HP ProDesk 400 G4 Mini vs. HP ProDesk 480 G4 Microtower

Comparison and Differences

HP_ProDesk_400_G4_Mini.jpg case front and back pannelHP_ProDesk_480_G4_Microtower.jpg case front and back pannel
Model
Form factorMicroMini Tower
CPU optionsIntel Gen8 i3/i5/i7; Celeron; Pentium;Intel Gen6&7 i3/i5/i7; Celeron; Pentium;
ChipsetB360H270
Dedicated GPU *N.A.GeForce GTX 1660 Super
RAMSODIMM DDR4-2400DIMM DDR4-2400
RAM slots22
RAM speed2400 MT/s2400 MT/s
RAM max32 GB64 GB
USB ports(4x)USB-A 3.0; (2x)USB-A 2.0; (4x)USB-A 3.0; (4x)USB-A 2.0;
Video ports(2x) DisplayPort;DisplayPort; VGA;
Other portsRJ45; Headset; Hdph;RJ45; Headset; Line-In; Line-Out;
Optional portsDP/HDMI/VGA/Serial/USB-C; WiFi anntena; SD card reader; Serial and (2x) PS2;
SATA ports13
PCI slotsN.A.PCIe 3.0 x16; PCIe 3.0 x16 (wired x4); PCI;
M.2 slotsM.2 2280/2230 M-key (PCIe x4); M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT) M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT)
Drive bays2.5in2.5/3.5in; 3.5in; 5.25in (slim)
PSU65/90/150 W180/310 W
Weight1.77 kg (2.9 lb)5.47 kg (12.06 lb)
Released20182017
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 HP ProDesk 400 G4 Mini and HP ProDesk 480 G4 Microtower

If you are looking for a more modern desktop, then you should go with the HP ProDesk 400 G4 Mini which was released in 2018. The HP ProDesk 480 G4 Microtower is older and entered production in 2017.

If you are looking for the smaller form factor the HP ProDesk 400 G4 Mini is the right one for you. It is smaller than the HP ProDesk 480 G4 Microtower 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 G4 Mini as it is running a newer generation CPU. This is not to say that HP ProDesk 480 G4 Microtower 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.

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 HP ProDesk 480 G4 Microtower 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 480 G4 Microtower has 8 USB ports. The HP ProDesk 400 G4 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 HP ProDesk 400 G4 Mini comes with 2 ports, while the HP ProDesk 480 G4 Microtower has only 1. If you are planning to use multiple monitors, the HP ProDesk 400 G4 Mini 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 HP ProDesk 480 G4 Microtower is better equipped as it comes with 3 SATA slot(s), while the HP ProDesk 400 G4 Mini has 1 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 G4 Mini. Sadly, the HP ProDesk 480 G4 Microtower 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 G4 Mini comes with a decent 150 Watt PSU, but the HP ProDesk 480 G4 Microtower has a more powerful one rated at 310 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

HP_ProDesk_400_G4_Mini_motherboard.jpg motherboard layoutHP_ProDesk_480_G4_Microtower_motherboard.jpg motherboard layout