Dell OptiPlex 7050M vs. Dell XPS 8910

Comparison and Differences

Dell_OptiPlex_7050M.jpg case front and back pannelDell_XPS_8910.jpg case front and back pannel
Model
Form factorMicroMini Tower
CPU optionsIntel Gen6&7 i3/i5/i7; Intel Gen6 i3/i5/i7;
ChipsetQ270Z170
Dedicated GPU *N.A.GeForce GTX 1080 Ti
RAMSODIMM-2133/2400DIMM DDR4-2133/2400
RAM slots24
RAM speed2400 MT/s2133 MT/s
RAM max32 GB64 GB
USB portsUSB 3.0 Type C; (5x) USB-A 3.0;USB 3.1 Type C; USB 3.1 Type A;(2x) USB-A 2.0; (7x) USB-A 3.0;
Video portsDisplay Port 1.2; HDMI 1.4;HDMI 1.4; DisplayPort 1.2;
Other portsRJ45; Headset; Line-Out; RJ45; Mic; Headset; Card Reader;
Optional portsSerial+PS2; Serial; VGA; DisplayPort 1.2; WiFi antenna; N.A.
SATA ports14
PCI slotsN.A.PCIe 3.0 x16; (x2) PCIe x4;
M.2 slotsM.2 2280/2242 M-key (PCIe 3.0 x4, NVMe); M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT) M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT)
Drive bays2.5in(3x) 3.5in;
PSU65 W460 W
Weight1.18 kg (2.60 lb)10.00 kg (22.00 lb)
Released20172016
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 7050M and Dell XPS 8910

If you are looking for a more modern desktop, then you should go with the Dell OptiPlex 7050M which was released in 2017. The Dell XPS 8910 is older and entered production in 2016.

If you are looking for the smaller form factor the Dell OptiPlex 7050M is the right one for you. It is smaller than the Dell XPS 8910 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 7050M as it is running a newer generation CPU. This is not to say that Dell XPS 8910 is bad - it can still run some powerful CPUs, albeit being an older generation.

Memory

The Dell XPS 8910 has 4 RAM slots while the Dell OptiPlex 7050M 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 7050M is using the faster 2400 MT/s RAM. The Dell XPS 8910 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 XPS 8910 as it has the ability to run 64 GB of RAM. The Dell OptiPlex 7050M 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 XPS 8910 has 11 USB ports. The Dell OptiPlex 7050M 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. What is nice about the Dell XPS 8910, is that it has 2 USB 3.1 port(s) which allows transfer of up to 10Gb/s. Unfortunately, the Dell OptiPlex 7050M 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.

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 XPS 8910 is better equipped as it comes with 4 SATA slot(s), while the Dell OptiPlex 7050M 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 7050M. Sadly, the Dell XPS 8910 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 7050M comes with a decent 65 Watt PSU, but the Dell XPS 8910 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_7050M_motherboard.jpg motherboard layoutDell_XPS_8910_motherboard.jpg motherboard layout