Dell OptiPlex 3040M vs. Dell Vostro 460
Comparison and Differences
Differences between Dell OptiPlex 3040M and Dell Vostro 460
If you are looking for a more modern desktop, then you should go with the Dell OptiPlex 3040M which was released in 2015. The Dell Vostro 460 is older and entered production in 2011.
If you are looking for the smaller form factor the Dell OptiPlex 3040M is the right one for you. It is smaller than the Dell Vostro 460 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 3040M as it is running a newer generation CPU. This is not to say that Dell Vostro 460 is bad - it can still run some powerful CPUs, albeit being an older generation.
Memory
The Dell Vostro 460 has 4 RAM slots while the Dell OptiPlex 3040M 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.
The Dell OptiPlex 3040M is using the faster 1600 MT/s RAM. The Dell Vostro 460 is slower by supporting RAM speeds of up to 1333 MT/s. 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
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.
Unfortunately, only the Dell OptiPlex 3040M has a DisplayPort. The Dell Vostro 460 does not have one? Don't worry though, nowadays video adapters are cheap and you can get almost any combination of conversion types.
In case your monitor supports HDMI only, you will be happy to hear that both models come with an HDMI port.
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 Vostro 460 is better equipped as it comes with 4 SATA slot(s), while the Dell OptiPlex 3040M 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 3040M, nor the Dell Vostro 460 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 3040M comes with a decent 65 Watt PSU, but the Dell Vostro 460 has a more powerful one rated at 350 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
