Dell OptiPlex 7070 SFF vs. Dell XPS 8940

Comparison and Differences

Dell_OptiPlex_7070_SFF.jpg case front and back pannelDell_XPS_8940.jpg case front and back pannel
Model
Form factorSmallMini Tower
CPU optionsIntel Gen8&9 i3/i5/i7;Intel Gen10 & 11 i3/i5/i7;
ChipsetQ370H470
Dedicated GPU *GeForce GTX 1650 Low ProfileGeForce RTX 3080
RAMDIMM DDR4-2400/2666DIMM DDR4-2666/2933
RAM slots44
RAM speed2666 MT/s2666 MT/s
RAM max64 GB128 GB
USB portsUSB 3.1 Type C; (5x) USB-A 3.0; (4x) USB-A 2.0; USB 3.0 Type C; USB 3.1 Type A; (2x) USB-A 2.0; (7x) USB-A 3.0;
Video ports(2x) Display Port 1.2;HDMI 2.0; DisplayPort 1.4;
Other portsRJ45; Headset; Line-Out; Serial; (2x) PS2; RJ45; Mic; Headset; Card Reader;
Optional portsHDMI2.0b/DP1.2/VGA/USB Type-C (DP Alt Mode); Media Card Reader; WiFi antenna; N.A.
SATA ports33
PCI slotsPCIe 3.0 x16; PCIe 3.0 x4 (open ended);PCIe 3.0 x16; PCIe x4; PCIe x1;
M.2 slotsM.2 2280/2230 M-key (PCIe 3.0 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/(2x)2.5in; 5.25in (slim); (3x) 3.5in;
PSU200 W500 W
Weight5.26 kg (11.57 lb)6.3 kg (13.89 lb)
Released20192020
Manuallinklink
Price**Check PriceCheck Price

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* 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 7070 SFF and Dell XPS 8940

If you are looking for a more modern desktop, then you should go with the Dell XPS 8940 which was released in 2020. The Dell OptiPlex 7070 SFF is older and entered production in 2019.

If you are looking for the smaller form factor the Dell OptiPlex 7070 SFF is the right one for you. It is smaller than the Dell XPS 8940 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 XPS 8940 as it is running a newer generation CPU. This is not to say that Dell OptiPlex 7070 SFF 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.

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. Additionally, if you will be needing a lot of RAM, better go for the Dell XPS 8940 as it has the ability to run 128 GB of RAM. The Dell OptiPlex 7070 SFF can do a bit less at max 64 GB. Most of the times, this should be sufficient for the majority of users.

Ports

Both models have the same amount of USB ports for total count of 10. If this is not enough, using a USB hub is always a viable option. Both of the models have USB 3.1 ports which will allow you to exchange data with your peripherals at up to 10Gb/s. This is especially crucial if you are using external drives on a regular basis.

DisplayPort is crucial for any desktop machine. It is good to see that both models are featuring DisplayPorts. However, the Dell OptiPlex 7070 SFF comes with 2 ports, while the Dell XPS 8940 has only 1. If you are planning to use multiple monitors, the Dell OptiPlex 7070 SFF is the better choice.

The Dell XPS 8940 comes with an HDMI port, while the Dell OptiPlex 7070 SFF 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 7070 SFF comes with a decent 200 Watt PSU, but the Dell XPS 8940 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

Dell_OptiPlex_7070_SFF_motherboard.jpg motherboard layoutDell_XPS_8940_motherboard.jpg motherboard layout