HP ProDesk 400 G5 Mini vs. HP ProDesk 600 G5 SFF

Comparison and Differences

HP_ProDesk_400_G5_Mini.jpg case front and back pannelHP_ProDesk_600_G5_SFF.jpg case front and back pannel
Model
Form factorMicroSmall
CPU optionsIntel Gen8 i3/i5/i7; Celeron; Pentium;Intel Gen8&9 i3/i5/i7; Celeron; Pentium;
ChipsetB360Q370
Dedicated GPU *N.A.GeForce GT 1030 Low Profile
RAMSODIMM DDR4-2666DIMM DDR4-2666
RAM slots24
RAM speed2666 MT/s2666 MT/s
RAM max64 GB128 GB
USB ports(4x)USB-A 3.0; (2x)USB-A 2.0; USB-C 3.1; (4x)USB-A 3.1; (2x)USB-A 3.0; (4x)USB-A 2.0;
Video ports(2x) DisplayPort;(2x) DisplayPort:
Other portsRJ45; Headset; Hdph;RJ45; Headset; Line-Out; Line-In;
Optional portsDP/HDMI/VGA/Serial/USB-C; WiFi anntena; DP1.2/HDMI2.0/VGA/USB-C(DP); Serial; SD card reader;
SATA ports13
PCI slotsN.A.PCIe 3.0 x16; PCIe x4 (open ended);
M.2 slotsM.2 2280/2230 M-key (PCIe x4); M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT) M.2 2280/2230 M-key (PCIe x4); M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT);
Drive bays2.5in;(2x)2.5in/3.5in; 5.25in (slim);
PSU65/90/150 W180 W
Weight1.77 kg (2.9 lb)4.54 kg (10.01 lb)
Released20182018
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 HP ProDesk 400 G5 Mini and HP ProDesk 600 G5 SFF

Both computers, the HP ProDesk 400 G5 Mini and the HP ProDesk 600 G5 SFF, were released during the same year - 2018.

If you are looking for the smaller form factor the HP ProDesk 400 G5 Mini is the right one for you. It is smaller than the HP ProDesk 600 G5 SFF 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 600 G5 SFF as it is running a newer generation CPU. This is not to say that HP ProDesk 400 G5 Mini is bad - it can still run some powerful CPUs, albeit being an older generation.

Memory

The HP ProDesk 600 G5 SFF has 4 RAM slots while the HP ProDesk 400 G5 Mini 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.

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 2666. Additionally, if you will be needing a lot of RAM, better go for the HP ProDesk 600 G5 SFF as it has the ability to run 128 GB of RAM. The HP ProDesk 400 G5 Mini can do a bit less at max 64 GB. Most of the times, this should be sufficient for the majority of users.

Ports

In total the HP ProDesk 600 G5 SFF has 11 USB ports. The HP ProDesk 400 G5 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. What is nice about the HP ProDesk 600 G5 SFF, is that it has 5 USB 3.1 port(s) which allows transfer of up to 10Gb/s. Unfortunately, the HP ProDesk 400 G5 Mini has no such port, thus restricting your transfer speeds significantly. For people who want to use external drives on regular basis, this might be an issue.

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 600 G5 SFF is better equipped as it comes with 3 SATA slot(s), while the HP ProDesk 400 G5 Mini has 1 slot(s).

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 HP ProDesk 400 G5 Mini comes with a decent 150 Watt PSU, but the HP ProDesk 600 G5 SFF has a more powerful one rated at 180 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_G5_Mini_motherboard.jpg motherboard layoutHP_ProDesk_600_G5_SFF_motherboard.jpg motherboard layout