Dell OptiPlex 790 USFF vs. Dell OptiPlex 990 DT

Comparison and Differences

Dell_OptiPlex_790_USFF.jpg case front and back pannelDell_OptiPlex_990_DT.jpg case front and back pannel
Model
Form factorUltra SmallDesktop
CPU optionsIntel Gen2 i3/i5/i7; Celeron; Pentium;Intel Gen2 i3/i5/i7; Celeron; Pentium;
ChipsetQ65Q67
Dedicated GPU *N.A.GeForce GTX 1650 Low Profile
RAMDIMM DDR3-1333DIMM DDR3-1333
RAM slots24
RAM speed1333 MT/s1333 MT/s
RAM max8 GB16 GB
USB ports(7x)USB-A 2.0; (10x)USB-A 2.0;
Video portsDisplayPort 1.2; VGA;DisplayPort 1.2; VGA;
Other portsRJ45; Hdph; (2x) Mic; Line-Out; Line-In; PS2/COM; Serial; Parallel;RJ45; Hdph; (2x) Mic; Line-Out; Line-In; PS2/COM; Serial; Parallel;
Optional portsN.A.N.A.
SATA ports23
PCI slotsN.A.PCIe 2.0 x16; PCIe 2.0 x4; PCIe 2.0 x1;
M.2 slotsN.A.N.A.
Drive bays2.5in; 5.25in(slim);3.5in; 2.5in; 5.25in;
PSU200 W250 W
Weight3.27 kg (7.20 lb)7.56 kg (16.67 lb)
Released20112011
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 790 USFF and Dell OptiPlex 990 DT

Both computers, the Dell OptiPlex 790 USFF and the Dell OptiPlex 990 DT, were released during the same year - 2011.

If you are looking for the smaller form factor the Dell OptiPlex 790 USFF is the right one for you. It is smaller than the Dell OptiPlex 990 DT and will fit more easily under your desk.

Processor

The two models have the same generation of Intel processors. We think that the 2 generation of Intel Processors have enough power to execute all of the home and office tasks that most people will care to do.

Memory

The Dell OptiPlex 990 DT has 4 RAM slots while the Dell OptiPlex 790 USFF 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.

None of the desktops has an advantage when it comes to the speed of the RAM being used. Both models support RAM speeds of up to 1333. Additionally, if you will be needing a lot of RAM, better go for the Dell OptiPlex 990 DT as it has the ability to run 16 GB of RAM. The Dell OptiPlex 790 USFF can do a bit less at max 8 GB. Most of the times, this should be sufficient for the majority of users.

Ports

In total the Dell OptiPlex 990 DT has 8 USB ports. The Dell OptiPlex 790 USFF is inferior in this regard and packs 7 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.

None of the models has an HDMI port. If your monitor supports only the HDMI interface, you will need to buy an adapter. Such adapters are cheap so nothing to worry about.

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 OptiPlex 990 DT is better equipped as it comes with 3 SATA slot(s), while the Dell OptiPlex 790 USFF has 2 slot(s).

M.2 SSD interface allows you to transfer data with higher speeds compared to the old SATA interface. Unfortunately, neither the Dell OptiPlex 790 USFF, nor the Dell OptiPlex 990 DT has one. However, you can still use a SATA SSD drive which should give you satisfactory performance.

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 790 USFF comes with a decent 200 Watt PSU, but the Dell OptiPlex 990 DT has a more powerful one rated at 250 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_790_USFF_motherboard.jpg motherboard layoutDell_OptiPlex_990_DT_motherboard.jpg motherboard layout