Dell OptiPlex Tower 7020 2024 vs. Dell Vostro 460

Comparison and Differences

Dell_OptiPlex_Tower_7020_2024.jpg case front and back pannel

Dell_Vostro_460.jpg case front and back pannel

Model
Form factor	Mini Tower	Mini Tower
CPU options	Intel Gen 12&13&14 i3/i5/i7;	Intel Gen2 i3/i5/i7;
Chipset	Q670	H67
Dedicated GPU *	GeForce GTX 1650 Super	GeForce GTX 1660 Super
RAM	DIMM DDR5-5600	DIMM DDR3-1333
RAM slots	2	4
RAM speed	5600 MT/s	1333 MT/s
RAM max	64 GB	16 GB
USB ports	(4x) USB-A 2.0; (4x) USB-A 3.0;	(3x)USB-A 2.0;
Video ports	Display Port 1.4a; HDMI 1.4b;	HDMI 1.2; VGA;
Other ports	RJ45(2.5GHz); Audio; Line-Out/In;	RJ45; Hdph; (2x) Mic; Line-Out; Line-In; eSATA; S/PDIF out port
Optional ports	HDMI 2.1/Displayport/VGA; Serial	N/A
SATA ports	3	4
PCI slots	PCIe 3.0 x16; (2x) PCIe 3.0 x1;	PCIe 2.0 x16; (3x) PCIe 2.0 x1;
M.2 slots	M.2 2230/2280 (PCIe 3.0 x4, NVMe); M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT)	N.A.
Drive bays	3.5in; (2x) 2.5in; 5.25in (slim);	(3x) 3.5in; (2x) 5.25in;
PSU	180/300 W	350 W
Weight	6.37 kg (14.04 lb)	9.66 kg (21.29 lbs)
Released	2024	2011
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 Tower 7020 2024 and Dell Vostro 460

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 Vostro 460 is older and entered production in 2011.

Both models have the same form factor, meaning reoughtly they have the same phiysical size and form.

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 Vostro 460 is bad - it can still run some powerful CPUs, albeit being an older generation.

Memory

The Dell Vostro 460 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 Vostro 460 is slower by supporting RAM speeds of up to 1333 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 Vostro 460 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 Tower 7020 2024 has 8 USB ports. The Dell Vostro 460 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. 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.

Unfortunately, only the Dell OptiPlex Tower 7020 2024 has a DisplayPort. The Dell Vostro 460 does not have one? Don't worry though, nowadays video adapters are cheap and you can get almost any combination of conversion types.

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

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 Vostro 460 is better equipped as it comes with 4 SATA slot(s), while the Dell OptiPlex Tower 7020 2024 has 3 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 Tower 7020 2024. Sadly, the Dell Vostro 460 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 Tower 7020 2024 comes with a decent 300 Watt PSU, but the Dell Vostro 460 has a more powerful one rated at 350 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.