Dell OptiPlex 5040 MT vs. Lenovo ThinkCentre M73 Tower

Comparison and Differences

Dell_OptiPlex_5040_MT.jpg case front and back pannel

Lenovo_ThinkCentre_M73_Tower.jpg case front and back pannel

Model
Form factor	Mini Tower	Mini Tower
CPU options	Intel Gen6 i3/i5/i7	Intel Gen4 i3/i5/i7; Celeron; Pentium;
Chipset	Q170	H81
Dedicated GPU *	GeForce GTX 1650 Super	GeForce GTX 1660 Super
RAM	DIMM DDR3L-1600	DIMM DDR3-1600
RAM slots	4	2
RAM speed	1600 MT/s	1600 MT/s
RAM max	16 GB	16 GB
USB ports	(6x) USB-A 3.0; (4x) USB-A 2.0;	(2x)USB-A 3.0; (4x)USB-A 2.0;
Video ports	(2x) Display Port 1.2; HDMI 1.4;	DisplayPort; VGA;
Other ports	Serial; (2x) PS2; RJ45; Headset; Line-Out;	RJ45; Hdph; (2x) Mic; Line-Out; Line-In; Serial; (2x) PS2;
Optional ports	VGA; Media Card Reader;	Parallel; Serial; Media card reader (USB 2.0);
SATA ports	4	3
PCI slots	PCIe 3.0 x16; PCIe 3.0 x16 (wired x4); PCIe 3.0 x1; PCI;	PCIe 3.0 x16; (2x) PCIe 2.0 x1;
M.2 slots	M.2 2280 M-key (PCIe 3.0 x4, NVMe)	N.A.
Drive bays	3.5in/5.25in; (2x) 2.5in; 5.25in (slim);	(2x) 2.5/3.5in; 5.25in;
PSU	240 W	ATX 280/450 W
Weight	8.00 kg (17.64 lb)	9.4 kg (20.72 lb)
Released	2015	2013
Manual	link	link
Price**	Check Price	Check 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 5040 MT and Lenovo ThinkCentre M73 Tower

If you are looking for a more modern desktop, then you should go with the Dell OptiPlex 5040 MT which was released in 2015. The Lenovo ThinkCentre M73 Tower is older and entered production in 2013.

Both models have the same form factor, meaning reoughtly they have the same phiysical size and form.

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 5040 MT as it is running a newer generation CPU. This is not to say that Lenovo ThinkCentre M73 Tower is bad - it can still run some powerful CPUs, albeit being an older generation.

Memory

The Dell OptiPlex 5040 MT has 4 RAM slots while the Lenovo ThinkCentre M73 Tower 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. In addition, you will be able to install the same amount of RAM in both models, and most probably 16 GB of RAM will be enough for most people. However, if you will be needing more RAM, make sure to check other desktop models too.

Ports

In total the Dell OptiPlex 5040 MT has 10 USB ports. The Lenovo ThinkCentre M73 Tower 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 5040 MT comes with 2 ports, while the Lenovo ThinkCentre M73 Tower has only 1. If you are planning to use multiple monitors, the Dell OptiPlex 5040 MT is the better choice.

The Dell OptiPlex 5040 MT comes with an HDMI port, while the Lenovo ThinkCentre M73 Tower 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 OptiPlex 5040 MT is better equipped as it comes with 4 SATA slot(s), while the Lenovo ThinkCentre M73 Tower has 3 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 5040 MT. Sadly, the Lenovo ThinkCentre M73 Tower 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 5040 MT comes with a decent 240 Watt PSU, but the Lenovo ThinkCentre M73 Tower has a more powerful one rated at 450 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.