Another flap covers more ports and connectors: two more USB 2.0 ports - which takes the total to ten - a second Firewire port and a pair of mini jacks for a headset.
Inside the case, there's limited opportunity for expansion
We liked the way that HP has mounted the power button on top of the case where it's easy to find and – Lord help us – we were quite taken by the illuminated HP logo on the front of the case.
HP performs some hand holding when you first turn on your new PC to try and persuade you to register with HP and to update the installed suite of software. You have a choice of methods for getting on line as the Elite has Gigabit Ethernet and 802.11n Wi-Fi.
The HP software bundle consists of Microsoft Works 9.0, a 60-day trial of Norton Internet Security 2009 and HP MediaSmart which is a media player for DVD, music, photos and videos. HP Recovery Manager brings together Microsoft System Restore, Computer Checkup and its Recovery Disk utility.
The list of software in the Control Panel includes CyberLink DVD Suite 6, LabelPrint, Power2Go and PowerDirector 7, yet for some reason these applications didn't appear in the Windows 7 Start menu. We were able to find the executables using Windows Explorer and could run the software using that approach, but this isn’t the sort of thing you expect from a new PC.
Next page: Benchmarks
COMMENTS
I don't know
I don't know why you guys are so negative, if swap out the MOBO and RAM, and then replace the HD, PSU and case you end up with a pretty decent machine.
Elite?
Elite? No tlikely.
If it's anything like my Pavilion Elite m9505f :
- The BIOS is a cut down piece of s***.
- Does NOT support fan control from the motherboard.
- Ships with inadequately cooled, buggy video card.
Mine was one of the "notorious" MSI Geforce 9500 GS (which MSI don't even list on their web-site ... Probably 'cause they're embarassed by it's crap performance and the fact that 99% of the "Mk. 1" cards had to be replaced because of defective fans. The replacement runs WAY too fracking hot.
I will be trying to rebuild my elite into a better tower, but the comment earlier about "customized" connectors doesn't make it sound like a fun rebuild.
Cheers,
CC ("")(>o.o<)("") "O Hai Dere!"
Motherboard
The motherboard is an MSI - quite possibly the dullest MSI that your reviewer has ever seen
Is there a worse grade than "Fail"?
Does this Pavilion Elite share the same Truckee motherboard (Made by Pegatron) as the Pavilion Elite running the I7-920 chip? If so, prepare for frequent and never-ending BSOD's and HP's legendary (not in a good way) customer service. Don't believe me? Google it yourself - Pavilion Elite + Blue screens of death. You're got a LOT of reading ahead of you.
I wouldn't touch the HP Elite series with a 39 1/2 foot pole until they start using Intel mobos in their Elite series. You have been warned.
Wow.
I actually don't understand how they've taken all those parts and managed to make them perform so poorly. Your test system (practically identical to a system I own, just a different make of SSD) is much cheaper to build and outperforms it in every area.
Maybe they used cheapest mobo. and RAM that money can buy?
