Holy cow, this thing is hanging on forever. I'm tempted to buy one just to get it off the screen.

shanse2 wrote:I have a potentially stupid question: Can I uninstall windows 7 from the crappy 5400 RPM HD and put it on a 10k RPM HD and use the 5400 HD for backup?

I've never actually bought a computer with a pre-loaded operating system, so I'm not sure how this works.

Yes, your PC should come with the windows CD key. Just install windows on your new drive and reformat the 5400. Easy Peasy.

Greetings, Program!

(great Tron reference!)

End of Line.....

Is the power supply enough for this beast of a hard-drive?

meanjene wrote:If it were me, I would add a new power supply and a new video card. But I would definitely buy a new case as well. Nothing real fancy, just something with better ventilation. Those stock cases get hot real quick. You could really have a nice machine for under 700 bucks.

I have two of these computers. Dual fans and the case isn't even slightly warm. There are multiple vented sections and this thing runs QUIET. The case is full-size and actually attractive.

shanse2 wrote:I have a potentially stupid question: Can I uninstall windows 7 from the crappy 5400 RPM HD and put it on a 10k RPM HD and use the 5400 HD for backup?

I've never actually bought a computer with a pre-loaded operating system, so I'm not sure how this works.

Generally, pre-loaded systems still come with hard copies of the OS on CD/DVDs. You can reinstall the OS on a new HDD using those.

10K isn't necessary for 90% of common use and is usually too expensive to make sense. 7200 is a good alternative, but do some research on how HDDs work before you buy a replacement. There's a couple of ways to maximize your investment:

1) Pair a slow HDD with a SSD that serves as a secondary cache, allowing you to have the benefits of the fastest read/write available at a cost much lower than a 10K RPM HDD of equivalent size.

2) Read/write is fastest at the outside of a HDD plate. Buying a drive sized in the sweet spot will keep your data on the outside of the plate, maximizing performance. Example: A 1TB, 750MB and 500MB drive may use the same set of plates, but are just restricted in their ability to read/write from the whole plate. The 500MB drive would perform better than the 1TB because all of the data it contains is on the outside of the plate.

rangerlg wrote:BIOS has nothing to do with the Power Supply. There is nothing for the BIOS to recognize.

That could be incorrect. As part of the POST process, the power supply needs to report good power to the BIOS or the system won't boot. So if HP has tailored the BIOS and powersupply to work together, a different supply may not report power good to the BIOS in the way it expects. Another reason for UEFI!

RAGE QUIT!!!1212!~ ugggg

eusimaki wrote:Beer is the man's version of chocolate.

Beer is the man's version of awesome.

shanse2 wrote:I have a potentially stupid question: Can I uninstall windows 7 from the crappy 5400 RPM HD and put it on a 10k RPM HD and use the 5400 HD for backup?

I've never actually bought a computer with a pre-loaded operating system, so I'm not sure how this works.

It depends if the computer comes with a restore disk. In most cases, no, you wouldn't be able to move the OS to another disk unless you put in the 10K disk, clone the 5400 and then formatted the 5400 drive.

Vegdeg wrote:Is the power supply enough for this beast of a hard-drive?

The HDD isn't probably the chokepoint for the PSU. However, adding a graphics card of almost any variety will really start to stress the rails.

Overall the unit looks pretty good aside from the PSU, though I'll caveat that I'm not familiar with the mobo.

bvbooks wrote:This seems like a good deal on a decent system though HP has never been high on my list. Question though, isn't 5400 RPM a tad, uh, stoopid for a HD? Does the 8 gig of RAM compensate for the slow spinnin'?

I don't really keep up with the stuff these days but 5400 always used to be considered pretty pointless - anyone got any thoughts on why 5400 would be adequate for a nongaming home PC?

I have two of these exact models. I do a lot of intensive graphics work and haven't noticed any lag at all that can be blamed on the HD. This is a very fast system thanks to all the RAM. Yeah, I knew it was 5400rpm when I bought it, but didn't consider it a deal breaker and still don't.

After getting an understanding of PCIE 1 vs 2, learning that I can upgrade the power supply and video card cheaply, and learing that I can easily make an image of the OS I have decided to buy one. I am glad this item lasted this long so that I could flesh all of that out. My main objective was to enjoy all of that RAM on a decent computer.

I look forward to its arrival.

kayboss wrote:Good morning fellow Wooters!!

I had a dream last night that today was going to be a Woot-Off and none of my cleaning would get done...freaky...dream was right!

Well *yawns* & *stretches* guess I shall settle in for the day...with my cup of coffee....

as long as they have junk computers for sale you'll have plenty of time to clean...

shanse2 wrote:I have a potentially stupid question: Can I uninstall windows 7 from the crappy 5400 RPM HD and put it on a 10k RPM HD and use the 5400 HD for backup?

I've never actually bought a computer with a pre-loaded operating system, so I'm not sure how this works.

If it's like any other PC I've ever seen bought like this, it will come with a set of "system backup" discs, one of which will be an OS disc (another will probably contain system-specific drivers and the like, along with most likely some bloatware). That disc should allow a reinstall on the harddrive of your choice with the provided key. Additionally, if you have to the key, whether or not there's a disc, you should be able to get a download of the iso from M$.
Once you own the machine you can do whatever, but as long as you can pull off one of the above, you won't have to buy a new copy of the OS.

shanse2 wrote:I have a potentially stupid question: Can I uninstall windows 7 from the crappy 5400 RPM HD and put it on a 10k RPM HD and use the 5400 HD for backup?

I've never actually bought a computer with a pre-loaded operating system, so I'm not sure how this works.

As long as the Windows 7 is a full retail version, it shouldn't be a problem. If it's an upgrade copy there are 2 or 3 hoops you'll have to jump through, but it can be done.

I'd take it in a heartbeat..

alas, my bank account is slim these days.. saving up for a beach trip and a jeep..

HEY, some should buy one for me!!

trekie86 wrote:It depends if the computer comes with a restore disk. In most cases, no, you wouldn't be able to move the OS to another disk unless you put in the 10K disk, clone the 5400 and then formatted the 5400 drive.

Windows 7 allows you to create your own restore disks.

I don't have anything to say; just wanta see my avatar!

In for one!

This is one of the greatest computers ever!

This is disgustingly wrong. A quad-core system with an obscene 8GB of DDR3 RAM... paired with integrated graphics. And to add insult to injury, no Gigabit. Okay, I understand this sort of crap with low-end systems, but what's the point of 8GB of RAM and four cores if you are going to use junk for the other components? I'm not saying people need a good GPU--but the people who can do without a good GPU are also the people for whom 8GB of RAM is almost certainly 5GB too much and quad-core is two cores too much. This looks like the kind of machine targetted for is large-dataset scientific computing or very high-volume serving (though that slow NIC might hamper the latter, too). Somehow, I don't think the target market for HP's consumer PCs really care much for these two use cases.

And people wonder why PC makers languish.

woot? Why have you broken all my woot trackers?

I need a new avatar.

kliu0x52 wrote:This is disgustingly wrong. A quad-core system with an obscene 8GB of DDR3 RAM... paired with integrated graphics. And to add insult to injury, no Gigabit. Okay, I understand this sort of crap with low-end systems, but what's the point of 8GB of RAM and four cores if you are going to use junk for the other components? About the only thing this heap of trash is good for is large-dataset scientific computing or as a very high-volume server (though that slow NIC might hamper the latter, too). Somehow, I don't think the target market for HP's consumer PCs really care much for these two use cases.

Some people like buying "barebones" systems. This way when they upgrade it they can feel self-righteous. Now they don't have to worry about bending a quad core pin...unless they upgrade the mobo
And people wonder why PC makers languish.

SunnyLea0 wrote:woot? Why have you broken all my woot trackers?

Seems like the price posting gallivanting alpacas are broken too. I really liked those for future reference

You know I really don't care for any of my five choices of avatar

Square Trade has coupon code LOVEMOM for 30% off, today only.

HedleyLamaar wrote:I need a new avatar.

Go to your account page. You can pick from 5 different ones!

bring on DA CARP

Got this black friday for $500 new with a 19 inch monitor and a printer. Someone else has probably already said that tho.

No more computer plz

hal2814 wrote:That is awesome. Woot must have known...

Tell me about it. Prior to that in another crap we actually got the video baby monitor.

The screen on the portable unit isn't work, maybe I can fix it haven't tried. It plugs into our TV though and that's how we'd probably use it anyway. WOOT!!!

The next one is going to be good.

vwtick wrote:Seems like the price posting gallivanting alpacas are broken too. I really liked those for future reference

You know I really don't care for any of my five choices of avatar

mine are worse than yours!

That looks like one hell of a paperweight.

Aggh! I saw the bar GO UP after a refresh!

They're playing with my heart.

Broding wrote:Generally, pre-loaded systems still come with hard copies of the OS on CD/DVDs. You can reinstall the OS on a new HDD using those.

Most pre-loaded systems have the re-install partition separate. You can make a backup of that which will permit you to re-install the system on a new drive. The re-install will partition the new drive with the pre-install backup in a separate partition as shipped. Then, as you have indicated, you can reformat the original drive and use it as a secondary storage device. Good luck.

Finally bouncing.

ok woot I'm ready to buy something else.... please get this door stop off and put up something other than a Dyson, Roomba or Sansa