Dell OptiPlex Tower 7020 2024 vs. HP ProDesk 400 G6 Mini

Comparison and Differences

Dell_OptiPlex_Tower_7020_2024.jpg case front and back pannel

HP_ProDesk_400_G6_Mini.jpg case front and back pannel

Model
Form factor	Mini Tower	Micro
CPU options	Intel Gen 12&13&14 i3/i5/i7;	Intel Gen10 i3/i5/i7; Celeron; Pentium;
Chipset	Q670	Q470
Dedicated GPU *	GeForce GTX 1650 Super	N.A.
RAM	DIMM DDR5-5600	SODIMM DDR4-3200
RAM slots	2	2
RAM speed	5600 MT/s	3200 MT/s
RAM max	64 GB	64 GB
USB ports	(4x) USB-A 2.0; (4x) USB-A 3.0;	USB-C 3.1; USB-A 3.1; (3x) USB-A 3.0; (2x) USB-A 2.0;
Video ports	Display Port 1.4a; HDMI 1.4b;	DisplayPort; HDMI;
Other ports	RJ45(2.5GHz); Audio; Line-Out/In;	RJ45; Headset;
Optional ports	HDMI 2.1/Displayport/VGA; Serial	DP1.4/HDMI2.0/VGA/Serial/USB-C; Serial/(2x)USB-A3.1; WiFi anntena;
SATA ports	3	1
PCI slots	PCIe 3.0 x16; (2x) PCIe 3.0 x1;	N.A.
M.2 slots	M.2 2230/2280 (PCIe 3.0 x4, NVMe); M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT)	M.2 2280 M-key (PCIe x4); M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT)
Drive bays	3.5in; (2x) 2.5in; 5.25in (slim);	2.5in;
PSU	180/300 W	65 W
Weight	6.37 kg (14.04 lb)	1.25 kg (2.74 lb)
Released	2024	2020
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 Dell OptiPlex Tower 7020 2024 and HP ProDesk 400 G6 Mini

If you are looking for a more modern desktop, then you should go with the Dell OptiPlex Tower 7020 2024 which was released in 2024. The HP ProDesk 400 G6 Mini is older and entered production in 2020.

If you are looking for the smaller form factor the HP ProDesk 400 G6 Mini is the right one for you. It is smaller than the Dell OptiPlex Tower 7020 2024 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 Dell OptiPlex Tower 7020 2024 as it is running a newer generation CPU. This is not to say that HP ProDesk 400 G6 Mini 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 Dell OptiPlex Tower 7020 2024 is using the faster 5600 MT/s RAM. The HP ProDesk 400 G6 Mini is slower by supporting RAM speeds of up to 3200 MT/s. In addition, you will be able to install the same amount of RAM in both models, and most probably 64 GB of RAM will be enough for most people. However, if you will be needing more RAM, make sure to check other desktop models too.

Ports

In total the Dell OptiPlex Tower 7020 2024 has 8 USB ports. The HP ProDesk 400 G6 Mini 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. What is nice about the HP ProDesk 400 G6 Mini, is that it has 2 USB 3.1 port(s) which allows transfer of up to 10Gb/s. Unfortunately, the Dell OptiPlex Tower 7020 2024 has no such port, thus restricting your transfer speeds significantly. For people who want to use external drives on regular basis, this might be an issue.

The DisplayPort is usually the more popular video port used with desktops and laptops, while the HDMI is used predominantly in consumer electronics. That's why, it is good to see that both of the models come with a DisplayPort.

In case your monitor supports HDMI only, you will be happy to hear that both models come with an HDMI port.

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 Tower 7020 2024 is better equipped as it comes with 3 SATA slot(s), while the HP ProDesk 400 G6 Mini has 1 slot(s).

When your goal is to have the fastest SSD transfer speeds, an M.2 interface is crucial. Thus, it is good that both models have M.2 SSD slots. Today M.2 SSDs are not much more expensive than the average SATA drives, so it really does not make sense to invest in SATA drives anymore.

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 G6 Mini comes with a decent 65 Watt PSU, but the Dell OptiPlex Tower 7020 2024 has a more powerful one rated at 300 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.