Desktop reviews: HP Pavilion P6540Y and the Gateway SX2801-01e

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Today we're going to look at two capable desktop computers at different ends of the performance spectrum: the powerful HP Pavilion P6540Y and the budget-conscious Gateway SX2801-01e. Separated by $200 and lots of bells and whistles, which one you get depends on how you prefer to use your computer.

HP's Pavilion P6540Y is a performance-driven desktop that can be found in retail stores. Besides performance, the P6540Y also offers consumers plenty of features and an eye-catching design. The P6540Y is available for $709.99. It comes with a one-year warranty on parts and labor.


A 2.8 GHz AMD Phenom II X4 processor with 2 MB of L2 and 6 MB of share L3 cache powers the Pavilion P6540Y. This quad-core processor gives the desktop superb performance, particularly when you want to run multiple applications at once. It can handle common computing tasks such as Internet browsing, instant messaging, multimedia, and checking email without any trouble. It can also handle more complex processes such as media editing. When compared to competitors in its range, the P6540Y sits near the top in terms of performance and speed. A good amount of additional multitasking help comes in the form of 8GB of DDR3 SDRAM.

Plenty of storage space is available on the P6540Y thanks to its 1 TB hard drive.  Graphics are handled by an ATI Radeon HD 4200 card. Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium Edition 64-bit comes pre-installed as the desktop's operating system.

Additional features of the Pavilion P6540Y begin with a DVD drive. The drive can be used for entertainment with either DVDs or audio CDs. It also supports LightScribe software for creating custom labels for newly-burned discs. HP included integrated 802.11n Wi-Fi so that you can connect to wireless networks with ease. This is a plus, as some desktops do not come with Wi-Fi. A 15-in-1 media reader is on board should you need to transfer data quickly from other digital devices. The reader will support many formats, such as Memory Sticks, miniSD cards, and more.

The P6540Y does have some room inside to make upgrades. Just be aware that some have claimed that its power supply may not be able to handle too many additions. There is room for a second hard drive to supplement the 1 TB of storage, and you can add a second optical drive as well. All of the RAM slots are occupied, but RAM can be swapped out and upgraded to16 GB. There is also room for expansion with three 1x PCI Express slots and a 16x PCI Express slot.


HP did a good job with the design of the P6540Y. Instead of going with an all-black color scheme like other manufacturers, they opted for a magnesium gray exterior. Some chrome accents on the front panel are a nice touch, and the tower is one that should fit in nicely with any home or office setting. The tower measures 15.3 inches tall by 16.9 inches deep by 7 inches wide.

The front panel houses the expansion bay and optical drive. At the top of the front panel sits the media reader for easy access. The back panel contains the rest of the connectivity. This includes audio jacks, an Ethernet port, six USB ports, a VGA port, a DVI port, and a FireWire port. The FireWire port is a welcome addition.

The HP Pavilion P6540Y is a worthy desktop for those who value performance. It's not all performance, however, as the P6540Y also has an attractive design and a solid feature set.  

Next: Gateway SX2801-01e >>
 

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