Dell OptiPlex 7080M vs. Dell XPS 8940

Comparison and Differences

Dell_OptiPlex_7080M.jpg case front and back pannelDell_XPS_8940.jpg case front and back pannel
Model
Form factorMicroMini Tower
CPU optionsIntel Gen10 i3/i5/i7/i9;Intel Gen10 & 11 i3/i5/i7;
ChipsetQ470H470
Dedicated GPU *N.A.GeForce RTX 3080
RAMSODIMM DDR4-2666/2933DIMM DDR4-2666/2933
RAM slots24
RAM speed2933 MT/s2666 MT/s
RAM max64 GB128 GB
USB portsUSB 3.1 Type C; (3x) USB-A 3.1; (2x) USB-A 3.0;USB 3.0 Type C; USB 3.1 Type A; (2x) USB-A 2.0; (7x) USB-A 3.0;
Video ports(2x) Display Port 1.4;HDMI 2.0; DisplayPort 1.4;
Other portsRJ45; Headset; Line-Out/In;RJ45; Mic; Headset; Card Reader;
Optional portsHDMI2.0b/DP1.4/VGA/USB Type-C (DP Alt Mode); Serial; Serial+PS2; (2x) WiFi antenna;N.A.
SATA ports13
PCI slotsPCIe x8 Gen3 (optional) PCIe 3.0 x16; PCIe x4; PCIe x1;
M.2 slotsM.2 2280/2230 M-key (PCIe 3.0 x4, NVMe); M.2 2280 M-key (PCIe); M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT) M.2 2280/2230 M-key (PCIe 3.0 x4, NVMe); M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT);
Drive bays2.5in(3x) 3.5in;
PSU90/130/180 W500 W
Weight1.38 kg (3.04 lb)6.3 kg (13.89 lb)
Released20202020
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 7080M and Dell XPS 8940

Both computers, the Dell OptiPlex 7080M and the Dell XPS 8940, were released during the same year - 2020.

If you are looking for the smaller form factor the Dell OptiPlex 7080M is the right one for you. It is smaller than the Dell XPS 8940 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

The Dell XPS 8940 has 4 RAM slots while the Dell OptiPlex 7080M 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 OptiPlex 7080M is using the faster 2933 MT/s RAM. The Dell XPS 8940 is slower by supporting RAM speeds of up to 2666 MT/s. Additionally, if you will be needing a lot of RAM, better go for the Dell XPS 8940 as it has the ability to run 128 GB of RAM. The Dell OptiPlex 7080M can do a bit less at max 64 GB. Most of the times, this should be sufficient for the majority of users.

Ports

In total the Dell XPS 8940 has 10 USB ports. The Dell OptiPlex 7080M 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. It's great that both of the models have USB 3.1 ports which will allow you to exchange data with your peripherals at up to 10Gb/s. But if you need maximum connectivity, go with the Dell OptiPlex 7080M as it has 4 USB3.1 ports (the Dell XPS 8940 has 1).

DisplayPort is crucial for any desktop machine. It is good to see that both models are featuring DisplayPorts. However, the Dell OptiPlex 7080M comes with 2 ports, while the Dell XPS 8940 has only 1. If you are planning to use multiple monitors, the Dell OptiPlex 7080M is the better choice.

The Dell XPS 8940 comes with an HDMI port, while the Dell OptiPlex 7080M 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 XPS 8940 is better equipped as it comes with 3 SATA slot(s), while the Dell OptiPlex 7080M has 1 slot(s).

An M.2 SSD can be several times faster than a SATA one. Thus, we are happy to see that both models support the M.2 interface. However, the Dell OptiPlex 7080M has 1 M.2 slots while the Dell XPS 8940 comes with just 1.

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 7080M comes with a decent 180 Watt PSU, but the Dell XPS 8940 has a more powerful one rated at 500 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_7080M_motherboard.jpg motherboard layoutDell_XPS_8940_motherboard.jpg motherboard layout