Dell OptiPlex 7010 MT vs. HP ProDesk 400 G3 SFF

Comparison and Differences

Dell_OptiPlex_7010_MT.jpg case front and back pannelHP_ProDesk_400_G3_SFF.jpg case front and back pannel
Model
Form factorMini TowerSmall
CPU optionsIntel Gen2&3 i3/i5/i7; Celeron; Pentium;Intel Gen6 i3/i5/i7; Celeron; Pentium;
ChipsetQ77H110
Dedicated GPU *GeForce GTX 1650 SuperGeForce GT 1030 Low Profile
RAMDIMM DDR3-1333/1600 DIMM DDR4-2133
RAM slots42
RAM speed1600 MT/s2133 MT/s
RAM max32 GB32 GB
USB ports(4x)USB-A 3.0; (6x)USB-A 2.0; (4x)USB-A 3.0; (4x)USB-A 2.0;
Video ports(2x) DisplayPort 1.1; VGA;DisplayPort; VGA;
Other portsSerial; (2x) PS2; RJ45; Hdph; Mic; Line-Out; Line-In; RJ45; Hdph; Mic; Line-Out; Line-In; Serial; (2x) PS2;
Optional portsN.A.SD card reader; Serial; Parallel;
SATA ports42
PCI slotsPCIe 3.0 x16; PCIe 2.0 x1; PCI; PCIe 2.0 x16 (wired x4);PCIe 3.0 x16; PCIe 2.0 x1;
M.2 slotsN.A.N.A.
Drive bays(2x) 3.5in/2.5in; (2x) 5.25in;3.5in; 5.25in (slim)
PSUATX 275 W180 W
Weight9.4 kg (20.68 lb)4.43 kg (9.8 lb)
Released20122016
Manuallinklink
Price**Check PriceCheck Price

** As an Amazon associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
* 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 7010 MT and HP ProDesk 400 G3 SFF

If you are looking for a more modern desktop, then you should go with the HP ProDesk 400 G3 SFF which was released in 2016. The Dell OptiPlex 7010 MT is older and entered production in 2012.

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 7010 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 HP ProDesk 400 G3 SFF as it is running a newer generation CPU. This is not to say that Dell OptiPlex 7010 MT is bad - it can still run some powerful CPUs, albeit being an older generation.

Memory

The Dell OptiPlex 7010 MT has 4 RAM slots while the HP ProDesk 400 G3 SFF 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.

The HP ProDesk 400 G3 SFF is using the faster 2133 MT/s RAM. The Dell OptiPlex 7010 MT is slower by supporting RAM speeds of up to 1600 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

In total the Dell OptiPlex 7010 MT has 10 USB ports. The HP ProDesk 400 G3 SFF is inferior in this regard and packs 8 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 7010 MT comes with 2 ports, while the HP ProDesk 400 G3 SFF has only 1. If you are planning to use multiple monitors, the Dell OptiPlex 7010 MT is the better choice.

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 Dell OptiPlex 7010 MT is better equipped as it comes with 4 SATA slot(s), while the HP ProDesk 400 G3 SFF has 2 slot(s).

M.2 SSD interface allows you to transfer data with higher speeds compared to the old SATA interface. Unfortunately, neither the Dell OptiPlex 7010 MT, nor the HP ProDesk 400 G3 SFF has one. However, you can still use a SATA SSD drive which should give you satisfactory performance.

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 7010 MT has a more powerful one rated at 275 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_7010_MT_motherboard.jpg motherboard layoutHP_ProDesk_400_G3_SFF_motherboard.jpg motherboard layout