Dell OptiPlex 7040M vs. Dell Vostro 5890

Comparison and Differences

Dell_OptiPlex_7040M.jpg case front and back pannelDell_Vostro_5890.jpg case front and back pannel
Model
Form factorMicroMini Tower
CPU optionsIntel Gen6 i3/i5/i7Intel Gen10&11 i3/i5/i7; Celeron; Pentium;
ChipsetQ170B560
Dedicated GPU *N.A.GeForce RTX 2070 Super
RAMSODIMM DDR4-2133DIMM DDR4-2666/2933/3200
RAM slots22
RAM speed2133 MT/s3200 MT/s
RAM max32 GB64 GB
USB ports(6x) USB-A 3.0(4x) USB-A 3.0; (4x) USB-A 2.0; USB 3.0 Type C;
Video ports Display Port 1.2; HDMI 1.4;HDMI 1.4b; DisplayPort 1.4;
Other portsRJ45; Headset; Line-Out; RJ45; Headset; Mic; Line-Out;
Optional portsWiFi antenna; Display Port 1.2; VGA; Serial; Serial+PS2; SD card reader
SATA ports13
PCI slotsN.A.PCIe 3.0 x16; (2x) PCIe 3.0 x1; PCI
M.2 slotsM.2 2280 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 (WiFi/BT);
Drive bays2.5in3.5in; 9.5mm
PSU65 W260/460W
Weight1.41 kg (3.12 lb)8.68 kg (19.14 lbs)
Released20152021
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 7040M and Dell Vostro 5890

If you are looking for a more modern desktop, then you should go with the Dell Vostro 5890 which was released in 2021. The Dell OptiPlex 7040M is older and entered production in 2015.

If you are looking for the smaller form factor the Dell OptiPlex 7040M is the right one for you. It is smaller than the Dell Vostro 5890 and will fit more easily under your desk.

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 Vostro 5890 as it is running a newer generation CPU. This is not to say that Dell OptiPlex 7040M is bad - it can still run some powerful CPUs, albeit being an older generation.

Memory

Both models have have equal amount of ram slots (2 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 Vostro 5890 is using the faster 3200 MT/s RAM. The Dell OptiPlex 7040M 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 Vostro 5890 as it has the ability to run 64 GB of RAM. The Dell OptiPlex 7040M 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 Vostro 5890 has 9 USB ports. The Dell OptiPlex 7040M is inferior in this regard and packs 6 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.

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.

In case your monitor supports HDMI only, you will be happy to hear that both models come with an HDMI port.

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 Vostro 5890 is better equipped as it comes with 3 SATA slot(s), while the Dell OptiPlex 7040M has 1 slot(s).

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 7040M comes with a decent 65 Watt PSU, but the Dell Vostro 5890 has a more powerful one rated at 460 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_7040M_motherboard.jpg motherboard layoutDell_Vostro_5890_motherboard.jpg motherboard layout