Dell OptiPlex 5000 M vs. Dell OptiPlex 7050 SFF

Comparison and Differences

Dell_OptiPlex_5000_M.jpg case front and back pannelDell_OptiPlex_7050_SFF.jpg case front and back pannel
Model
Form factorMicroSmall
CPU optionsIntel Gen 12 T i3/i5/i7/i9;Intel Gen6&7 i3/i5/i7;
ChipsetQ670Q270
Dedicated GPU *N.A.GeForce GT 1030 Low Profile
RAMSODIMM DDR4-3200DIMM DDR4-2133/2400
RAM slots24
RAM speed3200 MT/s2400 MT/s
RAM max64 GB64 GB
USB ports(5x) USB-A 3.0; USB-C 3.1;USB 3.0 Type C; (5x) USB-A 3.0; (4x) USB-A 2.0;
Video ports(2x) Display Port 1.4a;(2x) Display Port 1.2; HDMI 1.4;
Other portsRJ45; Audio; Line-Out/In;Serial; (2x) PS2; RJ45; Headset; Line-Out;
Optional portsHDMI 2.0b/Displayport/VGA/PS2/serial/USB Type-C;VGA; Media Card Reader;
SATA ports03
PCI slotsN.A.PCIe 3.0 x16; PCIe 3.0 x4;
M.2 slots(2x)M.2 2230/2280 (PCIe 4.0 x4, NVMe); M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT) M.2 2280/2242 M-key (PCIe 3.0 x4, NVMe)
Drive bays2.5in;3.5in/(2x)2.5in; 5.25in (slim);
PSU90/130 W180 W
Weight1.33 kg (2.94 lbs)5.26 kg (11.57 lb)
Released20222017
Manuallinklink
Price**Check PriceCheck 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 5000 M and Dell OptiPlex 7050 SFF

If you are looking for a more modern desktop, then you should go with the Dell OptiPlex 5000 M which was released in 2022. The Dell OptiPlex 7050 SFF is older and entered production in 2017.

If you are looking for the smaller form factor the Dell OptiPlex 5000 M is the right one for you. It is smaller than the Dell OptiPlex 7050 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 5000 M as it is running a newer generation CPU. This is not to say that Dell OptiPlex 7050 SFF is bad - it can still run some powerful CPUs, albeit being an older generation.

Memory

The Dell OptiPlex 7050 SFF has 4 RAM slots while the Dell OptiPlex 5000 M 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 5000 M is using the faster 3200 MT/s RAM. The Dell OptiPlex 7050 SFF is slower by supporting RAM speeds of up to 2400 MT/s. In addition, you will be able to install the same amount of RAM in both models, and most probably 64 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 7050 SFF has 10 USB ports. The Dell OptiPlex 5000 M 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. What is nice about the Dell OptiPlex 5000 M, is that it has 1 USB 3.1 port(s) which allows transfer of up to 10Gb/s. Unfortunately, the Dell OptiPlex 7050 SFF has no such port, thus restricting your transfer speeds significantly. For people who want to use external drives on regular basis, this might be an issue.

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 7050 SFF comes with an HDMI port, while the Dell OptiPlex 5000 M 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 7050 SFF is better equipped as it comes with 3 SATA slot(s), while the Dell OptiPlex 5000 M has 0 slot(s).

An M.2 SSD can be several times faster than a SATA one. Thus, we are happy to see that both models support the M.2 interface. However, the Dell OptiPlex 5000 M has 1 M.2 slots while the Dell OptiPlex 7050 SFF comes with just 1.

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

Looking at the Power Supply Unit (PSU) of the two models we don't see any differences. For either of them you get a maximum power of 180 Watts. However be careful, many models have more than one power supply option. When buying your computer, it is a good idea to get a version with the most powerful PSU. This will potentially allow you to upgrade to a more powerful GPU for example.

Motherboard

Dell_OptiPlex_5000_M_motherboard.jpg motherboard layoutDell_OptiPlex_7050_SFF_motherboard.jpg motherboard layout