Dell OptiPlex 7010 USFF vs. Dell OptiPlex SFF Plus 7020 2024

Comparison and Differences

Dell_OptiPlex_7010_USFF.jpg case front and back pannel

Dell_OptiPlex_SFF_Plus_7020_2024.jpg case front and back pannel

Model
Form factor	Ultra Small	Small
CPU options	Intel Gen2&3 i3/i5/i7; Celeron; Pentium;	Intel Gen 12&13&14 i3/i5/i7/i9;
Chipset	Q77	Q670
Dedicated GPU *	N.A.	AMD Radeon RX6400 Low Profile
RAM	DIMM DDR3-1333/1600	DIMM DDR5-4400
RAM slots	2	4
RAM speed	1600 MT/s	4400 MT/s
RAM max	16 GB	128 GB
USB ports	(2x)USB-A 3.0; (4x)USB-A 2.0;	(4x) USB-A 2.0; (3x) USB-A 3.0; (2x) USB-A 3.1; USB-C 3.2;
Video ports	(2x) DisplayPort 1.1; VGA;	(3x) Display Port 1.4a;
Other ports	Serial; RJ45; Hdph; Mic; Line-Out; Line-In;	RJ45; Audio; Line-Out/In;
Optional ports	WiFi antenna	HDMI 2.0b/Displayport/VGA/PS2/serial/USB Type-C; SD-card slot
SATA ports	2	3
PCI slots	mPCIe 2.0;	PCIe 4.0 x16; PCIe 3.0 x4;
M.2 slots	N.A.	M.2 2280 (PCIe 4.0 x4, NVMe); (2x) M.2 2230; M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT)
Drive bays	2.5in; 5.25in(slim)	3.5in
PSU	200 W	260/300 W
Weight	3.3 kg (7.26 lb)	5.62 kg (12.38 lb)
Released	2012	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 7010 USFF and Dell OptiPlex SFF Plus 7020 2024

If you are looking for a more modern desktop, then you should go with the Dell OptiPlex SFF Plus 7020 2024 which was released in 2024. The Dell OptiPlex 7010 USFF is older and entered production in 2012.

If you are looking for the smaller form factor the Dell OptiPlex 7010 USFF is the right one for you. It is smaller than the Dell OptiPlex SFF Plus 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 SFF Plus 7020 2024 as it is running a newer generation CPU. This is not to say that Dell OptiPlex 7010 USFF is bad - it can still run some powerful CPUs, albeit being an older generation.

Memory

The Dell OptiPlex SFF Plus 7020 2024 has 4 RAM slots while the Dell OptiPlex 7010 USFF 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 SFF Plus 7020 2024 is using the faster 4400 MT/s RAM. The Dell OptiPlex 7010 USFF 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 SFF Plus 7020 2024 as it has the ability to run 128 GB of RAM. The Dell OptiPlex 7010 USFF 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 SFF Plus 7020 2024 has 10 USB ports. The Dell OptiPlex 7010 USFF 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 SFF Plus 7020 2024, is that it has 2 USB 3.1 port(s) which allows transfer of up to 10Gb/s. Unfortunately, the Dell OptiPlex 7010 USFF 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.

DisplayPort is crucial for any desktop machine. It is good to see that both models are featuring DisplayPorts. However, the Dell OptiPlex SFF Plus 7020 2024 comes with 3 ports, while the Dell OptiPlex 7010 USFF has only 2. If you are planning to use multiple monitors, the Dell OptiPlex SFF Plus 7020 2024 is the better choice.

None of the models has an HDMI port. If your monitor supports only the HDMI interface, you will need to buy an adapter. Such adapters are cheap so nothing to worry about.

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 SFF Plus 7020 2024 is better equipped as it comes with 3 SATA slot(s), while the Dell OptiPlex 7010 USFF has 2 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 SFF Plus 7020 2024. Sadly, the Dell OptiPlex 7010 USFF 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 7010 USFF comes with a decent 200 Watt PSU, but the Dell OptiPlex SFF Plus 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.