Dell OptiPlex vs Lenovo ThinkCentre: Which Refurbished Desktop Wins in 2026?
The Dell OptiPlex and Lenovo ThinkCentre have dominated corporate IT procurement for decades. When these machines retire from business use and enter the refurbished market on eBay, buyers face a choice between two excellent products with different strengths.
Market Overview: Availability on eBay
The Dell OptiPlex outnumbers the Lenovo ThinkCentre on eBay by approximately 2.5:1 in available listings. More listings mean more price competition, more form factor options, and faster availability of specific configurations.
Head-to-Head Specification Comparison
| Category | Dell OptiPlex 7070 | Lenovo ThinkCentre M720 |
|---|---|---|
| CPU Options | Intel 9th Gen i3–i9 | Intel 8th–9th Gen i3–i9 |
| Max RAM | 64GB DDR4 | 64GB DDR4 |
| Storage | 1× M.2 + 1× 2.5-inch SATA | 1× M.2 + 1× 2.5-inch SATA |
| Form Factors | Micro, SFF, Tower | Tiny, Small, Tower |
| Ports (SFF) | 6× USB-A, 2× USB-C, HDMI, DP | 6× USB-A, 2× USB-C, HDMI, DP |
| SFF Price (i7/16GB/256GB) | $185–$250 | $190–$265 |
| Idle Noise | Very quiet | Near-silent (Tiny) |
Performance Under Real-World Conditions
For email, browsing, video calls, spreadsheets, and document editing, both machines perform identically. At the $150–$300 price range both achieve the same benchmark scores with an i7 and 16GB RAM.
Differences only appear in sustained multi-threaded workloads. The OptiPlex Tower's larger chassis allows more aggressive cooling and higher sustained clock speeds for longer periods.
Upgradeability
- RAM to 32GB: Both models support this equally. Cost: $30–$45.
- SSD to 1TB NVMe: Both have M.2 slots. Cost: $65–$85.
- GPU addition: Only Tower variants support discrete GPUs. OptiPlex SFF has a low-profile PCIe slot; ThinkCentre Tiny has no expansion slot.
- Wi-Fi: Both require an M.2 card (~$20) as base configs omit it.
Total Cost of Ownership
Over 5 years, parts availability matters more than purchase price. Both have widely available components on eBay. The OptiPlex has a slight advantage — its enormous installed base means parts are more plentiful and cheaper. A replacement PSU for an OptiPlex SFF costs $15–$25 vs $20–$35 for ThinkCentre.
The Verdict
Buy the Dell OptiPlex when:
- Budget is the primary concern — reliably $20–$40 cheaper for equivalent specs
- You want the widest selection and most sellers on eBay
- You plan to add a discrete GPU — SFF and Tower have PCIe slots
- You want tool-free access for DIY upgrades
Buy the Lenovo ThinkCentre when:
- Desk space is at a premium — the M-Tiny is the most compact option
- Acoustic performance matters — near-silent under light load
- VESA mount integration with your monitor is important
- You specifically want the M920 Tower for enterprise-level performance
Ready to Find Your Deal?
Browse live eBay listings updated hourly. Every deal includes seller rating, condition grade, and buyer protection.
Browse All Deals →