Dell · 2017
Dell OptiPlex 3050 Micro
The OptiPlex 3050 Micro is Dell's entry-level 1-liter business PC from 2017, built on 6th-gen (Skylake) and 7th-gen (Kaby Lake) Intel T-series chips rated at 35 W. Dell's spec list tops out at the quad-core Core i5-7500T; there is no Core i7 option. It takes two DDR4 SO-DIMMs (32 GB max), one M.2 PCIe SSD and one 2.5-inch SATA drive, and runs from a 65 W Dell adapter. Networking is a Realtek RTL8111HSD gigabit port and there is no vPro/AMT remote management. Video is HDMI plus DisplayPort, with an optional VGA, second DisplayPort, serial or PS/2 port. It is a reasonable low-power box for Home Assistant, Pi-hole, a small file share or a light desktop. If you want six cores, an Intel NIC or AMT, step up to a 7060 Micro or later.
Good for
Badges come from the spec rules on each use page, not from guesswork.
Specs that matter used
- CPU generation
- Intel 6th Gen (Skylake), Intel 7th Gen (Kaby Lake)
- CPU options
- Core i3-6100T, Core i5-6500T, Core i3-7100T, Core i3-7300T, Core i5-7500T, Pentium G4560T, Celeron G3930T
- Form factor
- 1-liter business mini
- Released
- 2017
- Memory
- DDR4 SO-DIMM, 2 slots
- Max RAM (official)
- 32 GB
- Storage
- 1x M.2 2280 PCIe SSD slot (NVMe; also takes Intel Optane), 1x 2.5-inch SATA bay with a plastic tool-less carrier. No RAID.
- Ethernet
- 1 × 1 GbE (Realtek RTL8111HSD gigabit)
- Wi-Fi
- M.2 WLAN slot; Dell offered Intel Wireless-AC 8265 or AC 3165. ServeTheHome notes units built without Wi-Fi are not pre-wired for antennas.
- vPro / AMT
- No
- Cooling
- Fan-cooled
- Power adapter
- 65 W external Dell adapter (the only rating Dell lists for this model)
- Measured idle draw
- 11–14 W (Measured by ServeTheHome at 120 V on a Core i5-6500T unit with 2x 8 GB RAM and a 500 GB SATA SSD.; source)
- Windows 11
- Not on Microsoft's supported-CPU list
Spec sources
- https://www.dell.com/support/manuals/en-us/optiplex-3050-micro/optiplex_3050-mff_om/processor-specifications?guid=guid-8ca53ab2-a85d-42d5-9106-5214220306aa&lang=en-us
- https://www.dell.com/support/manuals/en-us/optiplex-3050-micro/optiplex_3050-mff_om/communication-specifications?guid=guid-ff05b8ff-c946-4b0e-aab3-dc05aaafcd78&lang=en-us
- https://www.dell.com/support/manuals/en-us/optiplex-3050-micro/optiplex_3050-mff_om/power-supply-specifications?guid=guid-f57c7837-2f72-4aac-8e43-e4624fac782a&lang=en-us
- https://www.dell.com/support/manuals/en-us/optiplex-3050-micro/optiplex_3050-mff_om/ports-and-connectors-specifications?guid=guid-fa18be33-104b-4859-a7f7-59b9314d348c&lang=en-us
- https://www.manualslib.com/manual/3100311/Dell-Optiplex-3050-Micro.html
- https://www.servethehome.com/dell-optiplex-3050-micro-project-tinyminimicro-guide-review/
- https://www.servethehome.com/dell-optiplex-3050-micro-project-tinyminimicro-guide-review/3/
Check before you buy
- Dell lists only 35 W T-series CPUs up to the Core i5-7500T, so treat any 3050 Micro listed with a Core i7 as a listing error and ask for a BIOS screenshot.
- If you want Wi-Fi, buy a unit that shipped with it: ServeTheHome found that 3050 Micros built without Wi-Fi are not pre-wired with antennas.
- Check the photos for the plastic 2.5-inch drive carrier if you plan to add a SATA drive.
- Make sure the 65 W Dell adapter is included; the Micro has no internal power supply.
- Boot into BIOS setup (F2) and confirm there is no admin password set and that Computrace (Absolute) is not set to Activate; Dell's BIOS exposes both under Security.
General off-lease checks (BIOS passwords, Computrace, missing drive caddies) are in the used mini PC buying checklist.
On eBay
Find a Dell OptiPlex 3050 Micro
Search eBay for “"OptiPlex 3050 Micro"”. Off-lease units are listed in batches, often with the RAM, drive and power adapter in the title, so compare those before price. Use the checks on this page before you buy.
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