Dell OptiPlex 3050 MT vs. HP ProDesk 400 G3 SFF

Comparison and Differences

Dell_OptiPlex_3050_MT.jpg case front and back pannelHP_ProDesk_400_G3_SFF.jpg case front and back pannel
Model
Form factorMini TowerSmall
CPU optionsIntel Gen6&7 i3/i5; Pentium; Celeron; Intel Gen6 i3/i5/i7; Celeron; Pentium;
ChipsetB250H110
Dedicated GPU *GeForce GTX 1650 SuperGeForce GT 1030 Low Profile
RAMDIMM DDR4-2133/2400 DIMM DDR4-2133
RAM slots22
RAM speed2400 MT/s2133 MT/s
RAM max32 GB32 GB
USB ports(4x) USB-A 3.0; (4x) USB-A 2.0; (4x)USB-A 3.0; (4x)USB-A 2.0;
Video portsDisplay Port 1.2; HDMI 1.4;DisplayPort; VGA;
Other portsRJ45; Headset; Line-Out; RJ45; Hdph; Mic; Line-Out; Line-In; Serial; (2x) PS2;
Optional portsSerial+PS2; VGA; Media Card Reader;SD card reader; Serial; Parallel;
SATA ports32
PCI slotsPCIe 3.0 x16; (3x) PCIe x1;PCIe 3.0 x16; PCIe 2.0 x1;
M.2 slotsM.2 2280/2242 M-key (PCIe 3.0 x2, NVMe) N.A.
Drive bays3.5in; (2x) 2.5in; 5.25in (slim);3.5in; 5.25in (slim)
PSU240 W180 W
Weight7.93 kg (17.49 lb)4.43 kg (9.8 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 3050 MT and HP ProDesk 400 G3 SFF

If you are looking for a more modern desktop, then you should go with the Dell OptiPlex 3050 MT which was released in 2017. The HP ProDesk 400 G3 SFF is older and entered production in 2016.

If you are looking for the smaller form factor the HP ProDesk 400 G3 SFF is the right one for you. It is smaller than the Dell OptiPlex 3050 MT 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 Dell OptiPlex 3050 MT as it is running a newer generation CPU. This is not to say that HP ProDesk 400 G3 SFF 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 Dell OptiPlex 3050 MT is using the faster 2400 MT/s RAM. The HP ProDesk 400 G3 SFF is slower by supporting RAM speeds of up to 2133 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

Both models have the same amount of USB ports for total count of 8. 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.

The Dell OptiPlex 3050 MT comes with an HDMI port, while the HP ProDesk 400 G3 SFF 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 3050 MT is better equipped as it comes with 3 SATA slot(s), while the HP ProDesk 400 G3 SFF has 2 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 Dell OptiPlex 3050 MT. Sadly, the HP ProDesk 400 G3 SFF 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 G3 SFF comes with a decent 180 Watt PSU, but the Dell OptiPlex 3050 MT has a more powerful one rated at 240 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_3050_MT_motherboard.jpg motherboard layoutHP_ProDesk_400_G3_SFF_motherboard.jpg motherboard layout