HP ProDesk 600 G4 SFF 2017, Core i5-8500, 32GB, 1TB SSD, Black

A refurbished office PC that gets the basics right with 32GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD, and a bundled monitor. The older i5 processor is the weak link, so it's strictly for productivity, not play. At the lower end of its $329 to $630 price range, it's a solid deal for a turnkey Windows 11 Pro setup.

The 8th Gen i5-8500 is the bottleneck here. It lands in the 22nd percentile for CPUs, which means it's fine for everyday office tasks but will show its age with heavy multitasking or demanding software. The 32GB of DDR4 RAM is a real highlight, sitting well above average and letting you keep dozens of browser tabs and apps open without a hiccup. The 1TB SSD is solidly middle-of-the-pack for speed and capacity, and the integrated UHD 630 graphics, while not a gaming chip, rank shockingly high at the 95th percentile for this class of desktop. Don't let that fool you into thinking it's a gaming rig, it just means most integrated GPUs in this category are even worse.

Stacked against a modern mini PC like the ASUS NUC 14 Pro or GMKtec Nucbox K11, the HP's older CPU is a clear weakness, but it fights back with that included monitor and massive RAM. The Apple Mac mini M4 is in a different league for performance and efficiency but costs more and lives in a different ecosystem. The Dell Optiplex 7070 is its closest spiritual sibling, another refurbished office box, but you'll need to compare specs carefully as they're often configured with less RAM and storage at similar prices.

Pricing is all over the map, from $329 to $630 depending on the seller and included accessories. At the low end, especially with a monitor and peripherals thrown in, this is a compelling deal for a basic office setup. At the higher end, you're dangerously close to newer, more powerful mini PCs or even a base Mac mini M4, which would run circles around this machine. If you can snag it closer to $329, it's a solid value.

The HP ProDesk 600 G4 SFF is a refurbished office workhorse that still has some fight left in it. You get a solid 32GB of RAM, a snappy 1TB SSD, and a bundled 24-inch monitor, all running Windows 11 Pro. It's built for spreadsheets, web apps, and multitasking, not gaming or creative work. The integrated graphics are surprisingly well-ranked in our database, but that's more a reflection of this category than raw power.

If you need to do any video editing, 3D modeling, or modern gaming, look elsewhere. The integrated graphics and aging processor will leave you frustrated. Also, if you want a machine that feels snappy for the next five years, a newer CPU in a mini PC or a Mac mini M4 is a much better long-term investment.

This is a purpose-built machine for a specific person: someone who needs a reliable, no-fuss Windows 11 Pro desktop for office work, web browsing, and heavy multitasking, and wants it all in one box with a monitor. It's not for gamers, video editors, or anyone who needs serious CPU horsepower. If that's you, and you find it at the right price, it's a smart buy.