Dell OptiPlex 790 MT vs. Dell OptiPlex 9010 DT

Differences between Dell OptiPlex 790 MT and Dell OptiPlex 9010 DT

If you are looking for a more modern desktop, then you should go with the Dell OptiPlex 9010 DT which was released in 2012. The Dell OptiPlex 790 MT is older and entered production in 2011.

If you are looking for the smaller form factor the Dell OptiPlex 9010 DT is the right one for you. It is smaller than the Dell OptiPlex 790 MT 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 9010 DT as it is running a newer generation CPU. This is not to say that Dell OptiPlex 790 MT is bad - it can still run some powerful CPUs, albeit being an older generation.

Memory

Both models have have equal amount of ram slots (4 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 9010 DT is using the faster 1600 MT/s RAM. The Dell OptiPlex 790 MT is slower by supporting RAM speeds of up to 1333 MT/s. Additionally, if you will be needing a lot of RAM, better go for the Dell OptiPlex 9010 DT as it has the ability to run 32 GB of RAM. The Dell OptiPlex 790 MT can do a bit less at max 16 GB. Most of the times, this should be sufficient for the majority of users.

Ports

Both models have the same amount of USB ports for total count of 10. If this is not enough, using a USB hub is always a viable option. 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.

DisplayPort is crucial for any desktop machine. It is good to see that both models are featuring DisplayPorts. However, the Dell OptiPlex 9010 DT comes with 2 ports, while the Dell OptiPlex 790 MT has only 1. If you are planning to use multiple monitors, the Dell OptiPlex 9010 DT is the better choice.

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 790 MT is better equipped as it comes with 4 SATA slot(s), while the Dell OptiPlex 9010 DT has 3 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 MT, nor the Dell OptiPlex 9010 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 9010 DT comes with a decent 250 Watt PSU, but the Dell OptiPlex 790 MT has a more powerful one rated at 265 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