Rate this PC

[Pyramix]

This is the s3000y PC from HP. To be used as a multimedia system. No rigorous gaming; maybe some RPGs or something but that's about it. HDTV, speakers and wireless keyboard/mouse to be bought separately. Any thoughts?

Genuine Windows Vista(TM) Home Premium (32-bit)
Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Duo processor E4300 (1.8GHz)
400GB 7200 rpm SATA 3Gb/s hard drive
2GB DDR2-667MHz dual channel SDRAM (2x1024)
LightScribe 16X DVD+/-R/RW SuperMulti drive
15-in-1 memory card reader, USB, headphone port
802.11 b/g USB Wireless LAN card
ATSC & NTSC TV tuners with PVR, remote
Integrated Intel(R) 950 video
Integrated 7.1 channel sound w/front audio ports

EDIT: I would've liked a better video chip but unfortunately that's not an option with this configuration. So, it's either onboard video or a different system entirely.

 

[AmberClad]

It seems a bit much for a system with integrated video. If the rest of the parts like the CPU and RAM were mainstream high-end (E6400/E6600 and DDR2-800), that'd be one thing, but they're not...

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: Pyramix
Rate this PC

3.75 out of 10

 

[Atheus]

Originally posted by: Pyramix
maybe some RPGs or something

Not even that probably - certainly not Oblivion, probably not KOTOR, WoW etc either... not with that video chip...

 

[Pyramix]

Building my own system is not really an option. And I want a small form factor since this system is going to go in my living room. Consdering those, this is one of the better systems I could find. You guys know of anything better?

 

[mushroom3]

buy it and add a video card

 

[Rockinacoustic]

I was able to configure this:

- Genuine Windows Vista(TM) Home Basic (32-bit)
? Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Duo processor E6320 (1.86GHz)
? FREE UPGRADE! 250GB 7200 rpm SATA 3Gb/s hard drive
? 512MB DDR2-667MHz dual channel SDRAM (2x256)
? LightScribe 16X DVD+/-R/RW SuperMulti drive
? 15-in-1 memory card reader, USB, headphone port
? NVIDIA GeForce 7300LE
? Integrated 7.1 channel sound w/front audio ports

Order Subtotal: $699.99

This is alot better of a bargain for the money. You'll still be hard pressed to play newer game, but the video upgrade is way better than integrated. With DDR2 prices low as ever, you'd be alot better off buying third-party and upgrading it on your own. Same for the TV tuner.

Just my 2cents, good luck

 

[Atheus]

Originally posted by: Pyramix
And I want a small form factor since this system is going to go in my living room.

Consider the noise. I belive some companies will build you a low noise 'HTPC' system and sell you Media Center with it, which I would get over vista, due to driver issues with TV cards.

 

[McCartney]

HP has phased out their media center pc's

or so says maximum PC

 

[Kaido]

How about this:

Vista Ultimate
1.9ghz dual-core Athlon X2
Seagate 500gb hard drive
2gb ram
Samsung LightScribe DVD burner
Floppy/Card reader
Linksys 802.11g USB adapter
Hauppauge PVR with Remote
Fanless 256mb Radeon X1550 video card
Shuttle XPC case with integrated 6-channel audio

$876.91 shipped from Newegg. Takes 15 minutes to build. Features:

-saves you over $100
-faster processor
-extra 100gb of space
-way better video card
-case is smaller and looks better
-Vista Ultimate instead of Vista Home Premium
-expandable for the future (better video card, HD TV tuner, 750gb or 1tb hard drive, Bluray or HD-DVD drive, etc.)

Use the $115 you save with this build to buy yourself a used Xbox 360 HD-DVD drive to hook up to your HDTV to watch HD-DVD movies

 

[aclim]

i wouldn't spend $900 on that system, its kind of crappy to say the least... Why cant you build your own???

 

[Pyramix]

Well, I suppose I could build my own. But I just didn't want to put in that extra time. Nor the extra time to look up all the things that I need in it. It's just much easier to buy a system that's been put together to work well. Try to figure out what kinda TV tuner(s) I need, what kind of aN HDTV, etc., and then putting it all together just takes too much time. Not to mention trying to figure out what makes the least noise and such.

 

[stevty2889]

Originally posted by: Kaido
How about this:

Vista Ultimate
1.9ghz dual-core Athlon X2
Seagate 500gb hard drive
2gb ram
Samsung LightScribe DVD burner
Floppy/Card reader
Linksys 802.11g USB adapter
Hauppauge PVR with Remote
Fanless 256mb Radeon X1550 video card
Shuttle XPC case with integrated 6-channel audio

$876.91 shipped from Newegg. Takes 15 minutes to build. Features:

-saves you over $100
-faster processor
-extra 100gb of space
-way better video card
-case is smaller and looks better
-Vista Ultimate instead of Vista Home Premium
-expandable for the future (better video card, HD TV tuner, 750gb or 1tb hard drive, Bluray or HD-DVD drive, etc.)

Use the $115 you save with this build to buy yourself a used Xbox 360 HD-DVD drive to hook up to your HDTV to watch HD-DVD movies

Err. you do know that a 1.8ghz core 2 duo is quite a bit faster than a 1.9ghz X2 right? Still a good system though.