Dell OptiPlex 7050 SFF vs. HP ProDesk 400 G3 Mini

Comparison and Differences

Dell_OptiPlex_7050_SFF.jpg case front and back pannelHP_ProDesk_400_G3_Mini.jpg case front and back pannel
Model
Form factorSmallMicro
CPU optionsIntel Gen6&7 i3/i5/i7; Intel Gen6&7 i3/i5/i7; Celeron; Pentium;
ChipsetQ270H270
Dedicated GPU *GeForce GT 1030 Low ProfileN.A.
RAMDIMM DDR4-2133/2400SODIMM DDR4-2400
RAM slots42
RAM speed2400 MT/s2400 MT/s
RAM max64 GB32 GB
USB portsUSB 3.0 Type C; (5x) USB-A 3.0; (4x) USB-A 2.0; (4x)USB-A 3.0; (2x)USB-A 2.0;
Video ports(2x) Display Port 1.2; HDMI 1.4;DisplayPort;
Other portsSerial; (2x) PS2; RJ45; Headset; Line-Out; RJ45; Hdph; Mic/Headset; Serial;
Optional portsVGA; Media Card Reader;DP/HDMI/VGA/Serial; WiFi antenna;
SATA ports31
PCI slotsPCIe 3.0 x16; PCIe 3.0 x4;N.A.
M.2 slotsM.2 2280/2242 M-key (PCIe 3.0 x4, NVMe)M.2 2280 M-key (PCIe x4); M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT)
Drive bays3.5in/(2x)2.5in; 5.25in (slim); 2.5in
PSU180 W65/90 W
Weight5.26 kg (11.57 lb)1.21 kg (2.67 lb)
Released20172016
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 OptiPlex 7050 SFF and HP ProDesk 400 G3 Mini

If you are looking for a more modern desktop, then you should go with the Dell OptiPlex 7050 SFF which was released in 2017. 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 OptiPlex 7050 SFF and will fit more easily under your desk.

Processor

The two models have the same generation of Intel processors. We think that the 7 generation of Intel Processors have enough power to execute all of the home and office tasks that most people will care to do.

Memory

The Dell OptiPlex 7050 SFF has 4 RAM slots while the HP ProDesk 400 G3 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.

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 2400. Additionally, if you will be needing a lot of RAM, better go for the Dell OptiPlex 7050 SFF as it has the ability to run 64 GB of RAM. The HP ProDesk 400 G3 Mini can do a bit less at max 32 GB. Most of the times, this should be sufficient for the majority of users.

Ports

In total the Dell OptiPlex 7050 SFF has 10 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.

DisplayPort is crucial for any desktop machine. It is good to see that both models are featuring DisplayPorts. However, the Dell OptiPlex 7050 SFF comes with 2 ports, while the HP ProDesk 400 G3 Mini has only 1. If you are planning to use multiple monitors, the Dell OptiPlex 7050 SFF is the better choice.

The Dell OptiPlex 7050 SFF 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 OptiPlex 7050 SFF is better equipped as it comes with 3 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 OptiPlex 7050 SFF has a more powerful one rated at 180 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_OptiPlex_7050_SFF_motherboard.jpg motherboard layoutHP_ProDesk_400_G3_Mini_motherboard.jpg motherboard layout