Desktop Reviews

• Powerful multimedia desktop with TV tuner NTSC/ATSC, personal video recording functionality, and programming guide
• 3.0 GHz AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+ dual core processor, dual 320 GB hard drives, three GB RAM 8 GB max, 16x LightScribe DVD drive
• Nvidia GeForce 6150 SE video card with up to 1343 MB total available memory, 10/100 Ethernet, open bay for optional HP Personal Media Drive
• Connectivity: six USB, two FireWire, one VGA, one S Video, one composite A/V, audio output, surround sound speaker output, 15 in 1 memory card reader
• Pre installed with Windows Vista Home Premium with Media Center capabilities, will include remote control

The easy to use HP m8300n Media Center PC is the complete home PC system that delivers more entertainment choices, and brings them together in one place with easy access from anyplace in the room. You may be able to watch, record, and pause live TV programming also as schedule the PC to record forthcoming episodes or complete series. The fitted TV tuner providing both standard NTSC and high def ATSC transmission and personal video recorder PVR let you watch, pause, rewind, and record live television up to 395 hours on dual 320 GB hard drives for 640 GB of total fitted storage. An online Electronic Program Guide EPG allows you to review the TV schedule and choose individual episodes or complete series, so you may be able to watch your beloved shows on your time, at your convenience. And you may be able to easily burn TV shows and home video to DVD for friends and family with the dual layer, multi format LightScribe DVD/CD burner 16x for DVD±R, which enables you to store up to 8.5 GB of data on a DL disc. LightScribe technology burns custom, silkscreen quality labels and artwork directly onto LightScribe enabled discs, right inside the drive.

This desktop is powered by the 3.0 GHz AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+ dual core processor, which increases the efficiency and speed of the PC while running many programs and the new multi threaded software. A fitted drive bay fits an optional HP Personal Media Drive PMD, for up to 500 GB of extra storage that you may carry away with you when you go PMD not included. It includes three GB of installed RAM 8 GB maximum, Nvidia GeForce 6150 LE video card with 128 MB of dedicated video memory, 15 in 1 memory card reader, up to eight channels of surround sound output, and a remote control with up to 16 feet of range.

This PC also comes preinstalled with Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium, which will include all of the Windows Media Center potential for turning your PC into an all in one home entertainment center. Also to easily playing your DVD movies and managing your audio library, you will be able to record and watch your beloved TV shows even HDTV. Vista also integrates new search tools during the operating system, will include new parental control features, and offers new tools that can warn you of imminent hardware failures.

The Basics

• Processor: AMD’s Athlon 64 X2 6000+ dual core processor is built for tomorrow’s 64 bit applications, which will require a processor with important power. It outperforms the highest performing AMD Athlon 64 4000+ single core processor on multi tasking benchmarks by up to 30 %. Dual core technology is like having two processors working together, every one taking care of different applications, so power users really experience greater performance when many applications are running. Digital media fans will appreciate the improvements while at the same time working in high definition video and photo editing and audio mixing programs. It will include such AMD features as HyperTransport Technology which increases the communication between integrated circuits and improved Virus Protection.

  This 3.0 GHz processor offers a system bus with speeds up to a blazing 2000 MHz and each core offers a one MB L2 cache for a two MB total. An L2, or secondary, cache temporarily stores data, and a bigger L2 cache may help speed up your system’s performance. The FSB carries data between the CPU and RAM, and a faster front side bus will deliver better in general performance.

• Hard Drive: The very big 640 GB capacity from the dual 320 GB Serial ATA SATA hard drives 7200 RPM offers a money of storage space enough for storing up to 395 hours of TV programming, a vast multimedia collection, or for editing digital video. This SATA hard drive also quickens the rate with a higher speed move of data akin to FireWire and USB 2.0.
• Memory: The three GB of installed RAM PC5300, two x one GB, two x 512 MB is a good start, but you will want to add more RAM to manage today’s calling for multimedia and gaming software. It also offers a top of class 667 MHz speed. This desktop has an huge eight GB maximum RAM capacity 4 x two GB. To get the faster data move benefits of the dual channel DDR2 RAM, any RAM additions require memory modules of same capacity and clockspeed.
• DVD/CD Drive: This multiformat DVD/CD drive is matched with writing both DVD+ and DVD disc formats also as dual layer DL DVD+/ R discs, which can store up to 8.5 GB of data. It features 4x DVD R DL Write Once, 8x DVD+R DL Write Once, 16x DVD+R, 8x DVD+RW, 16x DVD R, 6x DVD RW, 5x DVD RAM, 40x CD R, 32x CD RW write speeds and 40x CD ROM, and 16x DVD ROM read speeds.

  This LightScribe DVD+/ RW drive allows you to laser etch silkscreen quality text and pictures on to CDs and DVDs . Your software, PC and discs work together for a no hassle way to burn just the labels you want. After you burn content, just flip the disc over, reinsert and burn your label anything from a simple title to a full disc work of art.

• Keyboard &amp, Mouse: It comes with an HP multimedia keyboard and scroller mouse both with PS/2 connections.

Video &amp, Audio
This desktop features an integrated Nvidia GeForce 6150 SE graphics/video card with 128 MB of dedicated graphics memory. Windows Vista may also allocate up to 1343 MB of total graphics memory from the system memory as assigned by Windows Vista. It features NVidia’s PureVideo technology which gives great picture clearness, smooth video, correct color, and exact image scaling for video content and full support for Microsoft DirectX 9.0 for stunningly realistic cinematic effects for all DirectX compatible applications. It also offers an integrated audio card that can create high meaning surround sound configurable to eight speakers.

Networking, Connectivity &amp, Expansion
For expansion, this desktop features a drive bay that fits an optional HP Personal Media Drive which enables you to add 500 GB of storage for your video and music libraries. It has two PCI expansion slots one available, one PCI x16 Express slot available, one PCI x1 Express slot occupied, two 5.25 inch bays one available, two 3.5 inch bays occupied, and the following external ports:

• 6 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a large range of peripherals from digital cameras to MP3 players 2 in front, four in rear
• 2 FireWire also called IEEE 1394 or i.Link port for connecting digital video camcorders and other peripherals 1 in front, one in rear
• Composite video, S Video, and analog audio inputs
• VGA video out
• Headphone and microphone jacks
• Digital SPDIF audio output
• Surround sound speakers rear, side, center
• 2 PS/2 ports for connecting keyboards and mice
• 15 in 1 media card reader on the front, matched with CompactFlash Type I and II, MicroDrive, SmartMedia, Memory Stick/Pro/Duo/Pro Duo, MultiMedia Card, Secure Digital, XD Picture Card, RSMMC, MMC Mobile, MMC+
• 10/100 Fast Ethernet
• 56K modem V.90

Operating System
Windows Vista Home Premium is the operating system for users with advanced computer needs, and it will include all of the Windows Media Center potential for turning your PC into an all in one home entertainment center for watching DVD movies and accessing your audio library. You may also use Windows Media Center to record and watch your beloved TV shows even HDTV and to access new types of online entertainment content. Computers that include Windows Vista Home Premium and an secondary Windows SideShow display will also let you to access key data when your computer is off. It’s also easier than ever to share files between other PCs in your household and to manage your laptop computer settings to more securely connect via Wi Fi.

Every edition of Windows Vista gives the essential tools and technologies to help protect you if you’re browsing the Internet, connecting to a wireless network, or just reading e mail. All editions of Windows Vista include new tools that can warn you of imminent hardware failures long before you have lost any vital personal data. And, all Windows Vista editions include parental control features that let you to manage and monitor your family’s use of games, the Internet, instant messaging, and other actions.

Preloaded Software
Symantec Norton Internet Security 2008 60 days of free live update, HP PhotoSmart Essential, Muvee autoProducer, Cyberlink DVD Suite, Microsoft Works 9, Microsoft Office 2007 Student and Teacher Edition 60 day trial

Dimensions &amp, Weight
This desktop measures 15.16 x 7.6 x 16.54 inches LxWxD and weighs roughly 32 pounds.

What’s in the Box
This package holds the HP Pavilion m8300f desktop PC, remote control, power cable, keyboard, and mouse. It’s supported by a restricted warranty for parts and labor for one year from date of buy also as technical telephone help for one year. Software is protected for 90 days from date of buy.

Note: Monitor not included.

The HP Pavilion Media Center TV desktop PC is intended and built for your digital life. Take control of your digital entertainment with a PC that assists you consolidate, manage and play your beloved TV shows, movies, music, photos and videos. The fitted TV tuner and personal video recorder let you watch, pause, rewind and record live TV with no monthly fee. The free online Electronic Program Guide allows you to review the TV schedule and decide a single episode or an complete series, so you may be able to watch your beloved shows on your time, at your convenience. NVIDIA Geforce 6150 SE 128MB dedicated Graphics Memory TV tuner card, over the air ATSC high definition TV tuner and FM tuner antenna included LightScribe SuperMulti DVD+ R/RW with Double level High meaning Audio, eight speaker configurable 10/100 Ethernet 15 in 1 card reader Front ports one IEEE 1394, two USB, Composite Video Back ports one IEEE 1394, four USB, headset, Microphone, Audio L/R in, S video in, audio Out, Microphone/Line in/Line out, Rear speaker out, Side speaker out, Center subwoofer, two PS2 ports keyboard, mouse, one RJ 11, one RJ 45, VGA Expansion slots two PCI 1 available, one PCI Express x 16 available, one PCI Express x one occupied Drive bays two external 5.25 1 available, two interior 3.5 occupied Monitor isn’t included

This entry was posted on Thursday, August 21st, 2008 at 8:46 am and is filed under Desktops. You can subscribe via RSS 2.0 feed to this post's comments. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.