HP ProDesk 400 G2 Mini case front and back pannel

HP ProDesk 400 G2 Mini

Specification and Upgrade Options

The HP ProDesk 400 G2 Mini is a pre-built entry-level business desktop computer first released in 2016. Although more than five years old, it is still a viable solution for home and office. The motherboard is using the H110 chipset and supports 6th gen Intel Core processor, 32GB of SODIMM DDR4-2133 memory. Because of its size, this model cannot be properly upgraded for gaming.

HP ProDesk 400 G2 Mini is a Micro form factor computer. Micros (also called Mini or Tiny) are one of the smallest size PCs available on the market. HP ProDesk 400 G2 Mini is very compact and comes with external power supply. This device is easy to upgrade with additional RAM and storage but have little to no expandability. Usually models with this chassis have an optional Wi-Fi and Bluetooth module and an M.2 slot for an SSD.

Specification

Model
Form factorMicro
CPU optionsIntel Gen6 i3/i5/i7; Celeron; Pentium;
ChipsetH110
Dedicated GPU *N.A.
RAMSODIMM DDR4-2133
RAM slots2
RAM speed2133 MT/s
RAM max32 GB
USB ports(4x)USB-A 3.0; (2x)USB-A 2.0;
Video portsDisplayPort; VGA;
Other portsRJ45; Hdph; Mic; Serial;
Optional portsWiFi antenna;
SATA ports1
PCI slotsN.A.
M.2 slotsM.2 2280 M-key (PCIe); M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT)
Drive bays2.5in;
PSU65/90 W
Weight1.3 kg (2.9 lb)
Released2016
Manuallink
Price**Check Price

* 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.
** As an Amazon associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Can you upgrade HP ProDesk 400 G2 Mini to play games?

HP ProDesk 400 G2 Mini is a entry-level business desktop computer in micro form factor. It is using a processor that provides both the CPU and GPU functionality. While integrated GPUs are sufficient for basic gaming, they are not powerful enough to run demanding games. HP ProDesk 400 G2 Mini has no space for dedicated graphics card.

Micro desktop machines like HP ProDesk 400 G2 Mini are usually used as home theater PCs (HTPC), in home lab projects or a as home automation servers.

Please explore the sections bellow to find ideas and suggestions on how to upgrade HP ProDesk 400 G2 Mini.

Windows 11 compatibility

No, HP ProDesk 400 G2 Mini does not meet the Windows 11 hardware requirements. According to Windows 11 specification, all models with Intel 7th Gen CPU or older are not officially supported. Processor with TPM 2.0 and a UEFI Secure boot BIOS is also required in order to upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11 through Windows Update.

However, anyone with PC that does not pass the upgrade test can download the official Windows 11 ISO, make a bootable flash drive, and install the OS manually.

GPU upgrade

It is not possible to upgrade HP ProDesk 400 G2 Mini with a dedicated GPU due to the lack of space and absence of a PCIe slot. However, you can still use the integrated graphics processor for gaming. There are number of games you can enjoy with an Intel HD and UHD iGPU.

Processor

The HP ProDesk 400 G2 Mini supports Gen6 Intel Core technology. Intel introduced the 6th generation of its Core CPUs in August 2015. Named Skylake, it uses the same 14nm manufacturing process like the old 5th gen. The improvements are better CPU and GPU performance and reduced power consumption. Other enhancements include Thunderbolt 3.0 and SATA Express.

Best CPUs for HP ProDesk 400 G2 Mini upgrade:

Model Cores (Threads) Base frequency Turbo
Core i5 6500 4(4) 3.2 GHz 3.6 GHz
Core i5 6600 4(4) 3.3 GHz 3.9 GHz
Core i7 6700 4(8) 3.4 GHz 4.0 GHz

Memory

HP ProDesk 400 G2 Mini has two RAM slots. This is more than enough for most users. For those of you who need extra flexibility and RAM size, go for a model with 4 memory slots.

To cover the needs of your OS, games, and apps, HP ProDesk 400 G2 Mini supports up to 32 GB of SODIMM DDR4-2133 RAM. For office work, home use, and light gaming we recommend 8GB of RAM. For everything else, use 16GB or more.

Faster RAM speeds permit your processor to access the data stored inside the memory faster. This is important for the overall speed of your system. The motherboard of the HP ProDesk 400 G2 Mini supports RAM speeds of up to 2133 MT/s.

Wi-Fi Support

HP ProDesk 400 G2 Mini supports Wi-Fi and Bluetooth combo card with the on-board M.2 2230 (Wi-Fi/BT) slot. The card contains a Wi-Fi module that supports various Wi-Fi standards, as well as a Bluetooth module. It is small circuit board that is designed to fit into a dedicated slot on the motherboard.

Keep in mind that the card is not always included and you have to install one yourself.

Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless adapter upgrades for HP ProDesk 400 G2 Mini:

Model Speed Frequency Interface
WiFi 6E (Gig+) Kit 3000 Mbit/s 2.4GHz / 5GHz NGFF M.2 A/E Key
Rekong AX210 3000 Mbit/s 2.4GHz / 5GHz NGFF M.2 A/E Key
Gigabyte GC-Wbax200 2400 Mbit/s 2.4GHz / 5GHz PCIe
TP-Link Archer TX50E 2400 Mbit/s 2.4GHz / 5GHz PCIe
TP-Link Archer T9UH 1300 Mbit/s 2.4GHz / 5GHz USB 3.0

Ports

Ports are important and often people don't think about them when buying a PC. For example, if you don't have enough USB ports, using external devices becomes problematic. Before you buy any system, considering your use case, check the number of external devices you are going to use and plan the number of the extension ports accordingly.

USB ports

The HP ProDesk 400 G2 Mini comes with six USB ports in total. Having more USB ports is always better, but also pay attention to the version of those USB ports. Higher version ports support faster transfer speeds. Unfortunately, this model doesn't come with a USB 3.1 port. If you need a faster connection for your peripherals, like external Solid State Drive, you will need to choose another model.

Video ports

The DisplayPort (DP) is the most widely used digital interface for transmitting digital video and audio between display devices and PCs. It is good to see that the HP ProDesk 400 G2 Mini is featuring a DisplayPort 1.2. The post version is important if you target higher resolutions with high refresh rate. Although, ver. 1.2 is completely fine for most users, if possible, aim for the higher versions DisplayPort.

The HDMI port is another digital video port you can use to connect external display. It has very similar capabilities to the DisplayPort with few exceptions. However, the HP ProDesk 400 G2 Mini doesn't have one. This is not a problem if there is on-board DisplayPort.

*Please keep in mind in order to use the video ports available through the motherboard, you need a CPU with integrated graphics card. If you have a dedicated GPU, use his ports instead.

SSD storage - M.2 sockets and SATA ports

The SATA port is one of the places where you can connect a stora gedevice. The HP ProDesk 400 G2 Mini comes with one SATA port(s). Not enough SATA ports might limit your options for additional storage devices. Think about your use case and decide if the SATA ports provided by this model will be sufficient.

HP ProDesk 400 G2 Mini has also one M.2 socket(s) that supports both PCIe NVMe (PCIe 3.0 x4) and SATA M.2 drives with speed of up to 4 GB/s. This configuration works very well for both gaming and work related tasks.

The M.2 PCIe SSD connector in combination with an NVMe drive allows for higher transfer rates, compared to the old SATA interface. In some situations, NVMe device connected to the M.2 PCIe socket can be more than 5 times faster.

Best PCIe NVMe drives for HP ProDesk 400 G2 Mini storage upgrade:

Model Form factor / Interface NAND type DRAM
Samsung 980 PRO SSD M.2/x4 PCIe 4.0/NVMe TLC Yes
CORSAIR MP600 PRO M.2/x4 PCIe 4.0/NVMe TLC Yes
SAMSUNG 970 EVO Plus M.2/x4 PCIe 3.0/NVMe TLC Yes
Western Digital Black SN770 M.2/x4 PCIe 4.0/NVMe TLC Yes
Kingston A2000 M.2/x4 PCIe 3.0/NVMe TLC Yes

Power Supply

The HP ProDesk 400 G2 Mini comes with a 90 Watt PSU. Having a power supply with high power rating is important, especially if you are doing upgrade with addtional components, like dedicated GPU and more HDDs. Will this 90 W be enough, it all depends on your specific use. Please keep in mind that some models might have more than one PSU option. Whenever possible get the most powerful one, as it might make future upgrades easier.

Motherboard

HP_ProDesk_400_G2_Mini_motherboard.jpg motherboard layout