Dell OptiPlex 5000 SFF vs. HP ProDesk 400 G6 Mini
Comparison and Differences
Differences between Dell OptiPlex 5000 SFF and HP ProDesk 400 G6 Mini
If you are looking for a more modern desktop, then you should go with the Dell OptiPlex 5000 SFF which was released in 2022. The HP ProDesk 400 G6 Mini is older and entered production in 2020.
If you are looking for the smaller form factor the HP ProDesk 400 G6 Mini is the right one for you. It is smaller than the Dell OptiPlex 5000 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 Dell OptiPlex 5000 SFF as it is running a newer generation CPU. This is not to say that HP ProDesk 400 G6 Mini is bad - it can still run some powerful CPUs, albeit being an older generation.
Memory
The Dell OptiPlex 5000 SFF has 4 RAM slots while the HP ProDesk 400 G6 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. Additionally, if you will be needing a lot of RAM, better go for the Dell OptiPlex 5000 SFF as it has the ability to run 128 GB of RAM. The HP ProDesk 400 G6 Mini can do a bit less at max 64 GB. Most of the times, this should be sufficient for the majority of users.
Ports
In total the Dell OptiPlex 5000 SFF has 10 USB ports. The HP ProDesk 400 G6 Mini is inferior in this regard and packs 7 USB ports. In any case, if you miss USB ports, you can always purchase a USB hub. It's great that both of the models have USB 3.1 ports which will allow you to exchange data with your peripherals at up to 10Gb/s. But if you need maximum connectivity, go with the HP ProDesk 400 G6 Mini as it has 2 USB3.1 ports (the Dell OptiPlex 5000 SFF has 1).
DisplayPort is crucial for any desktop machine. It is good to see that both models are featuring DisplayPorts. However, the Dell OptiPlex 5000 SFF comes with 2 ports, while the HP ProDesk 400 G6 Mini has only 1. If you are planning to use multiple monitors, the Dell OptiPlex 5000 SFF is the better choice.
The HP ProDesk 400 G6 Mini comes with an HDMI port, while the Dell OptiPlex 5000 SFF 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 5000 SFF is better equipped as it comes with 3 SATA slot(s), while the HP ProDesk 400 G6 Mini 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 ProDesk 400 G6 Mini comes with a decent 65 Watt PSU, but the Dell OptiPlex 5000 SFF has a more powerful one rated at 300 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
