Product Notes: Dell OptiPlex 960

November 17, 2008

Multiple vendors have announced systems based on the Intel Q45 chipset over the last few weeks. New systems with this chipset from Dell are branded as the OptiPlex 760 (tower, desktop, small desktop,and ultra-small desktop) and the OptiPlex 960 (tower, desktop, and small desktop). The OptiPlex 760 will eventually replace the OptiPlex 755 line while the OptiPlex 960 is an upward extension for the OptiPlex product line.

Design

The OptiPlex 960 enclosures are modified versions of those used in the OptiPlex 755 and 760. These enclosures are the first OptiPlexes to use post-consumer recycled content.

The OptiPlex 960 is the third generation of OptiPlexes to support Intel's vPro suite of hardware management technologies (the OptiPlex 745c was the first). vPro is an Intel brand that currently includes (and requires) a Core 2 Duo or Core 2 Quad processor, an Intel chipset with support for Active Management Technology (iAMT 5.0), and Intel's Gigabit Ethernet LAN solution. Note that iAMT is available with the OptiPlex 760, but the full vPro suite is not.

All OptiPlex 960 power supplies are 80 Plus certified, which is a strong indicator of improved power supply efficiency at various loads. For the first time, even more efficient 88% power supplies are also available. The OptiPlex 960 has received a Gold rating from EPEAT and is Energy Star 4.0-certified.

Configuration & Ordering Notes

Several notes when ordering an OptiPlex 960:

1. The OptiPlex 960 features redesigned enclosures with a significant variance in size, ranging from 1.15 cubic feet for the tower, 0.53 cubic feet for the desktop, and finishing with 0.28 cubic feet for the small desktop. Information Systems & Computing (ISC) believes that the small desktop is the best choice for many Schools and Centers trying to reduce the size of their desktop footprint.
2. ISC suggests choosing the Energy Star 4.0 Category B efficiency option. This will preselect the 88% efficient power supply and does not prevent otherwise appropriate system configuration.
3. OptiPlex 960 configurations are offered in 32-bit and 64-bit mode when purchased with Windows Vista SP1.
4. With the OptiPlex 960, ISC continues to strongly suggest a discrete video card instead of the integrated video. ISC believes that most users will be well served by the ATI Radeon HD 3450 (which supports VGA and DVI) or the Radeon HD 3470 (which supports DVI and DisplayPort).
5. If a system is going to be in use for the full four-year life cycle, a four year warranty (which adds about $65 to the overall cost over a three year warranty) may be appropriate.
6. Many Schools and Centers at the University may wish to choose the "Keep Your Hard Drive" option, which allows the School or Center to retain a defective hard drive when receiving a replacement hard drive under warranty.

See ISC's Performance Desktop Purchasing Guide for more configuration hints. As of September 2008, configuring an OptiPlex 960 to the specification can be done for approximately $1,100.

Analysis

ISC believes that Intel's vPro technology will eventually permeate most enterprise desktops and may see significant use in managed environments at the University. Whether or not these technologies are used, the OptiPlex 960 is still a significant update to Dell's mainstream enterprise desktops, with a improved chipset and more configuration flexibility.

Properly configured, the OptiPlex 960 meets or exceeds ISC's Performance Desktop specification. The cost delta between an OptiPlex 960 and an OptiPlex 755 with the same general configuration is currently about $55.

Overall, ISC believes that the OptiPlex 960 is a good choice going forward. ISC will follow up with a full review of this product as soon as it has completed testing.

--John Mulhern III, Lead for Client Technologies, ISC Technology Support Services (November 17, 2008)