Fujitsu Esprimo G9012 vs. Fujitsu Esprimo Q520

Comparison and Differences

Fujitsu_Esprimo_G9012.jpg case front and back pannelFujitsu_Esprimo_Q520.jpg case front and back pannel
Model
Form factorMicroMicro
CPU optionsIntel Gen12 i3/i5/i7/i9Intel Gen4 i3/i5/i7
ChipsetQ670H81
Dedicated GPU *N.A.N.A.
RAMSODIMM DDR4-3200SODIMM DDR3-1600
RAM slots22
RAM speed3200 MT/s1600 MT/s
RAM max64 GB16 GB
USB portsUSB-A 3.0; USB-A 2.0; (4x) USB-A 3.1; USB-C 3.1; USB-C 3.2(2x) USB-A 3.0; (4x) USB-A 2.0
Video portsDisplayPort 1.4; HDMI 2.1DisplayPort 1.2; DVI
Other portsRJ45; HeadsetRJ45; Line in; Line out; Card reader
Optional portsHDMI 2.1; DP 1.4aVGA (DVI to VGA adapter)
SATA ports22
PCI slotsPCIe 4.0 x16 (wired x4)N.A.
M.2 slotsM.2 2280/2230 M-key (PCIe 4.0 x4, NVMe); M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT)N.A.
Drive bays2.5in; 5.25 inch2.5in; 5.25 inch
PSU90/150 W65 W
Weight1.02 kg (2.60 lb)1.60 kg (3.53 lb)
Released20222014
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 Fujitsu Esprimo G9012 and Fujitsu Esprimo Q520

If you are looking for a more modern desktop, then you should go with the Fujitsu Esprimo G9012 which was released in 2022. The Fujitsu Esprimo Q520 is older and entered production in 2014.

Both models have the same form factor, meaning reoughtly they have the same phiysical 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 Fujitsu Esprimo G9012 as it is running a newer generation CPU. This is not to say that Fujitsu Esprimo Q520 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 Fujitsu Esprimo G9012 is using the faster 3200 MT/s RAM. The Fujitsu Esprimo Q520 is slower by supporting RAM speeds of up to 1600 MT/s. Additionally, if you will be needing a lot of RAM, better go for the Fujitsu Esprimo G9012 as it has the ability to run 64 GB of RAM. The Fujitsu Esprimo Q520 can do a bit less at max 16 GB. Most of the times, this should be sufficient for the majority of users.

Ports

In total the Fujitsu Esprimo G9012 has 8 USB ports. The Fujitsu Esprimo Q520 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. What is nice about the Fujitsu Esprimo G9012, is that it has 5 USB 3.1 port(s) which allows transfer of up to 10Gb/s. Unfortunately, the Fujitsu Esprimo Q520 has no such port, thus restricting your transfer speeds significantly. For people who want to use external drives on regular basis, this might be an issue.

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 Fujitsu Esprimo G9012 comes with an HDMI port, while the Fujitsu Esprimo Q520 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 slots are located on the motherboard and it is where SSD, HDD and Optical Disk Drives are connected. Each of the two models being compared have 2 SATA slot(s). Keep in mind that having too few SATA slots might limit your options for connecting additional memory drives.

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 Fujitsu Esprimo G9012. Sadly, the Fujitsu Esprimo Q520 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 Fujitsu Esprimo Q520 comes with a decent 65 Watt PSU, but the Fujitsu Esprimo G9012 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, especially if you plan to upgrade to a powerful GPU.

Motherboard

Fujitsu_Esprimo_G9012_motherboard.jpg motherboard layoutFujitsu_Esprimo_Q520_motherboard.jpg motherboard layout