HP Pavilion P6520F : Good or bad Choice?

[ipskang]

Hello everyone,


I am planning to buy HP Pavilion p6520f Desktop for myself...I am gonna use it for playing movies,internet surfing, learning web development ( PHP) and making Content management website..

Is it a right choice? I am getting it for $585( Including Taxes) , Please find the specifications below

http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/ca/ [...] 16277.html

It has H-RS880-uATX (Aloe) motherboard with AMD 785G Chipset...Never heard of Aleo motherboard's earlier

I am not buying monitor as I will attach it with my Panasonic TV ( http://www.plasma.com/panasoniclcd/tcl32c22.htm )

Will it work fine or I have to check particular thing before attaching it to TV ?...I mean in terms of resolution or something else

Please advice !!!!

Regards,
Ipskang

 

[Harvey]

1. Your link to HP is bad. Here's a direct link to product info on HP.

2. Here's a direct link to info about the motherboard. It's an OEM board made by Foxconn, which is a respectable manufacturer.

This model sells for over $600 U.S. For that price, I think you could do much better. I'm a moderator so I know you're posting from Canada. Look for specials in the weekly flyers from Office Depot and Staples.

You may be able to save enough to get better or more hardware or to include a monitor in your purchase.

HP is one of my favorite brands for laptops because they've always given me excellent technical support, but I hesitate to buy ready built desktops from any maker because they almost always include undersized power supplies.

Think again about whether you want to get into building your own system from well chosen components. Look around the various forums for discussions on good choices for components, and check out Newegg's Canadian site for their specials. You won't get the mostly useless software they include, but you'll almost always end up with better hardware for less money, including the price for a copy of Win 7.

And yes, you may run into a problem using your Panasonic plasma TV. The site specs the native resolution as 1,366 x 768, which may not be an available setting for the onboard video or any other video card.

Good luck.

 

[ipskang]

Hey Harvey,

Thanks a lot for replying. I checked Weekly flyers on Staples and Best buy but didn't find anything with the specifications on the HP.I found the deal forHP Pavillion at New egg for $529.

I have never built PC before.

Which Company's already build system should I buy If not HP?

How much I can save If I built of my own?

I don't want to buy Monitor because I don't have space and I want to attach it to TV for watching videos. Is there any option where I can use TV as Monitor?

 

[Trizik]

my opinion is another point against HP

build your own or you'll pay too much for less

even Newegg has pre-built computers that would be better than HP:
http://www.newegg.com/Store/SubCateg...me=Desktop-PCs

you could even start off with one of Newegg's barebones computers and then buy whatever hardware is missing:
http://www.newegg.com/Store/Category...Mini-Computers

of course you would be best off building from the ground up!

 

[Harvey]

Hey Harvey,

Thanks a lot for replying. I checked Weekly flyers on Staples and Best buy but didn't find anything with the specifications on the HP.I found the deal forHP Pavillion at New egg for $529.

Well, that sets a price point for your shopping. I still think you can do better building your own machine from selected components.

I have never built PC before.

There's always a first time. The hardest part is selecting a good compliment of parts. That's one of the benefits of this and other computer-oriented forums. Read through the forum discussions, and check reviews on the main site and other geek hangouts. I generally trust user reviews on Newegg, but they're an exception. Without experience to know better, I don't trust alleged user reviews from most sellers because many of them are planted by company marketing people.

Once you have your parts, you can't really go far wrong if you know which end of a phillips screwdrive is the business end because they only go together one way... the right way.

Do you have any geek friends who could help you choose parts and assemble them?

Another option would be to shop at a local REAL computer store if there are any near you. If they have decent prices on parts, they could quote you on an assmbled system of selected parts that should include at least a one year warranty. Some stores that, for a set priice, will assemble a collection of parts you bring them and install Windows. Of course, they can't be responsible for the warranty on parts you buy elsewhere.

Which Company's already build system should I buy If not HP?

If you're set on buying a ready built system, HP is probably as good as any, if only because I trust their tech support. I buy HP products specifically because they are NOT Gateway. When you need them, HP tries to help you while Gateway tries to sell you something.

How much I can save If I built of my own?

Too deep a question with too many variables for a quick answer. Do some homework on what you really want, and you'll know more and better.

I don't want to buy Monitor because I don't have space and I want to attach it to TV for watching videos. Is there any option where I can use TV as Monitor?

The specs for your TV says it has a PC input. Look on the back. If it has a VGA connector, it will do something with the input. The onboard video has a DVI connector, and the TV has an HDMI connector. You can buy an adapter to go between them so that may be another viable way to use the TV with the computer.

In either case, I just don't know how good it will look if the video adapter can't match the native resolution of the screen.

 

[dac7nco]

Harvey, 1366x768 is a standard resolution - it's the native resolution of most 720p TVs, and some (small) LCD monitors. OP, your TV will work fine.

Daimon

 

[ipskang]

There's always a first time. The hardest part is selecting a good compliment of parts. That's one of the benefits of this and other computer-oriented forums. Read through the forum discussions, and check reviews on the main site and other geek hangouts. I generally trust user reviews on Newegg, but they're an exception. Without experience to know better, I don't trust alleged user reviews from most sellers because many of them are planted by company marketing people.

It will be a good experience. Yes I will build my own PC. I will do some homework and then will discuss with you guys

Do you have any geek friends who could help you choose parts and assemble them?

No I don't have geek friends who can help me assembling the PC.

Another option would be to shop at a local REAL computer store if there are any near you. If they have decent prices on parts, they could quote you on an assmbled system of selected parts that should include at least a one year warranty. Some stores that, for a set priice, will assemble a collection of parts you bring them and install Windows. Of course, they can't be responsible for the warranty on parts you buy elsewhere.

There is only one local computer store who deals in computer assembling and he charges a lot. Once I decide that what stuff I need for my PC then I can get quote from him

Look on the back. If it has a VGA connector, it will do something with the input.

There is a VGA connector at the back of the TV

You can buy an adapter to go between them so that may be another viable way to use the TV with the computer.

What kind of adapter do I need?

Should I continue with this thread or create new for my PC build?

Thanks a lot guys for your help

Ipskang

 

[Harvey]

Harvey, 1366x768 is a standard resolution - it's the native resolution of most 720p TVs, and some (small) LCD monitors. OP, your TV will work fine.

Daimon

Thanks. I just wasn't sure it was a standard option for resolution in graphic adapters.

You can buy an adapter to go between them so that may be another viable way to use the TV with the computer.

What kind of adapter do I need?

One like this:

Here's a list of models from newegg.ca. You can probably find them locally at a shop like BestBuy, as well, but probably for more money.

Should I continue with this thread or create new for my PC build?

Start by reading through this thread and this one. I think you'll enjoy the search, and you'll learn enough that you'll be far more informed when you're ready to post your next round of questions in a new thread and far more prepared to understand the answers you get.

Thanks a lot guys for your help

Ipskang

That's why we're all here. It's a fun job, but somebody's got to do it.

 

[ipskang]

1. I want to build mid end PC for creating websites and watching movies
2. My budget $550-650
3. I will buy parts in Canada
4. I want to get AMD processor as its cheaper than Intel and no preference for other products
5. No currents will be used
6. I was planning to buy HP Pavilion P6520F http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=80121 but geeks on the website suggested build it myself. I haven’t built any PC before.
7. Yes I would like to plan overclocking
8. I am not a hard core gamer, AlthoughI will be attaching system to my TV http://www.plasma.com/panasoniclcd/tcl32c22.htm , should buying monitor is recommended?
9. Once I get all the parts, I will start building it