Dell OptiPlex 7040M vs. Lenovo ThinkCentre M92 Tower

Comparison and Differences

Dell_OptiPlex_7040M.jpg case front and back pannelLenovo_ThinkCentre_M92_Tower.jpg case front and back pannel
Model
Form factorMicroMini Tower
CPU optionsIntel Gen6 i3/i5/i7Intel Gen2&3 i3; Celeron; Pentium;
ChipsetQ170Q77
Dedicated GPU *N.A.GeForce GTX 1660 Super
RAMSODIMM DDR4-2133DIMM DDR3-1600
RAM slots24
RAM speed2133 MT/s1600 MT/s
RAM max32 GB32 GB
USB ports(6x) USB-A 3.0(4x)USB-A 3.0; (4x)USB-A 2.0;
Video ports Display Port 1.2; HDMI 1.4;DisplayPort; VGA;
Other portsRJ45; Headset; Line-Out; RJ45; Hdph; (2x) Mic; Line-Out; Line-In; Serial;
Optional portsWiFi antenna; Display Port 1.2; VGA; Serial; Serial+PS2; DisplayPort; (2x) PS2; Serial; Parallel; Media card reader (USB 2.0);
SATA ports14
PCI slotsN.A.PCIe 2.0 x16; PCIe 2.0 x1; (2x) PCI;
M.2 slotsM.2 2280 M-key (PCIe 3.0 x4, NVMe); M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT) N.A.
Drive bays2.5in(2x) 2.5/3.5in; (2x) 5.25in;
PSU65 WATX 280 W
Weight1.41 kg (3.12 lb)11 kg (24.25 lb)
Released20152011
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 7040M and Lenovo ThinkCentre M92 Tower

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 M92 Tower is older and entered production in 2011.

If you are looking for the smaller form factor the Dell OptiPlex 7040M is the right one for you. It is smaller than the Lenovo ThinkCentre M92 Tower 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 OptiPlex 7040M as it is running a newer generation CPU. This is not to say that Lenovo ThinkCentre M92 Tower is bad - it can still run some powerful CPUs, albeit being an older generation.

Memory

The Lenovo ThinkCentre M92 Tower has 4 RAM slots while the Dell OptiPlex 7040M 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 Dell OptiPlex 7040M is using the faster 2133 MT/s RAM. The Lenovo ThinkCentre M92 Tower 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 Lenovo ThinkCentre M92 Tower has 8 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.

The Dell OptiPlex 7040M comes with an HDMI port, while the Lenovo ThinkCentre M92 Tower 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 Lenovo ThinkCentre M92 Tower is better equipped as it comes with 4 SATA slot(s), while the Dell OptiPlex 7040M has 1 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 7040M. Sadly, the Lenovo ThinkCentre M92 Tower 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 7040M comes with a decent 65 Watt PSU, but the Lenovo ThinkCentre M92 Tower 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_7040M_motherboard.jpg motherboard layoutLenovo_ThinkCentre_M92_Tower_motherboard.jpg motherboard layout