Dell OptiPlex M Plus 7020 2024 vs. HP ProDesk 400 G4 Microtower

Comparison and Differences

Dell_OptiPlex_M_Plus_7020_2024.jpg case front and back pannel

HP_ProDesk_400_G4_Microtower.jpg case front and back pannel

Model
Form factor	Micro	Mini Tower
CPU options	Intel Gen 12&13&14 i3/i5/i7/i9;	Intel Gen6&7 i3/i5/i7; Celeron; Pentium;
Chipset	Q670	H270
Dedicated GPU *	N.A.	GeForce GTX 1660 Super
RAM	SODIMM DDR5-5600	DIMM DDR4-2400
RAM slots	2	2
RAM speed	5600 MT/s	2400 MT/s
RAM max	64 GB	64 GB
USB ports	USB-A 3.0; (3x) USB-A 3.1; USB-C 3.2;	(4x)USB-A 3.0; (4x)USB-A 2.0;
Video ports	(3x) Display Port 1.4a;	DisplayPort; VGA;
Other ports	RJ45; Audio; Line-Out/In;	RJ45; Headset Line-Out; Line-In;
Optional ports	HDMI 2.0b/Displayport/VGA/PS2/serial/USB Type-C;	SD card reader; Serial and (2x) PS2;
SATA ports	0	3
PCI slots	N.A.	PCIe 3.0 x16; PCIe 3.0 x1; PCIe 3.0 x16 (wired x4);
M.2 slots	(2x) M.2 2230/2280 (PCIe 4.0 x4, NVMe); M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT)	M.2 2230 (WiFi/BT)
Drive bays	N.A.	2.5/3.5in; 3.5in; 5.25in (slim)
PSU	130/180 W	180/310 W
Weight	1.36kg (3.00 lb)	5.47 kg (12.06 lb)
Released	2024	2017
Manual	link	link
Price**	Check Price	Check 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 M Plus 7020 2024 and HP ProDesk 400 G4 Microtower

If you are looking for a more modern desktop, then you should go with the Dell OptiPlex M Plus 7020 2024 which was released in 2024. The HP ProDesk 400 G4 Microtower is older and entered production in 2017.

If you are looking for the smaller form factor the Dell OptiPlex M Plus 7020 2024 is the right one for you. It is smaller than the HP ProDesk 400 G4 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 Dell OptiPlex M Plus 7020 2024 as it is running a newer generation CPU. This is not to say that HP ProDesk 400 G4 Microtower 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 Dell OptiPlex M Plus 7020 2024 is using the faster 5600 MT/s RAM. The HP ProDesk 400 G4 Microtower is slower by supporting RAM speeds of up to 2400 MT/s. 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 HP ProDesk 400 G4 Microtower has 8 USB ports. The Dell OptiPlex M Plus 7020 2024 is inferior in this regard and packs 5 USB ports. In any case, if you miss USB ports, you can always purchase a USB hub. What is nice about the Dell OptiPlex M Plus 7020 2024, is that it has 3 USB 3.1 port(s) which allows transfer of up to 10Gb/s. Unfortunately, the HP ProDesk 400 G4 Microtower has no such port, thus restricting your transfer speeds significantly. For people who want to use external drives on regular basis, this might be an issue.

DisplayPort is crucial for any desktop machine. It is good to see that both models are featuring DisplayPorts. However, the Dell OptiPlex M Plus 7020 2024 comes with 3 ports, while the HP ProDesk 400 G4 Microtower has only 1. If you are planning to use multiple monitors, the Dell OptiPlex M Plus 7020 2024 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 G4 Microtower is better equipped as it comes with 3 SATA slot(s), while the Dell OptiPlex M Plus 7020 2024 has 0 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 Dell OptiPlex M Plus 7020 2024. Sadly, the HP ProDesk 400 G4 Microtower 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 Dell OptiPlex M Plus 7020 2024 comes with a decent 180 Watt PSU, but the HP ProDesk 400 G4 Microtower has a more powerful one rated at 310 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.