Dell OptiPlex 7080 MT vs. Dell XPS 8910
Comparison and Differences
Differences between Dell OptiPlex 7080 MT and Dell XPS 8910
If you are looking for a more modern desktop, then you should go with the Dell OptiPlex 7080 MT which was released in 2020. The Dell XPS 8910 is older and entered production in 2016.
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 7080 MT as it is running a newer generation CPU. This is not to say that Dell XPS 8910 is bad - it can still run some powerful CPUs, albeit being an older generation.
Memory
Both models have have equal amount of ram slots (4 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 7080 MT is using the faster 2933 MT/s RAM. The Dell XPS 8910 is slower by supporting RAM speeds of up to 2133 MT/s. Additionally, if you will be needing a lot of RAM, better go for the Dell OptiPlex 7080 MT as it has the ability to run 128 GB of RAM. The Dell XPS 8910 can do a bit less at max 64 GB. Most of the times, this should be sufficient for the majority of users.
Ports
In total the Dell XPS 8910 has 11 USB ports. The Dell OptiPlex 7080 MT is inferior in this regard and packs 10 USB ports. In any case, if you miss USB ports, you can always purchase a USB hub. It's great that both of the models have USB 3.1 ports which will allow you to exchange data with your peripherals at up to 10Gb/s. But if you need maximum connectivity, go with the Dell OptiPlex 7080 MT as it has 3 USB3.1 ports (the Dell XPS 8910 has 2).
DisplayPort is crucial for any desktop machine. It is good to see that both models are featuring DisplayPorts. However, the Dell OptiPlex 7080 MT comes with 2 ports, while the Dell XPS 8910 has only 1. If you are planning to use multiple monitors, the Dell OptiPlex 7080 MT is the better choice.
The Dell XPS 8910 comes with an HDMI port, while the Dell OptiPlex 7080 MT 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 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 4 SATA slot(s). Keep in mind that having too few SATA slots might limit your options for connecting additional memory drives.
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 7080 MT. Sadly, the Dell XPS 8910 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 XPS 8910 comes with a decent 460 Watt PSU, but the Dell OptiPlex 7080 MT has a more powerful one rated at 500 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.
Motherboard
