Dell OptiPlex 1

Dell OptiPlex
Dell, Inc. targets its OptiPlex line of
desktop computers for sale into the
corporate, government and education
markets. These systems typically
contain Intel CPUs, beginning with the
Pentium and currently with the Core i7
although Dell sells some models with
AMD CPUs as well. They contain
business-oriented components (such as
Gigabit Ethernet, which Dell makes
available only on its Precision, XPS,
Latitude, OptiPlex and PowerEdge
systems) and software. (Compare
Dell's Dimension counterparts.)
Dell OptiPlex 755 (Ultra Small Form Factor), mounted on the back of a monitor

Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths
• Reliable conservative design.
• Long-term deployment : Low establishment costs.
• Modular body forms designed to fit into various business corporation or institution settings.
• Ease of use. Low maintenance costs. Ease of repair (tool free chassis).
• Most functions built into motherboard: graphics, sound and Ethernet as well as various I/O ports.
• Large organizations deploy them in quantity. Used units can be very inexpensive because supply exceeds
demand.
Weaknesses
• Onboard video has limited memory. Not intended for graphics-intensive work place environments such as game
design or computer modeling companies.
• Low profile desktop models have limited expansion capability; half height expansion cards and limited drive bays
make them less future-proof.
• Motherboards, video cards and power supplies are often of proprietary design, especially on low profile models
Dell OptiPlex 2

Capacitor Issues
Older Optiplex models (mostly produced in 2003 and 2004), notably the GX270, suffered from frequent failures due
to faulty capacitors supplied by Nichicon. These capacitors would bulge and leak, resulting in product failure after
only a few years of use. As of June 2010, there is still ongoing litigation regarding this problem, alleging that Dell
knew that the computers were likely to fail, and continued to ship them.[1]

Name
OptiPlex is a portmanteau of "opti" (meaning optimal) and "plex" (meaning parts or units.)[2]

Chassis
The newest OptiPlex models break from Dell's proprietary form factors and follow, for the most part, the BTX
standard.
The OptiPlex series comes in various sizes which have evolved as the style of chassis has changed.

Classic beige
In the classic beige chassis:

Chassis Height Width Depth 5.25" external 3.5" external internal bays
bays bays

Small form 9.14 cm (3.6 inches) 31.75 cm 37.8 cm 1 slim optical 1.44 floppy (1) 3.5" HDD
Factor (12.5 inches) (14.9 inches)

low-profile 10.9 cm (4.3 inches) 40.9 cm (16.1 inches) 43.7 cm 1 1.44 floppy 1

(17.2 inches)

Midsize 16.5 cm (6.5 inches) 41.9 cm (16.5 inches) 44.5 cm 2 1.44 floppy 2 HDD

(17.5 inches)

Mini-tower 44.5 cm 20.6 cm (8.1 inches) 43.7 cm 3 1.44 floppy 2 HDD

(17.5 inches) (17.2 inches)

Midnight-gray
In the recent midnight-gray chassis (with the flip-up door) (Transformer cases):

Chassis Height Width Depth 5.25" external bays 3.5" external internal
bays bays

Ultra Small 24.7 cm 24.2 cm 8.5 cm (3.4 inches) 1 media bay (modules common none (1) 3.5"
Form (9.9 inches) (9.7 inches) with Latitude series) HDD

Small form 9.0 cm 31.9 cm 35.4 cm 1 slim optical 1 slim floppy (1) 3.5"
Factor (3.57 inches) (12.54 inches) (13.93 inches) HDD

Small Desktop 10.6 cm 38.9 cm 43.2 cm 1 1.44 floppy (2) 3.5"

(4.2 inches) (15.3 inches) (17 inches) HDD

Mini-tower 42.5 cm 18.1 cm 44.7 cm 2 (1) + 1.44 2 HDD

(16.7 inches) (7.13 inches) (17.6 inches) floppy
Dell OptiPlex 3

BTX (Matrix Cases)

Current model BTX chassis:

Chassis Height Width Depth 5.25" external 3.5" external 3.5" internal
bays bays bays

Ultra Small Form (Matrix 26.4 cm 8.9 cm (3.5 inches) 25.3 cm 1 D-module bay none 1 HDD
Trinity case) (10.375 inches) (9.95 inches)

Small form Factor (Matrix 9.26 cm 31.37 cm 34.03 cm 1 slim optical 1 slim floppy (1) 3.5" HDD
Cypher Case) (3.65 inches) (12.35 inches) (13.40 inches)

Small Desktop (Matrix Neo 11.4 cm (4.5 inches) 39.9 cm 35.3 cm 1 1 (2) 3.5" HDD
Case) (15.7 inches) (13.9 inches)

Mini-tower (Matrix Smith 41.4 cm 18.5 cm 43.9 cm 2 1 2 HDD

Case) (16.3 inches) (7.3 inches) (17.3 inches)

The Optiplex 960 introduces a new style of cases, made to be eco-friendly with recycleable plastics. They are named
after various rock bands (Bon Jovi, Motley Crew, Mr. Big).

Models, in relative chronological order

Model Chipset CPU FSB RAM type RAM speed Chassis Comments USB

XL Intel Pentium 75, 90, 50/60/66 MHz SIMM, 4 70 ns ex, XL 575, XL

5xxx 82434NX 100, 120, 133 5133. From 8 to 64
PCI MB (64 MiB) of
RAM. 1995/1996

XM Intel Pentium 75, 50/60/66 MHz SIMM, 4 70 ns 6 x 16 x 16 S3 Vision 864, 1

5xxx 82430NX 90/120, 100/133 MB standard,
PCIset upgradable to 2 MB.

XMT Intel Pentium 75, 50/60/66 MHz SIMM, 4 70 ns 16.40 x 7.75 x S3 Vision 864, 1
5xxx 82430NX 90/120, 100/133 17.40 MB standard,
PCIset upgradable to 2 MB.

GXL Intel Pentium 90, 120, 60/66 MHz SIMM, 4 60-ns EDO or midsize
5xxx 82430FX 150, 100, 133, 70-ns fast-page
PCIset 166, 200 mode

GXM Intel Pentium 90, 120, 60/66 MHz SIMM, 4 60-ns EDO 4 x 17 x 17 S3 (Trio64V+) PCI,
5xxx 82430FX 150, 100, 133, 2 MB.
166, 200

GXMT Intel Pentium 90, 120, 60/66 MHz SIMM, 4 60-ns EDO 16.4 x 7.75 x S3 (Trio64V+) PCI,
5xxx 82430FX 150, 100, 133, 17.4 2 MB.
PCIset 166, 200

GL and Intel Pentium 75, 50/60/66 MHz SIMM, 4 60 ns EDO or 70 4 x 17 x 17 S3 764-P (Trio64), 1

GL+ 82430FX 90/120, ns fast-page MB standard,
PCI 100/133/166 mode upgradable to 2 MB.

GM and Intel Pentium 75, 50/60/66 MHz SIMM, 4 60 ns EDO 6.0 x 17 x 17 S3 764-P (Trio64), 1
GM+ 82430FX 90/120, MB standard,
PCIset 100/133/166 upgradable to 2 MB.

GMT Intel Pentium 75, 50/60/66 MHz SIMM, 4 60 ns EDO 16.4 x 7.75 x S3 764-P (Trio64), 1
and 82430FX 90/120, 17.4 MB standard,
GMT+ PCIset 100/133/166 upgradable to 2 MB.
Dell OptiPlex 4

Gs, Gs+ Intel 430FX Pentium 133, 166, 66 MHz SIMM, 4 60-ns EDO low-profile, S3 (Trio64V+) PCI,
PCI 200 midsize chassis 2 MB, Gs+ contains
onboard Ethernet.

GXpro Intel Pentium Pro 180, 60 or 66 MHz SDRAM, 4 PC66 midsize,

82440FX 200 minitower
PCIset

GXpro Intel Pentium Pro 180, 60 or 66 MHz DRAM, 4 60 ns EDO midsize, 60ns EDO DRAM USB
82440FX 200 minitower DIMM
PCIset

GXi Intel 430HX Pentium 133-200, 66 MHz SDRAM, 4 PC66 Low-profile, S3 86C765 USB
PCIset Pentium MMX Midsize, and (Trio64V+)
166-233 Mini tower

Gn/Gn+ Intel 430TX Pentium MMX 66 MHz SDRAM, 2 PC66 low-profile,

PCIset 166-233 midsize,
minitower

N Intel 430TX Pentium MMX 66 MHz SDRAM, 2 PC66 3.65 x 13.27 x S3 Trio64V2
PCIset 166-233 13.75 86C785, 2 MB.

GXa Intel Pentium II 66 MHz SDRAM, 3 PC66 Low-profile, GXa accepts slot 1 USB
82440LX Klamath 233, Midsize, and Pentiums up to 1.1
PCI/AGP 266, 300, 333 Mini tower 333 MHz x2

NX Intel Pentium II 66 MHz SDRAM, 3 PC66 3.65 x 13.27 x ATI 3D Rage Pro
82440LX 266-333 13.75 AGP controller
PCI/AGP Video memory
2-MB standard
(upgradable to 4
MB) SGRAM

G1 Intel 440BX Pentium II 66 MHz OR SDRAM, 2 PC100 Low-profile, Introduced in June

AGP set 266-333, 350-450 100 MHz Midsize, and [3]
1998. Along with
or Celeron Mini tower the IBM 300PL, one
266-400 of the most
widely-used
business desktops of
the 1999–2005 era.
Some organizations
have only recently
started to replace
them. GX1
machines used Slot
1 Pentium II and
Pentium III CPUs.

E1 Intel 440EX Celeron 266-400 66 MHz SDRAM, 2 PC100 low-profile and

AGPset slot1 minitower

NX1 Intel 440BX Pentium II 266, 66/100 MHz SDRAM, 3 PC100 3.65 x 13.27 x on-board ATI Rage
PIIX4e 333, 13.75 Pro (AGP 2X)
350-450 MHz OR graphics, 4 MB
Pentium III 450 standard
(upgradable to 8
MB) SGRAM.
FIRST PIII
MODEL.
Dell OptiPlex 5

GX1 Intel 440BX Pentium II 266, 66 or 100 MHz SDRAM, 3 PC100 SFF, GX1 machines used USB
PIIX4e 333, 350-450 or low-profile, Slot 1 Pentium II 1.1
Pentium III midsize, mini and Pentium III x2
450-600 tower CPUs.

GX1p Intel 440BX Pentium II 400, 100 MHz SDRAM, 3 PC100 midsize and
AGPSet 450 or Pentium minitower
III 450-600

GC Intel 810e PIII or Celeron 66/100 MHz SDRAM, 2 PC100 SFF

GX100 Intel 810 Celeron 66/100 MHz SDRAM, 2 PC100 SFF, Socket 370. No USB
Mendocino and low-profile, AGP slot. Some 1.1
Coppermine minitower motherboards do not x2
accept the
Coppermine
Celeron.

GX110 Intel 810e Pentium III 66/100 MHz SDRAM, 2 PC100 SFF, Slot1 or Socket 370 USB
Coppermine low-profile, CPU. 2.0
midsize (370 x2
only), minitower

GX115 Intel 815E Pentium III or 100/133 MHz SDRAM (PC100)/PC133 SFF,

Celeron low-profile,
minitower

GX200 Intel 82820 Pentium III 100/133 MHz RAMBUS, PC800 SFF,

PCCI/AGP 2 low-profile,
midsize,
minitower

GX300 Intel 820 Pentium III 100/133 MHz RAMBUS, PC600/PC800 minitower 1 or 2 CPUS,
PCI/AGP 2 typically Slot1.

GX400 Intel 850 Pentium 4 400 MHz RAMBUS, PC800 Mini tower Black classic style
4 chassis. Socket 423

GX150 Intel 815E Pentium III or 100/133 MHz SDRAM, 2 PC133 SFF, desktop, First to have new USB
Celeron mini tower midnight-gray 1.1
chassis

GX50 Intel 810 OR Pentium III or 66/100 MHz SDRAM, 2 PC100 SFF, desktop, No AGP slot.
Intel 810E Celeron mini tower Models up to
800 MHz have the
810, 850 MHz and
up have 810E

GX240 Intel 845 Pentium 4 1.5-2.0 400 MHz SDRAM PC133 (ECC or SFF, desktop, First socket 478 USB
Willamette OR non-ECC) minitower model OptiPlex. 1.1
2.2-2.8 Also contains no
Northwood onboard video, must
have AGP card.

GX260 Intel 845G Pentium 4 or 400/533 MHz DDR PC2700 SFF, SD, SMT PATA only USB
Celeron 200/266 no SATA Socket 2.0
478 x6

GX60 Intel 845GL Celeron 400 MHz DDR PC2100 OR SFF, desktop, No AGP or PCI USB
OR Intel PC2700 mini tower Express slots. 2.0
845GV 845GV supports
PC2700 and
533 MHz FSB
CPUs.
Dell OptiPlex 6

SX260 Intel 845G Pentium 4 1.5-2.0 400/533 MHz DDR, 2 PC1600/PC2100 Ultra Small
Willamette OR Form
2.0-2.6
Northwood OR
Celeron

L60 Intel 845GL Pentium 4 or 400 MHz DDR, 2 PC2100

Celeron

GX270 Intel 865G Pentium 4 or 400/533/800 MHz DDR, 2 PC2700/PC3200 SFF, SD, SMT USB
SATA+PATA
Celeron Socket 478 SFF board 2.0
Intel graphics or
and 4 other x8
dedicated 8x AGP
boards card. The GX270
333/400 made from Apr
2003 to Mar 2004
came under fire in
2005 for having
faulty Nichicon
electrolytic
capacitors. When
they fail, these
capacitors are easily
recognised by an X
mark across the top
and a bloated or
[4]
split appearance.

SX270 Intel 865G Pentium 4 or 400/533/800 MHz 2xDDR PC2700/PC3200 Ultra Small Optional stand and
Celeron Form cable cover. 2.5"
PATA HDD.

160L Intel 845GV Pentium 4 or 400 MHz DDR PC2100/PC2700 minitower

Celeron

170L Intel 865-GV Pentium 4 or 400/533/800 MHz 2xDDR PC2700/PC3200 desktop or

Celeron minitower

GX280 Intel 915 Pentium 4 and P4 400/533/800 MHz DDR2, 2 DDR2 SFF, SD, No PS/2 connectors. USB
w/HT Socket 775 SFF board 400/DDR2 533 desktop, SMT, Intel or PCIe x16 2.0
and 4 other minitower Graphics. x8
boards OFFERED IN
BOTH ATX AND
BTX STYLE OF
CHASSIS. (SFF is
ATX only).

SX280 915G Pentium 4 or 533/800 MHz DDR2 DDR2 400 Ultra Small DVI-I port. No
Celeron Form 8.9 cm PS/2.
(3.5 inches),
36.1 cm
(14.2 inches),
26.4 cm
(10.375 inches)

210L Intel 915GV Pentium 4 or 533/800 MHz DDR2, 2 DDR2 desktop or integrated Intel
Celeron 400/DDR2 533 minitower Graphic Media
Accelerator 900.

GX520 Intel 945 Pentium 4, 533/800 MHz DDR2, 2 DDR2 SFF, desktop, integrated Intel
Express Pentium D, or Socket 775 400/DDR2 533 minitower BTX. Graphic Media
Celeron Accelerator 950.
Dell OptiPlex 7

GX620 Intel 945 Pentium 4, 533/800 MHz DDR2, 4 DDR2 USFF, SFF, The latest models USB
Express Pentium D, or Socket 775 533/DDR2 667 desktop, contain a trusted 2.0
Celeron minitower BTX. platform module.
Note that USFF
cable cover
increases the
dimensions of the
machine (available
in standard and
extended sizes).
Motherboard is
same as GX520, but
includes 4 DIMM
slots and 1 PCI
Express slot

320 ATI Radeon Intel Pentium D, 800 MHz DDR2, 2 DDR2 533 desktop,
Xpress 1100 Pentium 4 with minitower
Professional HT, and Celeron
D

745 Intel 965 Intel Core 2 Duo , 533/800/1066 MHz DDR2, 4 DDR2 USFF, SFF, USFF only has 2
Express Intel Pentium 533/DDR2 desktop, DIMM slots and
Dual 667/DDR2 800 minitower maximum 4GB
Core(Allendale), memory.
Pentium 4 HT,
Celeron D

330 Intel G31 Intel Core 2 Duo , 533/800/1066 MHz DDR2, 2 DDR2 DT, MT
Express Intel Pentium 533/DDR2
Chipset Dual Core, 667/DDR2 800
Celeron D

360 Intel G31 Intel Core 2 Duo , 533/800/1066 MHz DDR2, 2 DDR2 DT, MT
Express Intel Pentium 533/DDR2
Chipset Dual Core, 667/DDR2 800
Celeron D

740 nVIDIA AMD Athlon 64 DDR2, 4 DDR2 MT, DT, SFF

Quadro NVS X2, AMD Athlon 533/DDR2
210S Chipset 64, AMD 667/DDR2 800
with Phenom
NVIDIA
nForce 430
MCP

755 Intel Q35 Intel Core 2 Duo, 800/1066/1333 MHz DDR2, 4 DDR2-667 and MT, DT, SFF, USFF only has 2
Express Dual core DDR2-800 USFF DIMM slots and
(wolfdale), Quad, maximum 4GB
Celeron memory.

760 Intel Q43 Intel Core 2 Duo, 800/1066/1333 MHz DDR2, 4 DDR2-667 and MT, DT, SFF, USFF only has 2
Express Quad, Celeron DDR2-800 USFF DIMM slots and
maximum 4GB
memory.

960 Intel Q45 Intel Core 2 Duo, 800/1066/1333 MHz DDR2, 4 DDR2-800 MT, DT, SFF
Express Quad

980 Intel Q57 Intel i3, i5, i7 1066/1333 MHz DDR3, 4 DDR3-1333 MT, DT, SFF USB
Express 2.0 x
10
Dell OptiPlex 8

160 SiSM671 Intel Atom 230 or 533 MHz DDR2, 2 DDR2-667 Tiny Desktop
330

780 Intel Q45 Intel Core 2 Duo, 800/1066/1333 MHz DDR3, 4 DDR3-1066 MT, DT, SFF, USFF chassis was
Express Quad, Pentium USFF released separately
Dual Core, and resembles the
Celeron Optiplex 960 case.

380 Intel G41 Intel Core 2 Duo, 800/1066 MHz DDR3, 2 DDR3-1066 MT, DT, SFF
Express Quad, Pentium
Dual Core,
Celeron

XE Intel Q45 Intel Core 2 Duo, 800/1066/1333 MHz DDR3, 4 DDR3-1066 DT, SFF Intel AMT features
Express Pentium Dual disabled, has option
Core, Celeron for dust cover and
external power
button, designed for
retail POS market

Model Chipset CPU FSB RAM type RAM speed Chassis Comments
USB

External links
• Dell PCs Buying Guide [5] Dell's official PC buying guides site.
• Dell USA [6]: Optiplex desktop machines intended for medium and large businesses
• Dell Support [7] for more information about specifications.

References
[1] http:/ / www. theregister. co. uk/ 2010/ 06/ 29/ dell_optiplex_issues/
[2] Neese, Pat (2007-12-31). "OptiPlex" (http:/ / www. dell. com/ ). email. . "Opti is from the word optimum and plex means parts or units.
OptiPlex is a portmanteau, which is a combination of two words."
[3] Davis, Jim (1998-06-08). "Compaq, Dell ship new computers" (http:/ / news. cnet. com/ Compaq,-Dell-ship-new-computers/
2100-1001_3-212040. html). cnet news. Cnet. . Retrieved 2008-10-08. "The company is expanding its PC lineup today with desktop PCs for
businesses that will now include the G1 and E1 lines."
[4] Singer, Michael (2005-11-10). "PCs plagued by bad capacitors" (http:/ / news. cnet. com/ PCs-plagued-by-bad-capacitors/
2100-1041_3-5942647. html)
[5] http:/ / pc. dell. co. uk
[6] http:/ / www. dell. com/ business/ desktops/ optiplex
[7] http:/ / support. dell. com
Article Sources and Contributors 9

Article Sources and Contributors

Dell OptiPlex  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=406148063  Contributors: Amarkula, AniRaptor2001, Antandrus, Arndbergmann, Begoon, Bobblewik, Bovineone, Btilm,
Cburnett, Cenarium, Cestuila, Chamal N, Chowbok, Clerks, Closedmouth, Cocjh1, DAJF, Darth Mike, Dean1895, Dhscommtech, Dlb17701, Edokter, Ellsom1979, EoGuy, Ericg, Fsdfs, Furry
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Mathwiz593, Matlockmark, Mebden, Mikeblas, Nixdorf, Noclip, Oldlaptop321, Pboyd04, Pedant17, Photoguy439, Potatoswatter, RJFJR, RND, Thunderbird2, Tiggerjay, Timsheridan, Valfontis,
Vicdahl, Warren, Woohookitty, Zhapzhapzhap, 176 anonymous edits

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