Alienware Aurora R4 vs. HP ProDesk 400 G5 SFF

Comparison and Differences

Alienware_Aurora_R4.jpg case front and back pannel

HP_ProDesk_400_G5_SFF.jpg case front and back pannel

Model
Form factor	Mid Tower	Small
CPU options	Intel Gen3&4 i3/i5/i7;	Intel Gen8 i3/i5/i7; Celeron; Pentium;
Chipset	X79	B360
Dedicated GPU *	GeForce GTX 1650 Super	GeForce GT 1030 Low Profile
RAM	DIMM DDR3-1333/1866	DIMM DDR4-2666
RAM slots	4	2
RAM speed	1866 MT/s	2666 MT/s
RAM max	32 GB	32 GB
USB ports	USB 3.0 Type A; (4x) USB-A 2.0;	(4x)USB-A 3.0; (4x)USB-A 2.0;
Video ports	N/A	DisplayPort; VGA;
Other ports	RJ45; Headset; Line-Out; Line-In; S/PDFI optical/analog;	RJ45; Headset; Line-In; Line-Out;
Optional ports	N.A.	SD card reader; Serial; Serial and (2x) PS2; DP/HDMI/VGA/USB-C(DP);
SATA ports	3	3
PCI slots	(x2) PCIe 3.0 x16; (x2) PCIe 3.0 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	(4x) 3.25in; (4x) 2.5in; (2x) 5.25in;	(2x)2.5/3.5in; 5.25in (slim)
PSU	525/875 W	180 W
Weight	20.41 kg (45.00 lbs)	4.6 kg (10.14 lb)
Released	2012	2018
Manual	link	link
Price**	Check Price	Check 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 Alienware Aurora R4 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 Alienware Aurora R4 is older and entered production in 2012.

If you are looking for the smaller form factor the HP ProDesk 400 G5 SFF is the right one for you. It is smaller than the Alienware Aurora R4 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 G5 SFF as it is running a newer generation CPU. This is not to say that Alienware Aurora R4 is bad - it can still run some powerful CPUs, albeit being an older generation.

Memory

The Alienware Aurora R4 has 4 RAM slots while the HP ProDesk 400 G5 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 G5 SFF is using the faster 2666 MT/s RAM. The Alienware Aurora R4 is slower by supporting RAM speeds of up to 1866 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 HP ProDesk 400 G5 SFF has 8 USB ports. The Alienware Aurora R4 is inferior in this regard and packs 5 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.

Unfortunately, only the HP ProDesk 400 G5 SFF has a DisplayPort. The Alienware Aurora R4 does not have one? Don't worry though, nowadays video adapters are cheap and you can get almost any combination of conversion types.

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 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 3 SATA slot(s). Keep in mind that having too few SATA slots might limit your options for connecting additional memory drives.

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 Alienware Aurora R4 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 G5 SFF comes with a decent 180 Watt PSU, but the Alienware Aurora R4 has a more powerful one rated at 875 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.