HP ProDesk 400 G3 SFF vs. HP ProDesk 400 G5 SFF
Comparison and Differences
| Model | HP ProDesk 400 G3 SFF | HP ProDesk 400 G5 SFF |
|---|---|---|
| Form factor | Small | Small |
| CPU options | Intel Gen6 i3/i5/i7; Celeron; Pentium; | Intel Gen8 i3/i5/i7; Celeron; Pentium; |
| Chipset | H110 | B360 |
| Dedicated GPU * | GeForce GT 1030 Low Profile | GeForce GT 1030 Low Profile |
| RAM | DIMM DDR4-2133 | DIMM DDR4-2666 |
| RAM slots | 2 | 2 |
| RAM speed | 2133 MT/s | 2666 MT/s |
| RAM max | 32 GB | 32 GB |
| USB ports | (4x)USB-A 3.0; (4x)USB-A 2.0; | (4x)USB-A 3.0; (4x)USB-A 2.0; |
| Video ports | DisplayPort; VGA; | DisplayPort; VGA; |
| Other ports | RJ45; Hdph; Mic; Line-Out; Line-In; Serial; (2x) PS2; | RJ45; Headset; Line-In; Line-Out; |
| Optional ports | SD card reader; Serial; Parallel; | SD card reader; Serial; Serial and (2x) PS2; DP/HDMI/VGA/USB-C(DP); |
| SATA ports | 2 | 3 |
| PCI slots | PCIe 3.0 x16; PCIe 2.0 x1; | PCIe 3.0 x16; PCIe 3.0 x1; |
| M.2 slots | N.A. | M.2 2280/2230 M-key (PCIe x4); M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT) |
| Drive bays | 3.5in; 5.25in (slim) | (2x)2.5/3.5in; 5.25in (slim) |
| PSU | 180 W | 180 W |
| Weight | 4.43 kg (9.8 lb) | 4.6 kg (10.14 lb) |
| Released | 2016 | 2018 |
| Manual | link | link |
| Price** | Check Price | Check Price |
Differences between HP ProDesk 400 G3 SFF and HP ProDesk 400 G5 SFF
If you are looking for a more modern desktop, then you should go with the HP ProDesk 400 G5 SFF which was released in 2018. The HP ProDesk 400 G3 SFF is older and entered production in 2016.
Form factor wise the models are the same. This means that they are of similar 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 HP ProDesk 400 G5 SFF 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
RAM slots is where your insert your RAM sticks. Each of those two models has 2 RAM slot(s) which should be taken into account when planning how much and what combination of RAM you are going to need.
The HP ProDesk 400 G5 SFF is using the faster 2666 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.
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 400 G5 SFF 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 HP ProDesk 400 G5 SFF. Sadly, the HP ProDesk 400 G3 SFF has no such slot, and you will be forced to use the SATA interface instead.
Remark: 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 180 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
