Dell OptiPlex 3050 SFF vs. HP ProDesk 600 G3 Mini

Comparison and Differences

Dell_OptiPlex_3050_SFF.jpg case front and back pannelHP_ProDesk_600_G3_Mini.jpg case front and back pannel
Model
Form factorSmallMicro
CPU optionsIntel Gen6&7 i3/i5; Pentium; Celeron;Intel Gen6&7 i3/i5/i7; Celeron; Pentium;
ChipsetB250Q270
Dedicated GPU *GeForce GT 1030 Low ProfileN.A.
RAMDIMM DDR4-2133/2400 SODIMM DDR4-2400
RAM slots22
RAM speed2400 MT/s2400 MT/s
RAM max32 GB32 GB
USB ports(4x) USB-A 3.0; (4x) USB-A 2.0; USB-C 3.0; (6x)USB-A 3.0;
Video portsDisplay Port 1.2; HDMI 1.4;(2x) DisplayPort:
Other portsRJ45; Headset; Line-Out; RJ45; Headset; Hdph;
Optional portsSerial+PS2; VGA; Media Card Reader;DP/HDMI/VGA/USB-C(DP)/Serial; WiFi antenna;
SATA ports21
PCI slotsPCIe 3.0 x16; PCIe 3.0 x1; N.A.
M.2 slotsM.2 2280/2242 M-key (PCIe 3.0 x2, NVMe) M.2 2280/2230 M-key (PCIe x4); M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT);
Drive bays3.5in/(2x)2.5in; 5.25in (slim); 2.5in;
PSU180 W65/90 W
Weight5.14 kg (11.42 lb)1.21 kg (2.67 lb)
Released20172017
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 Dell OptiPlex 3050 SFF and HP ProDesk 600 G3 Mini

Both computers, the Dell OptiPlex 3050 SFF and the HP ProDesk 600 G3 Mini, were released during the same year - 2017.

If you are looking for the smaller form factor the HP ProDesk 600 G3 Mini is the right one for you. It is smaller than the Dell OptiPlex 3050 SFF and will fit more easily under your desk.

Processor

The two models have the same generation of Intel processors. We think that the 7 generation of Intel Processors have enough power to execute all of the home and office tasks that most people will care to do.

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. 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 Dell OptiPlex 3050 SFF has 8 USB ports. The HP ProDesk 600 G3 Mini is inferior in this regard and packs 7 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 600 G3 Mini comes with 2 ports, while the Dell OptiPlex 3050 SFF has only 1. If you are planning to use multiple monitors, the HP ProDesk 600 G3 Mini is the better choice.

The Dell OptiPlex 3050 SFF comes with an HDMI port, while the HP ProDesk 600 G3 Mini 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 Dell OptiPlex 3050 SFF is better equipped as it comes with 2 SATA slot(s), while the HP ProDesk 600 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 600 G3 Mini comes with a decent 90 Watt PSU, but the Dell OptiPlex 3050 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

Dell_OptiPlex_3050_SFF_motherboard.jpg motherboard layoutHP_ProDesk_600_G3_Mini_motherboard.jpg motherboard layout