Alienware X51 R3 vs. HP ProDesk 600 G5 SFF

Comparison and Differences

Alienware_X51_R3.jpg case front and back pannel

HP_ProDesk_600_G5_SFF.jpg case front and back pannel

Model
Form factor	Small Gaming	Small
CPU options	Intel Gen6 i3/i5/i7;	Intel Gen8&9 i3/i5/i7; Celeron; Pentium;
Chipset	Z170	Q370
Dedicated GPU *	GeForce GTX 1650 Super	GeForce GT 1030 Low Profile
RAM	DIMM DDR3-2133	DIMM DDR4-2666
RAM slots	2	4
RAM speed	2133 MT/s	2666 MT/s
RAM max	32 GB	128 GB
USB ports	(4x) USB 3.0 Type A; (2x) USB-A 2.0; (2x) USB 3.1 Type A	USB-C 3.1; (4x)USB-A 3.1; (2x)USB-A 3.0; (4x)USB-A 2.0;
Video ports	HDMI 1.4b;	(2x) DisplayPort:
Other ports	RJ45; Headset; Line-Out; Line-In; S/PDFI optical/analog;	RJ45; Headset; Line-Out; Line-In;
Optional ports	N.A.	DP1.2/HDMI2.0/VGA/USB-C(DP); Serial; SD card reader;
SATA ports	3	3
PCI slots	PCIe 3.0 x16;	PCIe 3.0 x16; PCIe x4 (open ended);
M.2 slots	N.A.	M.2 2280/2230 M-key (PCIe x4); M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT);
Drive bays	(2x) 2.5in; 3.25in; 5.25in;	(2x)2.5in/3.5in; 5.25in (slim);
PSU	180/240/330 W	180 W
Weight	5.49 kg (12.10 lbs	4.54 kg (10.01 lb)
Released	2015	2018
Manual	link	link
Price**	Check Price	Check 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 Alienware X51 R3 and HP ProDesk 600 G5 SFF

If you are looking for a more modern desktop, then you should go with the HP ProDesk 600 G5 SFF which was released in 2018. The Alienware X51 R3 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 G5 SFF as it is running a newer generation CPU. This is not to say that Alienware X51 R3 is bad - it can still run some powerful CPUs, albeit being an older generation.

Memory

The HP ProDesk 600 G5 SFF has 4 RAM slots while the Alienware X51 R3 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 HP ProDesk 600 G5 SFF is using the faster 2666 MT/s RAM. The Alienware X51 R3 is slower by supporting RAM speeds of up to 2133 MT/s. Additionally, if you will be needing a lot of RAM, better go for the HP ProDesk 600 G5 SFF as it has the ability to run 128 GB of RAM. The Alienware X51 R3 can do a bit less at max 32 GB. Most of the times, this should be sufficient for the majority of users.

Ports

In total the HP ProDesk 600 G5 SFF has 11 USB ports. The Alienware X51 R3 is inferior in this regard and packs 8 USB ports. In any case, if you miss USB ports, you can always purchase a USB hub. It's great that both of the models have USB 3.1 ports which will allow you to exchange data with your peripherals at up to 10Gb/s. But if you need maximum connectivity, go with the HP ProDesk 600 G5 SFF as it has 5 USB3.1 ports (the Alienware X51 R3 has 2).

DisplayPort is crucial for any desktop machine. It is good to see that both models are featuring DisplayPorts. However, the HP ProDesk 600 G5 SFF comes with 2 ports, while the Alienware X51 R3 has only 1. If you are planning to use multiple monitors, the HP ProDesk 600 G5 SFF is the better choice.

None of the models has an HDMI port. If your monitor supports only the HDMI interface, you will need to buy an adapter. Such adapters are cheap so nothing to worry about.

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 3 SATA slot(s). Keep in mind that having too few SATA slots might limit your options for connecting additional memory drives.

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 HP ProDesk 600 G5 SFF. Sadly, the Alienware X51 R3 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 HP ProDesk 600 G5 SFF comes with a decent 180 Watt PSU, but the Alienware X51 R3 has a more powerful one rated at 330 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.