Dell OptiPlex 3050M vs. Dell Vostro 3668

Comparison and Differences

Dell_OptiPlex_3050M.jpg case front and back pannelDell_Vostro_3668.jpg case front and back pannel
Model
Form factorMicroMini Tower
CPU optionsIntel Gen6&7 i3/i5; Pentium; Celeron;Intel Gen7 i3/i5/i7; Pentium; Celeron;
ChipsetB250H110
Dedicated GPU *N.A.GeForce GTX 1660 Super
RAMSODIMM DDR4-2133/2400 DIMM DDR3-2133/2400
RAM slots22
RAM speed2400 MT/s2400 MT/s
RAM max32 GB16 GB
USB ports(4x) USB-A 3.0; (2x) USB-A 2.0; (4x)USB-A 2.0; (2x)USB-A 3.0;
Video portsDisplay Port 1.2; HDMI 1.4;HDMI 1.4; VGA;
Other portsRJ45; Headset; Line-Out; RJ45; Hdph; Mic; Line-Out; Line-In;
Optional portsDP1.2/VGA/Serial+PS2/Serial; WiFi antenna;N/A
SATA ports14
PCI slotsN.A.PCIe 2.0 x16; (2x) PCIe 2.0 x1;
M.2 slotsM.2 2280/2242 M-key (PCIe 3.0 x2, NVMe) ; M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT) M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT);
Drive bays2.5in;3.5in; 5.25in; (2x) 2.5in; 9.5 mm
PSU65 W240W
Weight1.18 kg (2.6 lb)5.90 kg (13.01 lbs)
Released20172016
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 3050M and Dell Vostro 3668

If you are looking for a more modern desktop, then you should go with the Dell OptiPlex 3050M which was released in 2017. The Dell Vostro 3668 is older and entered production in 2016.

If you are looking for the smaller form factor the Dell OptiPlex 3050M is the right one for you. It is smaller than the Dell Vostro 3668 and will fit more easily under your desk.

Processor

The two models have the same generation of Intel processors. We think that the 7 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 2400. Additionally, if you will be needing a lot of RAM, better go for the Dell OptiPlex 3050M as it has the ability to run 32 GB of RAM. The Dell Vostro 3668 can do a bit less at max 16 GB. Most of the times, this should be sufficient for the majority of users.

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 3050M has a DisplayPort. The Dell Vostro 3668 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 3668 is better equipped as it comes with 4 SATA slot(s), while the Dell OptiPlex 3050M 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 3050M. Sadly, the Dell Vostro 3668 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 3050M comes with a decent 65 Watt PSU, but the Dell Vostro 3668 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_3050M_motherboard.jpg motherboard layoutDell_Vostro_3668_motherboard.jpg motherboard layout