Find The Right Desktops

HP Pavilion P6230y

The HP Pavilion P6230y yields decent scores, but we have a hard time recommending a system that comes at a higher cost and a slower performance rating over competing systems. This system has a few uncommon features for its price, but nothing that makes up for its overall poor bang-for-the-buck.

Specs: AMD Phenom II X4 810 (2.6 GHz), 8 GB DDR3 SDRAM, 750 GB Standard, ATI Radeon HD 4200, Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit Edition, Personal computer

HP Pavilion Slimline s5220y

The HP Pavilion Slimline s5220y provides adequate performance for light-duty media editing and entertainment, but its slim tower case leaves little room for future upgrades, leading us to recommend the older Gateway SX2800-01 that offers more features and better components.

Specs: Intel Pentium E5300 (2.6 GHz), 4 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 640 GB Standard, Intel GMA 3100, Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit Edition, Personal computer

HP TouchSmart 600

If HP's TouchSmart 600 won't at least get you thinking about the idea of bringing a PC into your kitchen, the concept truly has no hope. With well-though-out touch apps, a wide, easy-to-use array of digital media features, and an attractive, flexible design, HP's new all-in-one is not the fastest new all-in-one, but it has the most comprehensive and compelling set of features of any all-in-one launching alongside Windows 7.

Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo T7450 (2.13 GHz), 4 GB DDR3 SDRAM, 750 GB Portable, NVIDIA GeForce GT 230, Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium, Media center

HP Pavilion Elite e9120y

We've never loved HP's Pavilion Elite PCs, and this desktop offers the same scattershot configuration that has always put us off. That said, we suspect a dorm room might actually be an appropriate place for a midtower that offers acceptable speed on top of Blu-ray capability. Just know that faster, more specialized desktops are available for less.

HP Pavilion p6130y

With more aggressive competition on retail shelves, the HP Pavilion p6130y isn't a particularly compelling desktop computer thanks to underwhelming features and poor performance. We only recommend this system if you truly need the hand-holding that comes with the support of a major U.S. PC vendor.

Specs: AMD Phenom X4 9750 (2.4 GHz), 8 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 750 GB Standard, Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Edition, Personal computer

HP Pavilion Slimline s5120y

As much as we've appreciated HP's efforts in bringing the slim tower to the mainstream, we cannot recommend this off-the-shelf Pavilion Slimline s5120y. Even considering its low price, its design, features, and performance all come up short next to its retail competition.

Specs: AMD Athlon X2 7550 (2.7 GHz), 4 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 500 GB Standard, NVIDIA GeForce 6150 SE, Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Edition, Personal computer

HP Pavilion P6110y

HP's Pavilion p6110y isn't necessarily an offensive system, and its case might even entice you to give it a second look. We just wish HP had taken a more substantive approach to help this desktop stand out. Its FireWire port might sway you, but otherwise you can find more interesting features from other PCs on the shelf.

Specs: Intel Pentium E5300 (2.6 GHz), 6 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 640 GB Standard, Intel GMA 3100, Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Edition, Personal computer

HP Pavilion Slimline s3710t

HP's Pavilion Slimline S7310t is a great example of the strengths of the slimtower PC. Fast, loaded with features, and attractive enough to put almost anywhere, this SlimLine is a competent, economical alternative to the new crop of affordable all-in-one computers--especially if you already have a display in need of a PC to put it to work.

HP Pavilion Elite m9515y

The HP Pavilion Elite m9515y is not an elegant PC, but it has enough features where it counts to set it apart. If performance or seamless living room integration are your goals, look elsewhere, but anyone after digital media functionality will find this HP more capable than its competition.

Specs: AMD Phenom X4 9850 (2.5 GHz), 8 GB DDR II SDRAM, 750 GB Standard, NVidia GeForce 9600GS, Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP 1

HP Pavilion a6750y

HP's Pavilion a6750y highlights the multitasking benefits of a mainstream quad-core CPU. It's also a fairly stable base on which to build a more capable system. You can find desktops with more raw performance out there, but this one is a reliable multitasker for the dollar.

Specs: AMD Phenom X4 9650 (2.3 GHz), 8 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 750 GB Standard, ATI Mobility RADEON HD 3200, Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Edition, Personal computer

HP Pavilion a6700y

By sticking a wireless network adapter in a desktop with relatively slow performance for its price range, it almost feels as if HP has phoned in the configuration of this Pavilion a6700y. We can think of few reasons to justify purchasing this PC.

Specs: AMD Phenom 9150e quad-core 9150e (1.80 GHz), 4 GB DDR-2 SDRAM, 500 GB Serial ATA, NVIDIA GeForce 6150 SE, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Edition SP1

HP Pavilion Elite m9500y

We can't complain about the HP Pavilion Elite m9500y in its current configuration--it offers a speedy processor, plenty of memory and storage, and even includes Wi-Fi. Unfortunately, the big picture shows other manufacturers like Dell and Gateway that offer better deals to fit your specific computing needs.

Specs: AMD Phenom X4 9750 (2.4 GHz), 8 GB DDR II SDRAM, 750 GB Standard, NVIDIA GeForce 9500 GS, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Edition

HP TouchSmart IQ816

No other all-in-one PC can offer touch-based input or an LCD screen as large as that of the HP TouchSmart IQ816. It's hard to deny that those features make this a compelling desktop for families with a place to put it. Weak performance hinders its suitability for work, and it's not the best digital entertainment center, but we recommend this system to anyone looking to get in early on the touch-computing experiment.

Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo T8100 (2.1 GHz), 4 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 750 GB Standard, NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GS, EPA Energy Star, EPEAT Silver, Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Edition, Personal computer

HP Pavilion A6620f

The HP Pavilion a6620f makes a decent case for its budget price. We like the design and the built-in digital-audio ports, and if you're on an unbreakable budget, the a6620f will get you through a variety of processes, but we recommend saving up for a system that will give you a more powerful set of components for a negligible price difference.

Specs: Intel Pentium Dual Core E5200 (2.5 GHz), 4 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 500 GB Standard, Intel GMA 3100, Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Edition, Personal computer

HP Pavilion Elite m9402f

HP's Pavilion Elite m9402f continues to frustrate us in its core design. This off-the-shelf Best Buy system is also overpriced compared with faster, more feature-rich PCs from its competition. With little to recommend this desktop, we suggest you keep shopping.

Specs: AMD Phenom X4 9650 (2.3 GHz), 7 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 640 GB Standard, NVIDIA GeForce 6150 SE, Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Edition, Personal computer

HP TouchSmart IQ506

HP's new-and-improved TouchSmart all-in-one PC refines the touch-based concept it introduced last year. Faster all-in-ones, and Apple's iPhone, make the TouchSmart seem a bit behind the times, but the convenient software and its kitchen-friendly design offer functionality that's unavailable elsewhere.

Specs: Intel Core 2 Duo T5850 (2.16 GHz), 4 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 500 GB Standard, NVIDIA GeForce 9300M GS, EPEAT Silver, Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Edition, Personal computer

HP Pavilion Slimline S3330f

The HP Pavilion Slimline S3330f delivers a remarkable combination of features, value, and flexibility. It excels as both a traditional desktop, and a full-fledged living room PC, complete with a Blu-ray and HD DVD drive. Any nongamer in the market for a sub-$1,000 PC should put this system at the top of their list.

Specs: AMD Athlon 64 X2 5400+ (2.8 GHz), 2 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 500 GB Standard, NVIDIA GeForce 8500 GT, Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium, Personal computer

HP Pavilion Elite m9040n

HP's new digital-media-oriented Pavilion Elite m9040n is fast, loaded with features, and its new looks and newly integrated receivers improve its profile. Our main issue is the redundant bays for two of HP's proprietary external hard drives. If you can get past that, there's a solid desktop here.

Specs: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 (2.4 GHz), 3 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 320 GB Standard, NVIDIA GeForce 8400 GS, Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium, Media center

HP Compaq Presario SR5050NX

HP's new Compaq Presario SR5050NX squeaks by its direct eMachines competition, but both of those systems fall behind to HP's own SlimLine desktops in terms of features and performance. If you're looking for a basic desktop with expandability, though, we give this system the nod.

Specs: Intel Pentium D 925 (3 GHz), 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 250 GB Standard, Intel GMA 950, Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium, Media center

HP Pavilion Slimline s3020n

With new polish and a whole lot of bang for the buck, HP's new Pavilion Slimline s3020n leads the small PC field overall. The glossy black chassis, added expandability, and even a new keyboard make this system attractive both inside and out.

Specs: AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ (2 GHz), 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 250 GB Standard, NVIDIA GeForce 6150 LE, Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium, Personal computer