Product Description

HP Pavilion Elite M9150F 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. The Intel Core 2 Quad processor is the latest in cutting edge processor technology for the desktop PC. Based on the new Intel Core micro architecture, the Intel Core 2 Quad processor delivers four complete execution cores within a single processor, delivering unprecedented performance and responsiveness in multi threaded and multi tasking business and home use environments.

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1488 in Personal Computers
• Brand: Hewlett-Packard
• Model: M9150F
• Dimensions: 16.61" h x 15.51" w x 7.00" l, 35.00 pounds
• CPU: Intel Core Duo 2.4 GHz
• Memory: 3000MB DDR2 SDRAM
• Hard Disk: 720GB
• Processors: 2

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, HD DVD playback, and 16x dual-layer LightScribe DVD drive
• Dual 360 GB hard drives (720 GB total), 3 GB RAM (8 GB max), Nvidia GeForce 8500 GT 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); wireless keyboard and mouse, IR remote control

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 m9150f desktop PC. It's powered by Intel's newest processor--the 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 the next step in Wi-Fi networking with a 54g wireless LAN (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 440 hours on the dual 360 GB hard drives (for 720 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). It also incorporates an HD DVD drive that's compatible with the new high-definition DVD disc format. Enjoy amazingly crisp and vibrantly colorful imagery from this new format.

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 8500 GT 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.

Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 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.

• Hard Drive: The incredibly huge 720 GB capacity from the dual 360 GB Serial ATA (SATA) hard drives (7200 RPM) offers a wealth of storage space--enough for storing up to 440 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 an excellent start, but this desktop has room enough for 8 GB of RAM (4 x 2 GB) to speed along your multimedia and gaming applications. It also offers a top-of-class 667 MHz speed. 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 HP Elite desktop offers the next generation of DVD entertainment with the HD DVD ROM optical drive, which provides the superior image and sound quality of high-definition images and multichannel surround sound as well as backward compatibility with standard DVD movie discs and content burned onto DVD-R/RW, DVD-RAM. The HD DVD ROM drive offers the following read speeds: 2.4x HD DVD-ROM, 5x DVD-ROM, and 15x CD-ROM.

  It also includes a second optical drive that's compatible with dual-layer (DL) DVD±R discs that can hold up to 8.5 GB of data. It features the following speeds: 8x DVD+R DL, 8x DVD-R DL, 16x for both single-layer DVD±R, 8x DVD+RW, 6x DVD-RW, 12x DVD-RAM, and 40x/32x for CD-R/RW. It reads DVD-ROM discs at 16x and CD-ROMs at 40x.

• Keyboard & Mouse: This desktop comes with a wireless HP keyboard with extended range (up to 16 feet) and a wireless optical mouse.

Screen, Video & Audio
Video is powered by the integrated, SLI-ready NVidia GeForce 8500 GT 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. And NVidia's SLI technology delivers up to 2x the performance of a single graphics card configuration for unequaled gaming experiences by allowing two graphics cards to run in parallel.

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 (occupied), three 3.5-inch bays (occupied), 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 (32-bit version) 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
Symantec Norton Internet Security 2008 (60 days of complimentary live update), HP PhotoSmart Essential, Muvee autoProducer, Cyberlink DVD Suite, Microsoft Works 9, Microsoft Office 2007 Student and Teacher Edition (60-day trial)

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 m9150f 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

awesome
This computer is fast, quiet and extremely powerful for the price. I was a little worried about getting this computer becouse it was 64bit. have only found one program that wouldn't work. All the games I have work fine so far, Oblivion, WOW, Battlestations, Driver, etc.. Hooking up a TV through the HDMI cable works great, just make sure to run the video card at the same resolution as the tv, not the monitor. Changing channels on live tv seems a little sluggish, but I use the channel guide the most so dont notice it to much. I also have a Dell inspiron 531, dual core 2gb ram with the same video card and many of the same features. This HP runs quieter,faster, and was only about $200 more. I do video editing, burn DVD's, and put them on my PSP or Ipod very quickly with this computer. Gonna give the Dell to my mother for her B-day. Because it has 4GB RAM 1GB is automatically alloted to the OS, and being that it's a Quad core means that its pretty hard to slow it down. I've been able to rip/burn a dvd and watch a recorded TV show, while web browsing with absolutely no lag on the recorded show.This is definitely a computer that you'll want to use with an HDTV and the monitor. Be aware that it only comes with 1 DVI, 1 HDMI, 2 S-Video output. There is a VGA output but it doesnt work do to the Video card. Definitely the best computer I've found for the price.

HP Pavilion Elite M9160F Desktop PC
There are several reasons why I've only given this computer three stars.

1. It doesn't come with a Vista 64 install disk. This makes it impossible to set it up as a Raid0. It's already set up in a non-raid configuration when you get it, and without a Vista 64 disk, you're stuck.

2. It's under-powered. This thing should really have at least a 500 watt power supply. This makes upgrading a chore, since you WILL have to swap out the power supply.

3. HD DVD: can you say Betamax?

4. The case is too small, and it's further cramped with those proprietary portable media bays. Who is actually going to buy one of those overpriced things when they can buy a 1 terrabyte external hard drive for less money?

5. The hard drives keep parking their heads (clicking) unless you turn off the power saving features.

6. It will be difficult to swap out the optical drives without buying them from HP because of their non-standard appearance.

7. Instead of 4 1GB RAM sticks, it should come with 2 2GB ones. Then upgrading to the maximum 8GB of RAM would be as simple as adding two more 2GB RAM modules. As it stands, you have to swap out all of the installed RAM and buy 4 2GB RAM modules.

Other than that, it's a fast quiet computer. Once you go quad-core, you won't go back. I can watch a movie, whilst running a virus check, whilst compiling a C program without any lag. Also, it's pointless having a 64 bit Operating system unless you're going to take advantage of the ability to install 8 gigabytes of RAM!

Love it!
I am giving this HP a 5 star rating with reservation, because it just is one sweet little computer, probably one of the most powerful machines for the money your can find.

It is fast, quiet and flawless in execution of operation. Vista 64 actually runs most of the old programs I enjoy including BF2 and COD4. Microsoft Flight Simulator X has to be seem to be believed with Direct X 10 on this machine! Havent loaded Crysis yet but I can imagine. So far have only found one program that would not run (32bt virius checker). The on board sound system has as good a sound and utility as any add on sound card I have had in the past including the SB Hi/Fi card.


Of course there is always somethings that needs to be addressed, This computer has limited expansion cabablities. If you dont need a phone moden than you can remove that and open one slot to work with. But other than that the machine comes pretty maxed out with card slots filled. One other thing I find a little on the light side is the power supply is only 400 watts. But adequate for the standard equipment supplied with the machine.

For what it is as it comes from the box, I like this computer very much. Others in this review section have talked about its ablity to multifunction very well. I know I run things on my desktop and game play does not get affected at all. That is amazing if you have ever tried it with a single core processor machine you know what I am talking about.