I didn't want to go the build-it-yourself PC route, and after a lot of searching (trying to find one with a half decent video card) I finally managed to pick up the
HP Pavilion p6218F Desktop PC up on Boxing Day. This is my first HP product (also my first PC with an AMD CPU) and so far I am quite happy with it.
HP Pavilion p6218F Desktop PC Specs
- Athlon II X3 425
- 8GB DDR3 RAM
- 1 TB HDD
- ATI Radeon HD 4650 (which has a HDMI port)
- Windows 7 Home Premium
Decent CPU (I don't need much CPU power), fairly solid video card (really hard to find this from the major PC manufacturers on these pre-built systems), good amount of RAM, and Windows 7. It's pretty much exactly what I was looking for. It runs quietly, also has a wireless LAN, and a card reader which is all great to have. Now I just have to see if HP (unlike other brands I've experienced lately...
Acer and
Lenovo) can deliver a reliable product that will last me a few years.
UPDATE: Six years later...
The PC is still running strong after six years of on and off use. It went into "temporary retirement" as I used my Asus laptop primarily for a year or so, but have brought it back into daily use and it's still a solid performer after six years. That's pretty good. Just for fun, I looked at desktop PCs on the market today, and while today's PCs are definitely better at the same price point...It's proven to be reliable and still fast enough for web surfing and home theatre usage. HP desktops are definitely on my watch list, if I am in the market for one in the future.
