Dell XPS 8930 vs. HP ProDesk 600 G5 Mini
Comparison and Differences
Differences between Dell XPS 8930 and HP ProDesk 600 G5 Mini
If you are looking for a more modern desktop, then you should go with the HP ProDesk 600 G5 Mini which was released in 2018. The Dell XPS 8930 is older and entered production in 2017.
If you are looking for the smaller form factor the HP ProDesk 600 G5 Mini is the right one for you. It is smaller than the Dell XPS 8930 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 600 G5 Mini as it is running a newer generation CPU. This is not to say that Dell XPS 8930 is bad - it can still run some powerful CPUs, albeit being an older generation.
Memory
The Dell XPS 8930 has 4 RAM slots while the HP ProDesk 600 G5 Mini 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.
None of the desktops has an advantage when it comes to the speed of the RAM being used. Both models support RAM speeds of up to 2666. 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 XPS 8930 has 10 USB ports. The HP ProDesk 600 G5 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. 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 Mini as it has 4 USB3.1 ports (the Dell XPS 8930 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 Mini comes with 2 ports, while the Dell XPS 8930 has only 1. If you are planning to use multiple monitors, the HP ProDesk 600 G5 Mini is the better choice.
The Dell XPS 8930 comes with an HDMI port, while the HP ProDesk 600 G5 Mini 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 XPS 8930 is better equipped as it comes with 3 SATA slot(s), while the HP ProDesk 600 G5 Mini has 1 slot(s).
An M.2 SSD can be several times faster than a SATA one. Thus, we are happy to see that both models support the M.2 interface. However, the HP ProDesk 600 G5 Mini has 1 M.2 slots while the Dell XPS 8930 comes with just 1.
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 Mini comes with a decent 65 Watt PSU, but the Dell XPS 8930 has a more powerful one rated at 460 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
