HP EliteDesk 800 G8 Mini vs. HP ProDesk 600 G6 Microtower
Comparison and Differences
Differences between HP EliteDesk 800 G8 Mini and HP ProDesk 600 G6 Microtower
If you are looking for a more modern desktop, then you should go with the HP EliteDesk 800 G8 Mini which was released in 2021. The HP ProDesk 600 G6 Microtower is older and entered production in 2020.
If you are looking for the smaller form factor the HP EliteDesk 800 G8 Mini is the right one for you. It is smaller than the HP ProDesk 600 G6 Microtower 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 G8 Mini as it is running a newer generation CPU. This is not to say that HP ProDesk 600 G6 Microtower is bad - it can still run some powerful CPUs, albeit being an older generation.
Memory
The HP ProDesk 600 G6 Microtower has 4 RAM slots while the HP EliteDesk 800 G8 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 3200. In addition, you will be able to install the same amount of RAM in both models, and most probably 128 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
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. Both of the models have USB 3.1 ports which will allow you to exchange data with your peripherals at up to 10Gb/s. This is especially crucial if you are using external drives on a regular basis.
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.
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 HP ProDesk 600 G6 Microtower is better equipped as it comes with 4 SATA slot(s), while the HP EliteDesk 800 G8 Mini has 0 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 G8 Mini comes with a decent 90 Watt PSU, but the HP ProDesk 600 G6 Microtower has a more powerful one rated at 550 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
