Dell OptiPlex 3000 M vs. HP ProDesk 400 G4 Mini

Comparison and Differences

Dell_OptiPlex_3000_M.jpg case front and back pannelHP_ProDesk_400_G4_Mini.jpg case front and back pannel
Model
Form factorMicroMicro
CPU optionsIntel Gen 12 T i3/i5/i7; Celeron; PentiumIntel Gen8 i3/i5/i7; Celeron; Pentium;
ChipsetB660B360
Dedicated GPU *N.A.N.A.
RAMSODIMM DDR4-3200SODIMM DDR4-2400
RAM slots22
RAM speed3200 MT/s2400 MT/s
RAM max64 GB32 GB
USB ports(2x) USB-A 2.0; (2x) USB-A 3.0;(4x)USB-A 3.0; (2x)USB-A 2.0;
Video portsDisplay Port 1.4a; HDMI 1.4b;(2x) DisplayPort;
Other portsRJ45; Audio; Line-Out/In;RJ45; Headset; Hdph;
Optional portsHDMI 2.0b/Displayport/VGA;DP/HDMI/VGA/Serial/USB-C; WiFi anntena;
SATA ports11
PCI slotsN.A.N.A.
M.2 slotsM.2 2230/2280 (PCIe 3.0 x4, NVMe); M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT) M.2 2280/2230 M-key (PCIe x4); M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT)
Drive bays2.5in;2.5in
PSU65/90 W65/90/150 W
Weight1.33 kg (2.94 lbs)1.77 kg (2.9 lb)
Released20222018
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 3000 M and HP ProDesk 400 G4 Mini

If you are looking for a more modern desktop, then you should go with the Dell OptiPlex 3000 M which was released in 2022. The HP ProDesk 400 G4 Mini is older and entered production in 2018.

Both models have the same form factor, meaning reoughtly they have the same phiysical 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 Dell OptiPlex 3000 M as it is running a newer generation CPU. This is not to say that HP ProDesk 400 G4 Mini 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 3000 M is using the faster 3200 MT/s RAM. The HP ProDesk 400 G4 Mini is slower by supporting RAM speeds of up to 2400 MT/s. Additionally, if you will be needing a lot of RAM, better go for the Dell OptiPlex 3000 M as it has the ability to run 64 GB of RAM. The HP ProDesk 400 G4 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 HP ProDesk 400 G4 Mini has 6 USB ports. The Dell OptiPlex 3000 M is inferior in this regard and packs 4 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 HP ProDesk 400 G4 Mini comes with 2 ports, while the Dell OptiPlex 3000 M has only 1. If you are planning to use multiple monitors, the HP ProDesk 400 G4 Mini is the better choice.

The Dell OptiPlex 3000 M comes with an HDMI port, while the HP ProDesk 400 G4 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 slots are located on the motherboard and it is where SSD, HDD and Optical Disk Drives are connected. Each of the two models being compared have 1 SATA slot(s). Keep in mind that having too few SATA slots might limit your options for connecting additional memory drives.

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 Dell OptiPlex 3000 M comes with a decent 90 Watt PSU, but the HP ProDesk 400 G4 Mini has a more powerful one rated at 150 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_3000_M_motherboard.jpg motherboard layoutHP_ProDesk_400_G4_Mini_motherboard.jpg motherboard layout