Is this a good system?

wenbo · Joined: Sep 15, 2003 Posts: 367 Location: Ontario, Canada

Found a deal but want to know if it's lacking something and if I should buy or pass. Thanks for any input.

Base Features

Processor Type

AMD Phenom X4 9750 Quad Core

Processor Speed

2.4GHz

RAM

8 GB DDR2

Hard Drive Speed/Capacity

750 GB (7200 RPM) SATA

Optical Drives

Super Multi DVD Burner with LightScribe

Graphics

NVIDIA GeForce 9100

Pre-loaded Operating System

Windows Vista Home Premium 64-Bit

Graphics

Dedicated Video Memory

No

Shared Video Memory

Yes - Up To 1407 MB

TV Tuner

No

Video Memory

256 MB

Display

HDCP Compliant

Not Applicable

Native Screen Resolution

Not Applicable

Screen Size/Type

Not Applicable

Audio

Audio Output

8-Speaker Configurable

Digital Input

No

Digital Output

Yes

Integrated Microphone

No

Line Out

Yes

Line-In input

Yes

Microphone Input

Yes

Sound Card

High Definition Audio

Speaker Wattage

Not Applicable

Speakers

No

Networking

Ethernet Port

10/100 Ethernet

Integrated Bluetooth

No

Integrated WiFi

802.11 a/b/g/n

Inputs/Outputs

Card Reader

Yes - 15-in-1

Component Output

No

Composite Output

No

DVI Output

Yes

E-SATA

No

FireWire (IEEE 1394)

1 - Back

HDMI

No

Keyboard

HP USB

Modem

No

Mouse

HP USB Optical

Remote

No

S-Video Output

No

USB 2.0

4 Back, 2 Front

VGA Output

Yes

Webcam

No

Computing Features

Available AGP Slots

Not Applicable

Available Hard Drive Bays

1 External 3.5" (Available), 2 Internal 3.5" (1 Available)

Available Memory Slots

4 DIMM (240-pin, DDR2) (Occupied)

Available Optical Bays

2 External 5.25" (1 Available)

Available PCI Slots

No

Available PCI-E Slots

3 PCI-E x1 (2 Available), 1 PCI-E x16 (Available)

Power Supply

Information Not Available

Processor Cache

2 MB L2, 2 MB Shared L3

Removable Storage

No

System Bus

3600 MHz

Software

Loaded Software 1

Cyberlink DVD Suite Deluxe

Loaded Software 2

Microsoft Works 9.0

Loaded Software 3

HP MediaSmart Software Suite

Loaded Software 4

Operating System Language

English

goretsky · Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2009 9:06 pm Post subject:

Hello,

It does not sound bad, but that probably depends upon usage. If you are planning on playing any video games or doing any video editing then you might want to replace the on-board GeForce 9100 integrated graphics card with a dedicated video card.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

wenbo · Joined: Sep 15, 2003 Posts: 367 Location: Ontario, Canada

tbernstein · Joined: May 16, 2003 Posts: 1576 Location: London

Two parts to that question.
1.) The obvious one... how does it compare in price to other Canadian systems and;
2.) How do the features compare to your actual needs?

For example, with the 64 bit OS you can use the full 8Gb of Ram. But will you actually use 8Gig? And will your desired software use the 64bit OS? Come to that, will it support the hardware you want to use and the programmes you may have already. Replacing stuff can be expensive.
Most of Microsoft Office will work happily in 2Gig.
Video editing ( nothing high end, just the stuff off a camcorder) works fine in the 3.4 or so gig that a 32 bit system manages.
You don't need the extra 4 Gig for that, or for the high-end of computer gaming, because you are not a mad gamer.
The preloaded software, essentially MS Works, isn't very wonderful. And won't use a fraction of the power.
You'll have to pay to buy Windows 7 if you want to upgrade from Vista. And while there are pros and cons to upgrading, starting off with Windows 7 sounds to be a very good idea.. Win 7 is due out in a couple of weeks and it seems to be one hell of a lot friendler to use than Vista.
Or to put it another way.
Have you any uses for a computer that couldn't be met in a 32bit OS with 3 or so gig of memory? And can you got one the same price or cheaper, with the software you want?

PhotoCarp · Joined: Sep 06, 2007 Posts: 109

The only problem that I can see with that system is that it appears to double or triple execute a carriage return command.

drwho07 · Joined: Nov 29, 2007 Posts: 1546 Location: Central FL, USA

At the heart of any system's performance is the CPU, RAM and Hard Drive.

Those items seem to be well taken care of in that system.

I might want to get nosy and ask how many SATA ports are on the mobo and how many USB ports come out the back.
And, is the CD/DVD drive, SATA or IDE? (really a minor detail, but are there any open IDE ports?)

What size is the case and are there any open drive bays, for adding more HD's.
How many?

For most home computer users, the video that comes with the system would be more than satisfactory.

What kind of warranty comes with that system? and what kind of service can you get after the sale?

I seriously doubt that any tech could build that system , install the OS and software and deliver it to you, for that price. I'm sure I couldn't.

If you get it, please come back and let us know how it works out for you.

The Doctor Cool

goretsky

Hello,

If you do intend to upgrade the video card, either at purchase or a later date, you may wish to verify the power supply has sufficient wattage to power it.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

drwho07 · Joined: Nov 29, 2007 Posts: 1546 Location: Central FL, USA

JFYI:

It's a common practice with computer manufacturers, to add things that we might even call "Eye Candy" to make the computer more sellable (like the 15 in one card reader) and then stick in a Bestec 300 watt PSU, well known to fail in the first year or two.

With today's hardware putting so many demands on the PSU, I wouldn't dream of building a new PC with anything less than a 500 watt PSU from a known good manufacturer.

I have two systems here, that I call System 1 and System 2 and both have Antec Earthwatts 650 PSU's.
System 1 is about two years old and is my main system.
System 2 is about seven years old and is my backup system.
I built them both and from time to time I may connect an extra HD and I can do that without worrying about overtaxing the PSU.

Just off hand, I can think of nothing worse than buying a Super Computer with an insufficient PSU. That's a disaster, just waiting to happen. Crying or Very sad

Good Luck,
The Doctor Cool