Dell OptiPlex 5090 SFF vs. Dell OptiPlex 7080 SFF

Comparison and Differences

Dell_OptiPlex_5090_SFF.jpg case front and back pannelDell_OptiPlex_7080_SFF.jpg case front and back pannel
Model
Form factorSmallSmall
CPU optionsIntel Gen10&11 i3/i5/i7;Intel Gen10 i3/i5/i7/i9;
ChipsetQ570Q470
Dedicated GPU *AMD Radeon RX 6400 Low ProfileGeForce GTX 1650 Low Profile
RAMDIMM DDR4-2666/2933/3200DIMM DDR4-2666/2933
RAM slots44
RAM speed3200 MT/s2933 MT/s
RAM max128 GB128 GB
USB portsUSB 3.1 Type C; (x5) USB-A 3.0; (x4) USB-A 2.0;USB 3.1 Type C; (2x) USB-A 3.1; (3x) USB-A 3.0; (4x) USB-A 2.0;
Video ports(2x) Display Port 1.4;(2x) Display Port 1.4;
Other portsRJ45; Headset; Line-Out/In; Card reader;RJ45; Headset; Line-Out/In; Serial; (2x) PS2;
Optional portsVGA /DisplayPort 1.4/HDMI 2.0b/USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C Port Alt-mode;HDMI2.0b/DP1.4/VGA/USB Type-C (DP Alt Mode); SD4.0; 2xWiFi antenna;
SATA ports43
PCI slotsN.A.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 2280 M-key (PCIe); M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT)
Drive bays2.5in3.5in/(2x)2.5in; 5.25in (slim);
PSU200/300 W200 W
Weight5.65 kg (12.53 lb)5.28 Kg (11.63 lb)
Released20212020
Manuallinklink
Price**Check PriceCheck Price

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* 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 SFF and Dell OptiPlex 7080 SFF

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

Both models have the same form factor, meaning reoughtly they have the same phiysical size and form.

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 SFF as it is running a newer generation CPU. This is not to say that Dell OptiPlex 7080 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 5090 SFF is using the faster 3200 MT/s RAM. The Dell OptiPlex 7080 SFF is slower by supporting RAM speeds of up to 2933 MT/s. In addition, you will be able to install the same amount of RAM in both models, and most probably 128 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. 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 7080 SFF as it has 3 USB3.1 ports (the Dell OptiPlex 5090 SFF has 1).

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 5090 SFF is better equipped as it comes with 4 SATA slot(s), while the Dell OptiPlex 7080 SFF 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 7080 SFF has 1 M.2 slots while the Dell OptiPlex 5090 SFF 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 7080 SFF comes with a decent 200 Watt PSU, but the Dell OptiPlex 5090 SFF has a more powerful one rated at 300 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_SFF_motherboard.jpg motherboard layoutDell_OptiPlex_7080_SFF_motherboard.jpg motherboard layout