Dell OptiPlex 9020 MT vs. Fujitsu Esprimo Q520

Comparison and Differences

Dell_OptiPlex_9020_MT.jpg case front and back pannelFujitsu_Esprimo_Q520.jpg case front and back pannel
Model
Form factorMini TowerMicro
CPU optionsIntel Gen4 i3/i5/i7; Intel Gen4 i3/i5/i7
ChipsetQ87H81
Dedicated GPU *GeForce GTX 1660 SuperN.A.
RAMDIMM DDR3-1600 SODIMM DDR3-1600
RAM slots42
RAM speed1600 MT/s1600 MT/s
RAM max32 GB16 GB
USB ports(4x) USB-A 3.0; (6x) USB-A 2.0; (2x) USB-A 3.0; (4x) USB-A 2.0
Video ports(2x) DisplayPort 1.2; VGA;DisplayPort 1.2; DVI
Other portsRJ45; Hdph; Mic; Line-Out; Line-In; Serial; (2x) PS2; RJ45; Line in; Line out; Card reader
Optional portsN.A.VGA (DVI to VGA adapter)
SATA ports42
PCI slotsPCIe 3.0 x16; PCIe x1; PCIe x16(wired x4); PCI; N.A.
M.2 slotsN.A.N.A.
Drive bays(2x) 2.5/3.5in; (2x) 5.25 inch2.5in; 5.25 inch
PSU ATX 290 W65 W
Weight9.40 kg (20.72 lb)1.60 kg (3.53 lb)
Released20132014
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 9020 MT and Fujitsu Esprimo Q520

If you are looking for a more modern desktop, then you should go with the Fujitsu Esprimo Q520 which was released in 2014. The Dell OptiPlex 9020 MT is older and entered production in 2013.

If you are looking for the smaller form factor the Fujitsu Esprimo Q520 is the right one for you. It is smaller than the Dell OptiPlex 9020 MT and will fit more easily under your desk.

Processor

The two models have the same generation of Intel processors. We think that the 4 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 OptiPlex 9020 MT has 4 RAM slots while the Fujitsu Esprimo Q520 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.

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 1600. Additionally, if you will be needing a lot of RAM, better go for the Dell OptiPlex 9020 MT as it has the ability to run 32 GB of RAM. The Fujitsu Esprimo Q520 can do a bit less at max 16 GB. Most of the times, this should be sufficient for the majority of users.

Ports

In total the Dell OptiPlex 9020 MT has 10 USB ports. The Fujitsu Esprimo Q520 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.

DisplayPort is crucial for any desktop machine. It is good to see that both models are featuring DisplayPorts. However, the Dell OptiPlex 9020 MT comes with 2 ports, while the Fujitsu Esprimo Q520 has only 1. If you are planning to use multiple monitors, the Dell OptiPlex 9020 MT is the better choice.

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 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 OptiPlex 9020 MT is better equipped as it comes with 4 SATA slot(s), while the Fujitsu Esprimo Q520 has 2 slot(s).

M.2 SSD interface allows you to transfer data with higher speeds compared to the old SATA interface. Unfortunately, neither the Dell OptiPlex 9020 MT, nor the Fujitsu Esprimo Q520 has one. However, you can still use a SATA SSD drive which should give you satisfactory performance.

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 Q520 comes with a decent 65 Watt PSU, but the Dell OptiPlex 9020 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_9020_MT_motherboard.jpg motherboard layoutFujitsu_Esprimo_Q520_motherboard.jpg motherboard layout