Dell OptiPlex 7040M vs. HP ProDesk 600 G3 Mini

Comparison and Differences

Dell_OptiPlex_7040M.jpg case front and back pannelHP_ProDesk_600_G3_Mini.jpg case front and back pannel
Model
Form factorMicroMicro
CPU optionsIntel Gen6 i3/i5/i7Intel Gen6&7 i3/i5/i7; Celeron; Pentium;
ChipsetQ170Q270
Dedicated GPU *N.A.N.A.
RAMSODIMM DDR4-2133SODIMM DDR4-2400
RAM slots22
RAM speed2133 MT/s2400 MT/s
RAM max32 GB32 GB
USB ports(6x) USB-A 3.0USB-C 3.0; (6x)USB-A 3.0;
Video ports Display Port 1.2; HDMI 1.4;(2x) DisplayPort:
Other portsRJ45; Headset; Line-Out; RJ45; Headset; Hdph;
Optional portsWiFi antenna; Display Port 1.2; VGA; Serial; Serial+PS2; DP/HDMI/VGA/USB-C(DP)/Serial; WiFi antenna;
SATA ports11
PCI slotsN.A.N.A.
M.2 slotsM.2 2280 M-key (PCIe 3.0 x4, NVMe); M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT) M.2 2280/2230 M-key (PCIe x4); M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT);
Drive bays2.5in2.5in;
PSU65 W65/90 W
Weight1.41 kg (3.12 lb)1.21 kg (2.67 lb)
Released20152017
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 Dell OptiPlex 7040M and HP ProDesk 600 G3 Mini

If you are looking for a more modern desktop, then you should go with the HP ProDesk 600 G3 Mini which was released in 2017. The Dell OptiPlex 7040M is older and entered production in 2015.

Both models have the same form factor, meaning reoughtly they have the same phiysical size and form.

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 G3 Mini as it is running a newer generation CPU. This is not to say that Dell OptiPlex 7040M 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 600 G3 Mini is using the faster 2400 MT/s RAM. The Dell OptiPlex 7040M 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 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 600 G3 Mini has 7 USB ports. The Dell OptiPlex 7040M 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.

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 7040M has only 1. If you are planning to use multiple monitors, the HP ProDesk 600 G3 Mini is the better choice.

The Dell OptiPlex 7040M 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 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 1 SATA slot(s). Keep in mind that having too few SATA slots might limit your options for connecting additional memory drives.

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 Dell OptiPlex 7040M comes with a decent 65 Watt PSU, but the HP ProDesk 600 G3 Mini has a more powerful one rated at 90 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_7040M_motherboard.jpg motherboard layoutHP_ProDesk_600_G3_Mini_motherboard.jpg motherboard layout