Dell OptiPlex 3090 Tower vs. Dell XPS 8930

Comparison and Differences

Dell_OptiPlex_3090_Tower.jpg case front and back pannelDell_XPS_8930.jpg case front and back pannel
Model
Form factorMini TowerMini Tower
CPU optionsIntel Gen 10 i3/i5/i7/i9; PentiumIntel Gen8 i3/i5/i7;
ChipsetQ470Z370
Dedicated GPU *GeForce GTX 1650GeForce RTX 2060 Super
RAMDIMM DDR4-2666DIMM DDR4-2666/2933
RAM slots24
RAM speed2666 MT/s2666 MT/s
RAM max64 GB64 GB
USB ports(4x) USB-A 2.0; (4x) USB-A 3.0;USB 3.1 Type C; USB 3.1 Type A; (2x) USB-A 2.0; (6x) USB-A 3.0;
Video portsDisplay Port 1.4a; HDMI 1.4b;HDMI 1.4; DisplayPort 1.2;
Other portsRJ45; Audio; Line-Out/In;RJ45; Mic; Headset; Card Reader;
Optional portsHDMI 2.0b/Displayport/VGA;N.A.
SATA ports33
PCI slotsPCIe 3.0 x16; (2x) PCIe 3.0 x1;PCIe 3.0 x16; (x2) PCIe x4;
M.2 slotsM.2 2230/2280 (PCIe 4.0 x4, NVMe); M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT) M.2 2280/2230 M-key (PCIe 3.0 x4, NVMe); M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT);
Drive bays3.5in; 2.5in; 5.25in (slim);(3x) 3.5in;
PSU260 W460 W
Weight6.50 kg (14.33 lb)8.20 kg (18.08 lb)
Released20212017
Manuallinklink
Price**Check PriceCheck 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 3090 Tower and Dell XPS 8930

If you are looking for a more modern desktop, then you should go with the Dell OptiPlex 3090 Tower which was released in 2021. The Dell XPS 8930 is older and entered production in 2017.

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 3090 Tower as it is running a newer generation CPU. This is not to say that Dell XPS 8930 is bad - it can still run some powerful CPUs, albeit being an older generation.

Memory

The Dell XPS 8930 has 4 RAM slots while the Dell OptiPlex 3090 Tower 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.

None of the desktops has an advantage when it comes to the speed of the RAM being used. Both models support RAM speeds of up to 2666. 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 XPS 8930 has 10 USB ports. The Dell OptiPlex 3090 Tower is inferior in this regard and packs 8 USB ports. In any case, if you miss USB ports, you can always purchase a USB hub. What is nice about the Dell XPS 8930, is that it has 2 USB 3.1 port(s) which allows transfer of up to 10Gb/s. Unfortunately, the Dell OptiPlex 3090 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.

DisplayPort is crucial for any desktop machine. It is good to see that both models are featuring DisplayPorts. However, the Dell OptiPlex 3090 Tower comes with 2 ports, while the Dell XPS 8930 has only 1. If you are planning to use multiple monitors, the Dell OptiPlex 3090 Tower is the better choice.

The Dell XPS 8930 comes with an HDMI port, while the Dell OptiPlex 3090 Tower 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 3 SATA slot(s). Keep in mind that having too few SATA slots might limit your options for connecting additional memory drives.

When your goal is to have the fastest SSD transfer speeds, an M.2 interface is crucial. Thus, it is good that both models have M.2 SSD slots. Today M.2 SSDs are not much more expensive than the average SATA drives, so it really does not make sense to invest in SATA drives anymore.

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 3090 Tower comes with a decent 260 Watt PSU, but the Dell XPS 8930 has a more powerful one rated at 460 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

Dell_OptiPlex_3090_Tower_motherboard.jpg motherboard layoutDell_XPS_8930_motherboard.jpg motherboard layout