HP Pavilion Slimline s5660f review

This model, though, offers the complete package in terms of its connectivity options. You get HDMI output, crucial for connecting directly to your HDTV. You also get wireless networking, the aforementioned TV tuner, an SD card slot, and a coaxial digital audio output. You even get IR blaster outputs, if you're inclined to take that always-clunky step. We would like to see an optical digital audio output, as well as FireWire or eSATA ports for peripheral devices that don't use USB. For most standard devices and setups, though, the Pavilion Slimline s5660f offers all of the inputs and outputs we expect to find in a living-room system.

With all of its memory and expansion card slots occupied, this Slimline isn't the most upgrade-friendly desktop. Consider, though, that this system basically includes all of the upgrades we've suggested in past reviews of the Gateway SX systems. Given that the slim tower case automatically limits your upgrade room, you always have to temper your expansion expectations for PCs in this category. Between the size limitation and the fact that this system is already fully loaded, we can't recommend it as an upgrade platform. But we also can't think of much that we'd want to add.

The Slimline's power consumption is high for its price range, but that's not entirely surprising given its fast AMD quad-core chip and its dedicated graphics card. This system is a relative power hog, to be sure, and you can expect it will add $3 or so to your monthly power bill. That's more than we're used to for sub-$1,000 desktops.

HP includes a standard one-year parts and labor warranty with the Pavilion Slimline s5660f. You also get 24-7 toll-free phone support and a variety of support resources available on HP's Web site, as well as on the system itself.

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System configurations:

HP Pavilion Slimline s5660f
Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit); 3.2GHz Intel Core i3 550; 4GB 800MHZ DDR3 SDRAM; 64MB (shared) Intel GMA X4500 HD integrated graphics chip; 640GB, 7,200rpm hard drive

Apple Mac Mini (Spring 2010)
Mac OS X 10.6.3; 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo; 2GB 1,067MHz DDR3 SDRAM; 256MB Nvidia GeForce 320M; 320GB, 5,400rpm hard drive

Dell Inspiron Zino HD
Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit); 1.7GHZ AMD Phenom II X4; 6GB 1,333MHz DDR3 SDRAM; 1GB ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5450; 750GB 7,200rpm hard drive

Gateway DX4840-03e
Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit); 3.0GHz Intel Core i3 540; 8GB 1,333MHz DDR3 SDRAM; 64MB (shared) Intel GMA X4500 HD integrated graphics chip; 1TB 7,200rpm Western Digital hard drive.

Gateway SX5850-33
Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit); 3.2GHz Intel Core i3 550; 4GB 800MHZ DDR3 SDRAM; 64MB (shared) Intel GMA X4500 HD integrated graphics chip; 640GB, 7,200rpm hard drive