Dell Vostro 3471 vs. Dell XPS 8500

Comparison and Differences

Dell_Vostro_3471.jpg case front and back pannelDell_XPS_8500.jpg case front and back pannel
Model
Form factorSmallMini Tower
CPU optionsIntel Gen8&9 i3/i5/i7; Pentium; Celeron;Intel Gen2 & 3 i3/i5/i7;
ChipsetH365H77
Dedicated GPU *GeForce GT 1030 Low ProfileGeForce GTX 1650 Super
RAMDIMM DDR4-2666DIMM DDR3-1333/1600
RAM slots24
RAM speed2666 MT/s1600 MT/s
RAM max32 GB32 GB
USB ports(4x)USB-A 2.0; (2x)USB-A 3.0; (8x) USB-A 2.0; USB 3.0;
Video portsHDMI 1.4b; VGA;HDMI 1.2; VGA;
Other portsRJ45; Hdph; Mic; Line-Out; Line-In; SD card readerRJ45; S/PDIF; Mic; Headset;
Optional portsN/AN.A.
SATA ports24
PCI slotsPCIe 3.0 x16; PCIe 3.0 x1;PCIe 3.0 x16; (x3) PCIe x1; mPCIe;
M.2 slotsM.2 2230 (WiFi/BT); M.2 2280 (SATA only); N.A.
Drive bays3.5in; (2x) 2.5; 9.5 mm;(2x) 3.5in; (2x) 5.25in; mSATA;
PSU200 W460 W
Weight4.80 kg (10.51 lbs)13.8 kg (30.42 lb)
Released20162012
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 Vostro 3471 and Dell XPS 8500

If you are looking for a more modern desktop, then you should go with the Dell Vostro 3471 which was released in 2016. The Dell XPS 8500 is older and entered production in 2012.

If you are looking for the smaller form factor the Dell Vostro 3471 is the right one for you. It is smaller than the Dell XPS 8500 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 3471 as it is running a newer generation CPU. This is not to say that Dell XPS 8500 is bad - it can still run some powerful CPUs, albeit being an older generation.

Memory

The Dell XPS 8500 has 4 RAM slots while the Dell Vostro 3471 has only 2 slot(s). This is not something to worry about. Just make sure you take it into consideration when planning how much RAM you are going to use.

The Dell Vostro 3471 is using the faster 2666 MT/s RAM. The Dell XPS 8500 is slower by supporting RAM speeds of up to 1600 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

In total the Dell XPS 8500 has 9 USB ports. The Dell Vostro 3471 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.

Nowadays, almost every new computer comes equipped with a DisplayPort. However, none of the devices being compared here has one. Don't worry though, DisplayPort adapters are very cheap and you can get virtually 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 XPS 8500 is better equipped as it comes with 4 SATA slot(s), while the Dell Vostro 3471 has 2 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 Vostro 3471. Sadly, the Dell XPS 8500 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 Vostro 3471 comes with a decent 200 Watt PSU, but the Dell XPS 8500 has a more powerful one rated at 460 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_Vostro_3471_motherboard.jpg motherboard layoutDell_XPS_8500_motherboard.jpg motherboard layout