Fujitsu Esprimo G9012 vs. HP ProDesk 490 G3 Microtower

Comparison and Differences

Fujitsu_Esprimo_G9012.jpg case front and back pannelHP_ProDesk_490_G3_Microtower.jpg case front and back pannel
Model
Form factorMicroMini Tower
CPU optionsIntel Gen12 i3/i5/i7/i9Intel Gen6 i3/i5/i7; Celeron; Pentium;
ChipsetQ670H110
Dedicated GPU *N.A.GeForce GTX 1660 Super
RAMSODIMM DDR4-3200DIMM DDR4-2133
RAM slots24
RAM speed3200 MT/s2133 MT/s
RAM max64 GB64 GB
USB portsUSB-A 3.0; USB-A 2.0; (4x) USB-A 3.1; USB-C 3.1; USB-C 3.2(6x)USB-A 3.0; (2x)USB-A 2.0;
Video portsDisplayPort 1.4; HDMI 2.1DisplayPort; VGA;
Other portsRJ45; HeadsetRJ45; Hdph; Mic; Line-Out; Line-In; Serial; (2x) PS2;
Optional portsHDMI 2.1; DP 1.4aSD card reader; Serial; Parallel;
SATA ports23
PCI slotsPCIe 4.0 x16 (wired x4)PCIe 3.0 x16; (2x) PCIe x1; PCIe 3.0 x16 (wired x4);
M.2 slotsM.2 2280/2230 M-key (PCIe 4.0 x4, NVMe); M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT)N.A.
Drive bays2.5in; 5.25 inch(2x) 3.5in; 5.25in (slim)
PSU90/150 W180/300 W
Weight1.02 kg (2.60 lb)7.05 kg (15.5 lb)
Released20222015
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 Fujitsu Esprimo G9012 and HP ProDesk 490 G3 Microtower

If you are looking for a more modern desktop, then you should go with the Fujitsu Esprimo G9012 which was released in 2022. The HP ProDesk 490 G3 Microtower is older and entered production in 2015.

If you are looking for the smaller form factor the Fujitsu Esprimo G9012 is the right one for you. It is smaller than the HP ProDesk 490 G3 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 Fujitsu Esprimo G9012 as it is running a newer generation CPU. This is not to say that HP ProDesk 490 G3 Microtower is bad - it can still run some powerful CPUs, albeit being an older generation.

Memory

The HP ProDesk 490 G3 Microtower has 4 RAM slots while the Fujitsu Esprimo G9012 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 Fujitsu Esprimo G9012 is using the faster 3200 MT/s RAM. The HP ProDesk 490 G3 Microtower is slower by supporting RAM speeds of up to 2133 MT/s. In addition, you will be able to install the same amount of RAM in both models, and most probably 64 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

Both models have the same amount of USB ports for total count of 8. If this is not enough, using a USB hub is always a viable option. What is nice about the Fujitsu Esprimo G9012, is that it has 5 USB 3.1 port(s) which allows transfer of up to 10Gb/s. Unfortunately, the HP ProDesk 490 G3 Microtower 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.

The Fujitsu Esprimo G9012 comes with an HDMI port, while the HP ProDesk 490 G3 Microtower 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 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 490 G3 Microtower is better equipped as it comes with 3 SATA slot(s), while the Fujitsu Esprimo G9012 has 2 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 Fujitsu Esprimo G9012. Sadly, the HP ProDesk 490 G3 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 Fujitsu Esprimo G9012 comes with a decent 150 Watt PSU, but the HP ProDesk 490 G3 Microtower has a more powerful one rated at 300 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

Fujitsu_Esprimo_G9012_motherboard.jpg motherboard layoutHP_ProDesk_490_G3_Microtower_motherboard.jpg motherboard layout