Fujitsu Esprimo Q520 vs. Fujitsu Esprimo Q556

Comparison and Differences

Fujitsu_Esprimo_Q520.jpg case front and back pannelFujitsu_Esprimo_Q556.jpg case front and back pannel
Model
Form factorMicroMicro
CPU optionsIntel Gen4 i3/i5/i7Intel Gen6 i3/i5/i7; Pentium
ChipsetH81H110
Dedicated GPU *N.A.N.A.
RAMSODIMM DDR3-1600SODIMM DDR4-2133
RAM slots22
RAM speed1600 MT/s2133 MT/s
RAM max16 GB32 GB
USB ports(2x) USB-A 3.0; (4x) USB-A 2.0(2x) USB-A 3.0; (4x) USB-A 2.0
Video portsDisplayPort 1.2; DVIDisplayPort 1.2; DVI
Other portsRJ45; Line in; Line out; Card readerRJ45; Headphones; Mic; Line out; (1x) PS/2
Optional portsVGA (DVI to VGA adapter)VGA
SATA ports22
PCI slotsN.A.N.A.
M.2 slotsN.A.M.2 2280/2230 M-key (PCIe 2.0 x2, SSD); M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT)
Drive bays2.5in; 5.25 inch2.5in; 5.25 inch slim
PSU65 W65 W
Weight1.60 kg (3.53 lb)1.60 kg (3.53 lb)
Released20142015
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 Q520 and Fujitsu Esprimo Q556

If you are looking for a more modern desktop, then you should go with the Fujitsu Esprimo Q556 which was released in 2015. 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 Q556 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 Q556 is using the faster 2133 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 Q556 as it has the ability to run 32 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

Both models have the same amount of USB ports for total count of 6. If this is not enough, using a USB hub is always a viable option. 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.

None of the models has an HDMI port. If your monitor supports only the HDMI interface, you will need to buy an adapter. Such adapters are cheap so nothing to worry about.

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 Q556. 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

Looking at the Power Supply Unit (PSU) of the two models we don't see any differences. For either of them you get a maximum power of 65 Watts. However be careful, many models have more than one power supply option. When buying your computer, it is a good idea to get a version with the most powerful PSU. This will potentially allow you to upgrade to a more powerful GPU for example.

Motherboard

Fujitsu_Esprimo_Q520_motherboard.jpg motherboard layoutFujitsu_Esprimo_Q556_motherboard.jpg motherboard layout