HP M9300t

Andy T

Senior member
Jul 24, 2008
215
1
81
I ordered the M9300t Elite with the following specs:
Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium with Service Pack 1 (64-bit)
- Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Quad processor Q6700 (2.66GHz)
- FREE UPGRADE to 3GB DDR2-800MHz dual channel SDRAM from 2GB
- 256MB NVIDIA GeForce 9300, DVI-I, VGA adapter,HDMI
- No Modem
- 320GB 7200 rpm SATA 3Gb/s hard drive
- Blu-ray / HD DVD player & Lightscribe SuperMulti DVD burner
- 15-in-1 memory card reader, 2 USB, 1394, video, audio
- ATSC-NTSC TV tuner with PVR, FM tuner, remote

I got it through the fw deal a while back, so I paid $650 for the system.

My intent was to change the video card to 9800GTX and use it as a gaming machine.
However, after I got the pc, I realized that it was lacking a few key items:
1. The case is too small and everything is packed too closely together.
Channell 0 and 1 sata ports are on the end opposite the PCIe slot. Since 9800GTX
is very long, it would cover up the ports, so I wouldn't be able to use them.
2. The power supply is only 350Watts. It could probably work without 9800GTX, but I would
still like to change it.
3. Because the case is so small, putting the video card in would probably hinder the airflow, it would also be sitting right above a heatsink used for a chipset?

As a result I have a number of options:
1. Upgrade power supply and videocard.
2. Move the motherboard to a bigger case and upgrade power supply and video card.
3. Return the PC and either build my own and buy a pc in a bigger case.

After some thought I chose #3. I do feel that HP would make an excellent media center pc, since it comes with digital tuner and an IR remote.
I am curious what are some thoughts others have on my choices.
 

IlllI

Diamond Member
Feb 12, 2002
4,927
11
81
my question is : didnt you do some research about these issues before you bought it?

 

Andy T

Senior member
Jul 24, 2008
215
1
81
I did some research, but wasn't expecting such a small case. Live and learn.
 

saiga6360

Member
Mar 27, 2007
61
0
0
I bought this 2 weeks ago (couldn't resist, Q9450 + same specs - Bluray = 642$) and I'm planning to swap the PSU and video card (HX520 and HD3870) from my older HP M8 series machine. Their interior are relatively the same size so I think I can make it happen. The newer vid cards are probably only .25 inches longer so a further upgrade is probably not out of the question. Worst case scenario, I buy another case for 80$.