Are you a photographer, graphic designer, low-key video editor, or— as marketed by the manufacturer— a business, school, or office planning to buy a sufficient PC at a fair price? I’ve got something for you. One of Dell’s products of 2022, the Dell 7000 series, comes in three chassis options; Tower, Small Form Factor (SFF), and Micro.
Built with the Intel Q670 desktop chipset, the motherboard supports 12th, 13th, and 14th generation of Intel Core i3, i5, i7, and i9 processors. The Dell OptiPlex 7000 series offers a range of options to suit different budgets. The Tower and Small Form Factor (SFF) support a maximum RAM capacity of 128GB, and Micro at 64GB, all compatible with DDR5 and DDR4 memory. However, most units come with 16GB of RAM of either version of DDR, but configurations may vary depending on the seller and your budget.
Consider your future needs when selecting a chassis. If space is a primary concern and you don’t foresee needing significant upgrades, the SFF might suffice. However, for users who require more storage, additional ports, or the flexibility to install expansion cards, the Tower version is the better option due to its increased expandability.
Dell OptiPlex 7000 RAM (DDR4 & DDR5)
Choosing DDR5 over DDR4 is a practical option. However, in regions like Uganda and most parts of Africa, DDR5 RAM is scarce, limiting RAM upgrades due to limited availability and higher costs, making DDR4 a more practical choice. One would opt for enough DDR5 RAM to avoid needing an upgrade soon and choose DDR4 when on a budget, with the hope of future upgrades.
Dell OptiPlex 7000 Series 12th Gen Processors
12th Gen Intel Core™ i3-12100 (4 cores, 8 threads, 3.30 GHz to 4.30 GHz)
12th Gen Intel Core i3-12300 (4 cores, 8 threads, 3.50 GHz to 4.40 GHz)
12th Gen Intel Core i5-12400 (6 cores, 12 threads, 2.50 GHz to 4.40 GHz)
12th Gen Intel Core i5-12500 vPro (6 cores, 12 threads, 3.00 GHz to 4.60 GHz)
12th Gen Intel Core i5-12600 vPro (6 cores, 12 threads, 3.30 GHz to 4.80 GHz)
12th Gen Intel Core i7-12700 vPro (12 cores, 20 threads, 2.10 GHz to 4.90 GHz)
12th Gen Intel Core i9-12900 vPro (16 cores, 24 threads, 2.40 GHz to 5.10 GHz)
In summary, the Dell OptiPlex 7000 series, powered by the Alder Lake (12th Gen Intel Core Processors) and the clock speed listed above, depending on your choice Intel core series & version, is a solid option and can accomplish most tasks.
Note that any Dell OptiPlex 7000 desktop with a processor reading outside the 12100 to 12900 vPro range (even if labelled “OptiPlex 7000” on the front) is likely modified. According to Dell’s official models by year, the OptiPlex 7000 is a 12th-generation line-up featuring processors between 12100 and 12900 (where “12” represents the 12th generation). However, some units sold on platforms like Amazon, Jiji, and eBay may have been modified with lower or higher processor versions—or even AMD processors.
You’ve heard the install your operating system (OS) on a solid state drive (SSD) to make the PC faster and storage on the Hard Drive (HDD). Well, it’s true, and according to your budget, when buying a refurbished or brand new Dell OptiPlex 7000—like any PC though—you get to decide on the storage of both the SSD and Hard Drive. 256GB SSD and 1TB Hard Drive is a good start.
Can I use the Dell OptiPlex 7000 for gaming?
Yes, Dell OptiPlex 7000 can effectively run most games on medium/ balanced 1080 or 720P settings. Games like F122, FIFA 22, GTA V, Resident Evil 3, and Tomb Raider 3. For optimal performance, ensure your OptiPlex 7000 has the Intel UHD Graphics 770 (found in Core i5-12500, i5-12600, i7-12700, and i9-12900 processors). The Intel UHD Graphics 730 used in models with the Core i3-12100, i3-12300, and i5-12400 processors may struggle with more demanding games.
If you plan to use your Dell OptiPlex 7000 for gaming, ensure you have at least 16GB of RAM. For a smoother and better gaming experience, consider a dedicated graphics card. The OptiPlex 7000 can accommodate dedicated graphics cards like AMD Radeon RX 640 (4GB GDDR5), Radeon 540 (1GB GDDR5), and Radeon 550 (2GB GDDR5). That’s if a dedicated GPU wasn’t included at purchase, again depending on your budget.
When upgrading or adding a dedicated graphics card, your choice Chassis (size)—Mini Tower (MT), Small Form Factor (SFF), or Micro—is a critical factor due to limitations in physical space, power supply capacity, and cooling potentials. Simply put, avoid Small form-factor PCs for gaming.
Dell OptiPlex 7000 Operating System (OS)
Dell OptiPlex 7000 models support 64-bit Windows 11 (No TPM Bypass required), Kylin Linux, and Ubuntu Linux 20.04.
With the tech world increasingly adopting Type-C cables to Type-C cable, the Dell OptiPlex 7000 series includes one Type-C port, along with three USB 2.0 ports, five USB 3.2 ports, two universal audio jacks, DisplayPorts, an optional HDMI video port, and an Ethernet port. It also features built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity.
How much is the Dell OptiPlex 7000?
Based on your location and the specifications outlined above—such as the Intel Core version (i3, i5, i7, i9) and its number of cores, RAM size and type, storage type and capacity, chassis size, and processor speed—A mid-performance Dell OptiPlex Tower desktop, configured with specifications such as an Intel Core i5-12500 processor, a reasonable amount of RAM (e.g., 16GB), a 256GB solid-state drive (SSD) + 1TB Hard Drive (HDD) for storage, typically costs between $549 and $749 online marketplaces like Amazon or eBay.
In Uganda, a refurbished Dell OptiPlex 7000 with slightly similar specs might range from UGX 1.8M to 2.6M in one of the plazas on Kampala road, carefully verify the components to ensure they meet the advertised features. A brand-new unit, which is harder to find, ranges between UGX 2.9M and 3.3M. Alternatively, you might find a good used one at a lower price on the black market.
To evaluate real-world performance, I tested the OptiPlex 7000 (configured with an Intel Core i5-12700, 16GB of DDR4 RAM, and a 256GB NVMe SSD) in several common scenarios. With 18 Chrome tabs open, including several image-heavy websites and a YouTube video playing in the background, the system remained responsive. Scrolling through web pages was smooth, and new tabs loaded quickly.
In Adobe Photoshop, applying a series of adjustments (exposure, contrast, sharpness) to a 10MB image took an average of 10 seconds. Rendering a 10-second animation in After Effects, consisting of text layers, a particle effect, and a background image, was completed in 1 minute and 45 seconds.
While this isn’t a professional workstation, it demonstrates the Dell OptiPlex 7000’s capability to handle demanding creative tasks. For data management, the system can continuously run for 72+ hours without any issues, proving it can handle the demands of a typical school or institutional environment.
Compiled by Isaac Odwako O.
