Dell OptiPlex 3050M vs. HP EliteDesk 800 G4 Mini
Comparison and Differences
| Model | Dell OptiPlex 3050M | HP EliteDesk 800 G4 Mini |
|---|---|---|
| Form factor | Micro | Micro |
| CPU options | Intel Gen6&7 i3/i5; Pentium; Celeron; | Intel Gen8 i3/i5/i7; Celeron; Pentium; |
| Chipset | B250 | Q370 |
| Dedicated GPU * | N.A. | N.A. |
| RAM | SODIMM DDR4-2133/2400 | SODIMM DDR4-2666 |
| RAM slots | 2 | 2 |
| RAM speed | 2400 MT/s | 2666 MT/s |
| RAM max | 32 GB | 32 GB |
| USB ports | (4x) USB-A 3.0; (2x) USB-A 2.0; | USB-C 3.1; (3x)USB-A 3.1; (3x)USB-A 3.0; |
| Video ports | Display Port 1.2; HDMI 1.4; | (2x) DisplayPort; |
| Other ports | RJ45; Headset; Line-Out; | RJ45; Hdph; Headset; |
| Optional ports | DP1.2/VGA/Serial+PS2/Serial; WiFi antenna; | DP/HDMI/VGA/USB-C(DP)/Serial/Thunderbolt/Fiber NIC; WiFi antenna; |
| SATA ports | 1 | 1 |
| PCI slots | N.A. | N.A. |
| M.2 slots | M.2 2280/2242 M-key (PCIe 3.0 x4, no SATA); M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT) | (2x) M.2 2280/2230 M-key (PCIe x4); M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT); |
| Drive bays | 2.5-inch; | 2.5-inch; |
| PSU | 65 W | 65/90/150 W |
| Weight | 1.18 kg (2.6 lb) | 1.05 kg (2.31 lb) |
| Released | 2017 | 2018 |
| Manual | link | link |
| Price** | Check Price | Check Price |
Differences between Dell OptiPlex 3050M and HP EliteDesk 800 G4 Mini
If a more modern desktop is what you are looking for, then you should go with the HP EliteDesk 800 G4 Mini which was released in 2018. The Dell OptiPlex 3050M is older and entered production in 2017.
Form factor wise the models are the same - both desktops are of similar size and form.
Processor
Usually the newer the generation of the CPU, the better the performance and efficiency is. If your budget allows it, you should go with the HP EliteDesk 800 G4 Mini as it is running a newer generation CPU. This is not to say that Dell OptiPlex 3050M is bad - it can still run some powerful CPUs, albeit being an older generation.
Memory
RAM slots is where your insert your RAM sticks. Each of those two models has 2 RAM slot(s) which should be taken into account when planning how much and what combination of RAM you are going to need.
The HP EliteDesk 800 G4 Mini is using the faster 2666 MT/s RAM. The Dell OptiPlex 3050M is slower by supporting RAM speeds of only up to 2400 MT/s. In addition, you will be able to install the same amount of RAM in both models, and most probably 32 GB of RAM will be enough for most people. However, if you will be needing more RAM, make sure to check other desktop models too.Ports
In total the HP EliteDesk 800 G4 Mini has 7 USB ports. The Dell OptiPlex 3050M is inferior in this regard and packs 6 USB ports. What is nice about the HP EliteDesk 800 G4 Mini, is that it has 4 USB 3.1 port(s) which allows transfer of up to 10Gb/s. Unfortunately, the Dell OptiPlex 3050M has no such port, thus restricting your transfer speeds a bit.
DisplayPort is crucial for any desktop machine. It is good to see that both models are featuring DisplayPorts. However, the HP EliteDesk 800 G4 Mini comes with 2 ports, while the Dell OptiPlex 3050M has only 1.
The Dell OptiPlex 3050M comes with an HDMI port, while the HP EliteDesk 800 G4 Mini 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 slot is where SSD, HDD and Optical Disk Drives are connected. Each of the two models being compared have 1 SATA slots.
An M.2 SSD can be several times faster than the a SATA one. Thus, we are happy to see that both models support the M.2 interface. However the HP EliteDesk 800 G4 Mini has 1 M.2 slots while the Dell OptiPlex 3050M comes with just 1.
Remark: Make sure that the M.2 slot supports the PCIe (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 6 Gb/s, while the PCIe 3.0 x4 will support speeds up to 32 Gb/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 3050M comes with a decent 65 Watt PSU, but the HP EliteDesk 800 G4 Mini has a more powerful one rated at 150 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.
Motherboard
