Dell OptiPlex 7040M vs. Lenovo ThinkCentre M83 Tiny

Comparison and Differences

Dell_OptiPlex_7040M.jpg case front and back pannelLenovo_ThinkCentre_M83_Tiny.jpg case front and back pannel
Model
Form factorMicroMicro
CPU optionsIntel Gen6 i3/i5/i7Intel Gen4 i3/i5/i7; Pentium;
ChipsetQ170Q85
Dedicated GPU *N.A.N.A.
RAMSODIMM DDR4-2133SODIMM DDR3-1600
RAM slots22
RAM speed2133 MT/s1600 MT/s
RAM max32 GB32 GB
USB ports(6x) USB-A 3.0(4x)USB-A 3.0; USB-A 2.0;
Video ports Display Port 1.2; HDMI 1.4;DisplayPort; VGA;
Other portsRJ45; Headset; Line-Out; RJ45; Headset; Mic;
Optional portsWiFi antenna; Display Port 1.2; VGA; Serial; Serial+PS2; DisplayPort; USB-A 2.0; Serial; WiFi antenna;
SATA ports11
PCI slotsN.A.N.A.
M.2 slotsM.2 2280 M-key (PCIe 3.0 x4, NVMe); M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT) M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT)
Drive bays2.5in2.5in;
PSU65 W65 W
Weight1.41 kg (3.12 lb)1.3 kg (2.9 lb)
Released20152013
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 Lenovo ThinkCentre M83 Tiny

If you are looking for a more modern desktop, then you should go with the Dell OptiPlex 7040M which was released in 2015. The Lenovo ThinkCentre M83 Tiny is older and entered production in 2013.

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 Dell OptiPlex 7040M as it is running a newer generation CPU. This is not to say that Lenovo ThinkCentre M83 Tiny 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 OptiPlex 7040M is using the faster 2133 MT/s RAM. The Lenovo ThinkCentre M83 Tiny is slower by supporting RAM speeds of up to 1600 MT/s. In addition, you will be able to install the same amount of RAM in both models, and most probably 32 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 7040M has 6 USB ports. The Lenovo ThinkCentre M83 Tiny is inferior in this regard and packs 5 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.

The Dell OptiPlex 7040M comes with an HDMI port, while the Lenovo ThinkCentre M83 Tiny 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 1 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 Dell OptiPlex 7040M. Sadly, the Lenovo ThinkCentre M83 Tiny 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

Looking at the Power Supply Unit (PSU) of the two models we don't see any differences. For either of them you get a maximum power of 65 Watts. However be careful, many models have more than one power supply option. When buying your computer, it is a good idea to get a version with the most powerful PSU. This will potentially allow you to upgrade to a more powerful GPU for example.

Motherboard

Dell_OptiPlex_7040M_motherboard.jpg motherboard layoutLenovo_ThinkCentre_M83_Tiny_motherboard.jpg motherboard layout