Dell OptiPlex 7040 MT vs. HP EliteDesk 800 G1 USDT
Comparison and Differences
Differences between Dell OptiPlex 7040 MT and HP EliteDesk 800 G1 USDT
If you are looking for a more modern desktop, then you should go with the Dell OptiPlex 7040 MT which was released in 2015. The HP EliteDesk 800 G1 USDT is older and entered production in 2013.
If you are looking for the smaller form factor the HP EliteDesk 800 G1 USDT is the right one for you. It is smaller than the Dell OptiPlex 7040 MT 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 7040 MT as it is running a newer generation CPU. This is not to say that HP EliteDesk 800 G1 USDT is bad - it can still run some powerful CPUs, albeit being an older generation.
Memory
Both models have have equal amount of ram slots (4 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 7040 MT is using the faster 2133 MT/s RAM. The HP EliteDesk 800 G1 USDT is slower by supporting RAM speeds of up to 1600 MT/s. Additionally, if you will be needing a lot of RAM, better go for the Dell OptiPlex 7040 MT as it has the ability to run 64 GB of RAM. The HP EliteDesk 800 G1 USDT can do a bit less at max 32 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 10. 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.
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.
The Dell OptiPlex 7040 MT comes with an HDMI port, while the HP EliteDesk 800 G1 USDT 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 7040 MT is better equipped as it comes with 4 SATA slot(s), while the HP EliteDesk 800 G1 USDT 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 EliteDesk 800 G1 USDT comes with a decent 180 Watt PSU, but the Dell OptiPlex 7040 MT has a more powerful one rated at 240 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
