Dell OptiPlex 7050M vs. Lenovo ThinkCentre E73 Small

Comparison and Differences

Dell_OptiPlex_7050M.jpg case front and back pannelLenovo_ThinkCentre_E73_Small.jpg case front and back pannel
Model
Form factorMicroSmall
CPU optionsIntel Gen6&7 i3/i5/i7; Intel Gen4 i3/i5/i7; Pentium;
ChipsetQ270H81
Dedicated GPU *N.A.GeForce GT 1030 Low Profile
RAMSODIMM-2133/2400DIMM DDR3-1600
RAM slots22
RAM speed2400 MT/s1600 MT/s
RAM max32 GB16 GB
USB portsUSB 3.0 Type C; (5x) USB-A 3.0;(2x)USB-A 3.0; (4x)USB-A 2.0;
Video portsDisplay Port 1.2; HDMI 1.4;DisplayPort; VGA;
Other portsRJ45; Headset; Line-Out; RJ45; Hdph; (2x) Mic; Line-Out; Line-In;
Optional portsSerial+PS2; Serial; VGA; DisplayPort 1.2; WiFi antenna; Serial; Media card reader (USB 2.0);
SATA ports13
PCI slotsN.A.PCIe 3.0 x16; (2x) PCIe 2.0 x1;
M.2 slotsM.2 2280/2242 M-key (PCIe 3.0 x4, NVMe); M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT) N.A.
Drive bays2.5in2.5in; 2.5/3.5in; 5.25in;
PSU65 WATX 180 W
Weight1.18 kg (2.60 lb)6.0 kg (13.2 lb)
Released20172013
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 7050M and Lenovo ThinkCentre E73 Small

If you are looking for a more modern desktop, then you should go with the Dell OptiPlex 7050M which was released in 2017. The Lenovo ThinkCentre E73 Small is older and entered production in 2013.

If you are looking for the smaller form factor the Dell OptiPlex 7050M is the right one for you. It is smaller than the Lenovo ThinkCentre E73 Small 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 7050M as it is running a newer generation CPU. This is not to say that Lenovo ThinkCentre E73 Small 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 7050M is using the faster 2400 MT/s RAM. The Lenovo ThinkCentre E73 Small 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 Dell OptiPlex 7050M as it has the ability to run 32 GB of RAM. The Lenovo ThinkCentre E73 Small 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 6. 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.

The Dell OptiPlex 7050M comes with an HDMI port, while the Lenovo ThinkCentre E73 Small 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 Lenovo ThinkCentre E73 Small is better equipped as it comes with 3 SATA slot(s), while the Dell OptiPlex 7050M has 1 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 OptiPlex 7050M. Sadly, the Lenovo ThinkCentre E73 Small 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 OptiPlex 7050M comes with a decent 65 Watt PSU, but the Lenovo ThinkCentre E73 Small has a more powerful one rated at 180 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_7050M_motherboard.jpg motherboard layoutLenovo_ThinkCentre_E73_Small_motherboard.jpg motherboard layout