Comparison between HP ProDesk 405 G2, G3, and G4 Mini computers

The HP ProDesk 405 G2, G3, and G4 Mini are successive generations of small form factor business desktop PCs. The main differences between them involve processor generation, chipset improvements, graphics capability, and I/O features. Here’s a breakdown:

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🖥️ 1. Processor & Performance

Each generation updates the CPU to newer AMD APUs:

Model	Typical CPUs	Architecture	Notes
G2	AMD PRO A6-8570, A10-9700	7th Gen “Bristol Ridge” (AM4)	Based on older Excavator cores
G3	AMD Ryzen 3 2200GE, Ryzen 5 2400GE	1st Gen Ryzen (Zen)	Huge leap in performance and efficiency
G4	AMD Ryzen 5 Pro 3400GE, Ryzen 7 Pro 3700GE	2nd Gen Ryzen (Zen+)	Slightly faster than G3, better thermals

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🧠 2. Graphics

Generation	GPU Technology	Capabilities
G2	Radeon R5/R7 Graphics	Basic multimedia, light use
G3	Vega 8 / Vega 11	Improved integrated graphics, usable for moderate tasks
G4	Vega 11+ (Zen+)	Slight improvement over G3, better 4K/dual monitor support

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🔌 3. Connectivity & Ports

Feature	G2	G3	G4
USB-C	❌ No	✅ Yes (some models)	✅ Yes (more standard)
USB 3.1 Gen2	❌ No	✅ Some ports	✅ More ports
Display Output	DisplayPort, VGA	DisplayPort (dual)	DisplayPort (dual), optional HDMI
Wi-Fi/Bluetooth	Optional	Standard on more models	Often standard

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🧩 4. Other Differences

• G4 includes improved thermals, quieter fans, and slightly better BIOS features (including TPM 2.0 for Windows 11).
• G3 introduces NVMe SSD support, which is not always available on G2.
• G4 tends to support more RAM and faster memory speeds (e.g., DDR4-2933 vs DDR4-2400).

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Summary: Which to choose?

• G2: Budget choice, but outdated CPU and slower performance.
• G3: Great value; significant jump in CPU and GPU vs G2.
• G4: Best overall, with incremental upgrades; ideal for Windows 11, virtualization, or heavier use.

If you’re doing light office work, G3 is the sweet spot. For future-proofing, G4 is worth the extra cost.

The HP ProDesk Mini G2, G3, and G4 are also available with Intel Core i5 processors (in parallel with the AMD variants). Here’s a detailed spec comparison guide focused on Intel Core i5 versions, highlighting performance, features, and generation differences:

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🖥️ HP ProDesk Mini G2 vs G3 vs G4 — Intel Core i5 Models

Feature	HP ProDesk 600 G2 Mini	HP ProDesk 600 G3 Mini	HP ProDesk 600 G4 Mini
CPU	6th Gen Intel Core i5(i5-6500T / i5-6600T)	7th Gen Intel Core i5(i5-7500T / i5-7600T)	8th Gen Intel Core i5(i5-8500T / i5-8600T)
Architecture	Skylake (14nm)	Kaby Lake (14nm+)	Coffee Lake (14nm++)
Cores/Threads	4 cores / 4 threads	4 cores / 4 threads	6 cores / 6 threads
Base Clock	~2.5–2.8 GHz	~2.7–2.8 GHz	~2.1–2.7 GHz
Max Turbo	~3.1–3.5 GHz	~3.3–3.5 GHz	~3.5–4.0 GHz
TDP	35W	35W	35W
RAM Support	DDR4-2133	DDR4-2400	DDR4-2666
Max RAM	32 GB	32 GB	64 GB
Storage Options	SATA SSD/HDD	SATA + optional M.2	M.2 NVMe standard + SATA
USB Ports	USB 3.0 only	USB 3.1 Gen1 / Gen2	USB-C + more USB 3.1 Gen2
Display Outputs	2x DisplayPort	2x DisplayPort	2x DisplayPort (+ optional HDMI)
Wi-Fi/Bluetooth	Optional	Optional or built-in	Built-in (standard on many configs)
TPM Version	TPM 1.2	TPM 2.0 (firmware upgradable)	TPM 2.0 (Windows 11 ready)

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🔍 Key Differences

🔧 Performance

• G4 is the biggest jump, with 6-core CPUs — much faster multitasking and future-proofed.
• G2 → G3: modest clock speed increase.
• G3 → G4: leap in core count (from 4 → 6 cores).

💾 RAM & Storage

• G4 supports up to 64GB RAM and faster DDR4.
• NVMe SSD support is native in G4, partial in G3, and usually absent in G2.

🖧 Connectivity

• G2 lacks USB-C and newer USB standards.
• G4 introduces USB-C, better Wi-Fi, and more modern I/O.

🛡️ Security

• G4 includes TPM 2.0 out of the box — required for Windows 11.
• G2 may need firmware updates (or might not support Win 11 at all).

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🏁 Conclusion

Use Case	Best Option
Budget/Basic Office	G2 (i5-6500T) — good for Windows 10, light use
Balanced/Stable Performance	G3 (i5-7500T) — still useful in 2025 for office, education
Modern/Future-Proof	G4 (i5-8500T or 8600T) — ready for Windows 11, more cores, NVMe SSDs, better I/O

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