Dell OptiPlex 7020 SFF vs. Fujitsu Esprimo D556

Comparison and Differences

Dell_OptiPlex_7020_SFF.jpg case front and back pannelFujitsu_Esprimo_D556.jpg case front and back pannel
Model
Form factorSmallSmall
CPU optionsIntel Gen4 i3/i5/i7; Pentium; Intel Gen6 i3/i5/i7; Pentium; Celeron
ChipsetQ87H110
Dedicated GPU *GeForce GTX 1650 Low ProfileRadeon RX 6400 Low Profile
RAMDIMM DDR3-1600 UDIMM DDR4-2133
RAM slots42
RAM speed1600 MT/s2133 MT/s
RAM max16 GB32 GB
USB ports(4x) USB-A 3.0; (6x) USB-A 2.0; (4x) USB-A 3.0; (6x) USB-A 2.0
Video ports(2x) DisplayPort 1.2; VGA;DisplayPort 1.2; DVI
Other portsRJ45; Hdph; Mic; Line-Out; Line-In; Serial; (2x) PS2; RJ45; Headphones; Mic; Line in; Line out; PS/2
Optional portsN.A.VGA; eSATA
SATA ports33
PCI slotsPCIe 3.0 x16; PCIe x16 (wired x4);PCIe 3.0 x16; PCIe 2.0 x1; PCIe 2.0 x16 (wired x4)
M.2 slotsN.A.M.2 2280/2230 M-key (PCIe 2.0 x2, SSD)
Drive bays2.5/3.5in; 5.25in(slim)(3x) 3.5in; 5.25 inch
PSU 255 W280 W
Weight6.00 kg (13.22 lb)8.00 kg (17.64 lb)
Released20142015
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 7020 SFF and Fujitsu Esprimo D556

If you are looking for a more modern desktop, then you should go with the Fujitsu Esprimo D556 which was released in 2015. The Dell OptiPlex 7020 SFF is older and entered production in 2014.

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 Fujitsu Esprimo D556 as it is running a newer generation CPU. This is not to say that Dell OptiPlex 7020 SFF is bad - it can still run some powerful CPUs, albeit being an older generation.

Memory

The Dell OptiPlex 7020 SFF has 4 RAM slots while the Fujitsu Esprimo D556 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 Fujitsu Esprimo D556 is using the faster 2133 MT/s RAM. The Dell OptiPlex 7020 SFF is slower by supporting RAM speeds of up to 1600 MT/s. Additionally, if you will be needing a lot of RAM, better go for the Fujitsu Esprimo D556 as it has the ability to run 32 GB of RAM. The Dell OptiPlex 7020 SFF can do a bit less at max 16 GB. Most of the times, this should be sufficient for the majority of users.

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. None of the desktop models has a USB 3.1 port (10Gb/s), so if you need a fast connection to your peripherals, like external Solid State Drive, you will need to look elsewhere.

DisplayPort is crucial for any desktop machine. It is good to see that both models are featuring DisplayPorts. However, the Dell OptiPlex 7020 SFF comes with 2 ports, while the Fujitsu Esprimo D556 has only 1. If you are planning to use multiple monitors, the Dell OptiPlex 7020 SFF is the better choice.

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 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 3 SATA slot(s). Keep in mind that having too few SATA slots might limit your options for connecting additional memory drives.

If you want the fastest transfer speeds for your SSD, an M.2 interface is crucial. Thus, if the M.2 SSD slot is a mandatory requirement for you, go with the Fujitsu Esprimo D556. Sadly, the Dell OptiPlex 7020 SFF has no such slot, and you will be forced to use the SATA interface instead.

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 7020 SFF comes with a decent 255 Watt PSU, but the Fujitsu Esprimo D556 has a more powerful one rated at 280 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_7020_SFF_motherboard.jpg motherboard layoutFujitsu_Esprimo_D556_motherboard.jpg motherboard layout