Compaq Presario SR5450F Desktop PC 2.0 GHz Intel Pentium Dual Core E2180 Processor, 2 GB RAM, 500 GB Hard Drive, DVD Drive, Vista Premium

Editorial Review
Whether you're e-mailing family and friends, balancing your online checkbook, or listening to your digital music collection, the newly restyled HP Compaq Presario SR5450F desktop PC offers a versatile, strong base for your home computing needs as well as easy-to-use multimedia features. Focusing on affordability, this desktop provides room to grow with the ability to add up to 4 GB of RAM, available PCI and expansion slots, and access to a wide variety of peripherals via its six USB 2.0. It's also chock-full of security and productivity software to get you going as soon as the PC's unpacked from its box, including Symantec Norton Internet Security 2008 and Microsoft Works 9. You can also easily burn your home video productions to DVD for friends and family with the 16x dual-layer, multi-format LightScribe DVD/CD burner, which enables you to store up to 8.5 GB of data on a DL disc, and manage your family's photo library with HP Photosmart Essential software.

Other features include a 2.0 GHz Intel Pentium E2180 dual-core, 64-bit processor, 500 GB hard drive, w GB of installed RAM (4 GB maximum), Nvidia GeForce 7100 video card with 128 MB of dedicated video memory, and 8-channels of surround sound audio. It comes preinstalled with Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium (Service Pack 1), which includes all of the Windows Media Center capabilities for turning your PC into an all-in-one home entertainment center. In addition to easily playing your DVD movies and managing your digital audio library, you'll be able to record and watch your favorite TV shows (even HDTV). Vista also integrates new search tools throughout the operating system, includes new parental control features, and offers new tools that can warn you of impending hardware failures.

The Basics

Processor: The 2.0 GHz Intel Pentium E2180 dual-core processor delivers additional computing resources and help expand the PCâ€™s capabilities by providing higher throughput and simultaneous computing. You'll be able to perform multiple tasks such as digital rendering and gaming all while running virus scan or other background tasks seamlessly. And its Intel 64 architecture is also ready for tomorrow's 64-bit applications, and offers enhanced performance through improved virtual memory. Each core shares 1 MB of L2 cache, and they have an 800 MHz front-side bus. (An L2, or secondary, cache temporarily stores data; and a larger L2 cache can help speed up your system's performance. The FSB carries data between the CPU and RAM, and a faster front-side bus will deliver better overall performance.)
Hard Drive: The ginormous 500 GB Serial ATA hard drive (7200 RPM) provides more than enough capacity for storing a large audio and video library, as well as extra space required for video editing. This SATA hard drive also quickens the pace with a higher speed transfer of data--akin to Firewire and USB 2.0.
Memory: The 1 GB of installed RAM (2 x 512 MB, PC2-5300) will satisfy most users, but you still have room to add more RAM to handle today's demanding multimedia and productivity suites. This desktop has a 4 GB maximum RAM capacity (2 x 2 GB). Also, to receive the benefits of the dual-channel DDR2 RAM, any RAM additions require memory modules of same capacity and clockspeed.
DVD/CD Drive: This multiformat DVD/CD drive is compatible with writing both DVD+ and DVD- disc formats as well as dual-layer (DL) DVD+/-R discs, which can store up to 8.5 GB of data. It features 8x DVD-R DL Write Once, 8x DVD+R DL Write Once, 16x DVD+R, 8x DVD+RW, 16x DVD-R, 6x DVD-RW, 12x DVD-RAM, 40x CD-R, 32x CD-RW write speeds and 40x CD-ROM, and 16x DVD-ROM read speeds.
This LightScribe DVD±RW drive lets you laser-etch silkscreen quality text and images on to CDs and DVDs . Your software, PC and discs work together for a no-hassle way to burn just the labels you want. After you burn content, just flip the disc over, reinsert and burn your label--anything from a simple title to a full-disc work of art.
Keyboard & Mouse: It comes with a Compaq keyboard and scroller mouse (both with PS/2 connections).

Video & Audio
Video is powered by the integrated Nvidia GeForce 7100 graphics/video card, which provides up to 831 MB of total available video memory (128 MB dedicated) as allocated by Windows Vista. It features NVidia's PureVideo technology--which provides great picture clarity, smooth video, accurate color, and precise image scaling for video content--and full support for Microsoft DirectX 9.0 for stunningly realistic cinematic effects for all DirectX-compatible applications. It also has an integrated audio card that can produce high definition surround sound configurable to 8 speakers.

Networking, Connectivity & Expansion
For expansion, this desktop has one PCI slot (occupied), one PCI Express x16 slot (available), two PCI Express x1 slot (available), two 5.25-inch external bays (one available), three 3.5-inch bays (one available). It comes with the following external connections:

6 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players (2 in front, 4 in rear)
1 FireWire (also known as IEEE 1394 or i.Link) port for connecting digital video camcorders and other peripherals
2 PS/2 ports for connecting keyboards and mice
Video output: 1 VGA and 1 DVI
1 headphone (front), 1 microphone (front), 1 microphone/line-in/line-out (back)
Digital coaxial audio input/output as well as surround sound speaker outputs (rear/side/center)
10/100 Ethernet
56K modem (V.90)
15-in-1 media card reader on the front, compatible with CompactFlash (Type I and II), MicroDrive, SmartMedia, Memory Stick/Pro/Duo/Pro Duo, MultiMedia Card, Secure Digital, XD Picture Card, RSMMC, MMC Mobile, MMC+

Operating System
Windows Vista Home Premium is the operating system for users with advanced computer needs, and it includes all of the Windows Media Center capabilities for turning your PC into an all-in-one home entertainment center for watching DVD movies and accessing your digital audio library. You can also use Windows Media Center to record and watch your favorite TV shows (even HDTV) and to access new kinds of online entertainment content. Computers that include Windows Vista Home Premium and an auxiliary Windows SideShow display will also allow you to access key data even when your computer is off. It is also easier than ever to share files between other PCs in your household and to manage your laptop computer settings to more securely connect via Wi-Fi.

Every edition of Windows Vista provides the essential tools and technologies to help protect you whether you are browsing the Internet, connecting to a wireless network, or just reading e-mail. All editions of Windows Vista include new tools that can warn you of impending hardware failures long before you have lost any important personal data. And, all Windows Vista editions include parental control features that allow you to manage and monitor your family's use of games, the Internet, instant messaging, and other activities.

Preloaded Software
Includes Microsoft Works, Microsoft Office 2007 Student and Teacher Edition (60-day trial), Muvee Autoproducer, Cyberlink DVD Suite, PC Recovery, HP PhotoSmart Essentials, and Symantec Norton Internet Security 2008 (with 60 days of Live Update).

Dimensions & Weight
It measures 6.7 x 14.9 x 16.8 inches (WxHxD) and weighs approximately 21 pounds.

What's in the Box
The HP Compaq Presario SR5450F desktop PC comes with a power cord, keyboard, and scroller mouse. It is backed by a one-year warranty for parts and labor from date of purchase, one-year technical phone service, and 90 days of software application support.

Note: Monitor not included.
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Customer Reviews

Great PC

2008-06-15
Great price for an easy to set up and easy to use system. I use the system mainly for my Ebay account and email. Lots of memory and disc space for such a low price. Keyboard is the standard blah keyboard but I simply plugged my logitech keyboard into the system and was back to a comfortable system. Highly recommend, would buy again.

Compaq Presario SR5410F

2008-06-14
I ordered this computer from Amazon with delivery being fast and effecient. I was replacing an older HP with this a new upgraded model. New Compaq was noisy, and in general seem to be cheaply made. My first experience at a return with Amazon, they are fantastic! No hassle return via UPS pick up, great experience, I will continue to be a loyal Amazon customer. While Compaq is made by HP, I think HP is worth the extra costs.

Excellent Machine

2008-05-02
I recently purchased this machine as I am a desktop person and not a laptop person. Desktops always function better than laptops, are faster, cooler, and never have batteries that die. Besides, I go to Starbucks for coffee, not to sit there trying to impress people with my expensive toy. If I have a thought, want to send an email, or suddenly feel inspired to write the great American novel, I can wait until I get home to do so.

I am not disappointed with my purchase. I read excellent reviews on Best Buys' website about this Compaq and they are correct. You can save on the tax of course if you purchase here as the price is the same as at BB. I was replacing a seven year old Emachine computer.

Times have changed, this Compaq (HP) is so quiet and runs so smoothly it's not even comparable to my old Pentium 4 machine. I had some initial concerns about Vista as it's such a RAM hog but the two megs that come with the machine keep it running fairly quickly. Vista is very smooth and slick and I actually like it. The dual processor is excellent and I always prefer Intel over AMD as I've had better durability over the years with Intel processors. They also use less energy. This machine happens to be the exact same as the HP A6300F and that machine costs about $700 to give you some idea of how fast computer prices fall. Read the reviews for that machine here on Amazon, they're all good.

The only change I made was adding an ergo keyboard and I'll probably add memory later. The power supply seems adequate though I may upgrade later as this is usually the thing that manufacturers skimp on. Overall, A great machine for a great price.