HP ProDesk 405 G4 Mini Performance and Power Consumption
Instead of going through the entire Linux-Bench test suite, we are going to show a few performance and power numbers here to give a general sense of performance. We actually planned to do storage testing, but then we realized that there was a huge variability in terms of what drives could be found in machines.
Python Linux 4.4.2 Kernel Compile Benchmark
This is one of the most requested benchmarks for STH over the past few years. The task was simple, we have a standard configuration file, the Linux 4.4.2 kernel from kernel.org, and make the standard auto-generated configuration utilizing every thread in the system. We are expressing results in terms of compiles per hour to make the results easier to read:
Performance-wise, we are fairly close to the AMD Ryzen Embedded V1756B that we saw in the HP T740 Thin Client.
7-zip Compression Performance
7-zip is a widely used compression/ decompression program that works cross-platform. We started using the program during our early days with Windows testing. It is now part of Linux-Bench.
Compared to the Intel options, the Ryzen 5 Pro 2400GE is somewhere between the Core i5-7500T and the Core i5-8500T.
OpenSSL Performance
OpenSSL is widely used to secure communications between servers. This is an important protocol in many server stacks. We first look at our sign tests:
Here are the verify results:
There are some lower-end options in the generation like the Ryzen 3 2200GE. Given the performance of the 2400GE, and the cost deltas between these units, we suggest just getting the 2400GE if possible.
Next, we are going to take a look at power consumption before getting to our key lessons learned and final words.
Power Consumption
Idle power consumption on 120V power we saw around 10-11W idle. We generally assume these nodes will use 9-12W idle so this is on the lower end of the range that we would have expect from older systems. Again, we do see power consumption creep slightly higher over time if dust accumulates in the fan/ heatsink and we had a new unit here.
The power supply for this unit is a 65W HP power adapter from the company’s notebook line. As you would expect, you can use the adapters from the company’s notebooks with this machine. Newer 1L PCs tend to use much larger power supplies and consume more power. In this machine, the 65W PSU powered the machine plus had additional headroom for USB devices.
Next, we are going to get into our key lessons learned, and that will focus on that second NIC.
Usually systems like this go on eBay for significantly cheaper. I ended up paying $200 each for my two. 16 GB of RAM instead of 8, but lacking the FlexIO board, 2.5″ chassis, and WiFi card.
Which FlexIO module is this? The only one I’m aware of with a standard RJ45 (3TQ26AA) HP only lists as compatible with the Z2 G4 series, so it’s very interesting that you got one working with a ProDesk 405 G4. I have a ProDesk 600 G5 here and it wouldn’t recognize the 3TQ26AA module, so there’s obviously a bit more to the compatibility but HP, as usual, doesn’t document these things very well…
Does anyone know if there’s actually that big a difference in price between Realtek’s PCIe and USB NICs that it’s worth it for HP to end up looking cheap and giving admins hardware heterogeneity to deal with; or is it a matter of what the header used by these little modules is cabled for?
From the brief look I took; it looks like at least some models support quite capable modules(DP and HDMI outs at fairly high resolutions; Thunderbolt; USB-C with DP alt mode); but compatibility doesn’t seem to be universal across all their little mini-PCs, so perhaps this model only has USB and video?
Where can I buy this Flex IO NIC ?