Tech Outpost

[mikedov Regular Contributor]

What I need help with is the graphics that come with default with Core i5/i7 devices dedicated or do they use system resources?  How about Core i7s?

I am currently using benchmarks to compare the processor speeds.  And I just asked my parents and they said they want a built PC (not one you build yourself) by famous companies, preferable HP (my dad says he wants a HP PC).  Also, with my current laptop (with Core 2 Duo P7450 2.13 GHz, ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4570, 4 GB ram, I tend to hit the 100% mark when watching HTML5 videos).

Also, how good are HP in comparason to Dell?

I am currently eyeing http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/hewletpack-hp-pavilion-p6-2065uk-desktop-pc-bundle-with-hp-2311x-23-le....  Yes its a little over budget, but I hope that I can bring down the price with price comparasons and coupons.

[delphinium Norton Fighter]

I found that the most practical method of choosing a computer is to look at all of the machines available in your price range.  Most sellers list the major components.  Then Google the reviews on those components.  You may find yourself balancing power against cost, or software provided against a better graphics card.  If the supplier has upgrades available to the components, check those as well to determine if they are worth the added cost.  Some machines are software heavy and the cost is including software that you may already have or do not need.  Definitely keep the bottom line in mind as the price can climb by leaps and bounds.

I believe my machine started at $800 and by the time I upgraded components, added Microsoft Office, and extra DVD drive and an extra hard drive, it hit $1,200.  It is, however, the best, most reliable machine I ever had and does everything I want it to do. 

[huwyngr Norton Fighter]

Re that HP:

<< The sleek modern PC has got plenty of storage space with the 1.5TB hard drive so you can store all your multi-media files and the family's too with no trouble at all. The desktop computer also boasts an impressive 4GB of RAM  >>

Remember what I said about having only one hard drive ... when it crashes everything goes. However it is something that is not expensive or difficult to add yourself but check whether that affects the HP warranty.

Too little RAM given that you have a 64 bit OS and want to do graphics video etc so check options to increase and find out if the 4GB is in 2 slots or 4 slots (if the motherboard has 4 slots as most desktops do) If the RAM is in 2 out of 4 slots then you can add another 2 x 2GB yourself and if you buy from someone like Crucial and let them check what is right for your specific machine you can do this for not much money.

Here's the link to Crucial UK for your specific model:

http://www.crucial.com/uk/store/listparts.aspx?model=Pavilion%20p6-2065uk&Cat=RAM 

and as I feared it has only 2 slots

<< Although the memory can be installed one module at a time, the best performance comes from using matched pairs of modules. >>

so you need to check how HP configure it -- 1 x 4GB or 2 x 2GB -- if the latter then if you want to upgrade then you have to pull that RAM and replace it -- 2 x 4GB from Crucial about £45 inc VAT.

Here's a link to HP's specification for that model and when you see it you will see why I admire HP for the detail they give on their website:

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Document.jsp?objectID=c03020783&lang=en&cc=us&taskI...    

Note that it only has USB 2 sockets front and back so the higher speed USB 3  I mentioned is not available on board but this is something that  can be added later, as could eSATA, by using the available card slots on the motherboard. So could a graphics card if you found the performance of the onboard graphics is not enough for you. Note that you could start with a lower level CPU in the group listed if it saved you money and upgrade later, but that kind of selection might not be available at the price PCWorld offer.

Oh and the good news is that it seems to come with a 60 day trial of Norton Internet Security!

[mikedov Regular Contributor]

The 60 days Norton trial is kinda useless as I already have an existing Norton subscription ^_^.

Also see any USB3 PCs sold by PCWorld/Currys/Comet or through HP online?

[huwyngr Norton Fighter]

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mikedov wrote:

The 60 days Norton trial is kinda useless as I already have an existing Norton subscription ^_^.

Also see any USB3 PCs sold by PCWorld/Currys/Comet or through HP online?

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It's not useless if your subscription is for NIS and so you do not have to remove it and clean up as you would have to if it were some other brand. You might even find that OnLineSupport via CHAT would add the days on but I honestly don't know if they will -- no harm in asking.

I'm sorry but I'm not in the USA and can't spend the time searching PCWorld for you -- you could always ask them!

You can add a PCI USB 3 crd yourself for about £40 ....

You can get an external had drive from PCWorld for about £90

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/western-digital-desktop-external-hard-drives/720_7065_70070_3177_BA000...

I would only choose from Seagate or Western Digital and avoid any other brands.

[bleeper24 Super Spam Squasher Mobile Master (Norton Mobile Users Discussion Forum)]

Hi again mike

                         You wrote----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What I need help with is the graphics that come with default with Core i5/i7 devices dedicated or do they use system resources?  How about Core i7s?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Pavilion model you are looking at has the excellent Intel Core i7-2600 and will obviously have the high build quality that HP rightly deserve ...I can only confirm that the graphics capability of this "Shared Graphics " model is stated as "HD Graphics 2000 (850MHz)

This generation of processors can handle graphics much better than many other processor / motherboard  combinations have been capable of in the past !

In comparison to the current spec that you stated you are currently using (am I correct in assuming that it is a Dell Studio 15 ) ?

If it is ...then the specification of the Pavilion will far outperform the configuration of the processor and the ATI HD 4570 you currently are using !

To answer your query .......Yes ....the i7 Pavilion is a "Shared graphics " configuration..so some of the power of your processor will be used to handle the graphics needs wether it be 3D games or any graphics intensive application .There will still be plenty of processor power available for multi task usage ....

Dedicated graphics are still recommended for high frame rate game play and smoother operation of any graphic intensive applications though .Only you yourself can decide just what level of performance you require .

The HP Pavilion will certainly surpass your present rig

If it is any help....you'll find that the HD 2000 shared graphics performance equates roughly to the comparable performanc of

ATI HD5450 or ATI HD 5570 levels of performance !

Hope this helps ?

[mikedov Regular Contributor]

Sorry to bother you again but looking at http://www.amazon.co.uk/Packard-Bell-iXtreme-Processor-Graphics/dp/B005VOTPUQ/ref=sr_1_14?m=A3P5ROKL... I am seeing Core Solo?  Does that mean it only have 1 core?  However, it mention Core i7.  Confusing!

Also, is this website reliable for benchmarking? http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=AMD+Phenom+II+X6+1045T

Also is http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pavilion-p7-1040uk-Desktop-i5-2310-Processor/dp/B005626ZGA/ref=sr_1_13?m=A3P... better or worse than the HP machine I mentioned earlier?  How about http://h40059.www4.hp.com/uk/homedesktops/product.php?id=LL284EA&experience=direct. It is certainly cheaper.

Accer vs. HP?  Which is a more reliable brand?  How about Dell? Their desktop are way cheaper than HP but I had a Dell lappy that quit after 6 years.

Is AMD Athlon II X3 / X2 worse or better than Core i5s? Core i3s? Core 2 Duos?

[mikedov Regular Contributor]

Out of these, which is the best so far:

• Packard Bell iXtreme I8525uk: Intel Core i7-2600 (8967) | 4 slot RAM (Max 16 GB) | http://www.amazon.co.uk/Packard-Bell-iXtreme-Processor-Graphics/dp/B005VOTPUQ/ref=sr_1_14?m=A3P5ROKL...
• HP Pavilion p7-1040uk Desktop: | Intel Core i5-2310 (Benchmark 5853) | 4 slot RAM (Max 16GB) | http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pavilion-p7-1040uk-Desktop-i5-2310-Processor/dp/B005626ZGA/ref=sr_1_13?m=A3P...
• HP Pavilion G5470uk: Intel Core i5-2400S (5075) | 2 slot RAM (Max 8 GB) | http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pavilion-G5470uk-Desktop-i5-2400S-Processor/dp/tech-data/B0056274TC/ref=de_a... | 2 slot RAM
• HP Pavilion p6792uk: AMD Phenom II X6 1045T (benchmark: 5086) |  4 slot RAM (max 16 GB)http://h40059.www4.hp.com/uk/homedesktops/product.php?id=LL284EA&experience=direct
• HP Pavilion P6795uk Desktop PC http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pavilion-P6795uk-Desktop-Phenom-Windows/dp/B004NSUT7Y/ref=sr_1_3?s=computers...
• HP Pavilion P6780UK http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pavilion-P6780UK-Desktop-Phenom-Windows/dp/B004KSE4DC/ref=sr_1_1?s=computers... 

[bleeper24 Super Spam Squasher Mobile Master (Norton Mobile Users Discussion Forum)]

Phew mike ! You're certainly keeping us busy

Apart from the 10 links you've posted ....You've also asked -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Accer vs. HP?  Which is a more reliable brand?  How about Dell? Their desktop are way cheaper than HP but I had a Dell lappy that quit after 6 years.

Is AMD Athlon II X3 / X2 worse or better than Core i5s? Core i3s? Core 2 Duos?

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As said before ,  the AMD Phenom range is closest in comparison to the Intel Core i5/i7 Sandy Bridge range  The AMD Athlon II series are still reliable workhorses and some of the "Black " series can be pushed to extreme performance capabilities if you are familiar with overclocking procedures !

For anyone not wanting to "tweak or fiddle " with processor settings..then the Intel Sandy Bridge i5's and i7's are better !

As for comparisons of manufacturer reliability ..In my opinion ..HP have best build quality ...then Dell ...finally Acer ....but all manufacturers "slip up " sometimes ...any Desktop or Laptop can succumb to a failure ...I have never been let down by either HP or Dell over the years ....but some users will have had issues as its' a hard fact , that failures and glitches will occur with even new equipment sometimes .

Right ..thats' another one down ....now to the ten links and all the various models you've bookmarked .

It would take an age to summarize all the data and the possibile permutations and how they all compare .There are a huge amount of variations of processor types and GPU Graphics cards in your list ,  and the simple answer is that the GPU cards that vary between the ATI HD 6570 and the GT 440 will handle graphics better than your current set up

The Pavilion P6-2065  with the Intel Core i7 coupled with the ATI 6570 dedicated graphics could well be the best performer in your list ...but as you may be aware ..this is not including a monitor as part of the deal ...A chat with your parents about your budget limits will be needed if you decide on the HP Pavilion p6-2065 though!  .

                                                                                                                                  Regards.........Ed

[delphinium Norton Fighter]

This website info can be used two ways.  Click on performance or click on price performance.  As has been mentioned, you have to determine the best machine based on usage, processor size and speed and the quality of video card.  The links you provide do not give sufficient info in most cases to judge.

It also takes considerable time to go through all of the info and comparisons and is something you should be doing yourself so that you know what you are getting.

This site is helpful as far as performance and value comparison of CPU's, but you also need a machine with enough RAM to support the processor. A high end big dollar processor with low RAM and a low end video card won't give you the best bang for the buck.

http://www.cpubenchmark.net/high_end_cpus.html#