Dell OptiPlex 5090 SFF vs. Dell OptiPlex 7090 MT

Comparison and Differences

Dell_OptiPlex_5090_SFF.jpg case front and back pannelDell_OptiPlex_7090_MT.jpg case front and back pannel
Model
Form factorSmallMini Tower
CPU optionsIntel Gen10&11 i3/i5/i7;Intel Gen10&11 i3/i5/i7/i9;
ChipsetQ570Q570
Dedicated GPU *AMD Radeon RX 6400 Low ProfileGeForce RTX 3070 (OEM)
RAMDIMM DDR4-2666/2933/3200DIMM DDR4-2666/2933/3200
RAM slots44
RAM speed3200 MT/s3200 MT/s
RAM max128 GB128 GB
USB portsUSB 3.1 Type C; (x5) USB-A 3.0; (x4) USB-A 2.0;USB 3.2 Type C; USB 3.1 Type C; (2x) USB-A 3.1; USB-A 3.0; (x4) USB-A 2.0;
Video ports(2x) Display Port 1.4;(4x) Display Port 1.4; (x3) HDMI 2.0b; VGA;
Other portsRJ45; Headset; Line-Out/In; Card reader;RJ45; Audio; Line-Out/In; Serial; (x2) PS2
Optional portsVGA /DisplayPort 1.4/HDMI 2.0b/USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C Port Alt-mode;USB Type-C (DP Alt Mode); Media Card Reader;
SATA ports44
PCI slotsN.A.PCIe 4.0 x16; PCIe 3.0 x4; PCIe 3.0 x1; PCIe-32
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 2230 M-key (PCIe); M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT)
Drive bays2.5in(x2) 3.5in; (2x) 2.5in; 5.25in (slim);
PSU200/300 W260/300/369/500 W
Weight5.65 kg (12.53 lb)10.22 kg (22.53 lb)
Released20212021
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 SFF and Dell OptiPlex 7090 MT

Both computers, the Dell OptiPlex 5090 SFF and the Dell OptiPlex 7090 MT, were released during the same year - 2021.

If you are looking for the smaller form factor the Dell OptiPlex 5090 SFF is the right one for you. It is smaller than the Dell OptiPlex 7090 MT and will fit more easily under your desk.

Processor

The two models have the same generation of Intel processors. We think that the 11 generation of Intel Processors have enough power to execute all of the home and office tasks that most people will care to do.

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.

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. 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

In total the Dell OptiPlex 5090 SFF has 10 USB ports. The Dell OptiPlex 7090 MT is inferior in this regard and packs 9 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 7090 MT as it has 3 USB3.1 ports (the Dell OptiPlex 5090 SFF has 1).

DisplayPort is crucial for any desktop machine. It is good to see that both models are featuring DisplayPorts. However, the Dell OptiPlex 7090 MT comes with 4 ports, while the Dell OptiPlex 5090 SFF has only 2. If you are planning to use multiple monitors, the Dell OptiPlex 7090 MT is the better choice.

The Dell OptiPlex 7090 MT comes with an HDMI port, while the Dell OptiPlex 5090 SFF 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 slots are located on the motherboard and it is where SSD, HDD and Optical Disk Drives are connected. Each of the two models being compared have 4 SATA slot(s). Keep in mind that having too few SATA slots might limit your options for connecting additional memory drives.

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 7090 MT 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 5090 SFF comes with a decent 300 Watt PSU, but the Dell OptiPlex 7090 MT has a more powerful one rated at 500 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_7090_MT_motherboard.jpg motherboard layout