Dell OptiPlex 5060 Small Form Factor Upgrade Guide: RAM, Storage and CPU

Lifecycle and support

A current model: sold new and supported.

Dates not listed haven't been published by the manufacturer or a reliable third party.

Memory (RAM)

The 5060 SFF has 4 DIMM slots (DDR4, 288-pin), and all memory is socketed, so whatever you install replaces or joins the factory modules. The maximum is 64 GB, achieved with 4 x 16 GB sticks. Dell's own spec sheet lists 64 GB configurations for the SFF, and third-party sources agree.

Memory must be standard DDR4 UDIMM, non-ECC and unbuffered. Server-style registered DIMMs and ECC modules are not supported. There is no practical module height limit to worry about in this chassis.

Speed depends on your processor, not just the sticks you buy. With a Core i5 or i7 the memory runs at up to DDR4-2666 MT/s; with a Celeron, Pentium or Core i3 it tops out at 2400 MT/s. Buying 2666 MHz sticks for an i3 build is not harmful, but the board will not run them faster than the CPU's memory controller allows.

You may run across an older fact sheet quoting 32 GB and 2133 MHz for the 5060. That figure comes from a generic OptiPlex-family document aimed at earlier models and is wrong for this machine. Trust 64 GB at 2666 MHz.

Buying tips:

- Match what you already have where possible: DDR4-2666 UDIMMs will run fine at 2400 MT/s on a slower CPU.
- Buy in matched pairs if you want dual-channel performance, and leave room to grow if you are starting small.
- Skip ECC and registered memory entirely, whatever the listing claims.

Storage (SSD and hard drive)

There are two storage paths here, and most owners end up using both: one M.2 slot and one internal 3.5-inch bay.

The M.2 slot accepts 2280 or 2230 drives, in either SATA or PCIe NVMe flavour. A metal standoff on the board moves to suit the shorter 2230 length, so check which length a second-hand listing is before you buy. NVMe drives run at PCIe 3.0 x4, which is plenty quick for everyday use. Note there is a second M.2 2230 slot, but it is for a Wi-Fi/Bluetooth card only and cannot take storage.

The internal bay holds one 3.5-inch drive, or two 2.5-inch drives if you use Dell's 2.5-inch-to-3.5-inch adapter bracket (sold separately). A 2.5-inch SSD will otherwise have nothing to screw into. Dell does not publish a thickness limit for 2.5-inch drives; the bay is designed around 7 mm and 9.5 mm drives. The slim optical bay can also be repurposed for a drive using a caddy, and the shared SATA port means the optical drive and that bay cannot both be used at once. All told there are 3 SATA ports: 2 at 6 Gb/s and 1 at 3 Gb/s shared with the slim optical drive.

Capacities are the softest area of the spec. Dell's factory configurations topped out at a 2 TB hard drive and a 1 TB M.2 NVMe SSD, so those are the only sizes it has validated. Reports suggest larger 3.5-inch SATA drives (up to 4 TB) and M.2 drives above 1 TB work fine, but Dell never tested them, so treat bigger capacities as unconfirmed.

A popular setup is a fast NVMe SSD for Windows and programs in the M.2 slot, with a large hard drive or 2.5-inch SSD in the bay for files.

Buying tips:

- Prefer an NVMe M.2 2280 SSD for the boot drive; SATA M.2 drives also work but are no faster than a normal 2.5-inch SSD.
- Order Dell's 2.5-inch adapter bracket at the same time as any 2.5-inch drive.
- If you want a very large drive, check current owner reports first: beyond Dell's factory ceilings, compatibility is unconfirmed.

Processor (CPU)

The CPU is socketed and user-replaceable: an LGA 1151 socket on Dell's Q370 board. Sounds generous, but there is a hard generation lock. The BIOS supports 8th Gen Coffee Lake processors only: Pentium Gold G5400/G5500, Core i3-8100/8300, Core i5-8400/8500/8600, and Core i7-8700, plus their 35 W T-series variants.

Do not buy a 9th Gen chip (an i9-9900 or similar) or a 6th/7th Gen chip just because it physically fits the LGA 1151 socket. The 5060 SFF will not accept them.

The ceiling is 65 W TDP, which is the Core i7-8700's rating, so the cooling and the 200 W power supply are sized around that. The 35 W T-series are the sensible choice if you want a quieter or cooler machine.

Realistically, most 5060 SFF owners get more from an SSD and extra RAM than from a CPU swap. If yours shipped with a Pentium or Core i3, moving to a Core i5-8400/8500/8600 or i7-8700 is the worthwhile jump.

Buying tips:

- Filter strictly for 8th Gen Coffee Lake parts, and prefer Dell-pulled chips from SFF systems.
- Factor in thermal paste and a careful cooler reseat; follow Dell's manual for removing the heatsink.
- Match the memory speed benefit too: an i5 or i7 unlocks DDR4-2666, while an i3 or Pentium caps memory at 2400 MT/s.

How to upgrade

Before you start

• Back up anything you care about before touching the hardware.
• Shut down the computer, switch off the power supply if it has a switch, and unplug the power cable and all peripherals.
• Ground yourself to avoid static damage: touch the metal chassis before handling parts, and hold modules and drives by their edges.
• Open the case. Dell's owner's manual for the 5060 SFF shows the exact latches and screws; follow it rather than forcing anything.
• Install the new part: seat RAM modules firmly until the side clips lock, screw the M.2 drive down at the correct standoff (move the metal standoff if you are using a 2230-length drive), and mount drives in the 3.5-inch bay with the adapter bracket if they are 2.5-inch.
• Close the case, reconnect the power and peripherals, and switch on.
• Check that the BIOS and your operating system recognise the new part, then run a quick test (for example, confirm the full RAM amount shows up and the drive appears with the right capacity).
• If something is not detected, power down, unplug and reseat the part before troubleshooting further.

Steps

1. Step 1: Back up
   Copy important files somewhere safe before you open the case.
2. Step 2: Power down and unplug
   Shut down fully, unplug the power lead and peripherals, and press the power button once to drain residual power.
3. Step 3: Ground yourself
   Touch bare metal on the chassis and handle components by their edges to avoid static discharge.
4. Step 4: Open the case
   Use Dell's owner's manual for the 5060 SFF to find the release latch and screws; the exact procedure varies by chassis.
5. Step 5: Install the part
   For RAM, press the module down until the clips click. For an M.2 SSD, use the matching standoff (2280 or 2230). For a 2.5-inch drive, fit Dell's adapter bracket first.
6. Step 6: Close up and check
   Reassemble, reconnect and power on, then confirm the BIOS and your system see the new part at the expected size and speed.

Good to know

• Confirm you have the SFF chassis before buying parts; the Micro and Tower differ in slots and bays.
• Dell's published capacity ceilings (2 TB HDD, 1 TB M.2) are the only validated sizes; larger drives reportedly work but are unconfirmed.
• Older fact sheets quoting 32 GB and 2133 MHz refer to earlier OptiPlex models and do not apply here.
• The 200 W power supply limits discrete graphics options as well as overall expansion.

Frequently asked questions

How much RAM can the Dell OptiPlex 5060 SFF take?

64 GB, using 4 x 16 GB DDR4 UDIMMs. All four slots are free for you to fill, and nothing is soldered.

Does the OptiPlex 5060 SFF support NVMe SSDs?

Yes. Its single M.2 storage slot accepts SATA or PCIe NVMe drives in 2280 or 2230 lengths, and NVMe runs at PCIe 3.0 x4. Remember to move the metal standoff if you install a 2230 drive.

Can I install a 9th Gen processor such as an i9-9900?

No. Although the socket is LGA 1151, the Q370 BIOS accepts only 8th Gen Coffee Lake CPUs. 9th Gen, 6th Gen and 7th Gen chips are not supported.

What RAM speed does the OptiPlex 5060 SFF support?

Up to DDR4-2666 MT/s with a Core i5 or i7, and up to 2400 MT/s with a Celeron, Pentium or Core i3. The limit comes from the processor's memory controller, so faster sticks will simply run at the slower speed.

Can I use ECC or registered server memory?

No. The 5060 SFF requires standard non-ECC, unbuffered DDR4 UDIMMs.

Can I add a second hard drive or SSD?

Yes. Beyond the M.2 slot, the 3.5-inch bay takes one 3.5-inch drive, or two 2.5-inch drives if you use Dell's adapter bracket. The slim optical bay can hold another drive via a caddy, though it shares a SATA port with the optical drive.

Official documents and references

• PDF Dell OptiPlex 5060 Desktop Setup and Specifications Guide
  Dell's official documentation for the 5060 desktop family, including chassis and drive bay details.
• PDF Dell OptiPlex 5060 Spec Sheet
  Manufacturer data on memory, storage and supported processors.
• DriveSolutions: Dell OptiPlex 5060 SFF Upgrade Information
  Useful detail on the M.2 slot, standoff and 2.5-inch adapter bracket.
• PCNight: Dell OptiPlex 5060 SFF Specifications
  Third-party reference for SATA ports and memory speed by processor family.