Description:
The Basics
An all-purpose computer that efficiently handles most situations and is targeted primarily at those use their PC for editing and storing their digital photo, digital video and digital music collections, the HP Pavilion a800n is also the most affordable model in HP's a800n series and therefore won't drain your pocketbook. Unlike the upscale models in the series, the Pavilion a800n doesn't feature 64-bit processing (such as the Pavilion a810n) or a CD/DVD drive that etches laser labels and titles directly to the surface of your discs (such as the Pavilion a820), but it nevertheless offers enough power and amenities to satisfy most home or home office users. You may want to look elsewhere if you need massive reserves of power or support for high-end 3D game graphics, but the cost-effective a800n is otherwise a shrewd and fiscally prudent choice. Processor
At the heart of any computer lies the CPU (or processor), a massive collection of miniature transistors that governs the speed and power of the entire unit. For the Pavilion a800n, HP has installed an AMD Athlon XP 3200+ processor operating at 2.2 GHz. This is a capable CPU that compares favorably with a midlevel Intel Pentium 4 even though its clock speed is not as highly rated. Yet it certainly isn't representative of today's processor state-of-the-art. You'd need to spend substantially more money for that, but you can rest assured that the Athlon XP 3200+ is perfectly sufficient for most typical home or home office tasks. Memory
Computers typically store information on their hard drive, but they keep frequently and recently accessed data in Random Access Memory (RAM) for faster retrieval. More RAM means more efficient computing, superior multitasking and less strain on your hard drive. The Pavilion a800n features 512 GB of PC2700 DDR SDRAM main memory. This is a typical allotment and speed for today's midlevel PC, and certainly is adequate for most multitasking situations. Moreover, the system will permit later RAM upgrades to a stunning total of 2 GB. Video
CPU's are usually so busy doing basic calculations that they need help translating visual output to the viewing screen. This is the duty of the graphics card (or graphics controller). Generally, graphics controllers that incorporate their own dedicated built-in memory are more powerful and more desirable (but definitely more expensive too) than graphics controllers that are integrated on the motherboard and share the system's main memory. The Pavilion a800n utilizes an integrated graphics chipset with 64 MB of shared memory. Though this is an acceptable setup for 2D and some 3D applications, it is not sufficient for serious gamers or 3D artists. Those users will most assuredly need to upgrade to a video card with at least 128 MB of dedicated video memory. Display:
A display screen is not included, thus allowing you to continue using your current monitor or select from today's many alternatives. Sound
The Pavilion a800n produces audio via an entry-level integrated chipset that supports up to six distinct channels. If you want powerful, wall-rattling audiophile-quality output, you'll need to purchase a stand-alone card. Hard Drive
At 160 GB, the internal hard drive is substantially smaller than today's largest hard drives. However, because hard drive capacity has grown so much over the past few months, even a midlevel model such as this offers more than double the space and a more favorable price point than midlevel hard drives from just a year ago. With this much storage space at your disposal, you'll have plenty of room for a typical allotment of files and applications and a comprehensive library of multimedia files too. Optical Drive
An optical drive is essential in today's computing environment. A "CD-ROM" drive allows you to install CD-based applications and play music CDs. A "CD-RW" drive adds CD "burning", so you can also backup your important files to long-lasting discs and create personalized music CDs. With a DVD-ROM drive you can enjoy all of the above plus watch the same big budget DVD movies you watch on your home entertainment system. And with a DVD-RW drive, you can also "write" home movies to durable discs and archive files to DVD (DVDs boast more than seven times the storage capacity of a CD). This system features two optical drives -- a CD-ROM drive for playing music and data CDs, and a DVD+R/RW drive through which you can do everything else noted above. Moreover, you can use the unit's dual drive setup to make exceptionally quick CD copies. Connectivity and Expansion
With no less than seven high-speed USB 2.0 ports -- three of which are conveniently located on the front of the unit -- you'll have plenty of room for plug and play gadgets such as digital cameras and printers. HP has also included two IEEE 1394 "FireWire" ports (commonly used for fast data transfer from digital camcorders) and a versatile 9-in-1 front panel card reader for reading memory cards from devices such as digital cameras, PDAs and more. Communication options include an integrated 10/100Base-T networking interface for fast Internet and network communication and a V.92 data/fax modem for low-speed dial-up connections. Operating System and Software
The Pavilion a800n incorporates an ample software package headed by Microsoft's Windows XP Home Edition operating system. HP will also pre-install Microsoft's new Works 8.0 productivity suite, two finance packages (Microsoft's Money Standard 2005 and Quicken 2005 New User Edition), and an impressive collection of top-notch digital photo, music and imaging utilities. Control
You'll control your Pavilion with an HP Internet keyboard (complete with several convenient one-touch hotkeys), and a super-accurate, no-hassle HP optical mouse.
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