TheTechGuide Forum

General Category => Hardware => Topic started by: The Tech Guide Administrator on September 17, 2005, 10:46:59 PM

Title: My Computer?
Post by: The Tech Guide Administrator on September 17, 2005, 10:46:59 PM
Hey guys /cool.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\'B)\' />

I just got myself a HP D4100y and I want to know is this a good system (IE running Vista)

HP Pavilion d4100y customizable Desktop PC
- Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional with SP2
- Intel® Pentium® D 830 (3.0GHz, 800MHz FSB)
- FREE UPGRADE from 512 to 1024MB DDR2-533MHz(2x512)
- 80GB 7200 rpm SATA Hard Drive
- FREE UPGRADE from DVD-ROM to 16X DVD+/-R/RW
- 9-in-1 memory card reader, 2 USB 2.0, 1 FireWire
- None
- 256MB DDR NVIDIA GeForce 6600, TV-Out and DVI
- Integrated Intel® High Definition Audio
- HP Keyboard, HP Scroller Mouse
- Microsoft® Works 8.0/Money/MSN Encarta Plus
- hpshopping in-box envelope

 I would like to view hear all your opinions, about this computer

Thanks-
           Jon /wink.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\';)\' />
Title: My Computer?
Post by: SpaceSquad on September 18, 2005, 01:24:14 PM
Looks pretty good. Should run vista and regular apps pretty nicely.

But imo, it's terrible...

1. It's a Dell
2. It's difficult to upgrade (thanks to dell being proprietary
3. It has a Pentium D....a terrible processor compared to AMD standards - mainly that AMD spent more time and money devleopping their cpus, whereas Intel just crammed 2 cpus on a single die using teh crappy 800MHz fsb (amd has a newer 2GHz  fsb).

sorry...I am a custom PC enthusiast...I don't like hardly any manufactured comps.

Good choice on that 6600, its a good, cheap card.
Title: My Computer?
Post by: The Tech Guide Administrator on September 18, 2005, 01:42:26 PM
[quote name=\'SpaceSquad\' date=\'Sep 18 2005, 12:24 PM\']Looks pretty good. Should run vista and regular apps pretty nicely.

But imo, it's terrible...

1. It's a Dell
2. It's difficult to upgrade (thanks to dell being proprietary
3. It has a Pentium D....a terrible processor compared to AMD standards - mainly that AMD spent more time and money devleopping their cpus, whereas Intel just crammed 2 cpus on a single die using teh crappy 800MHz fsb (amd has a newer 2GHz  fsb).

sorry...I am a custom PC enthusiast...I don't like hardly any manufactured comps.

Good choice on that 6600, its a good, cheap card.
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[/quote]

Thanks for the reply /biggrin.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\':D\' />  

It's not a Dell, it's a Hp BTW /wink.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\';)\' />

I do relise(sp) that brand name computers are hard to upgrade, but this one isn't /blink.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\':blink:\' />
Shocking I know! This thing has three bays availible.

http://www.pcmag.com/slideshow/0,1206,l=15...a=156118,00.asp (http://\"http://www.pcmag.com/slideshow/0,1206,l=155930&s=1564&a=156118,00.asp\")

Also, I compared my heatsink with other dual cores, and how come it's so, well, big? /huh.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\':huh:\' />

Thanks agian for your reply
Title: My Computer?
Post by: The Tech Guide Administrator on September 18, 2005, 06:18:36 PM
Also, I downloaded the "Everest" software, from one of your posts. I have a question to ask.

On the menu, it gives you the temperature of Motherboard, ect

Is this a safe temp?

Field   Value
Temperatures   
Field   Value
Motherboard   42 °C  (108 °F)
Field   Value
Aux   53 °C  (127 °F)
Field   Value
WDC WD800JD-60LUA0   33 °C  (91 °F)


Does is display your CPU temp, or does it already?
Title: My Computer?
Post by: SpaceSquad on September 19, 2005, 12:17:13 PM
Oops...so it is an HP

but yea, its still probably not that upgradeable...because with alot of manufacturers (dell, mdg, etc), they usenon-standard cases, Power supplies, and Motherboards. making it difficult to upgrade. because if you say, want to upgrade you cpu to an AMD...then you'll most likely need to buy the CPU, motherboard...PLUS you'll need to buy a new case and power supply because it isn't standard.

Hopefully your heatsinc/fan IS big...that cpu needs mega cooling. It contains 2 prescott cores...which are known to run very hot. All the newer s775 pentium 4s run on this core...and tehy seem to run at like 50C idle...which is a far cry from the athlon 64s running at like 35C.
 
Btw, temps look okay. For me, it displays my HDD, Graphics card, and CPU.

The aux temp si probably the graphics card...but it could be your cpu...either way its acceptable.

Since you have a manufactured comp...temperature should be no problem. They deal with that for you. because they know that if ur comp melts, they pick up teh bill.
Title: My Computer?
Post by: The Tech Guide Administrator on September 19, 2005, 09:15:20 PM
Thanks
Title: My Computer?
Post by: chrismac on September 22, 2005, 02:55:01 AM
Hey Jon-

I'm actually looking into getting the same pc (d4100y), but in my research, I've seen some discrepencies in the number of internal 3.5"/hard drive bays. The HP site says there are two, but this picture (http://\"http://www.pcmag.com/slideshow_viewer/0,1205,l=155930&s=1564&a=156118&po=5,00.asp\") in a PCMag review shows three. How many do you see in yours? I just wanna know if I can get three hard drives in there without having to MacGyver things around...

Oh, and how is it volume-wise? My older HP (P4 2.4Ghz) is pretty quiet, until I start running it at 100% (while encoding video, for example), then it's rather noisy. Not actually loud, but certainly noticeable...

Thanks!

Chris
Title: My Computer?
Post by: The Tech Guide Administrator on September 22, 2005, 09:34:38 AM
I have three availible right now.....About noise....I have owned about three or four HP workstations, and compared to them, this one is pretty quiet, but like you said, it dose create some noise while playing DVD's ect, you know, those kinds of apps. It gets everything done smoothly..

But let me worn you, it comes with "Weather Bug" as pre-installed software. I suggest you remove it right when it arrives. This, IMO is annoying, and ad-aware.

Good luck, I've had great luck with mine, and I hope you do too.
Title: My Computer?
Post by: Tucmox on October 29, 2005, 06:13:08 AM
Hi all,
I just read this post and seeing as it is a month old my 2 cents may not be worth much but here goes anyway.
I ordered an HP a250e Pavillion from Best Buy 2 yrs ago. I had them put some better components in it and had them leave the agp slot open so I could put my own card in. I have never had ANY problems with my rig. Recently, I installed a Nvidia BFG 6800 GT OC card to go w/ the 1gig RAM, XP3000+ cpu, 120gb hd, yada, yada, yada. Anyway the card smokes and tears thru my games (UT2K4, BF2, Far Cry) but, when I installed F.E.A.R. and Quake IV they both crashed the vid card. Trust me when I say, I took exhaustive measures to find the solution (took about a week to isolate it to the vid card) After posting on numerous forums and phone conversations w/ geek type friends I came up with some interesting points about the mass builders, particularly HP/Compaq. They build nice rigs with quality components and their cust. serv is really good. If you are planning on upgrading ANY components that will increase heat output you need to look at the case design to see where you can place more cooling fans GUARANTEED!!!!! HP builds computers for the masses. Not guys like me and you who like to tear the side panel off and get in there and start yanking things out and replacing them. Since I put more ventilation in my rig all crashing has ceased and my cpu temp hovers around 55C most of the time. Remember HEAT KILLS!!!! Oh, and because of all this, I have decided to have Cyberpower build me a new UPGRADABLE rig which I ordered yesterday. Check this little rig out.
http://www.powercolor.com/product_heatbuster.htm (http://\"http://www.powercolor.com/product_heatbuster.htm\")
 It was advertised on Tom's Hardware site and I would trust him. The really nice thing about this fan is the rotateability (is that a word?).