Dell OptiPlex 980 SFF vs. HP ProDesk 400 G3 Mini

Comparison and Differences

Dell_OptiPlex_980_SFF.jpg case front and back pannelHP_ProDesk_400_G3_Mini.jpg case front and back pannel
Model
Form factorSmallMicro
CPU optionsIntel Gen1 i3/i5/i7; Pentium Dual Core;Intel Gen6&7 i3/i5/i7; Celeron; Pentium;
ChipsetQ57 H270
Dedicated GPU *GeForce GTX 1650 Low ProfileN.A.
RAMDIMM DDR3-1060/1333SODIMM DDR4-2400
RAM slots42
RAM speed1333 MT/s2400 MT/s
RAM max16 GB32 GB
USB ports(8x)USB-A 2.0; (4x)USB-A 3.0; (2x)USB-A 2.0;
Video portsDisplayPort 1.2; VGA;DisplayPort;
Other portsRJ45; Hdph; (2x) Mic; Line-Out; Line-In; PS2/COM; Serial; Parallel; eSATARJ45; Hdph; Mic/Headset; Serial;
Optional portsN.A.DP/HDMI/VGA/Serial; WiFi antenna;
SATA ports31
PCI slotsPCIe 2.0 x16;N.A.
M.2 slotsN.A.M.2 2280 M-key (PCIe x4); M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT)
Drive bays(2x)3.5in; (2x)5.25in (slim);2.5in
PSU235 W65/90 W
Weight5.90 kg (13.00 lb)1.21 kg (2.67 lb)
Released20102016
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 980 SFF and HP ProDesk 400 G3 Mini

If you are looking for a more modern desktop, then you should go with the HP ProDesk 400 G3 Mini which was released in 2016. The Dell OptiPlex 980 SFF is older and entered production in 2010.

If you are looking for the smaller form factor the HP ProDesk 400 G3 Mini is the right one for you. It is smaller than the Dell OptiPlex 980 SFF 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 400 G3 Mini as it is running a newer generation CPU. This is not to say that Dell OptiPlex 980 SFF is bad - it can still run some powerful CPUs, albeit being an older generation.

Memory

The Dell OptiPlex 980 SFF has 4 RAM slots while the HP ProDesk 400 G3 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.

The HP ProDesk 400 G3 Mini is using the faster 2400 MT/s RAM. The Dell OptiPlex 980 SFF 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 ProDesk 400 G3 Mini as it has the ability to run 32 GB of RAM. The Dell OptiPlex 980 SFF can do a bit less at max 16 GB. Most of the times, this should be sufficient for the majority of users.

Ports

In total the Dell OptiPlex 980 SFF has 10 USB ports. The HP ProDesk 400 G3 Mini is inferior in this regard and packs 6 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.

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 Dell OptiPlex 980 SFF is better equipped as it comes with 3 SATA slot(s), while the HP ProDesk 400 G3 Mini 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 ProDesk 400 G3 Mini. Sadly, the Dell OptiPlex 980 SFF 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 ProDesk 400 G3 Mini comes with a decent 90 Watt PSU, but the Dell OptiPlex 980 SFF has a more powerful one rated at 235 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_980_SFF_motherboard.jpg motherboard layoutHP_ProDesk_400_G3_Mini_motherboard.jpg motherboard layout