Dell OptiPlex 7080M vs. Lenovo ThinkCentre M83 Tower

Comparison and Differences

Dell_OptiPlex_7080M.jpg case front and back pannel

Lenovo_ThinkCentre_M83_Tower.jpg case front and back pannel

Model
Form factor	Micro	Mini Tower
CPU options	Intel Gen10 i3/i5/i7/i9;	Intel Gen4 i3/i5/i7; Pentium;
Chipset	Q470	Q85
Dedicated GPU *	N.A.	GeForce GTX 1650 Low Profile
RAM	SODIMM DDR4-2666/2933	DIMM DDR3-1600
RAM slots	2	4
RAM speed	2933 MT/s	1600 MT/s
RAM max	64 GB	32 GB
USB ports	USB 3.1 Type C; (3x) USB-A 3.1; (2x) USB-A 3.0;	(4x)USB-A 3.0; (4x)USB-A 2.0;
Video ports	(2x) Display Port 1.4;	(2x) DisplayPort; VGA;
Other ports	RJ45; Headset; Line-Out/In;	RJ45; Hdph; (2x) Mic; Line-Out; Line-In; Serial;
Optional ports	HDMI2.0b/DP1.4/VGA/USB Type-C (DP Alt Mode); Serial; Serial+PS2; (2x) WiFi antenna;	Parallel; Serial; (2x) PS2; Media card reader (USB 2.0);
SATA ports	1	4
PCI slots	PCIe x8 Gen3 (optional)	PCIe 3.0 x16; PCIe 2.0 x1; PCIe 2.0 x16 (wired x4);
M.2 slots	M.2 2280/2230 M-key (PCIe 3.0 x4, NVMe); M.2 2280 M-key (PCIe); M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT)	N.A.
Drive bays	2.5in	2.5in; 2.5/3.5in; 5.25in;
PSU	90/130/180 W	TFX 280 W
Weight	1.38 kg (3.04 lb)	7.8 kg (17.20 lb)
Released	2020	2013
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 7080M and Lenovo ThinkCentre M83 Tower

If you are looking for a more modern desktop, then you should go with the Dell OptiPlex 7080M which was released in 2020. The Lenovo ThinkCentre M83 Tower is older and entered production in 2013.

If you are looking for the smaller form factor the Dell OptiPlex 7080M is the right one for you. It is smaller than the Lenovo ThinkCentre M83 Tower 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 7080M as it is running a newer generation CPU. This is not to say that Lenovo ThinkCentre M83 Tower is bad - it can still run some powerful CPUs, albeit being an older generation.

Memory

The Lenovo ThinkCentre M83 Tower has 4 RAM slots while the Dell OptiPlex 7080M 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 7080M is using the faster 2933 MT/s RAM. The Lenovo ThinkCentre M83 Tower 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 7080M as it has the ability to run 64 GB of RAM. The Lenovo ThinkCentre M83 Tower can do a bit less at max 32 GB. Most of the times, this should be sufficient for the majority of users.

Ports

In total the Lenovo ThinkCentre M83 Tower has 8 USB ports. The Dell OptiPlex 7080M 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 7080M, is that it has 4 USB 3.1 port(s) which allows transfer of up to 10Gb/s. Unfortunately, the Lenovo ThinkCentre M83 Tower 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.

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 Lenovo ThinkCentre M83 Tower is better equipped as it comes with 4 SATA slot(s), while the Dell OptiPlex 7080M has 1 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 7080M. Sadly, the Lenovo ThinkCentre M83 Tower 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 7080M comes with a decent 180 Watt PSU, but the Lenovo ThinkCentre M83 Tower has a more powerful one rated at 280 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.