Dell OptiPlex 390 SFF vs. Dell OptiPlex 990 USFF

Comparison and Differences

Dell_OptiPlex_390_SFF.jpg case front and back pannelDell_OptiPlex_990_USFF.jpg case front and back pannel
Model
Form factorSmallUltra Small
CPU optionsIntel Gen2 i3/i5/i7; Celeron; Pentium;Intel Gen2 i3/i5/i7; Celeron; Pentium;
ChipsetH61Q67
Dedicated GPU *GeForce GTX 1650 Low ProfileN.A.
RAMDIMM DDR3-1333DIMM DDR3-1333
RAM slots22
RAM speed1333 MT/s1333 MT/s
RAM max8 GB8 GB
USB ports(8x)USB-A 2.0; (7x)USB-A 2.0;
Video portsHDMI 1.2; VGA;DisplayPort 1.2; VGA;
Other portsRJ45; Hdph; Line-Out; Line-In and Mic; Mic; PS2/COM;RJ45; Hdph; (2x) Mic; Line-Out; Line-In; PS2/COM; Serial; Parallel;
Optional portsN.A.N.A.
SATA ports22
PCI slotsPCIe 2.0 x16; PCIe 2.0 x1;N.A.
M.2 slotsN.A.N.A.
Drive bays3.5in; 5.25in(slim);2.5in; 5.25in(slim);
PSU240 W200 W
Weight5.70 kg (12.57 lb)3.27 kg (7.20 lb)
Released20112011
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 390 SFF and Dell OptiPlex 990 USFF

Both computers, the Dell OptiPlex 390 SFF and the Dell OptiPlex 990 USFF, were released during the same year - 2011.

If you are looking for the smaller form factor the Dell OptiPlex 990 USFF is the right one for you. It is smaller than the Dell OptiPlex 390 SFF 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

Both models have have equal amount of ram slots (2 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.

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. In addition, you will be able to install the same amount of RAM in both models, and most probably 8 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

In total the Dell OptiPlex 390 SFF has 8 USB ports. The Dell OptiPlex 990 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.

Unfortunately, only the Dell OptiPlex 990 USFF has a DisplayPort. The Dell OptiPlex 390 SFF does not have one? Don't worry though, nowadays video adapters are cheap and you can get almost any combination of conversion types.

The Dell OptiPlex 390 SFF comes with an HDMI port, while the Dell OptiPlex 990 USFF does not support the interface. Of course missing HDMI port is something that can be easily fixed with a good adapter (e.g. DisplayPort to HDMI).

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 2 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 390 SFF, nor the Dell OptiPlex 990 USFF 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 990 USFF comes with a decent 200 Watt PSU, but the Dell OptiPlex 390 SFF has a more powerful one rated at 240 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_390_SFF_motherboard.jpg motherboard layoutDell_OptiPlex_990_USFF_motherboard.jpg motherboard layout