14 DAY TRIAL // Dell's OptiPlex series of business desktops has seen quite a bit of success over the years, so we can definitely understand why the company would periodically update it. Most recently, the OptiPlex 3020 was released.
Dell actually did something peculiar here, since it essentially launched two different desktop systems but advertises them as the same one.
Granted, the hardware is more or less the same in both instances, but the fact remains that there's a clear difference between a Minitower (MIT) and a Small Form Factor (SFF) case.
That is to say, the Dell OptiPlex 3020 comes in a compact case and in an even more compact case, while still providing “industry-leading performance and best-in-class security in a budget-friendly package.”
The hardware inside revolves around an Intel Core-series fourth-generation central processing unit (CPU), otherwise known as Haswell.
Up to 16 GB of DDR3 RAM (random access memory) back up the chip, including the integrated HD 4600 graphics processor (iGP).
A PCI Express x16 slot is available as well, for add-in graphics, although the real monsters won't fit. Not that businessmen are expected to need gaming hardware anyway.
Storage is more important, and this is where the only “limitation,” so to speak, appears: the maximum capacity is of 2 TB (HDD on the minitower). And if you choose an SSD instead of an HDD, you'll have to settle for even less, but at least you'll get better speed.
Other hardware details include a pair of USB 3.0 ports and two video outputs (DisplayPort 1.2 and VGA).
Finally, the storage drives and, presumably, the add-in boards, all removable parts really, should be possible to install without the need for tools. All this for a starting price of $499 / €499 (€369 if you're going to get technical, but it's unlikely that exchange rates will matter in the end).