HP Pavilion a6530f - Phenom X3 8450 2.1 GHz

Description: The HP Pavilion a6530f - Phenom X3 8450 2.1 GHz is a phenom X3-based, budget desktop PC.Compared to other value-oriented PCs on the market, it is midpriced at around $655.This PC comes with 4 GB RAM, and a 640GB hard drive.

Pros: Has a nVidia GeForce 6150 SE graphics chip, which is somewhat better performing than some similarly priced PCs.Also, this PC has a shared video memory (UMA) Video Memory/ Memory Allocation Technology, which is considerably more favorable than some similarly priced PCs.The huge 640GB drive installed on this machine will provide oodles of room for storing thousands of applications and files.Also, this machine's phenom X3 based CPU is fast enough to handle demanding applications, such as database and development software.

Cons: None noted, given available product data.

Suitability: Suited for homes or businesses where price is a concern.Comes with a DVD writer, allowing you to convert home movies from your digital camcorder onto DVD's.Make sharing photos with friends on dial-up modems easier: put them on a disc with the CD writer in this computer.The nVidia GeForce 6150 SE based graphics on this computer will be fine for web-browsing and general purpose computing.

Value: In general, this PC has great features for the money.However, this desktop manages to combine class-leading processing power with ample storage.

Suggestions: (1) Using this PC's Firewire (1394) port, you can connect to many digital camcorders and other equipment and rapidly upload data to the computer's hard drive.(2) If you plan to be playing the latest 3-D games, you may want to invest in a more powerful video card from NVidia or ATI, which are popular with the gaming community (requires an open AGP or PCIe slot).

CNET's Product Briefs are generated by a software tool that combines product specifications with knowledge of our editorial experts. They do not reflect hands-on assessment or labs testing. For more information about how we create Product Briefs, contact us.

• Manufacturer: HP
• Part Number: KQ496AA#ABA

• General

• Type Media center
• Recommended Use Home use
• Product Form Factor Tower
• Localization English / United States
• Desktop type Budget desktop system

• Processor

• Type AMD Phenom X3 8450 / 2.1 GHz
• 64-bit processor Yes
• Installed Qty 1
• Max processors supported 1

• Mainboard

• Chipset type NVIDIA GeForce 6150 SE / nForce 430
• Data bus speed 1000 MHz

• RAM

• Installed Size 4 GB / 8 GB (max)
• Technology DDR2 SDRAM
• Memory Speed 800 MHz
• Memory Specification Compliance PC2-6400
• Form Factor DIMM 240-pin

• Storage Controller

• Type 1 x Serial ATA - Integrated

• Storage Controller (2nd)

• Type None

• Storage

• Floppy drive type None
• Hard Drive 1 x 640 GB - Standard - Serial ATA-300 - 7200 rpm
• Hard Drive (2nd) None

• Optical Storage

• Type DVD±RW (±R DL) / DVD-RAM - Serial ATA
• CD / DVD read speed 40x (CD) / 16x (DVD)
• CD / DVD write speed 40x (CD) / 16x (DVD±R) / 8x (DVD±R DL)
• CD / DVD rewrite speed 32x (CD) / 6x (DVD-RW) / 8x (DVD+RW) / 12x (DVD-RAM)
• Disc Labeling Technology LightScribe Technology

• Optical Storage (2nd)

• Type None

• Storage Removable

• Type None

• Monitor

• Monitor Type None.

• Graphics Controller

• Type Integrated
• Graphics Processor / Vendor NVIDIA GeForce 6150 SE Shared video memory (UMA)

• Audio Output

• Type Sound card - Integrated
• Sound output mode 7.1 channel surround
• Audio output compliant standards High Definition Audio
• Speaker(s) None

• Input Device

• Type Mouse, Keyboard

• Mouse

• Mouse technology Optical
• Mouse interface PS/2

• Telecom

• Modem Fax / modem
• Max transfer rate 56 Kbps

• Audio Input

• Type None

• Networking

• Networking Network adapter - Integrated
• Data Link Protocol Ethernet, Fast Ethernet

• Expansion / Connectivity

• Expansion Bays Total (Free) 2 ( 1 ) x Front accessible - 5.25" x 1/2H, 2 ( 1 ) x Internal - 3.5" x 1/3H, 1 ( 1 ) x Pocket Media Drive bay
• Expansion Slots Total (Free) 1 ( 0 ) x PCI, 1 ( 0 ) x Processor, 4 Memory - DIMM 240-pin, 2 ( 2 ) x PCI Express x1, 1 ( 1 ) x PCI Express x16
• Interfaces 6 x Hi-Speed USB - 4 pin USB Type A ( 2 in front ), 2 x IEEE 1394 (FireWire) ( 1 in front ), 1 x Display / video - VGA - 15 pin HD D-Sub (HD-15), 1 x Display / video - S-video output, 1 x Keyboard - Generic - 6 pin mini-DIN (PS/2 style), 1 x Mouse - Generic - 6 pin mini-DIN (PS/2 style), 1 x Network - Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX - RJ-45, 1 x Headphones - Output - Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm ( 1 in front ), 2 x Microphone - Input - Mini-phone 3.5 mm ( 1 in front ), 2 x Audio - Line-in - Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm ( 1 in front ), 1 x Audio - Line-out - Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm, 1 x Audio - SPDIF output - RCA, 1 x Display / video - S-video input, 1 x Display / video - Composite video input - RCA

• Printer

• Type None

• Power

• Power device type Power supply

• Operating System / Software

• OS Provided Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Edition
• Software Microsoft Works, Adobe Reader 8.0, Microsoft Windows Mail, HP Photosmart Essential, Microsoft Internet Explorer 7.0

• Card Reader

• Card reader 15 in 1 card reader
• Supported flash memory cards RS-MMC, miniSD, Microdrive, Memory Stick, MultiMediaCard, SD Memory Card, SmartMedia Card, xD-Picture Card, Memory Stick Duo, Memory Stick Pro, MultiMediaCardplus, Memory Stick PRO Duo, MultiMediaCardmobile, CompactFlash Card type I, CompactFlash Card type II

• Sustainability

• Greenpeace policy rating (Sept 2009) 4.5

HP

Manufacturer profile

• Website: http://www.hp.com