HP ProDesk 400 G2 Mini vs. HP ProDesk 480 G3 Microtower

Comparison and Differences

HP_ProDesk_400_G2_Mini.jpg case front and back pannelHP_ProDesk_480_G3_Microtower.jpg case front and back pannel
Model
Form factorMicroMini Tower
CPU optionsIntel Gen6 i3/i5/i7; Celeron; Pentium;Intel Gen6 i3/i5/i7; Celeron; Pentium;
ChipsetH110 H110
Dedicated GPU *N.A.GeForce GTX 1660 Super
RAMSODIMM DDR4-2133DIMM DDR4-2133
RAM slots22
RAM speed2133 MT/s2133 MT/s
RAM max32 GB32 GB
USB ports(4x)USB-A 3.0; (2x)USB-A 2.0; (4x)USB-A 3.0; (4x)USB-A 2.0;
Video portsDisplayPort; VGA;DVI-D; VGA;
Other portsRJ45; Hdph; Mic; Serial;RJ45; Hdph; Mic; Line-Out; Line-In; Serial; (2x) PS2;
Optional portsWiFi antenna;SD card reader; Serial; Parallel;
SATA ports13
PCI slotsN.A.PCIe 3.0 x16; (2x) PCIe 3.0 x1; PCI;
M.2 slotsM.2 2280 M-key (PCIe); M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT)N.A.
Drive bays2.5in;(2x) 3.5in; 5.25in (slim)
PSU65/90 W180/300 W
Weight1.3 kg (2.9 lb)7.05 kg (15.5 lb)
Released20162015
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 HP ProDesk 400 G2 Mini and HP ProDesk 480 G3 Microtower

If you are looking for a more modern desktop, then you should go with the HP ProDesk 400 G2 Mini which was released in 2016. The HP ProDesk 480 G3 Microtower is older and entered production in 2015.

If you are looking for the smaller form factor the HP ProDesk 400 G2 Mini is the right one for you. It is smaller than the HP ProDesk 480 G3 Microtower and will fit more easily under your desk.

Processor

The two models have the same generation of Intel processors. We think that the 6 generation of Intel Processors have enough power to execute all of the home and office tasks that most people will care to do.

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.

None of the desktops has an advantage when it comes to the speed of the RAM being used. Both models support RAM speeds of up to 2133. 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 HP ProDesk 480 G3 Microtower has 8 USB ports. The HP ProDesk 400 G2 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.

Unfortunately, only the HP ProDesk 400 G2 Mini has a DisplayPort. The HP ProDesk 480 G3 Microtower does not have one? Don't worry though, nowadays video adapters are cheap and you can get almost any combination of conversion types.

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 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 HP ProDesk 480 G3 Microtower is better equipped as it comes with 3 SATA slot(s), while the HP ProDesk 400 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 400 G2 Mini. Sadly, the HP ProDesk 480 G3 Microtower 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 400 G2 Mini comes with a decent 90 Watt PSU, but the HP ProDesk 480 G3 Microtower has a more powerful one rated at 300 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

HP_ProDesk_400_G2_Mini_motherboard.jpg motherboard layoutHP_ProDesk_480_G3_Microtower_motherboard.jpg motherboard layout