kcmark wrote:It can play videos in 1080p but if you're wanting to play them on an HDTV you'll need one that has either:

(1) a VGA input which supports full 1080 resolution (most VGA ports on the back of HDTV's only support up to 720p), or
(2) an HDMI input that supports DVI-I and a DVI-I to HDMI cable, or

you can add a video card that has HDMI output to make it easy to send both video/audio to the TV.

I'm wanting to do something similar but we were early HDTV adopters and our HDTV only has component inputs so I need a video card that supports component out and HDMI out. Plan to also throw a blu-ray drive into this PC if I get it.

My HDTV can play 1080p off VGA, so that wouldn't really be an issue, although then again I could just add a video card with HDMI output and have less wires hanging around.

If that were the case, I'm assuming I would also need to upgrade the PSU, right?

Nekuratai wrote:So it doesn't come with W7 discs? I would definitely be wiping the hard drive and reinstalling if I bought something from HP.

Maybe it's overkill but honestly a lot easier and thorough than removing all the crap/ad/spyware it comes with...

Umm, no it wouldn't. Have fun finding all the drivers.

Capeto wrote:My HDTV can play 1080p off VGA, so that wouldn't really be an issue, although then again I could just add a video card with HDMI output and have less wires hanging around.

If that were the case, I'm assuming I would also need to upgrade the PSU, right?

I'm sure others will disagree but I wouldn't hesitate to install a fairly basic HD video card (that adds HDMI output) and use the current power supply.

2woot2woot wrote: I want to buy this for my 64 yo friends birthday - he has never had a computer just wants to receive pictures from his grandchildren and snap a few of his dog to send to them. Is he doing to have to hook up to a motom and pay $60 some bucks a months to get on line, or will this wireless, grab one off his neighbor who is online 24/7?

He should ask his neighbor first, because someone has to pay for it. Maybe they could split the cost or trade out somehow. And even then range may be an issue. If his neighbor does not want to share then there is nothing he can do about it.

Otherwise, yes he needs a modem, but he may be able to get one thrown in with installation of either broadband or cable in a monthly package. If he already uses a dialup he will need an adapter card for this or just a modem, both are internal cards.

czupik wrote:I would go with the hd 4350 doesnt take much power but runs web and hd video well.

Thanks -- checked out the Gigabyte 4350 card on Newegg and I don't think it supports component-out. Any idea who makes a 4350 card that does? AMD's site for the HD-4300 series suggests that component output is possible - just need a card with hardward to support the output.

Is there a PCI express slot? I have a great GFX card I can put into this machine. I guess all I have to do is buy a new PSupply :o

kcmark wrote:No, you can install a separate video card and use that instead of the integrated video. Just install the card, install the drivers and hook up your monitor to the new card.

AND disable "On Board Graphics" in the bios. That will free up internal memory as well as the on board video shares system memory.

rephog wrote:Is there a PCI express slot? I have a great GFX card I can put into this machine. I guess all I have to do is buy a new PSupply :o

From HP's website:

Expansion Slots:

*
1 PCI x16 slot for graphics card
*
3 PCI x1 slots
*
1 PCI Express x1 minicard slot

So there's no confusion, these are all PCI Express (PCI-E, not PCI-X).

12milluz wrote:anyone know if the firewire in this computer uses the Texas Instruments chipset?

No - it uses the Via VT6308S 1394a chip...

Ringo4422 wrote:AND disable "On Board Graphics" in the bios. That will free up internal memory as well as the on board video shares system memory.

I actually retract part of what I said. This doesn't share system mwemory with the system memory, a huge plus. You would still like to disable the onboard graphics if upgrading to a better PCI Express video card.

I liked the other HP Pavilion (the P6520)a lot better at $419. It had a faster chip, 250 MORE hard drive and 2G more memory for only $20 more. I did discover it has a wimpy power supply when I went to put a better graphics card, but all in all it works pretty good. I'll get another one as a back up if they ever offer it again.

Anyone know if a PCI-express-x16 2.0 graphics card will work in the PCI-express-x16 slot-"non 2.0"...?

mattyjokelley wrote:Anyone know if a PCI-express-x16 2.0 graphics card will work in the PCI-express-x16 slot-"non 2.0"...?

What is the slot? 1.0? If the slot is 1.0, a 2.0 card will work, but with 1.0 capabilities.

Ringo4422 wrote:... with $5 shipping??

399.99 with free shipping on ebay daily deal

NightGhost wrote:From HP's website:

Expansion Slots:

*
1 PCI x16 slot for graphics card
*
3 PCI x1 slots
*
1 PCI Express x1 minicard slot

So there's no confusion, these are all PCI Express (PCI-E, not PCI-X).

Here's a link to more information on the Motherboard... I'm not convinced it's the best for upgrading the graphics card.

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c01925486&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&product=4215700#N313

argaiv33 wrote:Do you have to connect that antenna to get wireless? WEAK

Mine picked up my wireless from about 20 feet away without the antenna.

If you're not looking to buy a new PC...

Amazon has the Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade 3 PACK for $109.99 right now!

Finally upgrading my Pc's at home!

-j

To gill2003, WIN 7 is the operatng system. It never comes bundled with software like MS Office, that's extra.

AndrewKriz wrote:Could I throw this Video Card in there?

Galaxy 60XMH6HS3HMW GeForce GTX 460 GC Edtion Video Card

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?afsrc=1&EdpNo=6589096&CatId=3670&SRCCODE=LINKSHARE&cm_mmc_o=-ddCjC1bELltzywCjC-d2CjCdwwp&AffiliateID=lw9MynSeamY-_A6e_0yTrylfp39VsdWjwA&beta=Y

Would I have to upgrade the PSU for this?

Definitely. That card will use half the PSU's wattage at idle with Windows 7. If you're gaming or doing something graphics-intense, the 250w power supply would barely be able to run the card, much less the rest of the computer.

Ringo4422 wrote:Umm, no it wouldn't. Have fun finding all the drivers.

I've never had any trouble finding drivers, especially for prebuilt rigs. I've new computers that come with so much crap installed they barely function. Anyone computer-savvy could install drivers a lot faster than uninstalling everything.

rhythmchanges wrote:Does anyone have any experience using this (or a reasonable facsimile thereof) as the part of a DAW? Specifically with SONAR, even?
Thanks in advance.

I use a similar (older/lesser) model, albeit with more RAM, with Sonar 8.5 and an M-Audio interface. Works fine.

Vulpecula wrote:I use a similar (older/lesser) model, albeit with more RAM, with Sonar 8.5 and an M-Audio interface. Works fine.

Thanks to you and rking.

gill2003 wrote:Does windows 7 include MS office in the bundle? I am a student who currently uses Windows XP still and an even older version of Office. I need to upgrade to stay consistent with class.

If it does not include MS office, would it be a better value to purchase a system with MS office already installed rather than purchasing MS office for this?

Thank You

Best of luck in finding a system with office already installed. Microsoft doesn't do that anymore. Office is gonna cost you around $100 retail for what they call a product key card, which is just a fancy way of saying downloadable product with a downloadable product key. Though if you are a student at a major university you might want to check and see if your school provides it at a discounted price.

I picked one up!! Thanks to all the quality (most of it anyway:-)info on here, made my decision easier.

woot on!!

cosagrande wrote:Best of luck in finding a system with office already installed. Microsoft doesn't do that anymore. Office is gonna cost you around $100 retail for what they call a product key card, which is just a fancy way of saying downloadable product with a downloadable product key. Though if you are a student at a major university you might want to check and see if your school provides it at a discounted price.

I'm not sure if anyone has brought it up yet, but there's a free alternative so MS Office at www.openoffice.org.

Ringo4422 wrote:If you are a student you can buy MS Office Pro for $29 directly from Microsoft. You only need a legitimate college or university email address. DON'T INSTALL THE MS OFFICE teaseware that comes pre-installed. I can't imagine why this would be a deal breaker for a student.

Or you could download and install OpenOffice. It has the option to save documents as Office products. And it's free.

AMD sucks really bad. So does HP.

tonsoffun wrote:You are missing something in your power usage calculations. 250W is what it outputs, not what it inputs. A good power supply is 80% efficient, meaning it will draw 250W/0.8 = 312.5W. We all know this is not a good power supply and they all degrade with time, so let's make it 60% efficient. 250W/0.6 = 416.6W.

-1 for you

You are also forgetting that 250W is the peak power output of the PSU, not what it's constantly using. Computers are not incandescent light bulbs. 250W is the maximum power the system can provide, not consumption.

I have a 1.5kW PSU and the system idles well under 400W, 450W with all 3 LCD monitors powered on.

-1 for you too

I am an architecture student who needs to run programs like Autodesk Maya, Rhinoceros (Rhino), Autodesk Revit, AutoCAD, Photoshop, etc.

I know not so much about computers. Can this one handle this?

doriftu wrote:it's about as useful as an 8 track....

I love lightscribe. I've made a lot of very cool CDs for friends with it. The problem is that the lightscribing can be slow, but you end up with a really slick looking disc.

stevped wrote:I am an architecture student who needs to run programs like Autodesk Maya, Rhinoceros (Rhino), Autodesk Revit, AutoCAD, Photoshop, etc.

I know not so much about computers. Can this one handle this?

Yes. You might want to get a real video card for it, but this is a fairly decent system for the price. I don't know how much you had allotted for a system, but if you throw a professional (or even good gaming) video card in it and a nice monitor (not a TN panel) and you'll have a nice lil workstation.

stevped wrote:I am an architecture student who needs to run programs like Autodesk Maya, Rhinoceros (Rhino), Autodesk Revit, AutoCAD, Photoshop, etc.

I know not so much about computers. Can this one handle this?

glendower wrote:Yes. You might want to get a real video card for it, but this is a fairly decent system for the price. I don't know how much you had allotted for a system, but if you throw a professional (or even good gaming) video card in it and a nice monitor (not a TN panel) and you'll have a nice lil workstation.

I would also throw another 4GB (or more) of RAM in for those apps, which can drag otherwise.

mbrickell wrote:Sadly, although I can fix just about anything on my car, I've never even remotely tackled anything like building my own computer. Would barely know where to start...

There are lots of websites that out there that will guide you through the process. They will give you suggestions on components and software. Most will help you build anything from budget, around 400 dollars or so to as high end as you want to get. Just google something along the lines of build a computer and start looking. Even if you don't go that route, its just kind of interesting to see how simple it really is.

pafour5053 wrote:Or you could download and install OpenOffice. It has the option to save documents as Office products. And it's free.

As someone who works in IT in Education, the only problem with this suggestion is that occasionally students forget to change the file extensions of their documents to .doc, and at that point the instructor's tendency is not to award credit for assignments submitted online...Obviously that's the risk the students take, I'm just saying. But for general use, OpenOffice is great...

YFZblu wrote:As someone who works in IT in Education, the only problem with this suggestion is that occasionally students forget to change the file extensions of their documents to .doc, and at that point the instructor's tendency is not to award credit for assignments submitted online...Obviously that's the risk the students take, I'm just saying. But for general use, OpenOffice is great...

1) It's not just a matter of changing the file extension - you need to save in MS Word format.

2) You can configure OpenOffice Writer to save in Word format by default.

NightGhost wrote:1) It's not just a matter of changing the file extension - you need to save in MS Word format.

2) You can configure OpenOffice Writer to save in Word format by default.

1. That's what I meant, I just didn't explain it properly.

2. You and I know this, but I would say most students do not.

[quote postid="4333494" user="Ringo4422"] You MUST before you do anything go to add/remove programs and basically remove EVERYTHING, Especially anything that begins with HP. Remove ALL of the pre-installed programs including MS Office teaseware, McAffee, etc.

Or you can buy an iMac and not worry about trash software and virus issues. It's quite a bit more expensive but you get what you pay for.

Where is the "like" button on these things?

jmcsetz wrote:[quote postid="4333494" user="Ringo4422"] You MUST before you do anything go to add/remove programs and basically remove EVERYTHING, Especially anything that begins with HP. Remove ALL of the pre-installed programs including MS Office teaseware, McAffee, etc.

Or you can buy an iMac and not worry about trash software and virus issues. It's quite a bit more expensive but you get what you pay for.

jmcsetz wrote:[quote postid="4333494" user="Ringo4422"] You MUST before you do anything go to add/remove programs and basically remove EVERYTHING, Especially anything that begins with HP. Remove ALL of the pre-installed programs including MS Office teaseware, McAffee, etc.

Or you can buy an iMac and not worry about trash software and virus issues. It's quite a bit more expensive but you get what you pay for.

Sure, if you're OK spending a minimum of $1,200 for a computer with proprietary components out the wah-zoo, don't mind that the components (except for RAM) are virtually impossible to upgrade yourself unless you're comfortable cracking an all-in-one case and are able to remove the on-board components with no expansion capability, and don't mind that you're basically using a fancy version of Linux (which is free)...then yeah, get an iMac.

I owned an iMac for two years, and it was a nice computer for general use. It was easy to use, and was maintenance free. But purchasing a Mac, for the most part, is like throwing money out the window simply because you can get so much more out of a PC for the money. Sure, I'm more prone to acquiring a virus...But I purchase virus protection software with professional support and my data is backed up; I'm not too concerned.

Final point: That's the kicker about the Apple computers...you DON'T get what you pay for, but for some reason Mac owners believe they're getting the best deal available.

LOL @ the included packaging photo. Hope that was an intentional joke.

equazcion wrote:LOL @ the included packaging photo. Hope that was an intentional joke.

I recently purchased a PC case online and it arrived in about that condition from UPS. Very disappointing.