Dell OptiPlex 790 USFF vs. HP EliteDesk 800 G1 USDT

Comparison and Differences

Dell_OptiPlex_790_USFF.jpg case front and back pannelHP_EliteDesk_800_G1_USDT.jpg case front and back pannel
Model
Form factorUltra SmallSmall
CPU optionsIntel Gen2 i3/i5/i7; Celeron; Pentium;Intel Gen4 i3/i5/i7; Celeron; Pentium;
ChipsetQ65Q87
Dedicated GPU *N.A.AMD Radeon HD 7650A
RAMDIMM DDR3-1333SODIMM DDR3-1600
RAM slots24
RAM speed1333 MT/s1600 MT/s
RAM max8 GB32 GB
USB ports(7x)USB-A 2.0; (4x)USB-A 3.0; (6x)USB-A 2.0;
Video portsDisplayPort 1.2; VGA;(2x) DisplayPort 1.2; VGA;
Other portsRJ45; Hdph; (2x) Mic; Line-Out; Line-In; PS2/COM; Serial; Parallel;(2x) PS2; RJ45; Hdph; Mic; Line-Out; Line-In;
Optional portsN.A.Media card reader (USB 3.0);
SATA ports21
PCI slotsN.A.Mobile PCI Express Module; mPCIe 2.0 x1 (WiFi);
M.2 slotsN.A.M.2 (mSATA only);
Drive bays2.5in; 5.25in(slim);2.5in; 5.25in (slim);
PSU200 W135/180 W
Weight3.27 kg (7.20 lb)3.1 kg (6.8 lb)
Released20112013
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 790 USFF and HP EliteDesk 800 G1 USDT

If you are looking for a more modern desktop, then you should go with the HP EliteDesk 800 G1 USDT which was released in 2013. The Dell OptiPlex 790 USFF is older and entered production in 2011.

If you are looking for the smaller form factor the Dell OptiPlex 790 USFF is the right one for you. It is smaller than the HP EliteDesk 800 G1 USDT 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 EliteDesk 800 G1 USDT as it is running a newer generation CPU. This is not to say that Dell OptiPlex 790 USFF is bad - it can still run some powerful CPUs, albeit being an older generation.

Memory

The HP EliteDesk 800 G1 USDT has 4 RAM slots while the Dell OptiPlex 790 USFF 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 EliteDesk 800 G1 USDT is using the faster 1600 MT/s RAM. The Dell OptiPlex 790 USFF 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 EliteDesk 800 G1 USDT as it has the ability to run 32 GB of RAM. The Dell OptiPlex 790 USFF can do a bit less at max 8 GB. Most of the times, this should be sufficient for the majority of users.

Ports

In total the HP EliteDesk 800 G1 USDT has 10 USB ports. The Dell OptiPlex 790 USFF is inferior in this regard and packs 7 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 EliteDesk 800 G1 USDT comes with 2 ports, while the Dell OptiPlex 790 USFF has only 1. If you are planning to use multiple monitors, the HP EliteDesk 800 G1 USDT 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 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 790 USFF is better equipped as it comes with 2 SATA slot(s), while the HP EliteDesk 800 G1 USDT has 1 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 EliteDesk 800 G1 USDT. Sadly, the Dell OptiPlex 790 USFF 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 EliteDesk 800 G1 USDT comes with a decent 180 Watt PSU, but the Dell OptiPlex 790 USFF has a more powerful one rated at 200 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_790_USFF_motherboard.jpg motherboard layoutHP_EliteDesk_800_G1_USDT_motherboard.jpg motherboard layout