Dell OptiPlex 3020M vs. Dell OptiPlex 3040 SFF

Comparison and Differences

Dell_OptiPlex_3020M.jpg case front and back pannelDell_OptiPlex_3040_SFF.jpg case front and back pannel
Model
Form factorMicroSmall
CPU optionsIntel Gen4 i3/i5; Celeron; Pentium;Intel Gen6 i3/i5; Pentium; Celeron;
ChipsetH81 H110
Dedicated GPU *N.A.GeForce GT 1030 Low Profile
RAMSODIMM DDR3-1600 DIMM DDR3L-1600
RAM slots22
RAM speed1600 MT/s1600 MT/s
RAM max16 GB16 GB
USB ports(2x) USB-A 3.0; (4x) USB-A 2.0; (4x) USB-A 3.0; (4x) USB-A 2.0;
Video portsDisplayPort 1.2; VGA;Display Port 1.2; HDMI 1.4;
Other portsRJ45; Headset; Mic/Hdph;RJ45; Headset; Line-Out;
Optional portsWiFi antenna; Serial+PS2; Serial+PS2; VGA; Media Card Reader;
SATA ports12
PCI slots N.A.PCIe 3.0 x16; PCIe 3.0 x1;
M.2 slotsM.2 2230 (WiFi)N.A.
Drive bays2.5in;3.5in/2.5in; 5.25in (slim);
PSU65 W180 W
Weight1.28 kg (2.82 lb)6.1 kg (13.45 lb)
Released20132015
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 3020M and Dell OptiPlex 3040 SFF

If you are looking for a more modern desktop, then you should go with the Dell OptiPlex 3040 SFF which was released in 2015. The Dell OptiPlex 3020M is older and entered production in 2013.

If you are looking for the smaller form factor the Dell OptiPlex 3020M is the right one for you. It is smaller than the Dell OptiPlex 3040 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 3040 SFF as it is running a newer generation CPU. This is not to say that Dell OptiPlex 3020M 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.

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 3040 SFF has 8 USB ports. The Dell OptiPlex 3020M 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.

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 3040 SFF comes with an HDMI port, while the Dell OptiPlex 3020M 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 3040 SFF is better equipped as it comes with 2 SATA slot(s), while the Dell OptiPlex 3020M has 1 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 3020M, nor the Dell OptiPlex 3040 SFF 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 Dell OptiPlex 3020M comes with a decent 65 Watt PSU, but the Dell OptiPlex 3040 SFF 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_3020M_motherboard.jpg motherboard layoutDell_OptiPlex_3040_SFF_motherboard.jpg motherboard layout