---
title: "HP EliteDesk 800 G3 SFF — Teardown, Upgrade & Benchmarks"
aliases: [elitedesk-800-g3-teardown, hp-sff-upgrade-guide]
tags: [homelab, hardware, hp, sff, upgrade, benchmark]
sources: [raw/HP EliteDesk 800 G3 SFF - Teardown, re-assembly and upgrade.md]
created: 2026-04-30
updated: 2026-04-30
---

## Overview

The HP EliteDesk 800 G3 SFF is a small form factor desktop often available cheaply at auctions. It uses a **proprietary motherboard and PSU connector** — not standard ATX — which limits some upgrade paths but still allows CPU, RAM, SSD, and GPU swaps.

Reference config (video unit): i7-7700 · GTX 1050 Ti (low-profile) · 16 GB DDR4 · 256 GB NVMe SSD

---

## Exterior Ports

**Front**
- 1× USB-C
- 2× USB 3.0
- 2× USB 2.0
- Audio in/out
- Power button
- Slim optical drive bay
- Optional SD-card reader slot

**Back**
- DisplayPort
- Flexible port option (VGA/DP/HDMI via option card)
- RJ45 (Gigabit)
- 2× USB 2.0 + 2× USB 3.0
- Power connector
- GPU video outputs (from installed card)

---

## Motherboard Layout

Non-standard form factor — not ATX/ITX. Key connectors:

| Component | Detail |
|-----------|--------|
| PCIe slots | 1× x16 (GPU), 2× x1, 1× x4 (downshifted) |
| RAM slots | 4× DDR4 DIMM — DIMM1/2 = Ch. B, DIMM3/4 = Ch. A |
| Storage | 1× M.2 NVMe SSD, 3× SATA, 1× M.2 Wi-Fi |
| Power | Proprietary non-standard PSU connector |
| Option card | VGA / DisplayPort / HDMI output slot |
| CMOS reset | Physical button on board |

**Proprietary connectors = motherboard and PSU cannot be swapped for generic parts.**

---

## Disassembly Procedure

1. **Open case** — slide latch on top cover, no tools needed
2. **Open airflow panel** — provides better access to NVMe, SATA, and RAM
3. **Remove CPU cooler cover** (plastic airflow shroud)
4. Disconnect and slide out **slim DVD drive** (green latch release)
5. Remove **front panel**
6. Remove **GPU** (low-profile PCIe card, 4 GB VRAM)
7. Disconnect **proprietary power connectors**
8. Remove **NVMe SSD** (single retention screw)
9. Remove **RAM sticks**
10. Unscrew 4 screws → lift **CPU cooler**
11. Lift lever → remove **CPU** (LGA 1151)
12. Remove **motherboard** from chassis

---

## Upgrade Notes

### RAM — Dual Channel
- Use matching DIMMs in **same-colour slots** (one per channel)
- For 16 GB: 2× 8 GB — one in Ch. A slot, one in Ch. B slot

### CPU Cooler Replacement
- Stock cooler can develop bearing noise
- Replacement must be **PWM 4-pin** type
- Heatsink mounts to chassis (not board) — install after board is seated in case
- Clean old paste with isopropyl alcohol before applying new thermal paste

### 3.5" HDD Addition
- Install standoff screws on drive
- Slide into drive cage
- Connect SATA data + power cables

### GPU (Low-Profile Required)
- SFF case requires **low-profile PCIe card**
- Tested: Gigabyte GTX 1050 Ti (4 GB VRAM) — fits the x16 slot

---

## Reassembly Order

1. CPU into socket (match orientation notch)
2. NVMe SSD → slot + screw
3. RAM → correct channel slots
4. Motherboard into case
5. CPU cooler + thermal paste → fix to chassis
6. Connect CPU fan to board
7. Airflow cover (clips onto CPU fan)
8. Power cables + speaker
9. DVD drive + SATA cable
10. 3.5" HDD → cage + cables
11. GPU → PCIe slot
12. SATA data cable for HDD
13. Front cover → top cover

---

## Benchmark Results (i7-7700 + GTX 1050 Ti)

| Test | Result |
|------|--------|
| Geekbench CPU | Expected for i7-7700 generation |
| Geekbench Compute (GPU) | Expected for GTX 1050 Ti |
| Microsoft Flight Simulator (Medium, 1080p) | ~30 FPS steady |
| GTA V (Very High + AA, 1080p) | Consistent 60+ FPS |

### Thermal Observations
- CPU and GPU approach **~90°C** under sustained load (Flight Simulator)
- GTA V similarly runs hot
- SFF chassis limits airflow — **monitor temps if running sustained workloads**

---

## Key Takeaways

- The EliteDesk 800 G3 SFF uses **proprietary PSU and motherboard connectors** — plan upgrades around this constraint
- Case opens **tool-free** via a single top-cover latch; very serviceable for the form factor
- CPU cooler mounts to the **chassis** not the board — must be installed after the board is seated
- Dual-channel RAM requires same-colour DIMM pairing (Ch. A + Ch. B)
- GTX 1050 Ti (low-profile) is the practical GPU ceiling for this chassis without a riser
- Thermals are borderline under sustained 3D load — consider improved case airflow or undervolting for homelab/compute use
- For homelab use (Proxmox, LXCs), thermal load is far lighter — see [[wiki/homelab/hp-elitedesk-800g3-proxmox|HP Elitedesk 800 G3 — Proxmox Setup Log]]

---

## Related Articles

- [[wiki/homelab/hp-elitedesk-800g3-proxmox|HP Elitedesk 800 G3 — Proxmox Setup Log]]
- [[wiki/homelab/homelab-from-scratch-budget-build|Homelab From Scratch — Budget-First Design]]
- [[wiki/homelab/bigibz1-homelab-hardware|bigibz1 Homelab Hardware Reference]]
- [[wiki/homelab/homelab-services-map|Homelab — Full Services Map & Network Reference]]

---

## Sources

- [YouTube: HP EliteDesk 800 G3 SFF — Teardown, re-assembly and upgrade (jensd_be, 2021-03-08)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1ETa3mJ85I)
