Alienware X51 R3 vs. Dell OptiPlex 7040 MT

Comparison and Differences

Alienware_X51_R3.jpg case front and back pannelDell_OptiPlex_7040_MT.jpg case front and back pannel
Model
Form factorSmall GamingMini Tower
CPU optionsIntel Gen6 i3/i5/i7;Intel Gen6 i3/i5/i7
ChipsetZ170Q170
Dedicated GPU *GeForce GTX 1650 SuperGeForce GTX 1650 Super
RAMDIMM DDR3-2133DIMM DDR4-2133
RAM slots24
RAM speed2133 MT/s2133 MT/s
RAM max32 GB64 GB
USB ports(4x) USB 3.0 Type A; (2x) USB-A 2.0; (2x) USB 3.1 Type A(6x) USB-A 3.0; (4x) USB-A 2.0;
Video portsHDMI 1.4b;(2x) Display Port 1.2; HDMI 1.4;
Other portsRJ45; Headset; Line-Out; Line-In; S/PDFI optical/analog;Serial; (2x) PS2; RJ45; Headset; Line-Out;
Optional portsN.A.VGA; Media Card Reader;
SATA ports34
PCI slotsPCIe 3.0 x16;PCIe 3.0 x16; PCIe 3.0 x16 (wired x4); PCIe 3.0 x1; PCI;
M.2 slotsN.A.M.2 2280 M-key (PCIe 3.0 x4, NVMe)
Drive bays(2x) 2.5in; 3.25in; 5.25in;3.5in/5.25in; (2x) 2.5in; 5.25in (slim);
PSU180/240/330 W240 W
Weight5.49 kg (12.10 lbs8.00 kg (17.64 lb)
Released20152015
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 Alienware X51 R3 and Dell OptiPlex 7040 MT

Both computers, the Dell OptiPlex 7040 MT and the Alienware X51 R3, were released during the same year - 2015.

If you are looking for the smaller form factor the Alienware X51 R3 is the right one for you. It is smaller than the Dell OptiPlex 7040 MT and will fit more easily under your desk.

Processor

The two models have the same generation of Intel processors. We think that the 6 generation of Intel Processors have enough power to execute all of the home and office tasks that most people will care to do.

Memory

The Dell OptiPlex 7040 MT has 4 RAM slots while the Alienware X51 R3 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 2133. Additionally, if you will be needing a lot of RAM, better go for the Dell OptiPlex 7040 MT as it has the ability to run 64 GB of RAM. The Alienware X51 R3 can do a bit less at max 32 GB. Most of the times, this should be sufficient for the majority of users.

Ports

In total the Dell OptiPlex 7040 MT has 10 USB ports. The Alienware X51 R3 is inferior in this regard and packs 8 USB ports. In any case, if you miss USB ports, you can always purchase a USB hub. What is nice about the Alienware X51 R3, is that it has 2 USB 3.1 port(s) which allows transfer of up to 10Gb/s. Unfortunately, the Dell OptiPlex 7040 MT has no such port, thus restricting your transfer speeds significantly. For people who want to use external drives on regular basis, this might be an issue.

DisplayPort is crucial for any desktop machine. It is good to see that both models are featuring DisplayPorts. However, the Dell OptiPlex 7040 MT comes with 2 ports, while the Alienware X51 R3 has only 1. If you are planning to use multiple monitors, the Dell OptiPlex 7040 MT is the better choice.

The Dell OptiPlex 7040 MT comes with an HDMI port, while the Alienware X51 R3 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 7040 MT is better equipped as it comes with 4 SATA slot(s), while the Alienware X51 R3 has 3 slot(s).

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 Dell OptiPlex 7040 MT. Sadly, the Alienware X51 R3 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 7040 MT comes with a decent 240 Watt PSU, but the Alienware X51 R3 has a more powerful one rated at 330 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

Alienware_X51_R3_motherboard.jpg motherboard layoutDell_OptiPlex_7040_MT_motherboard.jpg motherboard layout