Dell XPS 8700 vs. HP ProDesk 600 G2 Mini

Comparison and Differences

Dell_XPS_8700.jpg case front and back pannelHP_ProDesk_600_G2_Mini.jpg case front and back pannel
Model
Form factorMini TowerMicro
CPU optionsIntel Gen4 i3/i5/i7;Intel Gen6 i3/i5/i7; Celeron; Pentium;
ChipsetZ87Q150
Dedicated GPU *GeForce GTX 1080 TiN.A.
RAMDIMM DDR3-1333/1600 SODIMM DDR4-2133
RAM slots42
RAM speed1600 MT/s2133 MT/s
RAM max32 GB32 GB
USB ports(4x) USB-A 2.0; (5x) USB 3.0;USB-C 3.0; (6x)USB-A 3.0;
Video portsHDMI 1.2; DisplayPort 1.2;DisplayPort: VGA
Other portsRJ45; Mic; Headset; Card Reader;RJ45; Hdph; Mic;
Optional portsN.A.DP/HDMI/Serial; (2x) WiFi antenna;
SATA ports51
PCI slotsPCIe 3.0 x16; (x3) PCIe x1; (2x) mPCI;N.A.
M.2 slotsN.A.M.2 2280 M-key (PCIe x4); M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT);
Drive bays(3x) 3.5in; (2x) 5.25in; mSATA;2.5in;
PSU460 W65 W
Weight13.8 kg (30.42 lb)1.3 kg (2.9 lb)
Released20132016
Manuallinklink
Price**Check PriceCheck Price

** As an Amazon associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
* 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 XPS 8700 and HP ProDesk 600 G2 Mini

If you are looking for a more modern desktop, then you should go with the HP ProDesk 600 G2 Mini which was released in 2016. The Dell XPS 8700 is older and entered production in 2013.

If you are looking for the smaller form factor the HP ProDesk 600 G2 Mini is the right one for you. It is smaller than the Dell XPS 8700 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 HP ProDesk 600 G2 Mini as it is running a newer generation CPU. This is not to say that Dell XPS 8700 is bad - it can still run some powerful CPUs, albeit being an older generation.

Memory

The Dell XPS 8700 has 4 RAM slots while the HP ProDesk 600 G2 Mini has only 2 slot(s). This is not something to worry about. Just make sure you take it into consideration when planning how much RAM you are going to use.

The HP ProDesk 600 G2 Mini is using the faster 2133 MT/s RAM. The Dell XPS 8700 is slower by supporting RAM speeds of up to 1600 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 XPS 8700 has 9 USB ports. The HP ProDesk 600 G2 Mini is inferior in this regard and packs 7 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 XPS 8700 comes with an HDMI port, while the HP ProDesk 600 G2 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 XPS 8700 is better equipped as it comes with 5 SATA slot(s), while the HP ProDesk 600 G2 Mini has 1 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 HP ProDesk 600 G2 Mini. Sadly, the Dell XPS 8700 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 HP ProDesk 600 G2 Mini comes with a decent 65 Watt PSU, but the Dell XPS 8700 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_XPS_8700_motherboard.jpg motherboard layoutHP_ProDesk_600_G2_Mini_motherboard.jpg motherboard layout