Dell OptiPlex 5040 SFF vs. Dell OptiPlex Tower 7020 2024

Comparison and Differences

Dell_OptiPlex_5040_SFF.jpg case front and back pannel

Dell_OptiPlex_Tower_7020_2024.jpg case front and back pannel

Model
Form factor	Small	Mini Tower
CPU options	Intel Gen6 i3/i5/i7; Pentium;	Intel Gen 12&13&14 i3/i5/i7;
Chipset	Q170	Q670
Dedicated GPU *	GeForce GT 1030 Low Profile	GeForce GTX 1650 Super
RAM	DIMM DDR3L-1600	DIMM DDR5-5600
RAM slots	4	2
RAM speed	1600 MT/s	5600 MT/s
RAM max	16 GB	64 GB
USB ports	(6x) USB-A 3.0; (4x) USB-A 2.0;	(4x) USB-A 2.0; (4x) USB-A 3.0;
Video ports	(2x) Display Port 1.2; HDMI 1.4;	Display Port 1.4a; HDMI 1.4b;
Other ports	Serial; (2x) PS2; RJ45; Headset; Line-Out;	RJ45(2.5GHz); Audio; Line-Out/In;
Optional ports	VGA; Media Card Reader;	HDMI 2.1/Displayport/VGA; Serial
SATA ports	3	3
PCI slots	PCIe 3.0 x16; PCIe 3.0 x4;	PCIe 3.0 x16; (2x) PCIe 3.0 x1;
M.2 slots	M.2 2280 M-key (PCIe 3.0 x4, NVMe)	M.2 2230/2280 (PCIe 3.0 x4, NVMe); M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT)
Drive bays	3.5in/(2x)2.5in; 5.25in (slim);	3.5in; (2x) 2.5in; 5.25in (slim);
PSU	180 W	180/300 W
Weight	6.00 kg (13.22 lb)	6.37 kg (14.04 lb)
Released	2015	2024
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 SFF and Dell OptiPlex Tower 7020 2024

If you are looking for a more modern desktop, then you should go with the Dell OptiPlex Tower 7020 2024 which was released in 2024. The Dell OptiPlex 5040 SFF is older and entered production in 2015.

If you are looking for the smaller form factor the Dell OptiPlex 5040 SFF is the right one for you. It is smaller than the Dell OptiPlex Tower 7020 2024 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 Tower 7020 2024 as it is running a newer generation CPU. This is not to say that Dell OptiPlex 5040 SFF is bad - it can still run some powerful CPUs, albeit being an older generation.

Memory

The Dell OptiPlex 5040 SFF has 4 RAM slots while the Dell OptiPlex Tower 7020 2024 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 Tower 7020 2024 is using the faster 5600 MT/s RAM. The Dell OptiPlex 5040 SFF 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 Tower 7020 2024 as it has the ability to run 64 GB of RAM. The Dell OptiPlex 5040 SFF can do a bit less at max 16 GB. Most of the times, this should be sufficient for the majority of users.

Ports

In total the Dell OptiPlex 5040 SFF has 10 USB ports. The Dell OptiPlex Tower 7020 2024 is inferior in this regard and packs 8 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 SFF comes with 2 ports, while the Dell OptiPlex Tower 7020 2024 has only 1. If you are planning to use multiple monitors, the Dell OptiPlex 5040 SFF is the better choice.

In case your monitor supports HDMI only, you will be happy to hear that both models come with an HDMI port.

SATA slots are located on the motherboard and it is where SSD, HDD and Optical Disk Drives are connected. Each of the two models being compared have 3 SATA slot(s). Keep in mind that having too few SATA slots might limit your options for connecting additional memory drives.

When your goal is to have the fastest SSD transfer speeds, an M.2 interface is crucial. Thus, it is good that both models have M.2 SSD slots. Today M.2 SSDs are not much more expensive than the average SATA drives, so it really does not make sense to invest in SATA drives anymore.

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 SFF comes with a decent 180 Watt PSU, but the Dell OptiPlex Tower 7020 2024 has a more powerful one rated at 300 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.