Dell OptiPlex 3090 SFF vs. Fujitsu Esprimo Q556

Comparison and Differences

Dell_OptiPlex_3090_SFF.jpg case front and back pannelFujitsu_Esprimo_Q556.jpg case front and back pannel
Model
Form factorSmallMicro
CPU optionsIntel Gen 10 i3/i5/i7/i9; PentiumIntel Gen6 i3/i5/i7; Pentium
ChipsetQ470H110
Dedicated GPU *AMD Radeon RX 6400 Low ProfileN.A.
RAMDIMM DDR4-2666SODIMM DDR4-2133
RAM slots22
RAM speed2666 MT/s2133 MT/s
RAM max64 GB32 GB
USB ports(4x) USB-A 2.0; (4x) USB-A 3.0;(2x) USB-A 3.0; (4x) USB-A 2.0
Video portsDisplay Port 1.4a; HDMI 1.4b;DisplayPort 1.2; DVI
Other portsRJ45; Audio; Line-Out/In;RJ45; Headphones; Mic; Line out; (1x) PS/2
Optional portsHDMI 2.0b/Displayport/VGA;VGA
SATA ports22
PCI slotsPCIe 3.0 x16; (2x) PCIe 3.0 x1;N.A.
M.2 slotsM.2 2230/2280 (PCIe 4.0 x4, NVMe); M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT) M.2 2280/2230 M-key (PCIe 2.0 x2, SSD); M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT)
Drive bays3.5in; 2.5in; 5.25in (slim);2.5in; 5.25 inch slim
PSU200 W65 W
Weight5.10 kg (11.25 lb)1.60 kg (3.53 lb)
Released20212015
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 3090 SFF and Fujitsu Esprimo Q556

If you are looking for a more modern desktop, then you should go with the Dell OptiPlex 3090 SFF which was released in 2021. The Fujitsu Esprimo Q556 is older and entered production in 2015.

If you are looking for the smaller form factor the Fujitsu Esprimo Q556 is the right one for you. It is smaller than the Dell OptiPlex 3090 SFF 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 OptiPlex 3090 SFF as it is running a newer generation CPU. This is not to say that Fujitsu Esprimo Q556 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 Dell OptiPlex 3090 SFF is using the faster 2666 MT/s RAM. The Fujitsu Esprimo Q556 is slower by supporting RAM speeds of up to 2133 MT/s. Additionally, if you will be needing a lot of RAM, better go for the Dell OptiPlex 3090 SFF as it has the ability to run 64 GB of RAM. The Fujitsu Esprimo Q556 can do a bit less at max 32 GB. Most of the times, this should be sufficient for the majority of users.

Ports

In total the Dell OptiPlex 3090 SFF has 8 USB ports. The Fujitsu Esprimo Q556 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 3090 SFF comes with 2 ports, while the Fujitsu Esprimo Q556 has only 1. If you are planning to use multiple monitors, the Dell OptiPlex 3090 SFF 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 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 2 SATA slot(s). Keep in mind that having too few SATA slots might limit your options for connecting additional memory drives.

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 Fujitsu Esprimo Q556 comes with a decent 65 Watt PSU, but the Dell OptiPlex 3090 SFF has a more powerful one rated at 200 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_3090_SFF_motherboard.jpg motherboard layoutFujitsu_Esprimo_Q556_motherboard.jpg motherboard layout