Dell OptiPlex 7040 SFF vs. Fujitsu Esprimo D538

Comparison and Differences

Dell_OptiPlex_7040_SFF.jpg case front and back pannelFujitsu_Esprimo_D538.jpg case front and back pannel
Model
Form factorSmallSmall
CPU optionsIntel Gen6 i3/i5/i7Intel Gen8&9 i3/i5/i7; Pentium; Celeron
ChipsetQ170H310
Dedicated GPU *GeForce GT 1030 Low ProfileRadeon RX 6400 Low Profile
RAMDIMM DDR4-2133 UDIMM DDR4-2666
RAM slots42
RAM speed2133 MT/s2666 MT/s
RAM max64 GB32 GB
USB ports(6x) USB-A 3.0; (4x) USB-A 2.0; (4x) USB-A 3.0; (4x) USB-A 2.0
Video ports(2x) Display Port 1.2; HDMI 1.4;DisplayPort 1.2; DVI
Other portsSerial; (2x) PS2; RJ45; Headset; Line-Out; RJ45; Headphones; Mic; Line in; Line out; PS/2
Optional portsVGA; Media Card Reader;VGA; eSATA
SATA ports33
PCI slotsPCIe 3.0 x16; PCIe 3.0 x4;PCIe 3.0 x16; PCIe 2.0 x16 (wired x4)
M.2 slotsM.2 2280 M-key (PCIe 3.0 x4, NVMe) M.2 2280/2230 M-key (PCIe 2.0 x2, NVMe)
Drive bays3.5in/(2x)2.5in; 5.25in (slim); 3.5in; 2.5in; 5.25 inch
PSU180 W210/280 W
Weight6.00 kg (13.22 lb)5.00 kg (11.03 lb)
Released20152018
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 7040 SFF and Fujitsu Esprimo D538

If you are looking for a more modern desktop, then you should go with the Fujitsu Esprimo D538 which was released in 2018. The Dell OptiPlex 7040 SFF is older and entered production in 2015.

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 D538 as it is running a newer generation CPU. This is not to say that Dell OptiPlex 7040 SFF is bad - it can still run some powerful CPUs, albeit being an older generation.

Memory

The Dell OptiPlex 7040 SFF has 4 RAM slots while the Fujitsu Esprimo D538 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 D538 is using the faster 2666 MT/s RAM. The Dell OptiPlex 7040 SFF is slower by supporting RAM speeds of up to 2133 MT/s. Additionally, if you will be needing a lot of RAM, better go for the Dell OptiPlex 7040 SFF as it has the ability to run 64 GB of RAM. The Fujitsu Esprimo D538 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 SFF has 10 USB ports. The Fujitsu Esprimo D538 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. 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 7040 SFF comes with 2 ports, while the Fujitsu Esprimo D538 has only 1. If you are planning to use multiple monitors, the Dell OptiPlex 7040 SFF is the better choice.

The Dell OptiPlex 7040 SFF comes with an HDMI port, while the Fujitsu Esprimo D538 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 3 SATA slot(s). Keep in mind that having too few SATA slots might limit your options for connecting additional memory drives.

When your goal is to have the fastest SSD transfer speeds, an M.2 interface is crucial. Thus, it is good that both models have M.2 SSD slots. Today M.2 SSDs are not much more expensive than the average SATA drives, so it really does not make sense to invest in SATA drives anymore.

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 SFF comes with a decent 180 Watt PSU, but the Fujitsu Esprimo D538 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_7040_SFF_motherboard.jpg motherboard layoutFujitsu_Esprimo_D538_motherboard.jpg motherboard layout