I'm managing IT for a small, family-owned business with 14 employees. Currently, we have Dell Optiplex 7760 AIOs, which are almost six years old and are starting to show their age. These systems have decent specs (8th-gen i7, 16GB RAM, 256GB NVMe SSD and 1TB HDD, 27" 4K display) and are popular with staff because there's no tower cluttering their desks. I'm looking for an updated replacement, but Dell's current AIO options seem limited, particularly since their newer models only offer a 1080p display, which won't match up with our existing 4K second monitors. Ideally, I'd like to find an AIO or compact PC that offers good build quality, a solid warranty, at least a 1440p resolution, and reasonably high specs. I'm open to small form factor or micro form factor options too, as long as they allow for a neat workspace. We believe in spending wisely on tech that lasts without overspending. Any suggestions?
2 Answers
Have you looked into the Optiplex Micro models? They're really compact, and if you use a VESA mount, you can easily attach them to the back of the monitor, keeping the desk clean. This way, you can avoid the traditional tower setup but still get decent performance.
Totally agree! We've set up similar systems with the right mounts, and it really keeps things looking tidy. You might want to consider how hot they get under load, especially if users are pushing them hard.
If you're concerned about AIOs, you might want to go for mini PCs that can also be mounted to VESA mounts. They make setups much cleaner and easier to maintain than traditional AIOs, which can face issues when components fail.
We've got an Optiplex MFF in our conference room, and while we don't use it heavily, it works well for basic tasks. I'm curious about the longevity of MFFs though – do they handle heat well if you push them with a higher-end i7?