HP ProDesk 400 G5 SFF case front and back pannel

HP ProDesk 400 G5 SFF

Specification and Upgrade Options

The HP ProDesk 400 G5 SFF is a compact entry-level business desktop engineered for space-constrained offices and users who value desk real estate. First brought to market in 2018, it features the B360 chipset, supporting 8th gen Intel Core processors and up to 32GB of DIMM DDR4-2666 memory. Despite its small footprint, it remains a capable daily driver that can even support a low-profile graphics card for enhanced visual performance.

The Small Form Factor (SFF) is an in-between model. It has less space for the larger form factors (Mid tower, Mini tower, and Desktop), but it is still easily upgradable. Usually the SFF come with 2x PCIe slots, so fitting a low profile graphics card is possible.

Specification

Model
Form factorSmall
CPU optionsIntel Gen8 i3/i5/i7; Celeron; Pentium;
ChipsetB360
Dedicated GPU *GeForce GT 1030 Low Profile
RAMDIMM DDR4-2666
RAM slots2
RAM speed2666 MT/s
RAM max32 GB
USB ports(4x)USB-A 3.0; (4x)USB-A 2.0;
Video portsDisplayPort; VGA;
Other portsRJ45; Headset; Line-In; Line-Out;
Optional portsSD card reader; Serial; Serial and (2x) PS2; DP/HDMI/VGA/USB-C(DP);
SATA ports3
PCI slotsPCIe 3.0 x16; PCIe 3.0 x1;
M.2 slotsM.2 2280/2230 M-key (PCIe x4); M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT)
Drive bays(2x)2.5/3.5in; 5.25in (slim)
PSU180 W
Weight4.6 kg (10.14 lb)
Released2018
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 G5 SFF to play games?

Yes, you can upgrade HP ProDesk 400 G5 SFF for gaming with better processors, graphics card, memory, and storage devices. However, like many other business pre-built PCs, this model may have proprietary elements like the power supply, the chassis or the power connector, which can make it difficult for users to install aftermarket PSUs to support better GPUs. You can also find that there is space constrains inside the chassis, making it difficult to accommodete larger GPU to boost the gaming performance.

Does HP ProDesk 400 G5 SFF support Windows 11?

Yes, HP ProDesk 400 G5 SFF is compatible with Windows 11. According to Windows 11 specification, all models that have Intel 8th Gen processors (or newer) with TPM 2.0 support and a UEFI BIOS with Secure boot, are eligible to upgrade form Windows 10 to Windows 11 through Windows Update.

Processor

The HP ProDesk 400 G5 SFF supports Gen8 Intel Core technology on a B360 chipset. 8th generation Intel Core CPUs (Coffee Lake) significantly increased core counts, improving multitasking and parallel workloads. Higher-end models perform well in software development, virtualization, and gaming scenarios.

Best CPUs for HP ProDesk 400 G5 SFF upgrade:

Model Cores (Threads) Base frequency Turbo
Core i5 8500 6(6) 3.0 GHz 4.1 GHz
Core i5 8600 6(6) 3.1 GHz 4.3 GHz
Core i7 8700 6(12) 3.2 GHz 4.6 GHz

GPU upgrade

To upgrade the GPU of OptiPlex 7040 SFF, a low-power, low-profile graphics card must be used. Currently, the most reasonable GPU option is AMD's Radeon RX 6400 low profile. This model has a good price point, delivers decent FPS, and does not require any addtional hardware upgrades.

The low power requirements of this model make it the perfect option for an SFF gaming build. The RX 6400 low does not need any additional power from the PSU and can rely solely on the power delivered by the PCIe slot (75W).

GPU upgrade options for HP ProDesk 400 G5 SFF with the stock 180W power supply:

GPU Power consumption Memory Req.
RX 6400 Low profile 50 W 4 GB DDR6 Works with no additional hardware changes
GTX 1050 Ti Low profile 75 W 4 GB DDR5 Works with no additional hardware changes
GTX 1650 Low profile 75 W 4 GB DDR5 Works with no additional hardware changes
RTX A2000 Low profile 70 W 6 GB DDR6
12 GB DDR6
Works with no additional hardware changes

Keep in mind that these low-profile, low-power GPUs can be quite noisy and may run hot when under full load.

Memory

HP ProDesk 400 G5 SFF supports up to 32 GB of DIMM DDR4-2666 RAM across two DIMM slots, with memory speeds up to 2666 MT/s and dual-channel support depending on the installed configuration.

Actual supported memory capacity and memory channels may vary depending on the installed CPU and chipset.

Typical HP ProDesk 400 G5 SFF memory configurations include 8 GB for everyday productivity and 16 GB for gaming, heavier multitasking, or professional workloads.

Wi-Fi Support

HP ProDesk 400 G5 SFF 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 G5 SFF:

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

HP ProDesk 400 G5 SFF provides a fixed set of external I/O ports for connecting peripherals and displays. Port availability and versions determine supported data transfer speeds and display capabilities.

USB ports

HP ProDesk 400 G5 SFF includes eight USB ports in total in the following configuration - (4x)USB-A 3.0; (4x)USB-A 2.0; with no USB 3.1 ports available.

Video ports

HP ProDesk 400 G5 SFF features one DisplayPort 1.2 output, suitable for modern digital displays.

No HDMI output is available on the motherboard.

Motherboard video outputs require a CPU with integrated graphics. Systems equipped with a dedicated GPU must use the video ports on the graphics card instead.

SSD storage - M.2 sockets and SATA ports

The HP ProDesk 400 G5 SFF comes with three SATA port(s) for connecting storage devices.

HP ProDesk 400 G5 SFF has also one M.2 socket(s) that supports PCIe NVMe (PCIe 3.0 x4) or 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.

*Keep in mind that some M.2 connectors may not support SATA SSDs. Check the motherboard manual to confirm compatibility.

Best PCIe NVMe drives for HP ProDesk 400 G5 SFF 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 G5 SFF comes with a 180 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 180 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_G5_SFF_motherboard.jpg motherboard layout