Thinking about this system

[Dichotomy]

•  The HP Pavilion m7657c Media Center TV Edition features one Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 Dual Core 1.86GHz processor, 320GB Serial ATA 7200 rpm hard drive, and 2GB standard memory. It includes 8GB maximum memory capability, and the Windows XP Media Center Edition operating system.  
     •  =========================================================  
     •  Intel® Viiv™ Technology with an Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor E6300  
     •  Microsoft® Windows® XP Media Center Edition  
     •  2048MB DDR2 system memory  
     •  320GB hard drive stores up to 185 hours of digital video  
     •  SuperMulti DVD Burner with LightScribe Technology  
     •  DVD-ROM 16x max speed  
     •  NVIDIAGeForce 7500 LE graphics card with TurboCache with TV-out and DVI capabilities  
     •  Remote control with infrared receiver  
     •  Front-panel 15-in-1 memory card reader  
     •  Processor and Memory:  
     •  Intel® Viiv™ Technology with an Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor E6300  
     •  1.86GHz processor speed  
     •  2MB L2 Cache  
     •  1066MHz Front Side Bus  
     •  2048MB PC2-4200 DDR2 SDRAM memory (2x1024MB for ultimate performance) (expandable to 8GB)  
     •  4 DIMM (240-pin, DDR2) (two available) Memory Slots  
     •  Hard Drive and Multimedia Drives:  
     •  320GB 7200 SATA hard drive  
     •  SuperMulti DVD Burner with LightScribe Technology: 16x DVDR, 8x DVD+RW, 6x DVD-RW, 8x DVD+R DL, 4x DVD-R DL, 5x DVD-RAM, 16x DVD-ROM, 40x CDR, 32x CDRW, 40x CD-ROM  
     •  DVD-ROM 16x max. speed  
     •  Audio, Video and Graphics:  
     •  High Definition Audio, 8 speaker configurable  
     •  NVIDIA GeForce 7500 LE graphics card with TurboCache supporting up to 512MB shared video memory, TV-out and DVI capabilities  
     •  NVidia PureVideo  
     •  TV tuner (NTSC) with personal video recorder and FM tuner (antenna included)  
     •  Data and Fax/Modem:  
     •  10/100BaseT network interface  
     •  56k modem  
     •  Expansion Bays:  
     •  2 external 5.25" (occupied)  
     •  1 internal 3.5" (occupied)  
     •  1 HP Personal Media Drive Bay (available)  
     •  Expansion Slots:  
     •  3 PCI slots (occupied)  
     •  1 PCI-Express slot x16 (occupied)  
     •  External Ports:  
     •  Front panel 15-in-1 memory card reader – SmartMedia, xD, MultiMedia Card, Secure Digital (SD), Compact Flash I, Compact Flash II, Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, Memory Stick Duo, Memory Stick Pro Duo, RSMMC, MMC Mobile MMC+, Mini Secure Digital, IBM Microdrive  
     •  6 USB 2.0 port(s) (2 front, 4 back)  
     •  2 FireWire® (IEEE 1394) ports (1 front, 1 back)  
     •  S-Video; Composite Video; Audio inputs; Microphone/Line-out (front)  
     •  2 PS/2; Digital Audio (In, Out); LAN; Rear speaker out; Side speaker out; Center (subwoofer); DVI-D-out; Microphone/line-in/line-out (back)  
     •  TV-out, and DVI capabilities on graphics card (back)  
     •  Dimensions and Weight:  
     •  Dimensions (PC): 15.16"H x 7.60"W x 16.54"D (approx.)  
     •  Weight (PC): 27 lbs. (approx.)  
     •  Operating System:  
     •  Microsoft® Windows® XP Media Center Edition 2005  


The price is pretty good but I'm wondering about the video card.  Processer speed isn't exactly top notch but I think it would handle the game okay.

If you guys had this in hand and 4 to 500 bucks to spare what would you do?

[Krusty]

The processor is fine. It's a conroe. The GHz doesn't really matter too much, it'll be fine.

It's 2 problems.

1) The video card is pure crap. Especially that "TurboCache" bit -- it doesn't have much onboard memory, and swaps out memory using the system RAM. Very slow. Very poor card.

2) It's an HP pre-built system. Almost every HP I've ever had has had proprietary hardware in regards to the case or motherboard. It doesn't say what motherboard it has, and you don't know what you can upgrade to in the future. Most HPs I've seen have been "dead-end" computers -- that is once they get obsolete you cannot upgrade them, you have to dump them and get a totally new PC. That gets expensive over the years.


Overall I'd not go for it. If you don't want to build your own, and you WANT a pre-built, then.... I suggest 1) see if there's a similar package with a decent video card, or 2) buy this but save enough money to swap out the video card for a NEW card the second you get the PC.

[Masherbrum]

Originally posted by Krusty
2) buy this but save enough money to swap out the video card for a NEW card the second you get the PC.

Read the last sentences of his post.   He states "$400-$500 extra".

[Dichotomy]

pretty much what I was thinking Krusty.. put a high end video card in it.

the price on the comp is almost too good to pass up.

as far as it being a dead end system?  Well I use my comps for about 3 years then, as I upgrade, I pass the older ones down to my kids or relatives.   Squid has his own and we recently gave the she devils old laptop to our daughter.  I've got two more kids that are going to need their own comps soon because we have them do schoolastic software during the summer to keep their little brains sharp and get them a little ahead for the coming year.  So I've got two more to buy over the next couple of years.  Dad gets the biggest and bestest naturally and the kiddos get the hand me downs

So, based on what's above what's a good video card to slap into it?

Oh here's the card

Motherboard manufacturer's name: ASUS P5BW-LA

Thanks Krusty

[Krusty]

For a system like that, anything past a Ge7600 or past a ATI x800 should do ya. Just keep to the major numbers

where _ is a variable number

Ges: _600s or _800s
ATIs: X8_0, X16_0 or X19_0

[Irwink!]

Newer HP's are not total dead ends for upgrades. Here's a link to the specs for that machine:

http://h10061.www1.hp.com/ccsearch/search?pname=HP+Pavilion++m7657c+Desktop+PC&qry=specifications&ctry=us&lc=en&dlc=en&mode=lz&tmv=0&method=prodFinder&pid=&productBigSeriesOid=&spid=&opname=&pname_desc=&ptype=&stype=&contextual_lname=&spname=&temp_hql=&search=0&submit.x=0&submit.y=0

Example - the Asus mb supports dropping a higher end Conroe in. You can also drop most any video card in it (although I personally wouldn't recommend an 8800 it's been done with that same case). The PSU will need to be upgraded for many higher end cards. If cooling gets to be an issue you can use a jigsaw to cut a whole in the sidecover and plop a 120mm fan in - there's room. You can create room on the board by plucking out the modem and tossing it, etc. The least upgradeable thing I've seen with this series of machines is the ability to add internal drives. Beyond that the machines are physically crowded but you can still modify them. For 4 or 5 hundred bucks I'd buy it if I were in the market.

[Dichotomy]

thanks guys...

I considered building one but went wayyyy overbudget with my wish list then I stumbled across this one with a 3 year warranty and really can't see the downside especially if its really only a matter of putting a decent video card and a fan in it

[Dichotomy]

what do you gents think about this?

I've got a 300 watt power supply so this looks like it will do the trick

XFX GeForce 8600 GT XXX / 256MB DDR3 / SLI Ready / PCI Express / DL Dual DVI / HDTV / Video Card

[Ghosth]

300 watt power supply is NOT enough for a modern computer.

Take a look at this.


INTEL CORE 2 DUO E6320 1.86 GHZ EM64T 1066MHZ RETAIL BOXED BUNDLE W/=ASUS P5B= KINGSTON 1GB DDR2 667=(512MB x 2)= ASSEMBLE/TEST BUNDLE       $330.01    $330.01


# WD 320GB 3200JS / 3200AAJS SATA2 7200RPM 8MB (Bare drive)EXT.SATA ENCLOSURE OPTIONS
# 0.5m SATA CABLE
# POWER CORD OPTIONS    $73.40    $73.40



# LITE ON LH-20A1S-12 20X SATA SUPER ALL-WRITE DVDRW DRIVE w/SW (Black)(Retail)EXT. ENCLOSURE OPTIONS
# MEDIA OPTIONS     $35.90    $71.80


# ANTEC SONATA III (BLACK) ATX SUPER MINI TOWER CASE W/500W POWER SUPPLY 3x5.25" 2x3.5" 4x3.5"(hidden) W/FRONT I/O CONNECTORS & 120mm CASE FAN x 1EXTRA 120mm FAN(BLACK)     $113.50    $113.50


ATI RADEON X1950 PRO 256MB GDDR3 VIVO CROSSFIRE PCI-E DUAL DVI/HDTV (Retail) (*Regular $233 - $54 Mwave Instant Discount = $179, While Supplies Last!)        $179.00    $179.00

Save Shopping Cart Retrieve Saved Shopping Cart Clear Shopping Cart    Sub Total    $767.71

Basicly same motherboard, processor. Settle for 1 gig of mem now, put another one in next year when it starts slowing down.

Same 320 gig SATA Hard drive.
A pair of good Liteon DVD burners with lightscribe.

Instead of a cheap case with not enough power supply or cooling we have an Antec Case with 500 watt power supply and a extra 120 mm cooling fan.

Video card you could pick whatever you like, I threw the 1950 in there just for comparision.

So for roughly similar $'s you've got the same Mboard/cpu, same HD, better DVD Drives, MUCH better case, power supply, and a good video card.

Nothing proprietary, easy to upgrade as needed.

Ohh and Mwave will assemble the Mboard, cpu,fan, memory and make sure it all works, then ship it to you ready to drop into the case. How easy is that?

[Dichotomy]

looking at that now Ghost

thanks

[Krusty]

Any Ge8000 needs 400W+ PSU. 300W won't cut it (I think 350W is minimum on the card req's).

[Fulmar]

My 8800 GTS 640mb requires (on the back of the box) minimum 400 watt power supply with at least 26amps on the 12V rail.

[scottydawg]

I would avoid a pre-built big box brand system. They're loaded with so much crapware and sub-standard systems (think sound and video) they're nearly worthless.

Hey, you asked.  I sent you specs for a nice mid-grade machine a few months ago bro, should still be valid.

[Irwink!]

Originally posted by Ghosth
300 watt power supply is NOT enough for a modern computer.

Take a look at this.


INTEL CORE 2 DUO E6320 1.86 GHZ EM64T 1066MHZ RETAIL BOXED BUNDLE W/=ASUS P5B= KINGSTON 1GB DDR2 667=(512MB x 2)= ASSEMBLE/TEST BUNDLE       $330.01    $330.01


# WD 320GB 3200JS / 3200AAJS SATA2 7200RPM 8MB (Bare drive)EXT.SATA ENCLOSURE OPTIONS
# 0.5m SATA CABLE
# POWER CORD OPTIONS    $73.40    $73.40



# LITE ON LH-20A1S-12 20X SATA SUPER ALL-WRITE DVDRW DRIVE w/SW (Black)(Retail)EXT. ENCLOSURE OPTIONS
# MEDIA OPTIONS     $35.90    $71.80


# ANTEC SONATA III (BLACK) ATX SUPER MINI TOWER CASE W/500W POWER SUPPLY 3x5.25" 2x3.5" 4x3.5"(hidden) W/FRONT I/O CONNECTORS & 120mm CASE FAN x 1EXTRA 120mm FAN(BLACK)     $113.50    $113.50


ATI RADEON X1950 PRO 256MB GDDR3 VIVO CROSSFIRE PCI-E DUAL DVI/HDTV (Retail) (*Regular $233 - $54 Mwave Instant Discount = $179, While Supplies Last!)        $179.00    $179.00

Save Shopping Cart Retrieve Saved Shopping Cart Clear Shopping Cart    Sub Total    $767.71

Basicly same motherboard, processor. Settle for 1 gig of mem now, put another one in next year when it starts slowing down.

Same 320 gig SATA Hard drive.
A pair of good Liteon DVD burners with lightscribe.

Instead of a cheap case with not enough power supply or cooling we have an Antec Case with 500 watt power supply and a extra 120 mm cooling fan.

Video card you could pick whatever you like, I threw the 1950 in there just for comparision.

So for roughly similar $'s you've got the same Mboard/cpu, same HD, better DVD Drives, MUCH better case, power supply, and a good video card.

Nothing proprietary, easy to upgrade as needed.

Ohh and Mwave will assemble the Mboard, cpu,fan, memory and make sure it all works, then ship it to you ready to drop into the case. How easy is that?

Still gotta buy an OS if he doesn't have one to transfer to a new machine.

[Dichotomy]

Originally posted by scottydawg
I would avoid a pre-built big box brand system. They're loaded with so much crapware and sub-standard systems (think sound and video) they're nearly worthless.

Hey, you asked.  I sent you specs for a nice mid-grade machine a few months ago bro, should still be valid.

ya got to dig through my old emails