Dell OptiPlex 7090 2022, Core i7-10700, 8GB, 512GB SSD, Black
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Snapshot
The 30-Second Version
The Dell OptiPlex 7090 is a compact business desktop with a decent 8-core i7 and tons of USB ports, but 8GB of RAM and integrated graphics hold it back hard. It's fine for basic office work, but at CAD 1,154 refurbished, it's overpriced for what you get. Skip it unless you specifically need the mini-tower form factor and legacy ports.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- 8-core i7 handles office multitasking without breaking a sweat 99th
- Tons of USB-A ports for legacy peripherals 70th
- 512GB SSD keeps boot times snappy
- Compact mini-tower fits under most desks
Cons
- 8GB of RAM is a serious bottleneck for modern workloads
- Integrated graphics can't handle anything beyond basic display output
- Refurbished unit with a 3.3-star rating from only 3 reviews
- 260W PSU limits future GPU upgrades
The proof
Performance
The i7-10700 is a solid 8-core chip for everyday productivity, but it sits in the 36th percentile for CPUs in our database, so it's not exactly a speed demon by today's standards. The real bottleneck is the RAM. 8GB of DDR4 lands in the 10th percentile, which is rough for multitasking in 2024. The integrated Intel HD Graphics are surprisingly ranked in the 97th percentile for GPUs, but that's because most desktops in our database have no dedicated GPU at all, so don't get excited. The 512GB SSD is fine for boot times but sits in the 31st percentile for storage capacity. Port selection is a bright spot with 9 USB-A ports, a USB-C, DisplayPort, and Ethernet, landing in the 76th percentile.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Processor
| CPU | 64 bit 8-Core Processor |
| Cores | 8 |
| Frequency | 2.9 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 16 MB |
Graphics
| GPU | Intel UHD Graphics 630 |
| Type | Integrated |
| VRAM | 48 GB |
| VRAM Type | GDDR6 |
Memory & Storage
| RAM | 8 GB |
| RAM Generation | DDR4 |
| Storage | 512 GB |
| Storage Type | NVMe SSD |
Build
| Form Factor | mini |
| PSU | 260 |
Connectivity
| USB-C Ports | 1 |
| USB Ports | 5 |
| HDMI | None |
| DisplayPort | 2 Display Port |
| Wi-Fi | WiFi 5 |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Ethernet | Gigabit Ethernet |
System
| OS | Windows 11 Pro |
vs Competition
Stacked against the HP OMEN GT22-3080 or Lenovo Legion 90YA003GUS, this OptiPlex gets absolutely smoked in gaming and graphics performance. Those are gaming rigs with dedicated GPUs, while this is an office PC with integrated graphics. The Apple Mac mini M4 Pro is in a different league for CPU performance and efficiency, though it lacks the legacy ports and Windows compatibility. The CLX SET and Horizon Pcs Autherium Dragon are also gaming-focused builds that outclass this in every performance metric except port selection. The OptiPlex's only real advantage is its compact size and business-friendly port array.
| Spec | Dell OptiPlex 7090 | Apple Mac Studio M3 Ultra | Lenovo T Series Towers Legion Tower 5a Gen 10 | HP OMEN GT16-0364 | CLX SET TGMSETRTU5204BM | MSI Aegis ZS2 A9NVP-1407US |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | 64 bit 8-Core Processor | Apple M3 Ultra | AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D | AMD Ryzen 7 8700F | Intel Core i9 14900KF | AMD Ryzen 9 9900X |
| RAM (GB) | 8 | 96 | 32 | 32 | 64 | 32 |
| Storage (GB) | 512 | 1024 | 4096 | 1024 | 8192 | 2048 |
| GPU | Intel UHD Graphics 630 | Apple M3 Ultra 60-core | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 |
| Form Factor | mini | sff | mid-tower | mid-tower | mid-tower | mid-tower |
| Psu W | 260 | - | 850 | 850 | 850 | 750 |
| OS | Windows 11 Pro | macOS | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | CPU | GPU | RAM | Ports | Storage | Reliability | Social Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dell OptiPlex 7090 | 44.4 | 99.2 | 9.2 | 47.6 | 40.9 | 70 | 19.5 |
| Apple Mac Studio M3 Ultra Compare | 99.7 | 76 | 95.7 | 93.8 | 53.6 | 99.3 | 86.2 |
| Lenovo T Series Towers Legion Tower 5a Gen 10 Compare | 73.4 | 93.1 | 78 | 88.4 | 98.1 | 70 | 100 |
| HP OMEN GT16-0364 Compare | 69.7 | 89.3 | 87.2 | 97.9 | 53.6 | 70 | 99.1 |
| CLX SET TGMSETRTU5204BM Compare | 94.9 | 89.3 | 96.5 | 84.2 | 99.2 | 11.6 | 94.8 |
| MSI Aegis ZS2 A9NVP-1407US Compare | 92.4 | 89.3 | 87.2 | 90.5 | 82.8 | 37.3 | 99.6 |
Price
Value & Pricing
Pricing is listed at CAD 1,154 for a refurbished unit, which feels steep for what you're getting. You can find newer systems with 16GB of RAM and better CPUs for similar money. The value proposition here is really about the form factor and the port selection, not raw performance. If you need a reliable office machine with legacy ports and don't care about gaming or heavy multitasking, it might work, but you're paying a premium for the Dell name and the mini-tower design.
Read more
Overview
The Dell OptiPlex 7090 is a business workhorse in a mini-tower body. It's got a 10th Gen Intel Core i7-10700, 8GB of DDR4, and a 512GB SSD. On paper, that CPU sounds decent, but the rest of the package feels a bit dated for the price.
This is a refurbished unit, so you're getting Windows 10 Pro and a DVD-RW drive, which is either a nostalgic bonus or a sign of its age depending on how you look at it. It's built for office tasks, not for pushing pixels or frames.
Common Questions
Q: Can I upgrade the RAM in this system?
Yes, the OptiPlex 7090 mini-tower supports RAM upgrades, and given that 8GB is the weakest spec here, adding another 8GB or 16GB stick would be the single best upgrade you could make for multitasking performance.
Q: Will this run modern games?
No. The integrated Intel HD Graphics can't handle modern games at playable frame rates. The 260W power supply also limits your ability to add a dedicated GPU, so this is strictly an office and productivity machine.
Q: Is this a new or refurbished unit?
This is a refurbished unit, which means it's been previously used and restored to working condition. That's part of why the price feels high, and it's worth factoring in the shorter expected lifespan compared to a brand-new system.
Who Should Skip This
Skip this if you need any kind of graphics performance, whether that's gaming, video editing, or even driving multiple high-resolution displays smoothly. Also skip it if you're a heavy multitasker, because 8GB of RAM will have you staring at loading spinners. And if you're on a tight budget, there are better value options out there that don't carry the refurbished premium.
Verdict
This is a machine for someone who needs a basic office desktop with lots of USB ports and doesn't plan to upgrade. It'll handle email, web browsing, spreadsheets, and light productivity fine. But if you're doing anything more demanding, like video editing, gaming, or running multiple heavy applications, the 8GB of RAM and integrated graphics will frustrate you quickly. It's a niche product for a specific buyer.
Usage Scores
- Overall53.3
- AI/LLM22.6
- Gaming15.4
- Portability53.7
- Creator22.7
- Business50.1
- Developer38.7
- Home Office48
- Workstation41.5