Dell Optiplex 980 Desktop Review: Pros, Cons & More

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Dell Optiplex 980 Desktop

Dell Optiplex 980 Desktop

USD
8.4

Value for Money Score

8.0/10

Reliability Score

8.6/10

Performance Score

8.2/10

Specifications and Features Score

8.2/10

Design Score

9.0/10

Pros

  • Windows 10
  • Performance is good
  • Professional needs are met
  • DVD writer
  • Mid range cost

Cons

  • RAM could be better
  • Printer issues
  • Internet issues
  • VGA connection problem
  • Need to addin the graphics card

Verdict

In a nutshell, Dell’s cleverly designed SFF desktop is not just easy to mange and upgrade anytime whenever required, but it also offers a set of highly impressive features to facilitate every kind of user or business personnel.

However, the professionals often being engaged in intensive graphics related jobs will be utterly disappointed with the lack of sufficient graphical power in the system.

The Optiplex 980 SFF desktop is available at low cost, without exceeding your budget limitation.

Dell Optiplex 980 Desktop & Variants Price

Introduction

In terms of technical attributes, Dell Optiplex 980 is a fully-featured business desktop.

If you are in pursuit of powerful and efficient computing productivity, you can consider this business class machine without a second thought.

The Optiplex 980 appears in several form factors including small form factor, desktop and mini tower. Here we have chosen the SFF variant of Dell Optiplex 980 to make a review.

The desktop supports a wide variety of processors such as Intel Core, Celeron, Pentium etc.

The currently discussed model is powered by an Intel Core i5-6500 chipset and an integrated Intel HD Graphics processor to handle your day-to-day official workloads in the fastest way.

The processing power is coupled with 8GB DDR3 RAM and 500GB SATA hard disk drive for ensuring top notch system performance.

This performance-driven business desktop offers a set of upgradable options. The small form factor desktop is wisely equipped with one 3.5” flex bay, one 5.25” bay, and dual 3.5” internal bays as well.

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It houses eight USB 2.0 ports in total, having two at front and six ports on rear panel.

Dell Optiplex 980 Desktop

The desktop comes pre-installed with Windows 10 Pro operating system to bring advanced features and all-round productivity.

Buy for: Performance, impressive features, affordable price. All-round productivity.

Beware of: Connectivity issues, insufficient graphical power, and VGA issues.

Best uses for: Day-to-day home computing tasks, basic office use, small businesses, IT industry, light gaming, basic photo or video editing, watching movies, and web browsing.

The alternatives:

Specs Details:

  •     Brand: Dell
  •     Hard Drive: 500GB
  •     RAM: 8 GB
  •     Hard Drive Type: Serial ATA
  •     RAM Type: DDR3
  •     Processor: Intel core i5-6500
  •     Processor Speed: 3.2 GHz
  •     Graphics: Intel HD Graphics
  •     Processor Brand: Intel
  •     Product Dimensions: 13.7 x 15.4 x 4.4 inches
  •     Operating System: Windows 10 Pro

Reliability

Dell Optiplex workstations or business desktops offer higher efficiency and trusted productivity for all end-users.

They are most secure and easy to operate business PCs, reducing both your time and efforts to a great extent.

The desktops appear in several innovative forms including mini tower, small form factor (SFF), micro, All-in-one stand etc.

The desktops under 3000 series are absolutely designed to offer all the essentials, advantages and flexibility for your official needs, in their special form factors.

The 5000 series desktops include enhanced features to make a promise of brilliant security, manageability and configurability as well.

The 7000 series products are the high end business desktops that deliver unprecedented performance in their compact and sleek design.

The OptiPlex SFF desktops are truly unique in terms of design.

They are the perfect space saver for your business or office cabin, giving ample space for a number of computer peripherals and assorted devices to connect to the system.

The Optiplex 980 has got such small form factor design to suit your workplace environment to the fullest. Check out best desktop PC according to needs.

Performance

The Optiplex 980 features an Intel Core i5-6500 processor which has a clock speed of 3.2 GHz.

Dell Optiplex 980 Processor

The system derives its necessary power to perform well enough from this chipset situated at the core of system hardware.

The processor works faster and efficiently enough to deliver unmatched performance without any discernible lag.

The system is graphically significant to some extent. It packs an integrated Intel Graphics processor to allow you to stay engaged in various creative tasks related to multimedia and entertainment.

With such graphical power, the desktop provides you the facility of light gaming, occasional photo or video editing, loading of heavy software, watching movies with vivid colours & brightness etc.

Design

The Optiplex 980 SFF variant is one of the smaller systems that can easily suit an office ambience and its immediate needs on a daily basis.

It is solid and perfectly designed in its tiny form to occupy very little space on your table or desk. The desktop dimensionally measures about 13.7 x 15.4 x 4.4 inches and weighs 13 pounds.

In its space-saving appearance, you will find a sense of elegance to blow your mind at once. Its alluring design in black and silver colours includes all the essential ports and drives and removable side panels for hassle-free upgrades.

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This imposing system appears great in terms of design. Its front panel is made of tough metallic substance while the removable parts of the desktop are built with black plastic material, having a glossy finish as well.

The entire chassis and side panels feel utmost solid to survive all sorts of gentle strokes or sudden spillage for multiple years.

You will find the same build quality in the desktops offered by the brand’s competitors in the market.

Storage

The Optiplex 980 SFF desktop features 8GB DDR3 SDRAM and 500 GB Serial ATA Hard Disk Drive (HDD) to form its storage section.

Both these features are undeniably brilliant and suitable for a business desktop.

The size of RAM here is more than sufficient to provide complete multitasking ease and handle an assortment of software at a time without any hassle.

Dell Optiplex 980 RAM Slots

500 GB HDD offers ample space to keep all crucial files and data safely.

Dell Optiplex 980 Storage

The hard disk can store a large number of official documents, media files, videos, audio files, software and applications.

However, this HDD size is able to cater to the needs of only small business or home office.

In case of immense official workloads, the desktop will need to house hard disk drive in more quantity.

Additional Features

Port: The Optiplex 980 desktop comes with a decent array of port selection. The front and rear panels accommodate eight USB 2.0 ports in total.

Dell Optiplex 980 Ports

Other essential ports and I/O connectivity slots include Display port, serial input, RJ45 jack, universal audio jack etc. The USB outputs ensure faster and hassle-free transfer of files from the system to other devices and vice versa.

Addons: The system actually comes loaded with Windows 7 Professional – an older edition of operating system.

However, the currently discussed model is pre-installed with Windows 10 Pro, the latest version of OS which brings all the trendy applications & cool features of Google as well as user-friendly interface.

As A Workstation

The Optiplex 980 SFF desktop PC has been typically designed to empower IT industry and facilitate all kinds of business and related transactions.

Regardless of your employees being global, national or local, the system offers top notch functionality and advanced management abilities that truly help to accomplish IT jobs with utmost perfection & efficiency.

The advanced remote management ability introduced by Intel can reduce the demands for desk-side visits related to software.

The system also provides IT industry with the facilities to resolve several problems by remotely managing a user’s mouse, keyboard and video.

In addition to that, the tool-less chassis of the device allows easy access to essential internal hardware components.

On the grounds of security, the system is reliable too. With a couple of strong security options and the flexibility for extending the user coverage, the OptiPlex 980 assures uncompromised security in your business world.

The system sports a chassis intrusion switch and a lock slot for the purpose of security to offer complete on-site protection against theft.

What Do Users Think?

According to our survey, miscellaneous responses have come from the users of Dell OptiPlex 980.

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To some of them, it is a great desktop for the beginners. While many others have recommended not to purchase this model for extensive business needs and productivity.

Surely, the system includes some of the noticeable drawbacks which have been the reasons of dissatisfaction to several users.

The casing and build quality of the desktop is appreciated by many. It comes at an amazing price rate to satisfy your wallet.

In terms of performance, the system is undeniably great for regular basic activities. It also caters to the needs of a newbie gamer as the system packs an integrated graphics processor.

For all beginners, the OptiPlex 980 can be an ideal choice. Check out Dell Optiplex 980 Manual.

Our Testing & Analysis Report

According to our tests, we found that the processor of the Dell Optiplex 980 desktop is quite good at handling most of the tasks thrown at it, provided they are limited to basic to moderate levels.

On our benchmark tests, it was found that the processor is pretty fast, maintaining an average clock speed of about 2 GHz, which is quite good with respect to a business machine like this one.

We ran quite a few apps and software on the system for different office computing tasks over and above document processing and found that it could handle most of the moderately demanding apps apart from the basics.

We concluded that the processor is powerful enough to handle tasks like working on spreadsheets, typing on Word, browsing the web or the internet, checking emails, and watching a few movies.

We kept a number of tabs open while we tested the unit and found that it did not slow down notably.

As for the graphics power, it is moderate as it is integrated into the system.

However, it supported the CPU well when we performed some light photo and video editing tasks, loaded some apps and software, or watched movies.

The images rendered were seamless and significantly quick.

When we played games on the system, we found that it performed the best when we played basic games but it lagged quite significantly when we played high-end games, being able to reach a frame rate of about 20 to 30 fps on our 3D Mark benchmark test.

About Puja Chatterjee

AvatarPuja Chatterjee, a distinguished technical writer, boasts an extensive and nuanced understanding of computer technology. She is an esteemed graduate of the Bengal Institute of Management Studies (BIMS), where she honed her skills and knowledge in the tech domain. Over the span of more than 12 years, Puja has developed a deep expertise that encompasses not only technology writing, where she articulates complex technical concepts with clarity and precision, but also in the realm of client relationship management. Her experience in this area is characterized by her ability to effectively communicate and engage with clients, ensuring their needs are met with the highest level of professionalism and understanding of their technical requirements. Puja's career is marked by a commitment to excellence in both written communication within the tech industry and fostering strong, productive relationships with clients.

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Puja Chatterjee
Puja Chatterjee, a distinguished technical writer, boasts an extensive and nuanced understanding of computer technology. She is an esteemed graduate of the Bengal Institute of Management Studies (BIMS), where she honed her skills and knowledge in the tech domain. Over the span of more than 12 years, Puja has developed a deep expertise that encompasses not only technology writing, where she articulates complex technical concepts with clarity and precision, but also in the realm of client relationship management. Her experience in this area is characterized by her ability to effectively communicate and engage with clients, ensuring their needs are met with the highest level of professionalism and understanding of their technical requirements. Puja's career is marked by a commitment to excellence in both written communication within the tech industry and fostering strong, productive relationships with clients.
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