Lenovo ThinkCentre M800 Small
Specification and Upgrade Options
The Lenovo ThinkCentre M800 Small is a compact business desktop engineered for space-constrained offices and users who value desk real estate. First brought to market in 2015, it features the Q150 chipset, supporting 6th gen Intel Core processors and up to 64GB of DIMM DDR4-2133 memory. Despite its small footprint, it remains a capable daily driver that can even support a low-profile graphics card for enhanced visual performance.
The Small Form Factor (SFF) is an in-between model. It has less space for the larger form factors (Mid tower, Mini tower, and Desktop), but it is still easily upgradable. Usually the SFF come with 2x PCIe slots, so fitting a low profile graphics card is possible.
Can you upgrade Lenovo ThinkCentre M800 Small to play games?
Yes, you can upgrade Lenovo ThinkCentre M800 Small 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 Lenovo ThinkCentre M800 Small support Windows 11?
No, Lenovo ThinkCentre M800 Small does not meet the Windows 11 hardware requirements. According to Windows 11 specification, all models with Intel 7th Gen CPU or older are not officially supported. Processor with TPM 2.0 and a UEFI Secure boot BIOS is also required in order to upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11 through Windows Update.
However, anyone with PC that does not pass the upgrade test can download the official Windows 11 ISO, make a bootable flash drive, and install the OS manually.
Processor
The Lenovo ThinkCentre M800 Small supports Gen6 Intel Core technology on a Q150 chipset. 6th generation Intel Core CPUs (Skylake) represent a more modern baseline for productivity and development workloads. Lower-end CPUs are suitable for office use and programming, while higher-end i7 models can handle home lab setups, multiple virtual machines, and more demanding emulation. Gaming performance is acceptable with appropriate GPUs, though modern titles may expose CPU limitations.
Best CPUs for Lenovo ThinkCentre M800 Small upgrade:
| Model | Cores (Threads) | Base frequency | Turbo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core i5 6500 | 4(4) | 3.2 GHz | 3.6 GHz |
| Core i5 6600 | 4(4) | 3.3 GHz | 3.9 GHz |
| Core i7 6700 | 4(8) | 3.4 GHz | 4.0 GHz |
GPU upgrade
To upgrade the GPU of OptiPlex 7040 SFF, a low-power, low-profile graphics card must be used. Currently, the most reasonable GPU option is AMD's Radeon RX 6400 low profile. This model has a good price point, delivers decent FPS, and does not require any addtional hardware upgrades.
The low power requirements of this model make it the perfect option for an SFF gaming build. The RX 6400 low does not need any additional power from the PSU and can rely solely on the power delivered by the PCIe slot (75W).
GPU upgrade options for Lenovo ThinkCentre M800 Small with the stock 210W power supply:
| GPU | Power consumption | Memory | Req. |
|---|---|---|---|
| RX 6400 Low profile | 50 W | 4 GB DDR6 | Works with no additional hardware changes |
| GTX 1050 Ti Low profile | 75 W | 4 GB DDR5 | Works with no additional hardware changes |
| GTX 1650 Low profile | 75 W | 4 GB DDR5 | Works with no additional hardware changes |
| RTX A2000 Low profile | 70 W | 6 GB DDR6 12 GB DDR6 |
Works with no additional hardware changes |
Keep in mind that these low-profile, low-power GPUs can be quite noisy and may run hot when under full load.
Memory
Lenovo ThinkCentre M800 Small supports up to 64 GB of DIMM DDR4-2133 RAM across four DIMM slots, with memory speeds up to 2133 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 Lenovo ThinkCentre M800 Small memory configurations include 8 GB for everyday productivity and 16 GB for gaming, heavier multitasking, or professional workloads.
Wi-Fi Support
Lenovo ThinkCentre M800 Small supports Wi-Fi and Bluetooth combo card with the on-board M.2 2230 (Wi-Fi/BT) slot. The card contains a Wi-Fi module that supports various Wi-Fi standards, as well as a Bluetooth module. It is small circuit board that is designed to fit into a dedicated slot on the motherboard.
Keep in mind that the card is not always included and you have to install one yourself.
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless adapter upgrades for Lenovo ThinkCentre M800 Small:
| 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
Lenovo ThinkCentre M800 Small 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
Lenovo ThinkCentre M800 Small includes eight USB ports in total in the following configuration - (6x)USB-A 3.0; (2x)USB-A 2.0; with no USB 3.1 ports available.
Video ports
Lenovo ThinkCentre M800 Small features two DisplayPort 1.2 outputs, suitable for modern digital displays.
No HDMI output is available on the motherboard.
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 Lenovo ThinkCentre M800 Small comes with three SATA port(s) for connecting storage devices.
Unfortunately, the Lenovo ThinkCentre M800 Small 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 Lenovo ThinkCentre M800 Small comes with a 210 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 210 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.
