Gone are the days when you had to make enough space on your desk to accommodate noisy gigantic towers. As technology progressed, PCs became smaller and smaller. Nowadays, you’ll see a new type of PCs on the market; small form factor PCs.

Today, we’re going to review a small form factor Dell desktop PC - DELL OptiPlex 5070. It's a micro PC with a 9th generation Core i5 processor and 8 GB RAM. But before we get into the review, let’s fully understand what a small form factor micro PC really is.

Small Form Factor and Micro PCs

Small form factor is a general term used to define smaller versions of similar devices. Small form factors could be smaller-than-average smartphones, a small-scale AC, or in this case, a smaller sized version of tower desktop PCs. However, don’t judge a book by its cover as small form factors may be a miniature version of normal-sized technologies, their performance quality and functionality is still exceptional.    

As for Micro PCs, they are a subcategory of the Small Form Factor genre. They are simply a smaller scale version of the well-known tower PCs. They don’t sacrifice the powerful performance or dynamic functionality of a tower PC and are based on a single-chip microprocessor, just like most laptops and desktops.

You might have just started noticing small for factors in the modern market, their actual history dates way back to the mid-1970s. Intel was the first to announce a new generation of integrated electronics when they released the MCS-4 and MCS-8. They came just months apart from each other and were lauded for their revolutionary small size and affordability. Suffice to say that they were adored by the consumers.

After that, the architecture became smaller and smaller. The earliest versions of modern micro towers came in the shape of slim personal computers. These devices decreased their excess bulk by minimizing the space used by full-sized expansion cards. This step alone was able to cut the width and height of the standard desktop in half. Nowadays, slim PCs are thinner, faster, and more powerful than ever before.

Now that we have a general of small form factor micro PCs, let’s see what the Dell OptiPlex 5070 has to offer. 

Specifications

Processor	Intel Core i5-9500T / 2.20 GHz
RAM	8 GB
Storage	256 GB SSD
Graphics	Intel UHD Graphics 630
Operating System	Windows 10 Pro

Design

The Dell OptiPlex 5070 has an incredibly compact and innovative design that allows users to maximize their work environment. It can be installed in multiple configurations so that offices have several versatile and flexible solutions for any situation. However, you’ll have to buy the stands and mounts separately.

You can secure the micro PC directly on a wall or under a desk while its DVD/RW drive lets you watch and share data with the system. Like most OptiPlex PCs, this one is very easy to upgrade. Simply remove the side panel to access key system components like drives and memory. 

Performance

This miniature design is packed with powerful performance thanks to the Intel 9th Gen Core i5 processor, 8 GB RAM, and 256 GB SSD. We’ve been testing this system for a week, and so far it has been able to handle most business tasks with ease. Plus, we didn’t see any noticeable lag or crashes. Our test included editing spreadsheets, videoconferencing, and other common business tasks.

As for gaming, micro desktops with integrated GPUs were never made with serious gaming in mind. Hence, users shouldn’t expect OptiPlex 5070 to run intensive games. Some light gaming is still possible, but don’t let the system bite off more than it can chew. 

Connectivity

The OptiPlex 5070 may be small in size, but that doesn’t mean that it lacks any port. In fact, this PC has ports and slots for days. Along with an optional VGA and 2nd DisplayPort supporting up to 3 displays, you’ll get:

• Power Button
• Universal Audio Jack
• Line Out
• USB 3.0 Port
• USB 3.0 Port
• Wired NIC
• USB 3.1 Port
• USB 3.1 Port
• USB 3.1 Port
• USB 3.1 Port
• DP

Software

The always reliable Windows 10 Pro runs on the OptiPlex 5070. This system comes with lots of tools that increase both convenience and security. There’s the Dell Command Suite that lets you easily update driver, BIOS, and firmware. Don’t look down on these free tools as they allow flexible and automated BIOS or system configurations for your business, letting you manage your devices with ease and security.

It also has the Intel Standard Manageability. This tool is going to be quite handy in the current pandemic. How you may ask? Well, it basically has remote and basic out-of-band management capabilities that increase productivity and lower potential risk.

Verdict

The Dell OptiPlex 5070 delivers strong performance, fits almost anywhere, and offers a large variety of ports. If you’re looking to instal powerful, small PCs in your office, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better alternative than this micro desktop.