Dell OptiPlex 5090 review: specs, options & used prices

What this machine is

As used-market small form factors go, the Dell OptiPlex 5090 is a known quantity: standard parts, a wide configuration ladder, and steady supply on the secondary market.

Business-line machines are the backbone of the secondary PC market for a practical reason: they were sold in large volumes to offices, serviced professionally, and then retired in bulk.

Tracked used listings cluster around a median of $189 (4 active listings at the time of writing).

Configurations you will actually see

The CPU options we track for the OptiPlex 5090 are the Core i5-10500 and Core i5-11500T. Intel Core options span the 10th to 11th generations. From the 8th generation on, these generally meet Windows 11 requirements. T-suffixed variants are the lower-wattage versions of the same chips: cooler and quieter, a little slower.

Memory options run from 8 GB to 16 GB (8 GB, 16 GB). 8 GB is workable for one person; 16 GB is the comfortable setting for typical office and home use.

Solid-state storage options include 256GB NVMe and 256GB SSD.

Upgrade path and running costs

The full-size case leaves room for standard parts and a conventional power supply, which makes this one of the easiest classes of machine to upgrade and repair.

Who it fits

If the task is browsing, office documents, video calls, or a kiosk/POS role, the OptiPlex 5090 does the job at a low sensible price.

The spec sheet carries the full option ladder and tracked prices; for context, browse the desktop catalog or the Dell desktops page.

Verdict

The OptiPlex 5090 is not exciting, and that is the point: a known quantity with a known configuration ladder.

Buy it when you need a cheap, repairable machine for its class of work, and verify the configuration before paying — RAM and storage vary widely between listings. Tracked prices span $175 to $200, and most of that spread is configuration, not condition.

Our composite LB Score currently sits at 17/100 — a score that mostly reflects the platform age — use it to compare like with like, not against modern hardware.