Dell OptiPlex 3050 SFF vs. HP ProDesk 400 G4 Microtower

Comparison and Differences

Dell_OptiPlex_3050_SFF.jpg case front and back pannelHP_ProDesk_400_G4_Microtower.jpg case front and back pannel
Model
Form factorSmallMini Tower
CPU optionsIntel Gen6&7 i3/i5; Pentium; Celeron;Intel Gen6&7 i3/i5/i7; Celeron; Pentium;
ChipsetB250H270
Dedicated GPU *GeForce GT 1030 Low ProfileGeForce GTX 1660 Super
RAMDIMM DDR4-2133/2400 DIMM DDR4-2400
RAM slots22
RAM speed2400 MT/s2400 MT/s
RAM max32 GB64 GB
USB ports(4x) USB-A 3.0; (4x) USB-A 2.0; (4x)USB-A 3.0; (4x)USB-A 2.0;
Video portsDisplay Port 1.2; HDMI 1.4;DisplayPort; VGA;
Other portsRJ45; Headset; Line-Out; RJ45; Headset Line-Out; Line-In;
Optional portsSerial+PS2; VGA; Media Card Reader;SD card reader; Serial and (2x) PS2;
SATA ports23
PCI slotsPCIe 3.0 x16; PCIe 3.0 x1; PCIe 3.0 x16; PCIe 3.0 x1; PCIe 3.0 x16 (wired x4);
M.2 slotsM.2 2280/2242 M-key (PCIe 3.0 x2, NVMe) M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT)
Drive bays3.5in/(2x)2.5in; 5.25in (slim); 2.5/3.5in; 3.5in; 5.25in (slim)
PSU180 W180/310 W
Weight5.14 kg (11.42 lb)5.47 kg (12.06 lb)
Released20172017
Manuallinklink
Price**Check PriceCheck Price

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* Dedicated GPU warning: Check if your particular power supply model has enough power. Additionally some PSUs don't come with an auxiliary PCIe power connector and you may need to buy a SATA to PCIe power adapter.

Differences between Dell OptiPlex 3050 SFF and HP ProDesk 400 G4 Microtower

Both computers, the Dell OptiPlex 3050 SFF and the HP ProDesk 400 G4 Microtower, were released during the same year - 2017.

If you are looking for the smaller form factor the Dell OptiPlex 3050 SFF is the right one for you. It is smaller than the HP ProDesk 400 G4 Microtower and will fit more easily under your desk.

Processor

The two models have the same generation of Intel processors. We think that the 7 generation of Intel Processors have enough power to execute all of the home and office tasks that most people will care to do.

Memory

Both models have have equal amount of ram slots (2 RAM). Usually two RAM slots are more than enough for most cases. However, the count should be taken into account when planning how much and what combination of RAM you are going to need for your system.

None of the desktops has an advantage when it comes to the speed of the RAM being used. Both models support RAM speeds of up to 2400. Additionally, if you will be needing a lot of RAM, better go for the HP ProDesk 400 G4 Microtower as it has the ability to run 64 GB of RAM. The Dell OptiPlex 3050 SFF can do a bit less at max 32 GB. Most of the times, this should be sufficient for the majority of users.

Ports

Both models have the same amount of USB ports for total count of 8. If this is not enough, using a USB hub is always a viable option. None of the desktop models has a USB 3.1 port (10Gb/s), so if you need a fast connection to your peripherals, like external Solid State Drive, you will need to look elsewhere.

The DisplayPort is usually the more popular video port used with desktops and laptops, while the HDMI is used predominantly in consumer electronics. That's why, it is good to see that both of the models come with a DisplayPort.

The Dell OptiPlex 3050 SFF comes with an HDMI port, while the HP ProDesk 400 G4 Microtower does not support the interface. Of course missing HDMI port is something that can be easily fixed with a good adapter (e.g. DisplayPort to HDMI).

SATA ports are placed on the system board and it is where you connect your HDD, SSD and Optical Disk Drives. More SATA slots will allow you to have more drives running at the same time. In this regard the HP ProDesk 400 G4 Microtower is better equipped as it comes with 3 SATA slot(s), while the Dell OptiPlex 3050 SFF has 2 slot(s).

If you want the fastest transfer speeds for your SSD, an M.2 interface is crucial. Thus, if the M.2 SSD slot is a mandatory requirement for you, go with the Dell OptiPlex 3050 SFF. Sadly, the HP ProDesk 400 G4 Microtower has no such slot, and you will be forced to use the SATA interface instead.

Make sure that the available M.2 slot supports the PCIe (also called NVMe) interface. This is important as there are M.2 slots which support only the inferior SATA III interface. For comparison, the SATA III interface has max speeds of 6Gb/s, while the PCIe 3.0 x4 will support speeds up to 32Gb/s!

Power Supply

Having a Power Supply Unit with high power rating is important, if you are going to use components which require extra power. The Dell OptiPlex 3050 SFF comes with a decent 180 Watt PSU, but the HP ProDesk 400 G4 Microtower has a more powerful one rated at 310 Watts. Choosing either one depends on your specific requirements and use case. Also don't forget that some models might have more than one PSU option - try to always get the most powerful one, especially if you plan to upgrade to a powerful GPU.

Motherboard

Dell_OptiPlex_3050_SFF_motherboard.jpg motherboard layoutHP_ProDesk_400_G4_Microtower_motherboard.jpg motherboard layout