M710q vs M720q
Is the M720q worth the upgrade over the M710q? The differences that matter for a home server:
- M720q can take a PCIe card (PCIe x8 via riser); M710q cannot. Choose M720q for a router, 10GbE or an HBA.
- M720q has a built-in path to a second network port (PCIe x8 card via Lenovo riser (replaces the 2.5" bay)); on M710q you would need a USB adapter.
- The top CPU option in M720q has 12 threads versus 8 in M710q.
- M720q has a path to 10GbE networking; M710q is limited to 1 GbE plus USB adapters.
Full spec comparison
| Spec | M710q | M720q |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2017 | 2018 |
| CPU generations | 7th gen (Kaby Lake) / 6th gen (Skylake) | 8th gen (Coffee Lake) / 9th gen (Coffee Lake Refresh) |
| Most threads | 8 | 12 |
| Chipset | B250 | B360 |
| Memory type | DDR4-2400 | DDR4-2666 |
| Max RAM (official) | 32 GB | 32 GB |
| M.2 NVMe slots | 1 | 1 |
| 2.5" bays | 1 | 1 |
| PCIe expansion | None | PCIe x8 via riser |
| Onboard NIC | Intel I219-V | Intel I219-V |
| Second NIC option | USB only | PCIe x8 card via Lenovo riser (replaces the 2.5" bay) |
| 2.5/10GbE path | USB only | 10GbE (owner-reported) |
| AV1 decode | No | No |
| Transcoding | Good for 4K HEVC; no AV1 decode | Good for 4K HEVC; no AV1 decode |
| Idle power (measured) | 11–13 W at the wall (ServeTheHome, Quad-core Core i5-7500T) | 11–14 W at the wall (ServeTheHome, Dual-core Pentium Gold G5400T (an i5-8500T config draws somewhat more)) |
| Spec confidence | Verify before buying | Widely confirmed |
At least one of these models has specs we have not fully verified against the official manual. Confirm slot counts for the exact machine type before buying.
Which one for which job
M710q
Upgrades: 2× DDR4-2400 SODIMM (max 32 GB official), 1× M.2 2280 NVMe + 1× 2.5" SATA.
M720q
- PCIe slot
- 10GbE
- 2.5GbE+ networking
- Plex / Jellyfin 4K
- Proxmox node
- OPNsense / pfSense router
- Budget home server
- Low idle power (measured)
Upgrades: 2× DDR4-2666 SODIMM (max 32 GB official), 1× M.2 2280 NVMe + 1× 2.5" SATA, PCIe x8 card via Lenovo riser (replaces the 2.5" bay).
Share this comparison
Other comparisons
- OptiPlex 3050 Micro vs M710q: Dell or Lenovo: which 7th gen box is the better home server?
- ProDesk 600 G3 Mini vs M710q: HP or Lenovo: which 7th gen box is the better home server?
- M720q vs M920q: Is the M920q worth paying more than the M720q?
- M720q vs OptiPlex 3080 Micro: PCIe riser or newer 10th-gen CPU?
- M720q vs M70q Gen 1: Is the M70q Gen 1 worth the upgrade over the M720q?
- M720q vs M920x: What do you get for the extra money with the M920x?