Dell OptiPlex 3020M vs. Dell OptiPlex Tower 7010 2023

Comparison and Differences

Dell_OptiPlex_3020M.jpg case front and back pannelDell_OptiPlex_Tower_7010_2023.jpg case front and back pannel
Model
Form factorMicroMini Tower
CPU optionsIntel Gen4 i3/i5; Celeron; Pentium;Intel Gen 12&13 i3/i5; Celeron; Pentium
ChipsetH81 Q670
Dedicated GPU *N.A.GeForce GTX 1650 Super
RAMSODIMM DDR3-1600 DIMM DDR4-3200
RAM slots22
RAM speed1600 MT/s3200 MT/s
RAM max16 GB64 GB
USB ports(2x) USB-A 3.0; (4x) USB-A 2.0; (4x) USB-A 2.0; (4x) USB-A 3.0;
Video portsDisplayPort 1.2; VGA;Display Port 1.4a; HDMI 1.4b;
Other portsRJ45; Headset; Mic/Hdph;RJ45(2.5GHz); Audio; Line-Out/In;
Optional portsWiFi antenna; Serial+PS2; HDMI 2.1/Displayport/VGA; Serial
SATA ports13
PCI slots N.A.PCIe 3.0 x16; (2x) PCIe 3.0 x1;
M.2 slotsM.2 2230 (WiFi)M.2 2230/2280 (PCIe 4.0 x4, NVMe); M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT)
Drive bays2.5in;3.5in; (2x) 2.5in; 5.25in (slim);
PSU65 W180/300 W
Weight1.28 kg (2.82 lb)6.52 kg (14.38 lb)
Released20132023
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 3020M and Dell OptiPlex Tower 7010 2023

If you are looking for a more modern desktop, then you should go with the Dell OptiPlex Tower 7010 2023 which was released in 2023. The Dell OptiPlex 3020M is older and entered production in 2013.

If you are looking for the smaller form factor the Dell OptiPlex 3020M is the right one for you. It is smaller than the Dell OptiPlex Tower 7010 2023 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 Tower 7010 2023 as it is running a newer generation CPU. This is not to say that Dell OptiPlex 3020M is bad - it can still run some powerful CPUs, albeit being an older generation.

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.

The Dell OptiPlex Tower 7010 2023 is using the faster 3200 MT/s RAM. The Dell OptiPlex 3020M 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 Tower 7010 2023 as it has the ability to run 64 GB of RAM. The Dell OptiPlex 3020M 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 Tower 7010 2023 has 8 USB ports. The Dell OptiPlex 3020M 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. 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 Tower 7010 2023 comes with 2 ports, while the Dell OptiPlex 3020M has only 1. If you are planning to use multiple monitors, the Dell OptiPlex Tower 7010 2023 is the better choice.

The Dell OptiPlex Tower 7010 2023 comes with an HDMI port, while the Dell OptiPlex 3020M 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 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 Tower 7010 2023 is better equipped as it comes with 3 SATA slot(s), while the Dell OptiPlex 3020M has 1 slot(s).

If you want the fastest transfer speeds for your SSD, an M.2 interface is crucial. Thus, if the M.2 SSD slot is a mandatory requirement for you, go with the Dell OptiPlex Tower 7010 2023. Sadly, the Dell OptiPlex 3020M has no such slot, and you will be forced to use the SATA interface instead.

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 3020M comes with a decent 65 Watt PSU, but the Dell OptiPlex Tower 7010 2023 has a more powerful one rated at 300 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_3020M_motherboard.jpg motherboard layoutDell_OptiPlex_Tower_7010_2023_motherboard.jpg motherboard layout