Dell OptiPlex 9020 SFF vs. Fujitsu Esprimo P556

Comparison and Differences

Dell_OptiPlex_9020_SFF.jpg case front and back pannelFujitsu_Esprimo_P556.jpg case front and back pannel
Model
Form factorSmallMini Tower
CPU optionsIntel Gen4 i3/i5/i7; Intel Gen6 i3/i5/i7; Pentium; Celeron
ChipsetQ87H110
Dedicated GPU *GeForce GTX 1650 Low ProfileGeForce GTX 1650 Super
RAMDIMM DDR3-1600 UDIMM DDR4-2133
RAM slots42
RAM speed1600 MT/s2133 MT/s
RAM max32 GB32 GB
USB ports(4x) USB-A 3.0; (6x) USB-A 2.0; (4x) USB-A 3.0; (6x) USB-A 2.0
Video ports(2x) DisplayPort 1.2; VGA;DisplayPort 1.2; DVI
Other portsRJ45; Hdph; Mic; Line-Out; Line-In; Serial; (2x) PS2; RJ45; Headphones; (2x) Mic; Line in; Line out; PS/2
Optional portsN.A.VGA; eSATA
SATA ports33
PCI slotsPCIe 3.0 x16; PCIe x16 (wired x4); PCIe 3.0 x16; (2x) PCIe 2.0 x1
M.2 slotsN.A.N.A.
Drive bays2.5/3.5in; 5.25in(slim)(3x) 3.5in; (2x) 5.25 inch
PSU 255 W280 W
Weight6.00 kg (13.22 lb)8.00 kg (17.64 lb)
Released20132015
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 9020 SFF and Fujitsu Esprimo P556

If you are looking for a more modern desktop, then you should go with the Fujitsu Esprimo P556 which was released in 2015. The Dell OptiPlex 9020 SFF is older and entered production in 2013.

If you are looking for the smaller form factor the Dell OptiPlex 9020 SFF is the right one for you. It is smaller than the Fujitsu Esprimo P556 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 Fujitsu Esprimo P556 as it is running a newer generation CPU. This is not to say that Dell OptiPlex 9020 SFF is bad - it can still run some powerful CPUs, albeit being an older generation.

Memory

The Dell OptiPlex 9020 SFF has 4 RAM slots while the Fujitsu Esprimo P556 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 Fujitsu Esprimo P556 is using the faster 2133 MT/s RAM. The Dell OptiPlex 9020 SFF 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

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 9020 SFF comes with 2 ports, while the Fujitsu Esprimo P556 has only 1. If you are planning to use multiple monitors, the Dell OptiPlex 9020 SFF 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 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 3 SATA slot(s). Keep in mind that having too few SATA slots might limit your options for connecting additional memory drives.

M.2 SSD interface allows you to transfer data with higher speeds compared to the old SATA interface. Unfortunately, neither the Dell OptiPlex 9020 SFF, nor the Fujitsu Esprimo P556 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 9020 SFF comes with a decent 255 Watt PSU, but the Fujitsu Esprimo P556 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_9020_SFF_motherboard.jpg motherboard layoutFujitsu_Esprimo_P556_motherboard.jpg motherboard layout