Dell Vostro 3070
Specification and Upgrade Options
The Dell Vostro 3070 is a scalable small business desktop designed for heavy office workloads, content creation, and home flexibility. First released in 2019, it is built on the B360 chipset and supports 9th gen Intel Core processors and up to 32GB of DIMM DDR4-2400/2666 memory. Thanks to its larger chassis, it accommodates dedicated graphics cards, making it an excellent candidate for a gaming PC conversion or a high-performance workstation.
If you are looking for a system with maximum upgradability, Dell Vostro 3070 is a good option. Models in this category usually have 4x PCIe slots, several drive bays and better cooling.
Can you upgrade Dell Vostro 3070 to play games?
Yes, you can upgrade Dell Vostro 3070 for gaming with better processors, graphics card, memory, and storage devices. However, like many other business pre-built PCs, this model may have proprietary elements like the power supply, the chassis or the power connector, which can make it difficult for users to install aftermarket PSUs to support better GPUs. You can also find that there is space constrains inside the chassis, making it difficult to accommodete larger GPU to boost the gaming performance.
Does Dell Vostro 3070 support Windows 11?
Yes, Dell Vostro 3070 is compatible with Windows 11. According to Windows 11 specification, all models that have Intel 8th Gen processors (or newer) with TPM 2.0 support and a UEFI BIOS with Secure boot, are eligible to upgrade form Windows 10 to Windows 11 through Windows Update.
Processor
The Dell Vostro 3070 supports Gen9 Intel Core technology on a B360 chipset. 9th generation Intel Core CPUs (Coffee Lake Refresh) further refined core counts and clock speeds. High-end models are well-balanced for gaming, programming, and advanced homelab environments. Emulation performance is excellent on flagship CPUs.
Best CPUs for Dell Vostro 3070 upgrade:
| Model | Cores (Threads) | Base frequency | Turbo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core i5 9500 | 6(6) | 3.0 GHz | 4.4 GHz |
| Core i5 9600 | 6(6) | 3.1 GHz | 4.6 GHz |
| Core i7 9700 | 6(8) | 3.0 GHz | 4.7 GHz |
| Core i9 9900 | 8(9) | 3.1 GHz | 5.0 GHz |
GPU upgrade
The Dell Vostro 3070 can safely support GPUs with suggested PSU of 180W, but more powerful cards require a PSU upgrade. With the stock PSU model, it supports up to an GeForce GTX 1660 Super
GPU upgrade options for Dell Vostro 3070 with the stock 180W power supply:
| GPU | Power consumption | Memory | Req. |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMD RX 6400 | 50 W | 4 GB DDR6 | Works with no additional hardware changes |
| NVIDIA GTX 1050 Ti | 75 W | 4 GB DDR5 | Works with no additional hardware changes |
| NVIDIA GTX 1650 | 75 W | 4 GB DDR5 | Works with no additional hardware changes |
| NVIDIA A2000 Low | 70 W | 6 GB DDR6 12 GB DDR6 |
Works with no additional hardware changes |
GPU compatibility in the Dell Vostro 3070 depends on several hardware constraints. The physical space available inside the chassis determines the maximum GPU length, height, and thickness that can be installed. In addition, the installed power supply unit (PSU) must provide sufficient wattage and the required PCIe power connectors for the selected graphics card.
Before you begin shopping for a new GPU, it is important to check the power supply unit (PSU) currently installed. This is because the Dell Vostro 3070 is often sold with different PSU wattages depending on the original configuration.
Memory
Dell Vostro 3070 supports up to 32 GB of DIMM DDR4-2400/2666 RAM across two DIMM slots, with memory speeds up to 2666 MT/s and dual-channel support depending on the installed configuration.
Actual supported memory capacity and memory channels may vary depending on the installed CPU and chipset.
Typical Dell Vostro 3070 memory configurations include 8 GB for everyday productivity and 16 GB for gaming, heavier multitasking, or professional workloads.
Wi-Fi Support
Dell Vostro 3070 doesn't come with any on-board Wi-Fi support. In that case, you have two options to upgrade this model with Wi-Fi. You either use an external USB Wi-Fi adapter (wireless network dongle) or a PCIe-based wireless adapter.
The USB dongle is much more convenient and easy to install, but has less space for a decent antenna and can have thermal problems. On the other hand, the PCIe based adapter is much more powerful, more reliable, and has better antenna, but it is harder to install.
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless adapter upgrades for Dell Vostro 3070:
| Model | Speed | Frequency | Interface |
|---|---|---|---|
| WiFi 6E (Gig+) Kit | 3000 Mbit/s | 2.4GHz / 5GHz | NGFF M.2 A/E Key |
| Rekong AX210 | 3000 Mbit/s | 2.4GHz / 5GHz | NGFF M.2 A/E Key |
| Gigabyte GC-Wbax200 | 2400 Mbit/s | 2.4GHz / 5GHz | PCIe |
| TP-Link Archer TX50E | 2400 Mbit/s | 2.4GHz / 5GHz | PCIe |
| TP-Link Archer T9UH | 1300 Mbit/s | 2.4GHz / 5GHz | USB 3.0 |
Ports
Dell Vostro 3070 provides a fixed set of external I/O ports for connecting peripherals and displays. Port availability and versions determine supported data transfer speeds and display capabilities.
USB ports
Dell Vostro 3070 includes six USB ports in total in the following configuration - (4x)USB-A 2.0; (2x)USB-A 3.0; with no USB 3.1 ports available.
Video ports
Dell Vostro 3070 does not include a DisplayPort output.
HDMI output is provided via one HDMI 1.4 port.
Motherboard video outputs require a CPU with integrated graphics. Systems equipped with a dedicated GPU must use the video ports on the graphics card instead.
SSD storage - M.2 sockets and SATA ports
The Dell Vostro 3070 comes with one SATA port(s) for connecting storage devices.
Unfortunately, the Dell Vostro 3070 has no M.2 PCIe soket and you have to rely on the available SATA ports to connect your drives.
The M.2 PCIe SSD connector in combination with an NVMe drive allows for higher transfer rates, compared to the old SATA interface. In some situations, NVMe device connected to the M.2 PCIe socket can be more than 5 times faster.
*Keep in mind that some M.2 connectors may not support SATA SSDs. Check the motherboard manual to confirm compatibility.
Power Supply
The Dell Vostro 3070 comes with a 180 Watt PSU. Having a power supply with high power rating is important, especially if you are doing upgrade with addtional components, like dedicated GPU and more HDDs. Will this 180 W be enough, it all depends on your specific use. Please keep in mind that some models might have more than one PSU option. Whenever possible get the most powerful one, as it might make future upgrades easier.
