Product Description

HP Pavilion M9040N Elite Desktop PC. The HP Pavilion Elite delivers an amazing high end home entertainment experience, DX10 3D Mainstream gaming, and power for the most demanding PC tasks. This premium PCs enhanced features and technology puts everything you need where you want it. Go wireless and clutter free with wireless keyboard, mouse, and remote control. The Pavilion Elite PC also features a built in wireless antenna for 802.11a/b/g/n. Press the HP Easy Backup button and instantly back up your files. The built in TV tuner and personal video recorder /PVR/ let you watch, pause, rewind, and record live television with no monthly fee. The free online Electronic Program Guide /EPG/ lets you review the TV schedule and choose a single episode or an entire series. Two built in drive bays fit an optional HP Personal Media Drive /21, for up to 500GB of additional storage and/or an optional HP Pocket Media Drive for up to 160GB or up to 660GB of additional storage space. The SuperMulti DVD burner with LightScribe technology lets you create custom, silkscreen quality labels and artwork directly onto LightScribe enabled CD and DVD discs. Place USB/Firewire devices on the recessed landing pad for easy access. The front panel 15 in 1 memory card reader makes it easy to transfer photos, music, and other files to and from your digital camera and other peripheral devices.

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1245 in Personal Computers
• Brand: Hewlett-Packard
• Model: M9040N
• Released on: 2007-10-01
• Dimensions: 16.61" h x 15.51" w x 7.00" l, 33.00 pounds
• CPU: Intel Core Duo 2.4 GHz
• Memory: 3000MB DDR2 SDRAM
• Hard Disk: 640GB
• Processors: 4

Features

• Top-of-the-line multimedia desktop featuring 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Quad Processor Q6600 with four lightning fast execution cores
• TV tuner (NTSC/ATSC), PVR functionality, programming guide, and 16x dual-layer LightScribe DVD drive
• Dual 320 GB hard drives (640 GB total), 3 GB RAM (8 GB max), Nvidia GeForce 8400 GS graphics (1535 MB of available memory)
• 54g Wi-Fi LAN (802.11b/g), Gigabit Ethernet, six USB 2.0, two Firewire, drive bays available for HP Pocket & Personal Media Drives (up to 660 GB optional storage)
• Pre-installed with Windows Vista Home Premium (with Media Center capabilities)

Amazon.com Product Description
The updated chassis with sleek piano black paneling and components is far from the most significant improvements in the multimedia powerhouse HP Pavilion Elite m9040n desktop PC. It's powered by Intel's newest processor--the Viiv-enabled 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600--which delivers four complete execution cores within a single processor for unprecedented performance and responsiveness in multi-threaded and multi-tasking business/home environments. You can also go wireless and clutter-free with wireless keyboard, mouse, and remote control, and it includes a built-in wireless antenna for 54g Wi-Fi networking (802.11b/g).

You can watch, record, and pause live TV programming as well as schedule the PC to record upcoming episodes or entire series. The built-in 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 the dual 320 GB hard drives (for 640 GB of total built-in storage). An online Electronic Program Guide (EPG) lets you review the TV schedule and select individual episodes or entire series, so you can watch your favorite shows on your own time, at your own convenience. And you can 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.

Built-in drive bays fit optional HP Personal Media Drives and Pocket Media Drives, for up to 660 GB of additional storage that you can carry away with you when you go (media drives not included). Other features include 3 GB of installed RAM (8 GB maximum), NVidia GeForce 8400 GS graphics (with 256 MB of dedicated video memory), Gigabit Ethernet, 15-in-1 memory card reader, up to 8 channels of surround sound output, FM tuner, and a remote control with up to 16 feet of range.

This PC also comes preinstalled with Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium, which includes all of the Windows Media Center capabilities for turning your PC into an all-in-one home entertainment center. In addition to easily playing your DVD movies and managing your digital audio library, you'll be able to record and watch your favorite TV shows (even HDTV). Vista also integrates new search tools throughout the operating system, includes new parental control features, and offers new tools that can warn you of impending hardware failures.

The Basics

• Processor: With four execution cores, the 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Quad Processor Q6600 blows through processor-intensive tasks in demanding multitasking environments and makes the most of highly threaded applications. Whether you're creating multimedia, annihilating your gaming enemies, or running compute-intensive applications at one time, new quad-core processing will change the way you do everything. The Q6600 has a top-of-the-class 1066 MHz front-side bus (FSB) and dual 4 MB L2 caches (for a whopping huge 8 MB shared L2 cache). (An L2, or secondary, cache temporarily stores data; and a larger L2 cache can 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 overall performance.)

  With four complete execution cores in a single processor, you get four dedicated, physical threads help operating systems and applications deliver additional performance that enhance multi-tasking and multi-threaded performance across many types of applications and work loads. The Smart Memory Access feature improves system performance by hiding memory latency, thus optimizing the use of available computer data bandwidth to provide data to the processor when and where it is needed. The Advanced Digital Media Boost feature effectively doubles the execution speed for instructions used widely in multimedia and graphics applications. And with the Intel 64 Architecture, the processor can access larger amounts of memory. With appropriate 64-bit hardware and software, platforms based on an Intel processor supporting Intel 64 Architecture can allow the use of extended virtual and physical memory.

  This processor also includes Intel's Viiv technology, which allows you to quickly turn the PC on and off (after initial boot) with a touch of the included remote thanks to Intel's Quick Resume function. It also offers specially-designed software that makes network configuration easy, for connecting to portable media players, DVD players, TV sets and stereos.

• Hard Drive: The incredibly huge 640 GB capacity from the dual 320 GB Serial ATA (SATA) hard drives (7200 RPM) offers a wealth of storage space--enough for storing up to 395 hours of television programming, a vast multimedia collection, or for editing digital video. This SATA hard drive also quickens the pace with a higher speed transfer of data--akin to FireWire and USB 2.0.

• Memory: The 3 GB of installed RAM (PC5300, 2 x 1 GB, 2 x 512 MB) is a good start, but you'll want to add more RAM to handle today's demanding multimedia and gaming software. It also offers a top-of-class 667 MHz speed. This desktop has an enormous 8 GB maximum RAM capacity (4 x 2 GB). To receive the faster data transfer 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 compatible with writing both DVD+ and DVD- disc formats as well as dual-layer (DL) DVD+/-R discs, which can store up to 8.5 GB of data. It features 8x DVD-R DL Write Once, 8x DVD+R DL Write Once, 16x DVD+R, 8x DVD+RW, 16x DVD-R, 6x DVD-RW, 12x 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 lets you laser-etch silkscreen quality text and images 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 & Mouse: This desktop comes with a wireless HP keyboard with extended range (up to 30 feet) and a wireless optical mouse.

Video & Audio
Video is powered by the integrated NVidia GeForce 8400 GS graphics/video card with 256 MB of dedicated graphics memory. Windows Vista can also allocate up to 1535 MB of total graphics memory from the system memory. With support for Microsoft DirectX 10 Shader Model 4.0 and High Dynamic-Range Lighting (HDR), it lets you rip through all of today's most advanced and cutting-edge games and applications. Power through games at record speeds with vividly realistic, sun-up to sun-down HDR lighting effects, and crank up 16x full-screen anti-aliasing without missing a beat. The fully unified shader core dynamically allocates processing power to geometry, vertex, physics, or pixel shading operations, delivering up to 2x the gaming performance of prior generation GPUs.

The video card includes composite TV out, DVI video out and HDMI audio/video out options. This PC also offers an integrated audio card that can produce high definition surround sound configurable to 8 speakers.

Networking, Connectivity & Expansion
This desktop can be wirelessly networked with the integrated 54g Wi-Fi LAN (802.11b/g). You also get super-fast wired connectivity via the Gigabit Ethernet port (10/100/1000). For expansion, it includes drive bays that fit an optional HP Personal Media Drive (for adding 500 GB of storage) or an optional HP Pocket Media Drive (for adding 160 GB of storage)--for a total of up to 660 GB of extra storage. For expansion slots, it has one PCI (occupied), two PCI Express x1 (one available), one PCI x16 Express slot (occupied), two 5.25-inch bays (one available), three 3.5-inch bays (one available), and the following external ports:

• 6 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players (2 in front, 4 in rear)
• 2 FireWire (also known as IEEE 1394 or i.Link) port for connecting digital video camcorders and other peripherals (1 in front, 1 in rear)
• Composite video, S-Video, and analog audio inputs
• Video out: S-Video, DVI, HDMI, and VGA
• Headphone and microphone jacks
• Digital SPDIF audio input/output
• Surround sound speakers--rear, side, center (subwoofer)
• 2 PS/2 ports for connecting keyboards and mice
• 15-in-1 media card reader on the front, compatible 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+
• 56K modem

Operating System
Windows Vista Home Premium is the operating system for users with advanced computer needs, and it includes all of the Windows Media Center capabilities for turning your PC into an all-in-one home entertainment center for watching DVD movies and accessing your digital audio library. You can also use Windows Media Center to record and watch your favorite TV shows (even HDTV) and to access new kinds of online entertainment content. Computers that include Windows Vista Home Premium and an auxiliary Windows SideShow display will also allow you to access key data even when your computer is off. It is 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 provides the essential tools and technologies to help protect you whether you are 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 impending hardware failures long before you have lost any important personal data. And, all Windows Vista editions include parental control features that allow you to manage and monitor your family's use of games, the Internet, instant messaging, and other activities.

Preloaded Software
Includes Microsoft Works, Microsoft Office 2007 Student and Teacher Edition (60-day trial), Muvee Autoproducer Basic Edition, Roxio Creator 9 and MyDVD Basic, HP PhotoSmart Essential, and Symantec Norton Internet Security 2007 (with 60 days of Live Update).

Dimensions & Weight
This desktop measures 16.61 x 7.0 x 15.51 inches (LxWxD) and weighs approximately 24.25 pounds.

What's in the Box
This package contains the HP Media Center m9040n desktop PC, wireless keyboard, wireless mouse, remote control, and power cord. It is backed by a limited warranty for parts and labor for one year from date of purchase as well as technical telephone assistance for one year. Software is also covered for 90 days from date of purchase.

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Customer Reviews

Great PC - OS needs work though
I got this computer about two weeks ago. This baby is lightning fast. How good is it, you wonder? Windows Vista has a utility built-in that ranks the hardware its running on. The scale is 1 to 5, 5 being the most optimum hardware for the operating system. This one scored higher than a 5! I have compared this computer's configurations to Dell and Gateway, both costing atleast $400 more for a similar product.

The only drawback so far appears to be the TV-out feature. It does not work! Problems with TV-out are common place with the Vista O/S. There's postings all over the Internet about NVidia having this problem on the Vista O/S. Hopefully they'll fix it soon. For now, if you absolutely need TV-out, stick to XP or get another machine that doesn't have NVidia.

A Powerful Upgrade
I purchased the HP m9040n from a big box retailer. It has worked well from the time it came out of the box. I was previously working on an older Presario desktop with a single processor. That computer couldn't handle the task of editing HD Video. This new unit made it possible for me to edit native HD video (Sony AVCHD format on Studio 11 software). The HD editing had fewer crashes on the m9040n than the older Presario had editing SD video. The HD editing playback is a little herky jerky still, and I was hoping that upgrading the RAM from the standard 3MB out of the box to 6 MB would help, but upon the suggestion comment below, I'll be happy with what I have.

Playback of the HD video downloaded from my Sony HDV camcorder using Sony's HD video player is smoother than playback during editing. Again, for comparison, on the older Presario (with a 2.4ghz single processor and 1.5mb of RAM) playing HD video on Sony's player was a worse herky jerky playback experience than playing HD during video editing on the m9040n.

The graphics card comes with an HDMI output. I'm hoping to purchase a long enough HDMI cable to connect the computer to my living room TV set. The m9040n comes with a media content infrared remote. This should allow me to playback my HD content on the computer on my large screen TV without having to get a HD DVD until the format war has a winner.

Overall, I'm pleased with the system, especially for the price.

Update:
I edited 45 minutes of HD native AVCHD files down to 20 minutes using Pinnacle Studio 11 Ultimate software. I don't have an HD DVD drive, so I rendered that project onto the Pavilion as an MPEG4 Full HD file for playback. The installed Vista Media Center does not recognize that MPEG video, but the Windows Media Player does play the file after it quickly went online and updated its codec. That Full HD file plays flawlessly from my hard disk without any hesitations or degradation of its HD image on my Samsung 22 widescreen monitor.

The time to render 20 minutes of HD edited material was about 35 minutes. This HD rendering was faster on the Pavilion than the SD rendering using the same software took on the Presario.

Update #2:
The NVidia graphics card HDMI output works great for using your HDMI ready HDTV as the monitor. This will allow you to play HD video on your widescreen TV if this is what you plan to upgrade for

We don't need all that power
I have had my m9040n PC for a while now and it is a Great all around PC, It's my 3rd HP. at first I Hated Vista, MS loves bugs on a new OS, I even took Vista off and installed XP PRO. That was a lot of work but with HPs help finding the necessary XP drivers we did it. I was having issues with some Games not working with Vista, and I knew that they worked with XP. I lost a lot of software and hardware (the remote) when I switched to XP, so I have reinstalled the HP software and Windows Vista, NOTE: HP doesn't recommend changing your OS and are not responsible if you PC doesn't act right when you do. MS is releasing a 1GB Vista patch in January to fix a lot of Vista issues. The only down sides with the PC is 1) the 300 watt power supply, If you want to upgrade to a nvidia 8800 graphics card you need to upgrade the power supply to around 600 watts, 450 min. however it comes with a nvidia 8400 gs/256mb card, which is a good budget card, remember the 8800s are the top of the line (this month) and 2) HP installed PC2-5300 @667mhz memory, the motherboard can handle up to PC-6400 @800mhz. But if you're not a power gamer this PC has everything you could ever want from a PC... SPEED. It even has some of the same things that the high-end gaming PC's have, and you can't build one that has everything this one has for this price. The good thing is you can still upgrade the m9040n later when things get really fast. Hoped this helped.

Well it's April 2009 and I still have my M9040N, MS has fixed many of the Vista bugs and are available through MS Windows upgrades. But remember I have upgraded my graphics Card, power supply and installed 1 more Gig of memory. Which I found out that if you're operating Vista in 32 bit it will only notice 3Gigs. You will need to upgrade the Vista OS to 64 bit to take advantage of more memory.

But by now HP has come out with a better faster PC at around the same price, but with simple upgrades you can extend the life of your power house, what I did over a year ago still allows me to still hang in with what's out now. This PC has a lot of what high-end gaming PC installed in 2007 so that is one reasons this PC still Rocks. With continuing Graphics upgrades because with the price of the cards coming way down. In the end you can get can get another two or three years out of this PC maybe more. But if you are not a gamer, I can't see any reason to upgrade, Windows Office 2007 Rocks on this PC. And as for internet, never been a problem.