HP Pavillion PCs, hanrdware quality and expansion?

[pctech]

Anyone bougnt one of these recently?

Was thinking aboiut buying an i5 based one direct from HP and then adding a 3D graphics card at a later date.

What's the hardware quality like these days and do the chassis have room for expansion?

It's been a while since I've considered any off the shelf systems.

[Technical Ben]

If you check the specs adding a graphics card should not be a problem later (Although I remember the days where they took out the PCI/AGP card slot to save money!!!).
Brand built PCs tend to have horrid motherboards though IMO.

Do you have a link for the one your looking at? Have you not built PCs in the past? Why the change from a custom jobby?

[pctech]

I do have the skills to build one but the main reason I don't is you have to spend weeks and expense if a part is DOA

[.Griff.]

I wouldn't even dream of buying an overpriced mass produced "brand" PC over a cheaper higher quality self built PC. God only knows what spec of motherboard and PSU are chucked into those HP's.

If you must buy something pre-built then at least buy it from the likes of Scan or PC Specialist.

[pctech]

Yep, just was thinking of keeping the initial cost down.

[Technical Ben]

You do know that's HOW HP works right?

Initial costs = low
Warranty, insurance, service agreement = massive!


Why do you think they nearly went 100% service and zero product?

PS, mind you, I never had a problem with them except for drivers. However, that was cos I got the nice quality model. Not sure about others as, for example, works PCs died at about 1 or two a week in a 300 PC office. :/

[Den]

I bought a HP computer under 4 years ago. Eventually I upgraded the memory, moved from Vista to Windows 7 and fitted a good quality graphics card. The mother board is a Asus and everything was built to a high standard. I'm tempted to buy a new machine and I am looking at HP factory refurbs on Ebay as that is the way I bought my old one. I have not even considered moving away from HP. 

[pctech]

I did a bit of reading following my post here, turns out having a system built is cheaper than the one I was looking at.

Also looks like there's some issues with the motherboard which is manufactured by a company called Pegatron (is it just me that thinks of Transformers ) related to fan control and excessive noise.

The company is a spin off of Asustek which do make terrrific motherboards (have one in my current rig)

I shall probably go to Scan in the end as I've been down the road of trying to buy a cheap PC and ended up 400 quid the poorer because Fujitsu Siemens refused to replace the motherboard.

[Technical Ben]

Well, with things like the motherboard that is the concern really. I think it was Dell home PCs and HP work PCs that always died. Who knows, the Dell Work PCs and HP home PCs could have been fine... 

I'd never recommend a self built to someone who does not know how to do it. But then I'd never recommend a shop built to someone who does! For example, how many BMW executive do you think drive Micras? 

[Steve]

I'd never recommend a self built to someone who does not know how to do it. But then I'd never recommend a shop built to someone who does! For example, how many BMW executive do you think drive Micras? 

The ones with the larger appendages.

[pctech]

Had I the time Ben I'd definitely build one.

As for Dell, cheap as chips components and workmanship to guarantee the highest margain possible, the XPS I had which I paid top whack for and was bashed up when it arrived and was cooking its insides proved that to me.

It appears I was not alone because every time I rang the dedicated XPS support line I was treated to a 45 minute to an hour wait and most of the staff just wanted to give me the brush off advising me to run Dell's full diagnostic program which would take 4 hours, telling them I could smell burning didn't seem to sway them.