Dell OptiPlex 5050 MT vs. HP ProDesk 480 G6 Microtower
Comparison and Differences
| Model | Dell OptiPlex 5050 MT | HP ProDesk 480 G6 Microtower |
|---|---|---|
| Form factor | Mini Tower | Mini Tower |
| CPU options | Intel Gen6&7 i3/i5/i7; Pentium; | Intel Gen8 i3/i5/i7; Celeron; Pentium; |
| Chipset | Q270 | B360 |
| Dedicated GPU * | GeForce GTX 1650 Super | GeForce GTX 1660 Super |
| RAM | DIMM DDR4-2133/2400 | DIMM DDR4-2666 |
| RAM slots | 4 | 2 |
| RAM speed | 2400 MT/s | 2666 MT/s |
| RAM max | 64 GB | 64 GB |
| USB ports | (6x) USB-A 3.0; (4x) USB-A 2.0; | (4x)USB-A 3.0; (4x)USB-A 2.0; |
| Video ports | (2x) Display Port 1.2; HDMI 1.4; | DisplayPort; VGA; |
| Other ports | Serial; (2x) PS2; RJ45; Headset; Line-Out; | RJ45; Headset; Line-In; Line-Out; |
| Optional ports | VGA; Media Card Reader; | SD card reader; Serial; Serial and (2x) PS2; DP/HDMI/VGA/USB-C; |
| SATA ports | 4 | 3 |
| PCI slots | PCIe 3.0 x16; PCIe 3.0 x16 (wired x4); (2x) PCIe 3.0 x1; | PCIe 3.0 x16; PCIe 3.0 x16 (wired x4); PCI; |
| M.2 slots | M.2 2280/2242 M-key (PCIe 3.0 x4, SATA) | M.2 2280/2230 M-key (PCIe x4); M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT) |
| Drive bays | 3.5-inch/5.25-inch; (2x) 2.5-inch; 5.25-inch (slim); | 2.5/3.5-inch; 3.5-inch; 5.25-inch (slim); |
| PSU | 240 W | 180/250/310 W |
| Weight | 7.93 kg (17.49 lb) | 5.47 kg (12.0 lb) |
| Released | 2017 | 2018 |
| Manual | link | link |
| Price** | Check Price | Check Price |
Differences between Dell OptiPlex 5050 MT and HP ProDesk 480 G6 Microtower
If a more modern desktop is what you are looking for, then you should go with the HP ProDesk 480 G6 Microtower which was released in 2018. The Dell OptiPlex 5050 MT 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 ProDesk 480 G6 Microtower as it is running a newer generation CPU. This is not to say that Dell OptiPlex 5050 MT is bad - it can still run some powerful CPUs, albeit being an older generation.
Memory
The Dell OptiPlex 5050 MT has 4 RAM slots while the HP ProDesk 480 G6 Microtower has only 2 slot(s). Of course this is not something to worry about. Just make sure you take it into consideration when planning how much RAM will your system be using.
The HP ProDesk 480 G6 Microtower is using the faster 2666 MT/s RAM. The Dell OptiPlex 5050 MT 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 64 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 Dell OptiPlex 5050 MT has 10 USB ports. The HP ProDesk 480 G6 Microtower is inferior in this regard and packs 8 USB ports. None of the desktop models has a USB 3.1 port (10Gb/s), so if you need a fast connection to your peripherals you will need to look at other models.
DisplayPort is crucial for any desktop machine. It is good to see that both models are featuring DisplayPorts. However, the Dell OptiPlex 5050 MT comes with 2 ports, while the HP ProDesk 480 G6 Microtower has only 1.
The Dell OptiPlex 5050 MT comes with an HDMI port, while the HP ProDesk 480 G6 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 port 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 Dell OptiPlex 5050 MT is better equipped as it comes with 4 SATA slot(s).
When your goal is to have the fastest SSD transfer speeds, an M.2 interface is crucial. Thus, it is good that both models have M.2 SSD slots. Today M.2 SSDs are not much more expensive than the average SATA drives, so it really does not make sense to buy SATA drives anymore.
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 5050 MT comes with a decent 240 Watt PSU, but the HP ProDesk 480 G6 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.
Motherboard
