 400 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_5000_Tower_motherboard.jpg motherboard layoutDell_OptiPlex_5090_M_motherboard.jpg motherboard layout