Dell OptiPlex 390 DT vs. HP ProDesk 400 G5 SFF

Differences between Dell OptiPlex 390 DT and HP ProDesk 400 G5 SFF

If you are looking for a more modern desktop, then you should go with the HP ProDesk 400 G5 SFF which was released in 2018. The Dell OptiPlex 390 DT is older and entered production in 2011.

If you are looking for the smaller form factor the HP ProDesk 400 G5 SFF is the right one for you. It is smaller than the Dell OptiPlex 390 DT and will fit more easily under your desk.

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 400 G5 SFF as it is running a newer generation CPU. This is not to say that Dell OptiPlex 390 DT 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 400 G5 SFF is using the faster 2666 MT/s RAM. The Dell OptiPlex 390 DT is slower by supporting RAM speeds of up to 1333 MT/s. Additionally, if you will be needing a lot of RAM, better go for the HP ProDesk 400 G5 SFF as it has the ability to run 32 GB of RAM. The Dell OptiPlex 390 DT can do a bit less at max 8 GB. Most of the times, this should be sufficient for the majority of users.

Ports

Both models have the same amount of USB ports for total count of 8. If this is not enough, using a USB hub is always a viable option. 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.

Unfortunately, only the HP ProDesk 400 G5 SFF has a DisplayPort. The Dell OptiPlex 390 DT does not have one? Don't worry though, nowadays video adapters are cheap and you can get almost any combination of conversion types.

The Dell OptiPlex 390 DT comes with an HDMI port, while the HP ProDesk 400 G5 SFF 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 390 DT is better equipped as it comes with 4 SATA slot(s), while the HP ProDesk 400 G5 SFF has 3 slot(s).

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 400 G5 SFF. Sadly, the Dell OptiPlex 390 DT 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 400 G5 SFF comes with a decent 180 Watt PSU, but the Dell OptiPlex 390 DT has a more powerful one rated at 250 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