Dell OptiPlex 3080M vs. Dell Vostro 3881

Comparison and Differences

Dell_OptiPlex_3080M.jpg case front and back pannelDell_Vostro_3881.jpg case front and back pannel
Model
Form factorMicroMini Tower
CPU optionsIntel Gen10 i3/i5/i7; Pentium; Celeron;Intel Gen10 i3/i5/i7; Celeron; Pentium;
ChipsetB460B460
Dedicated GPU *N.A.GeForce GTX 1660 Super
RAMSODIMM DDR4-2666DIMM DDR4-2666/2933
RAM slots22
RAM speed2666 MT/s2933 MT/s
RAM max64 GB64 GB
USB ports(4x) USB-A 3.0; (2x) USB-A 2.0;(4x) USB-A 3.0; (4x) USB-A 2.0;
Video portsDisplay Port 1.4; HDMI 1.4b;HDMI 1.4b; VGA;
Other portsRJ45; Headset; Line-Out;RJ45; Headset; Mic; Line-Out; Card Reader;
Optional portsSerial/PS2/DP 1.4/HDMI 2.0b/VGA; (2x)WiFi antenna; N.A.
SATA ports12
PCI slotsN.A.PCIe 3.0 x16; PCIe 3.0 x1;
M.2 slotsM.2 2280/2230 M-key (PCIe 3.0 x4, NVMe); M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT) M.2 2280/2230 M-key (PCIe 3.0 x4, NVMe); M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT);
Drive bays2.5in;3.5in; 9.5mm
PSU65 W260 W
Weight1.28 kg (2.82 lb)6.02 kg (13.27 lbs)
Released20202020
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 3080M and Dell Vostro 3881

Both computers, the Dell OptiPlex 3080M and the Dell Vostro 3881, were released during the same year - 2020.

If you are looking for the smaller form factor the Dell OptiPlex 3080M is the right one for you. It is smaller than the Dell Vostro 3881 and will fit more easily under your desk.

Processor

The two models have the same generation of Intel processors. We think that the 10 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.

The Dell Vostro 3881 is using the faster 2933 MT/s RAM. The Dell OptiPlex 3080M is slower by supporting RAM speeds of up to 2666 MT/s. In addition, you will be able to install the same amount of RAM in both models, and most probably 64 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 Vostro 3881 has 8 USB ports. The Dell OptiPlex 3080M 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.

Unfortunately, only the Dell OptiPlex 3080M has a DisplayPort. The Dell Vostro 3881 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 3881 is better equipped as it comes with 2 SATA slot(s), while the Dell OptiPlex 3080M 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 3080M comes with a decent 65 Watt PSU, but the Dell Vostro 3881 has a more powerful one rated at 260 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_3080M_motherboard.jpg motherboard layoutDell_Vostro_3881_motherboard.jpg motherboard layout