Dell OptiPlex 3020 MT vs. Fujitsu Esprimo D538

Comparison and Differences

Dell_OptiPlex_3020_MT.jpg case front and back pannelFujitsu_Esprimo_D538.jpg case front and back pannel
Model
Form factorMini TowerSmall
CPU optionsIntel Gen4 i3/i5; Celeron; Pentium;Intel Gen8&9 i3/i5/i7; Pentium; Celeron
ChipsetH81 H310
Dedicated GPU *GeForce GTX 1660 SuperRadeon RX 6400 Low Profile
RAMDIMM DDR3-1600 UDIMM DDR4-2666
RAM slots22
RAM speed1600 MT/s2666 MT/s
RAM max16 GB32 GB
USB ports(2x) USB-A 3.0; (6x) USB-A 2.0; (4x) USB-A 3.0; (4x) USB-A 2.0
Video portsDisplayPort 1.2; VGA;DisplayPort 1.2; DVI
Other portsRJ45; Hdph; Mic; Line-Out; Line-In; RJ45; Headphones; Mic; Line in; Line out; PS/2
Optional portsSerial+PS2;VGA; eSATA
SATA ports33
PCI slotsPCIe 2.0 x16; (3x) PCIe 2.0 x1 PCIe 3.0 x16; PCIe 2.0 x16 (wired x4)
M.2 slotsN.A.M.2 2280/2230 M-key (PCIe 2.0 x2, NVMe)
Drive bays(2x) 2.5/3.5in; (2x)5.25in;3.5in; 2.5in; 5.25 inch
PSUATX 290 W210/280 W
Weight7.6 kg (16.75 lb)5.00 kg (11.03 lb)
Released20132018
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 3020 MT and Fujitsu Esprimo D538

If you are looking for a more modern desktop, then you should go with the Fujitsu Esprimo D538 which was released in 2018. The Dell OptiPlex 3020 MT is older and entered production in 2013.

If you are looking for the smaller form factor the Fujitsu Esprimo D538 is the right one for you. It is smaller than the Dell OptiPlex 3020 MT 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 Fujitsu Esprimo D538 as it is running a newer generation CPU. This is not to say that Dell OptiPlex 3020 MT 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 Fujitsu Esprimo D538 is using the faster 2666 MT/s RAM. The Dell OptiPlex 3020 MT is slower by supporting RAM speeds of up to 1600 MT/s. Additionally, if you will be needing a lot of RAM, better go for the Fujitsu Esprimo D538 as it has the ability to run 32 GB of RAM. The Dell OptiPlex 3020 MT 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 8. 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.

The DisplayPort is usually the more popular video port used with desktops and laptops, while the HDMI is used predominantly in consumer electronics. That's why, it is good to see that both of the models come with a DisplayPort.

None of the models has an HDMI port. If your monitor supports only the HDMI interface, you will need to buy an adapter. Such adapters are cheap so nothing to worry about.

SATA slots are located on the motherboard and it is where SSD, HDD and Optical Disk Drives are connected. Each of the two models being compared have 3 SATA slot(s). Keep in mind that having too few SATA slots might limit your options for connecting additional memory drives.

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 Fujitsu Esprimo D538. Sadly, the Dell OptiPlex 3020 MT 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 Fujitsu Esprimo D538 comes with a decent 280 Watt PSU, but the Dell OptiPlex 3020 MT has a more powerful one rated at 290 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_3020_MT_motherboard.jpg motherboard layoutFujitsu_Esprimo_D538_motherboard.jpg motherboard layout