Dell OptiPlex M Plus 7010 2023 vs. Dell OptiPlex SFF 7020 2024

Comparison and Differences

Dell_OptiPlex_M_Plus_7010_2023.jpg case front and back pannel

Dell_OptiPlex_SFF_7020_2024.jpg case front and back pannel

Model
Form factor	Micro	Small
CPU options	Intel Gen 12&13 i3/i5/i7/i9;	Intel Gen 12&13&14 i3/i5; Celeron; Pentium
Chipset	Q670	Q670
Dedicated GPU *	N.A.	AMD Radeon RX 6400 Low Profile
RAM	SODIMM DDR5-4800	DIMM DDR5-5600
RAM slots	2	2
RAM speed	4800 MT/s	5600 MT/s
RAM max	64 GB	64 GB
USB ports	USB-A 3.0; (3x) USB-A 3.1; USB-C 3.2;	(4x) USB-A 2.0; (3x) USB-A 3.0; USB-C 3.0
Video ports	(3x) Display Port 1.4a;	Display Port 1.4a; HDMI 1.4b;
Other ports	RJ45; Audio; Line-Out/In;	RJ45(2.5GHz); Audio
Optional ports	HDMI 2.0b/Displayport/VGA/PS2/serial/USB Type-C;	HDMI 2.0b/Displayport/VGA;
SATA ports	0	2
PCI slots	N.A.	PCIe 3.0 x16; PCIe 3.0 x1;
M.2 slots	(2x) M.2 2230/2280 (PCIe 4.0 x4, NVMe); M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT)	M.2 2230/2280 (PCIe 3.0 x4, NVMe); M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT)
Drive bays	N.A.	3.5in; 2.5in;
PSU	130/180 W	180/300 W
Weight	1.31 kg (2.89 lb)	5.38 kg (11.86 lb)
Released	2023	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 M Plus 7010 2023 and Dell OptiPlex SFF 7020 2024

If you are looking for a more modern desktop, then you should go with the Dell OptiPlex SFF 7020 2024 which was released in 2024. The Dell OptiPlex M Plus 7010 2023 is older and entered production in 2023.

If you are looking for the smaller form factor the Dell OptiPlex M Plus 7010 2023 is the right one for you. It is smaller than the Dell OptiPlex SFF 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 7020 2024 as it is running a newer generation CPU. This is not to say that Dell OptiPlex M Plus 7010 2023 is bad - it can still run some powerful CPUs, albeit being an older generation.

Memory

Both models have have equal amount of ram slots (2 RAM). Usually two RAM slots are more than enough for most cases. However, the count should be taken into account when planning how much and what combination of RAM you are going to need for your system.

The Dell OptiPlex SFF 7020 2024 is using the faster 5600 MT/s RAM. The Dell OptiPlex M Plus 7010 2023 is slower by supporting RAM speeds of up to 4800 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 SFF 7020 2024 has 8 USB ports. The Dell OptiPlex M Plus 7010 2023 is inferior in this regard and packs 5 USB ports. In any case, if you miss USB ports, you can always purchase a USB hub. What is nice about the Dell OptiPlex M Plus 7010 2023, is that it has 3 USB 3.1 port(s) which allows transfer of up to 10Gb/s. Unfortunately, the Dell OptiPlex SFF 7020 2024 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 M Plus 7010 2023 comes with 3 ports, while the Dell OptiPlex SFF 7020 2024 has only 1. If you are planning to use multiple monitors, the Dell OptiPlex M Plus 7010 2023 is the better choice.

The Dell OptiPlex SFF 7020 2024 comes with an HDMI port, while the Dell OptiPlex M Plus 7010 2023 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 SFF 7020 2024 is better equipped as it comes with 2 SATA slot(s), while the Dell OptiPlex M Plus 7010 2023 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 M Plus 7010 2023 has 1 M.2 slots while the Dell OptiPlex SFF 7020 2024 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

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 M Plus 7010 2023 comes with a decent 180 Watt PSU, but the Dell OptiPlex SFF 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.