Dell Vostro 5090 vs. HP ProDesk 400 G3 Mini

Comparison and Differences

Dell_Vostro_5090.jpg case front and back pannelHP_ProDesk_400_G3_Mini.jpg case front and back pannel
Model
Form factorMini TowerMicro
CPU optionsIntel Gen9 i3/i5/i7/i9; Pentium; Celeron;Intel Gen6&7 i3/i5/i7; Celeron; Pentium;
ChipsetB360H270
Dedicated GPU *GeForce RTX 2070 SuperN.A.
RAMDIMM DDR4-2666SODIMM DDR4-2400
RAM slots22
RAM speed2666 MT/s2400 MT/s
RAM max32 GB32 GB
USB ports(4x)USB-A 2.0; (3x)USB-A 3.0; USB 3.0 Type C;(4x)USB-A 3.0; (2x)USB-A 2.0;
Video portsHDMI 1.4; DisplayPort 1.4;DisplayPort;
Other portsRJ45; Hdph; Line-Out; Line-In;RJ45; Hdph; Mic/Headset; Serial;
Optional portsSD card readerDP/HDMI/VGA/Serial; WiFi antenna;
SATA ports41
PCI slotsPCIe 3.0 x16; (2x) PCIe 3.0 x1; PCIN.A.
M.2 slotsM.2 2230/2280 (PCIe 3.0 x4, NVMe); M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT);M.2 2280 M-key (PCIe x4); M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT)
Drive bays3.5in;2.5in
PSU260/460W65/90 W
Weight7.90 kg (17.42 lbs)1.21 kg (2.67 lb)
Released20192016
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 Vostro 5090 and HP ProDesk 400 G3 Mini

If you are looking for a more modern desktop, then you should go with the Dell Vostro 5090 which was released in 2019. The HP ProDesk 400 G3 Mini is older and entered production in 2016.

If you are looking for the smaller form factor the HP ProDesk 400 G3 Mini is the right one for you. It is smaller than the Dell Vostro 5090 and will fit more easily under your desk.

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 Dell Vostro 5090 as it is running a newer generation CPU. This is not to say that HP ProDesk 400 G3 Mini is bad - it can still run some powerful CPUs, albeit being an older generation.

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.

The Dell Vostro 5090 is using the faster 2666 MT/s RAM. The HP ProDesk 400 G3 Mini is slower by supporting RAM speeds of 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 Dell Vostro 5090 has 9 USB ports. The HP ProDesk 400 G3 Mini is inferior in this regard and packs 6 USB ports. In any case, if you miss USB ports, you can always purchase a USB hub. 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 Vostro 5090 comes with an HDMI port, while the HP ProDesk 400 G3 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 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 Dell Vostro 5090 is better equipped as it comes with 4 SATA slot(s), while the HP ProDesk 400 G3 Mini has 1 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 invest in SATA drives anymore.

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 HP ProDesk 400 G3 Mini comes with a decent 90 Watt PSU, but the Dell Vostro 5090 has a more powerful one rated at 460 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_Vostro_5090_motherboard.jpg motherboard layoutHP_ProDesk_400_G3_Mini_motherboard.jpg motherboard layout