Dell OptiPlex 5080 SFF vs. Dell OptiPlex 9020 USFF

Comparison and Differences

Dell_OptiPlex_5080_SFF.jpg case front and back pannelDell_OptiPlex_9020_USFF.jpg case front and back pannel
Model
Form factorSmallUltra Small
CPU optionsIntel Gen10 i3/i5/i7; PentiumIntel Gen4 i3/i5/i7;
ChipsetQ470Q87
Dedicated GPU *GeForce GTX 1650 Low ProfileN.A.
RAMDIMM DDR4-2666/2933DIMM DDR3-1600
RAM slots42
RAM speed2933 MT/s1600 MT/s
RAM max128 GB16 GB
USB portsUSB 3.1 Type C; (5x) USB-A 3.0; (4x) USB-A 2.0; (4x) USB-A 3.0; (2x) USB-A 2.0;
Video ports(2x) Display Port 1.4;(2x) DisplayPort 1.2; VGA;
Other portsRJ45; Headset; Line-Out/In; RJ45; Hdph; Mic; Line-Out; Line-In; Serial;
Optional portsHDMI2.0b/DP1.4/VGA/USB Type-C (DP Alt Mode); Serial+PS2; SD4.0; 2xWiFi antenna; N.A.
SATA ports32
PCI slotsPCIe 3.0 x16; PCIe 3.0 x4 (open ended);mPCIe (supports mSATA)
M.2 slotsM.2 2280/2230 M-key (PCIe 3.0 x4, NVMe); M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT) M.2 2230 mSATA;
Drive bays3.5in/(2x)2.5in; 5.25in (slim); 2.5in, 5.25in(slim)
PSU200 W 200 W
Weight5.25 Kg (11.57 lb)3.30 kg (7.28 lb)
Released20202013
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 5080 SFF and Dell OptiPlex 9020 USFF

If you are looking for a more modern desktop, then you should go with the Dell OptiPlex 5080 SFF which was released in 2020. The Dell OptiPlex 9020 USFF is older and entered production in 2013.

If you are looking for the smaller form factor the Dell OptiPlex 9020 USFF is the right one for you. It is smaller than the Dell OptiPlex 5080 SFF 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 5080 SFF as it is running a newer generation CPU. This is not to say that Dell OptiPlex 9020 USFF is bad - it can still run some powerful CPUs, albeit being an older generation.

Memory

The Dell OptiPlex 5080 SFF has 4 RAM slots while the Dell OptiPlex 9020 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.

The Dell OptiPlex 5080 SFF is using the faster 2933 MT/s RAM. The Dell OptiPlex 9020 USFF is slower by supporting RAM speeds of up to 1600 MT/s. Additionally, if you will be needing a lot of RAM, better go for the Dell OptiPlex 5080 SFF as it has the ability to run 128 GB of RAM. The Dell OptiPlex 9020 USFF can do a bit less at max 16 GB. Most of the times, this should be sufficient for the majority of users.

Ports

In total the Dell OptiPlex 5080 SFF has 10 USB ports. The Dell OptiPlex 9020 USFF 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 OptiPlex 5080 SFF, is that it has 1 USB 3.1 port(s) which allows transfer of up to 10Gb/s. Unfortunately, the Dell OptiPlex 9020 USFF 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.

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 5080 SFF is better equipped as it comes with 3 SATA slot(s), while the Dell OptiPlex 9020 USFF has 2 slot(s).

When your goal is to have the fastest SSD transfer speeds, an M.2 interface is crucial. Thus, it is good that both models have M.2 SSD slots. Today M.2 SSDs are not much more expensive than the average SATA drives, so it really does not make sense to invest in SATA drives anymore.

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

Looking at the Power Supply Unit (PSU) of the two models we don't see any differences. For either of them you get a maximum power of 200 Watts. However be careful, many models have more than one power supply option. When buying your computer, it is a good idea to get a version with the most powerful PSU. This will potentially allow you to upgrade to a more powerful GPU for example.

Motherboard

Dell_OptiPlex_5080_SFF_motherboard.jpg motherboard layoutDell_OptiPlex_9020_USFF_motherboard.jpg motherboard layout