Dell OptiPlex 7040M vs. Dell Vostro 3470

Comparison and Differences

Dell_OptiPlex_7040M.jpg case front and back pannelDell_Vostro_3470.jpg case front and back pannel
Model
Form factorMicroSmall
CPU optionsIntel Gen6 i3/i5/i7Intel Gen8&9 i3/i5/i7; Pentium; Celeron;
ChipsetQ170H370
Dedicated GPU *N.A.GeForce GT 1030 Low Profile
RAMSODIMM DDR4-2133DIMM DDR4-2666
RAM slots22
RAM speed2133 MT/s2666 MT/s
RAM max32 GB32 GB
USB ports(6x) USB-A 3.0(4x)USB-A 2.0; (2x)USB-A 3.0;
Video ports Display Port 1.2; HDMI 1.4;HDMI 1.4; VGA;
Other portsRJ45; Headset; Line-Out; RJ45; Hdph; Mic; Line-Out; Line-In; SD card reader
Optional portsWiFi antenna; Display Port 1.2; VGA; Serial; Serial+PS2; N/A
SATA ports12
PCI slotsN.A.PCIe 3.0 x16; PCIe 3.0 x1;
M.2 slotsM.2 2280 M-key (PCIe 3.0 x4, NVMe); M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT) M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT); M.2 2280 (SATA only);
Drive bays2.5in3.5in; 5.25in;
PSU65 W200 W
Weight1.41 kg (3.12 lb)4.80 kg (10.51 lbs)
Released20152018
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 7040M and Dell Vostro 3470

If you are looking for a more modern desktop, then you should go with the Dell Vostro 3470 which was released in 2018. The Dell OptiPlex 7040M is older and entered production in 2015.

If you are looking for the smaller form factor the Dell OptiPlex 7040M is the right one for you. It is smaller than the Dell Vostro 3470 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 Vostro 3470 as it is running a newer generation CPU. This is not to say that Dell OptiPlex 7040M 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 Vostro 3470 is using the faster 2666 MT/s RAM. The Dell OptiPlex 7040M is slower by supporting RAM speeds of up to 2133 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 6. 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.

Unfortunately, only the Dell OptiPlex 7040M has a DisplayPort. The Dell Vostro 3470 does not have one? Don't worry though, nowadays video adapters are cheap and you can get almost any combination of conversion types.

In case your monitor supports HDMI only, you will be happy to hear that both models come with an HDMI port.

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 Vostro 3470 is better equipped as it comes with 2 SATA slot(s), while the Dell OptiPlex 7040M has 1 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

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 7040M comes with a decent 65 Watt PSU, but the Dell Vostro 3470 has a more powerful one rated at 200 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_7040M_motherboard.jpg motherboard layoutDell_Vostro_3470_motherboard.jpg motherboard layout