HP ProDesk 400 G3 SFF vs. HP ProDesk 400 G4 Mini

Comparison and Differences

HP_ProDesk_400_G3_SFF.jpg case front and back pannelHP_ProDesk_400_G4_Mini.jpg case front and back pannel
Model
Form factorSmallMicro
CPU optionsIntel Gen6 i3/i5/i7; Celeron; Pentium;Intel Gen8 i3/i5/i7; Celeron; Pentium;
ChipsetH110 B360
Dedicated GPU *GeForce GT 1030 Low ProfileN.A.
RAMDIMM DDR4-2133SODIMM DDR4-2400
RAM slots22
RAM speed2133 MT/s2400 MT/s
RAM max32 GB32 GB
USB ports(4x)USB-A 3.0; (4x)USB-A 2.0; (4x)USB-A 3.0; (2x)USB-A 2.0;
Video portsDisplayPort; VGA;(2x) DisplayPort;
Other portsRJ45; Hdph; Mic; Line-Out; Line-In; Serial; (2x) PS2; RJ45; Headset; Hdph;
Optional portsSD card reader; Serial; Parallel;DP/HDMI/VGA/Serial/USB-C; WiFi anntena;
SATA ports21
PCI slotsPCIe 3.0 x16; PCIe 2.0 x1; N.A.
M.2 slotsN.A.M.2 2280/2230 M-key (PCIe x4); M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT)
Drive bays3.5in; 5.25in (slim)2.5in
PSU180 W65/90/150 W
Weight4.43 kg (9.8 lb)1.77 kg (2.9 lb)
Released20162018
Manuallinklink
Price**Check PriceCheck Price

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* 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 HP ProDesk 400 G3 SFF and HP ProDesk 400 G4 Mini

If you are looking for a more modern desktop, then you should go with the HP ProDesk 400 G4 Mini which was released in 2018. The HP ProDesk 400 G3 SFF is older and entered production in 2016.

If you are looking for the smaller form factor the HP ProDesk 400 G4 Mini is the right one for you. It is smaller than the HP ProDesk 400 G3 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 G4 Mini as it is running a newer generation CPU. This is not to say that HP ProDesk 400 G3 SFF 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 HP ProDesk 400 G4 Mini is using the faster 2400 MT/s RAM. The HP ProDesk 400 G3 SFF is slower by supporting RAM speeds of up to 2133 MT/s. In addition, you will be able to install the same amount of RAM in both models, and most probably 32 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 HP ProDesk 400 G3 SFF has 8 USB ports. The HP ProDesk 400 G4 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.

DisplayPort is crucial for any desktop machine. It is good to see that both models are featuring DisplayPorts. However, the HP ProDesk 400 G4 Mini comes with 2 ports, while the HP ProDesk 400 G3 SFF has only 1. If you are planning to use multiple monitors, the HP ProDesk 400 G4 Mini is the better choice.

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 400 G3 SFF is better equipped as it comes with 2 SATA slot(s), while the HP ProDesk 400 G4 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 G4 Mini. Sadly, the HP ProDesk 400 G3 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 G4 Mini comes with a decent 150 Watt PSU, but the HP ProDesk 400 G3 SFF has a more powerful one rated at 180 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

HP_ProDesk_400_G3_SFF_motherboard.jpg motherboard layoutHP_ProDesk_400_G4_Mini_motherboard.jpg motherboard layout