HP ProDesk 400 G3 Mini vs. HP ProDesk 400 G6 Microtower

Comparison and Differences

HP_ProDesk_400_G3_Mini.jpg case front and back pannelHP_ProDesk_400_G6_Microtower.jpg case front and back pannel
Model
Form factorMicroMini Tower
CPU optionsIntel Gen6&7 i3/i5/i7; Celeron; Pentium;Intel Gen8 i3/i5/i7; Celeron; Pentium;
ChipsetH270 B360
Dedicated GPU *N.A.GeForce GTX 1660 Super
RAMSODIMM DDR4-2400DIMM DDR4-2666
RAM slots22
RAM speed2400 MT/s2666 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 portsDisplayPort; DisplayPort; VGA;
Other portsRJ45; Hdph; Mic/Headset; Serial;RJ45; Headset Line-Out; Line-In;
Optional portsDP/HDMI/VGA/Serial; WiFi antenna;SD card reader; Serial; Serial and (2x) PS2; DP/HDMI/VGA/USB-C;
SATA ports13
PCI slotsN.A.PCIe 3.0 x16; (2x) PCIe 3.0 x1;
M.2 slotsM.2 2280 M-key (PCIe x4); M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT) M.2 2280/2230 M-key (PCIe x4); M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT)
Drive bays2.5in2.5/3.5in; 3.5in; 5.25in (slim)
PSU65/90 W180/250/310 W
Weight1.21 kg (2.67 lb)5.47 kg (12.06 lb)
Released20162018
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 G3 Mini and HP ProDesk 400 G6 Microtower

If you are looking for a more modern desktop, then you should go with the HP ProDesk 400 G6 Microtower which was released in 2018. The HP ProDesk 400 G3 Mini is older and entered production in 2016.

If you are looking for the smaller form factor the HP ProDesk 400 G3 Mini is the right one for you. It is smaller than the HP ProDesk 400 G6 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 G6 Microtower as it is running a newer generation CPU. This is not to say that HP ProDesk 400 G3 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 HP ProDesk 400 G6 Microtower is using the faster 2666 MT/s RAM. The HP ProDesk 400 G3 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 HP ProDesk 400 G6 Microtower as it has the ability to run 64 GB of RAM. The HP ProDesk 400 G3 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 G6 Microtower has 8 USB ports. The HP ProDesk 400 G3 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.

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 G6 Microtower is better equipped as it comes with 3 SATA slot(s), while the HP ProDesk 400 G3 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 G3 Mini comes with a decent 90 Watt PSU, but the HP ProDesk 400 G6 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_G3_Mini_motherboard.jpg motherboard layoutHP_ProDesk_400_G6_Microtower_motherboard.jpg motherboard layout