Dell OptiPlex Refurbished Excellent 3070 SFF 2019 Review
This refurbished Dell desktop is packed with ports and storage, but its old CPU and lack of Wi-Fi make it a niche pick. We'll tell you who should buy it and who should run.
The 30-Second Version
A refurbished office tank with best-in-class ports and a huge SSD, saddled with an old CPU and no Wi-Fi. A great deal under $400, a bad one over $600.
Overview
This Dell OptiPlex 3070 SFF is a refurbished business desktop that's all about the ports and storage. The one thing you need to know is that it's a fantastic, no-fuss office machine if you need to plug a lot of stuff in and store a ton of files, but it's not a speed demon and it's absolutely not for gaming. It's a workhorse from 2019, repackaged and ready for another shift.
Performance
The performance is exactly what you'd expect from a 5-year-old office PC. The Intel i7-9700 CPU lands in the 21st percentile in our database, which means it's underwhelming compared to modern chips. It'll handle spreadsheets, email, and a dozen browser tabs just fine, but don't ask it to edit video. The real surprise is the port selection, which is best-in-class. Eight USB-A ports, DisplayPort, and HDMI mean you'll never need a hub. The 2TB SSD is a massive plus, making file access snappy even if the processor isn't.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- An absolute ton of ports for all your peripherals. 95th
- Huge 2TB SSD means you won't run out of space for years. 86th
- Comes with a full Windows 11 Pro license, which is a solid value. 85th
- The 32GB of RAM is overkill for office work, but it's nice to have. 72th
Cons
- No Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. You'll need adapters. 21th
- The older 9th-gen Intel CPU is a weak spot for anything demanding. 33th
- Integrated graphics are terrible, scoring in the bottom third.
- Refurbished units can have inconsistencies, like wrong parts or missing ports.
The Word on the Street
Specifications
Full Specifications
Processor
| CPU | Intel 9th Generation Core i7 |
| Cores | 6 |
| Frequency | 3.0 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 9 MB |
Graphics
| GPU | UHD Graphics |
| Type | integrated |
| VRAM Type | Shared |
Memory & Storage
| RAM | 32 GB |
| RAM Generation | DDR4 |
| Storage | 2.0 TB |
| Storage Type | SSD |
Build
| Form Factor | SFF |
| Weight | 5.2 kg / 11.6 lbs |
Connectivity
| USB Ports | 8 |
| HDMI | 1x HDMI |
| DisplayPort | 1x DisplayPort |
| Ethernet | 1x Ethernet |
System
| OS | Windows 11 Pro |
Value & Pricing
Worth it, but only at the right price. This thing ranges from $390 to $728 across different sellers. At the low end, around $400, it's a steal for a basic office setup with tons of storage. At over $700, you're getting ripped off. Shop around. The value is entirely in the storage, ports, and Windows license, not the raw power.
vs Competition
Compared to modern mini PCs like the ASUS NUC 15 Pro or the Minisforum M1 Pro, this Dell feels ancient. Those newer machines have much faster, more efficient processors and often include Wi-Fi. But they usually cost more for similar RAM and storage. If you need a ton of legacy USB-A ports and a massive cheap SSD, the Dell wins. If you want a smaller, faster, more modern machine with wireless connectivity, look at the mini PCs. The HP OmniDesk all-in-one is a cleaner choice if you also need a monitor.
| Spec | Dell OptiPlex Refurbished Excellent 3070 SFF | HP OmniDesk HP - OmniDesk Desktop - Intel Core Ultra 7 265 | Lenovo A Series Lenovo - Yoga AIO 27" All-In-One - Intel Core | GMKtec Mini PC GMKtec Gaming PC AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS(8C/16T, Up to | ASUS Mini PC Asus NUC 15 Pro Plus RNUC15CRSU7089AU Desktop | Minisforum Mini PC MINISFORUM M1 Pro Mini PC Core Ultra 5 Processor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | Intel 9th Generation Core i7 | Intel Core Ultra 7 265 | Intel Core Ultra 7 255H | AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS | Intel Core Ultra 7 | Apple M1 Pro |
| RAM (GB) | 32 | 16 | 16 | 32 | 32 | 64 |
| Storage (GB) | 2000 | 1024 | 1000 | 2048 | 1024 | 2048 |
| GPU | Intel UHD Graphics | Intel Graphics | Intel Arc Graphics | AMD Radeon Graphics 780M | Intel Arc Graphics | Intel Arc Graphics |
| Form Factor | SFF | Desktop | aio | Mini | Mini | Mini |
| Psu W | - | 280 | 170 | 120 | 120 | - |
| OS | Windows 11 Pro | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Pro | Windows 11 Home | No OS, Support Windows |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | Cpu | Gpu | Ram | Port | Storage | Reliability | Social Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dell OptiPlex Refurbished Excellent 3070 SFF | 21.3 | 32.8 | 68.8 | 94.9 | 85.4 | 71.9 | 86.3 |
| HP OmniDesk OmniDesk Compare | 89.7 | 46.6 | 59.6 | 99.1 | 66.1 | 71.9 | 98.4 |
| Lenovo A Series 27" Compare | 69.9 | 52.2 | 62.4 | 93.2 | 59.3 | 71.9 | 98.4 |
| GMKtec Mini PC GMKtec Compare | 69.7 | 86.2 | 88.5 | 74.7 | 93.1 | 13.1 | 96.6 |
| ASUS Mini PC NUC 15 Pro Plus Compare | 69.9 | 52.2 | 79.5 | 80 | 66.1 | 41.2 | 88.1 |
| Minisforum Mini PC M1 Pro Mini PC Core Ultra 5 Processor 125H Barebone Without Storage/OS Compare | 53.8 | 52.2 | 97.5 | 60.5 | 87.7 | 13.1 | 93.4 |
Common Questions
Q: Does this have Wi-Fi or Bluetooth?
Nope. Not a trace of it. You'll need USB adapters for both, so factor that into your cost.
Q: Is the optical drive bay real?
The product images are often generic. This specific SFF (Small Form Factor) model does not have a built-in optical drive. You'd need an external USB one.
Q: Is the i5 or i7 model better?
Go for the i7 if the price is close. The i7-9700 in this model has slightly better performance, but both are from the same older generation. Don't overpay for a small speed bump.
Who Should Skip This
If you're looking for a fast, modern, or compact PC for anything beyond basic office work, this isn't it. Go get a Minisforum or ASUS mini PC instead. And gamers should look literally anywhere else.
Verdict
We recommend this for one specific person: someone setting up a basic, wired office or home workstation on a tight budget who needs massive storage and lots of ports. It's a plug-and-play productivity box. For everyone else, especially anyone who values speed, modern connectivity, or wireless freedom, there are better options. Buy it for the ports and the hard drive, not for the processor.