Compaq Presario S5300NX Desktop PC (2.50-GHz Pentium 4, 512 MB RAM, 120 GB Hard Drive, DVD/CD-RW Drive)

by Compaq

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 16.5 x 15.2 x 7.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 38 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0000CNUB7
• Item model number: DM174A#ABA
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #19,387 in Computers & Accessories (See Top 100 in Computers & Accessories)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: October 5, 2003

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Although Compaq's expansive Presario S5000nx series of computers is generally intended for light- to medium-use situations where cost is the overriding factor, this model, the midlevel Presario S5300nx Desktop PC, is fast and versatile enough to go beyond the basics. Sporting an affordable price point, a far superior processor than its less costly siblings and lots of storage space, the Presario S300nx Desktop will efficiently run most every home and home office chore apart from advanced 3-D graphics and DVD burning.

The Presario S5300nx Desktop is driven by a snappy Intel Pentium 4 processor operating at 2.5 GHz. Compaq has added enough RAM memory for most single task and multitask situations –- 512 MB (upgradeable to 1 GB) –- and an integrated Intel Extreme Graphics controller with 64 MB of shared (not dedicated) video memory. Certainly the video chipset is the weak link here, and as such the system will need a video card upgrade for advanced 3-D applications.

To store and transfer your data and give you plenty of room for a full library of multimedia files, the Presario S5300nx Desktop is equipped with a massive 120 GB hard disk, a convenient 3.5-inch diskette drive, and a CD-RW/DVD-ROM drive that supports CD burning and CD and DVD playing, but no DVD writing. The system features a variety of connectivity options, including serial and parallel ports, a 56K V.90 flex modem for low-speed communication, a high-speed 10-Mbps/100-Mbps Ethernet network port for high-speed LAN and Internet access, and a half-dozen fast USB 2.0 ports for plug and play peripherals. Compaq has not included a FireWire port (normally reserved for fast data downloads from digital camcorders). Monitor and speakers are sold separately, thus allowing you to customize your desktop setup from the many options available today.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars There are Strengths and Weaknesses..., April 11, 2004

By 

Martin P. McCarthy (North Chili, New York) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Compaq Presario S5300NX Desktop PC (2.50-GHz Pentium 4, 512 MB RAM, 120 GB Hard Drive, DVD/CD-RW Drive) (Personal Computers)

The Compaq Presario S5300NX is a unit that has its ups and downs which will be detailed below. However, since its strengths outweigh its weaknessess, the Presario deserves a 4 star rating.

STRENGTHS:

*Combination of DVD and CD-RW drives - A Tower which features only one drive (i.e. the RW drive) defeats the purpose of the RW drive. With dual drives, you can now burn much faster.

* Appearance - Mostly black with a gray front panel it is a machine (a la Dell) that looks like it means business.

* Front side USB 2.0 - The Presario features 2 Front side USB 2.0 prots as well as two in the rear. Front Side USB ports make it much more conevient to plug in Jump Drives and other transient USB devieces. In addition, there is a convenient pull down access panel to hide the USB ports when not in use.

* Pentium 2.5 Ghz - The 2.5 Pentium 4 provides more than enough juice to power any applications you can throw at it.

* 120 GB Hard Drive =- Provides plenty of storage space for files.

* Quality keyboard - Finally... a name brand computer which features a quality, non-throwaway keyboard.

* 3 1/2 disk drive - Yup, it's almost a relic... but not quite and the Presario has it.

* Quiet running - The Presario runs quiet.

* On-board Intel extreme Graphics - The on-board intel extreme graphics can handle the very latest in graphics requirements for todays games.

*Quality motherboard - Many name brand computerscome with cheap motherboards. The Presario however, features the ASUS mother board.

WEAKNESSES:

* No AGP expansions slot - There is no upwards expansion of the graphics capabilities of the Presario.

* Minimum expansion slots - Again, provides minimum opporuntity for expansion of the Presario which limits its upgrade potential.

* Clumsy tower design - It takes some effort to open the tower in order to upgrade the machine. In addition to removing the side panel, one must also remove the front panel.

* Limited pre-packaged software - You get Windows XP... and not much else.

All in all, the S5300NX is a complete machine, but it better be since there is not much room for upgrades.

3.0 out of 5 stars Good with one MAJOR weakness, April 28, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Compaq Presario S5300NX Desktop PC (2.50-GHz Pentium 4, 512 MB RAM, 120 GB Hard Drive, DVD/CD-RW Drive) (Personal Computers)

The Compaq Presario S5300NX is a nice computer. With Pentium 4 at 2.5G and 512M ram (exapndable to 1GB) it's got good speed. The 120GB hard drive provides plenty of space for all application and storage - and a CD burner in case you need more.
However, with that kind of power, it has one glaring weakness: It's Intel Integrated video Chipset (64MB). With no AGP expansion, the 5300NX slows 3-D graphic-using programs way down. For example, Command and Conquer Generals (which states a minimum 32M card) runs very slowly. As I said, the annoying thing is that Compaq (HP) didn't even provide an AGP expansion slot - making it virtually impossible to fix this achilles heel - even if you wanted to.

Normally, I would have given it 4 stars, but with all the power it has, the inability to do even a fair job at handling graphics that most older computers can, is an unforgivable oversight.