HP Pavilion A1720N Desktop PC (Intel Core 2 Duo Processor E6300, 1 GB RAM, 320 GB Hard Drive, SuperMulti DVD Drive, Vista Premium)

by HP

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 9.5 x 15 inches
• Shipping Weight: 33 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000M8OQ2I
• Item model number: A1720N
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: January 28, 2006

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

The HP Pavilion a1720n comes loaded with the all tools you need to easily create, manage, share, and enjoy your digital photos, home videos, movies, and music. You can easily burn your home video productions to DVD for friends and family with the dual-layer, multi-format DVD/CD burner, which enables you to store up to 8.5 GB of data on a DL disc and provides a super-fast 16x DVD+R/-R write speed. It also includes LightScribe technology for personalized silkscreen-quality, laser-etched CD/DVD labels created right in the drive.

This desktop is powered by the 1.86 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 dual-core processor, which provides an optimized, multithreaded architecture for improved gaming and multitasking performance, and it features a 1.86 GHz speed, an amazing 1066 MHz system bus, and large 2 MB L2 cache. Store more music, videos, and data on the very roomy 320 GB Serial ATA hard drive, which offers fast transfer rates. It also comes loaded with 1 GB of RAM (which can be bumped up to 4 GB), an integrated Intel GMA 950 video/graphics card with 32 MB of dedicated video RAM (and up to 224 MB shared with system memory), a wide variety of connection ports on both the front and rear of the box, and a 9-in-1 memory card reader that's compatible with today's most popular digital camera formats.

It comes preinstalled with Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium, 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 Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 processor has a 1.86 GHz processor speed, amazing 1066 MHz front-side bus (FSB), and a large 2 MB L2 cache. (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.)

  The Intel Core 2 Duo processor has two computational execution cores in a single processor, providing greater system response when running multi-threaded applications simultaneously with no significant increase in power consumption. It's optimized for multitasking and is ready to support the Microsoft Windows Vista operating system. It can simultaneously run multiple demanding applications--such as graphics-intensive games or serious number-crunching business productivity applications--while downloading music or running virus-scanning security programs in the background. Some of the advanced Intel innovations of the Core 2 Duo processor include:

  • Smart Memory Access: Improves system performance by hiding memory latency, thus optimizing the use of available computer data bandwidth to provide data to the processor when and where it is needed.
  • Advanced Digital Media Boost: Effectively doubles the execution speed for instructions used widely in multimedia and graphics applications.
  • Dynamic Power Coordination: Coordinates Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology and idle power-management state (C-states) transitions independently per core to help save power.
  • Deeper Sleep with Dynamic Cache Sizing: Saves power by flushing cache data to system memory during periods of inactivity to lower CPU voltage.

  This processor also includes Intel's Viiv technology, which enables you to quickly turn the PC on and off (after initial boot) with a touch of the included remote thanks to Intel's Quick Resume function. It also offers specially-designed software that makes network configuration easy, for connecting to portable media players, DVD players, TV sets and stereos.

• Hard Drive: The huge 320 GB Serial ATA (SATA) hard drive (7200 RPM) offers a wealth of storage space, perfect for storing a vast multimedia collection or for editing digital video. 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 (PC4200, 2 x 512 MB, 533 MHz) is a good start, but you'll want to add more RAM to handle today's demanding multimedia and gaming software. This desktop has a 4 GB maximum RAM capacity (4 x 1 GB), perfect for high-def video and 3-D gaming.
  
• 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 4x DVD-R DL Write Once, 8x DVD+R DL Write Once, 16x DVD+R, 8x DVD+RW, 16x DVD-R, 6x DVD-RW, 5x 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 an HP multimedia keyboard and scroller mouse (both with PS/2 connections).

Video & Audio
Video is powered by the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950, which uses Intel Dynamic Video Memory Technology (DVMT) and provides 32 MB of dedicated graphics memory. Windows Vista can also allocate up to 224 MB of total graphics memory from the system memory. 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 three PCI slots (two available), one PCI Express slot (available), two 5.25-inch external bays (one available), one external 3.5-inch bay (available), and one internal 3.5-inch bay (occupied). It comes with a built-in floppy drive and the following external connectors:

• 7 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players (3 in front, 4 in rear)
• 2 FireWire (also known as IEEE 1394 or i.Link) port for connecting digital video camcorders and other peripherals (1 in front, 1 in rear)
• 2 PS/2 ports for connecting keyboards and mice
• 1 VGA monitor port
• 2 headphone and 2 microphone (front and rear)
• 2 line-in (front and rear)
• Surround sound speaker outputs (rear/side/center (subwoofer)
• 9-in-1 media card reader on the front, compatible with CompactFlash (Type I and II), MicroDrive, SmartMedia, Memory Stick/Memory Stick Pro, MultiMedia Card, Secure Digital, and XD Picture Card

It also has an integrated 56K modem (V.90) and an RJ-45 LAN network port (for a 10/100 Ethernet connection to networks and DSL/cable modems).

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 to your favorite Wi-Fi hotspot.

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 8, Symantec Norton Internet Security 2007 (with 60 days of Live Update), Roxio Creator (with LightScribe technology), Muvee autoProducer (for creating professional-looking home videos and burning to DVD), and HP Total Care Advisor.

Dimensions & Weight
This desktop PC measures 7 x 17 x 15.2 inches (WxDxH) and weighs approximately 24 pounds.

Power
This desktop is Energy Star rated, which means that it uses 15 watts or less of power when on low-power mode. An Energy Star qualified computer uses 70% less electricity than computers without enabled power management features.

What's in the Box
This package contains the HP Pavilion a1720n desktop PC, power cable, keyboard, and mouse. It is backed by a limited warranty for parts and labor for one year from date of purchase as well as technical telephone assistance for one year. Software is also covered for 90 days from date of purchase.

Product Description

HP A1720N Pavilion Desktop. Only HP PCs are built with the SuperMulti DVD Burner that includes LightScribe Technology. LightScribe lets you laser etch silkscreen quality text and image on to CDs and DVDs, creating lasting laser etched silkscreen quality images. It is easy to create personalized labels on your discs with your own text, photos or designs. Just burn, flip, burn. After you burn content on the disc, just flip the disc over, reinsert and burn your label anything from a simple title to a full disc work of art. HP personal computers deliver the features you need to get the most from Windows Vista. Together, HP and Windows Vista provide intuitive system control, powerful search and organization, and more security when you go online.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good, well-rounded PC, except for Vista, March 14, 2007

By 

Jeremy H. (Concord, NC USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: HP Pavilion A1720N Desktop PC (Intel Core 2 Duo Processor E6300, 1 GB RAM, 320 GB Hard Drive, SuperMulti DVD Drive, Vista Premium) (Personal Computers)

Let's start with a few words about Windows Vista, which comes on this PC:
(Skip this section if you love Vista or work for Microsoft)

If you can find a PC that still has Windows XP, you will be better off for another year or two at least. Unfortunately, my PC with XP died just after Vista started coming out on every computer, so I was stuck as a guineau-pig for this new operating system, which is riddled with problems. Everything from the picture screen-saver and sleep mode not working consistently to very little software compatibility. I couldn't even find a Vista-compatible driver for my Canon camcorder on the Canon website. It simply said that Vista was not supported. Same is true with VPN software and many others that are waiting to add Vista compatibility until Vista has been out long enough to work out the kinks.

What are the benefits of Vista? After using this computer for almost 2 months, I have found none. Oh, except for that cool little graphic that they show in their promotional material that allows you to see all of your open windows in a 3D mode. There are no other 3D-type features like that that I have found, even though it is advertised as being more graphically intense. If you are used to previous windows operating systems, you will find that everything you used to look for in standard places, has been moved: menus are rearranged and named differently; buttons are rearranged, look different and replace many menus; control panel preferences and settings have all been moved around and changed - there is nothing intuitive about Vista to the standard Windows user, and you will find yourself pulling your hair out trying to find things and deal with all of its issues. The latest Mac vs. PC commercial depicting Vista as a security agent who asks you for permission for everying single thing that you do on your computer is also resoundingly true. I'm sure there are ways to turn that stuff off, but then how will you know that your PC is still secure? And by the way, there are about a half dozen different programs (several Windows apps plus Windows account settings, HP apps, Norton, etc.) that are running on this machine that each have dozens of security settings so if you want to change anything, you not only have to go through every one of these applications, but you have to understand their terminology for every setting, which of course is different for each security application. You could spend days sifting through the mess that HP and Microsoft have made trying to change the simplest things while trying to keep your PC secure.

All in all, until the rest of the world is caught up with Vista, and until XP actually holds you back, you would do well to steer clear of Vista entirely.

But enough about Vista. After all, you still have the option of buying XP and installing on this machine (of course you may not be able to go back to Vista without buying it again - I'm not high tech enough to know for sure).

Other than Windows Vista, this is a great PC: very quiet, plenty of HD space for storing things, with one of the best and energy efficient processors available. I don't use the multi-card ports on the front, though they may be useful to some people. USB and firewire ports on the front is nice, but that's standard on just about every PC out there. It doesn't have a digital video output to the monitor, which would be nice, but not critical.

One thing worth noting is that this PC has the bare minimum in RAM (1GB) to run Vista. The nice thing is that it is very upgradable (as opposed to some of HP's "slimline" compact PCs, which don't have space for expansion and upgrading). Therefore you can always add more RAM to your liking, and it even has an extra expansion bay if you want to add something like another DVD drive. The one thing it does not have that some other HPs have is the portable hard drive bay. I decided I wouldn't use that anyway, so it's no big deal to me, but it might be useful if you were upgrading to another HP machine in a few years and wanted to transfer all of your stuff via the portable hard drive. Of course that will only work if both computers have the HP hard drive bay.

Conclusion: Add some RAM, install windows XP, and you'll have a very good PC that is usable for home and small business applications for several years. (Oh, and in the mean time, hope that Vista is quickly replaced by something better, so when XP becomes outdated, you can upgrade to Vista's successor - and rumor has it that Vista's life will be short.)

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very flexible PC, September 6, 2007

By 

Bob DeGrande (NJ USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: HP Pavilion A1720N Desktop PC (Intel Core 2 Duo Processor E6300, 1 GB RAM, 320 GB Hard Drive, SuperMulti DVD Drive, Vista Premium) (Personal Computers)

For a minitower, this is very easy to upgrade It has a free drive bay and slots, and it has 4 memory slots, so it can take up to 4GB RAM - some similar machines can only expand to 2. I put in an extra 2GB - more memory is better with Vista.

Digital audio and surround sound are standard. There are 7 USB ports and 2 FireWire ports, and the mouse and keyboard are PS/2, so they don't use up any of the ports. The DVD burner is dual layer and supports Lightscribe, so you can burn laser-etched images right into the reverse side of the disk itself.

Vista Home Premium is ab appopriate version of Vista for home use, with multimedia features. It is a big step up over Home Basic. Vista is the main downside of this machine. I personally like it, I think that the extra security will be worth a few weeks of learning to use it and answering annoying questions.

Other downsides - the power supply is a little underpowered at 250W, so you have to be careful about the power draw of cards you add. The integrated graphics aren't the fastest chip set if you are a hardcore gamer, and you have to burn your own recovery DVDs (although there is a recovery partition on the hard disk).

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Decent PC but Vista is a no-go, January 7, 2008

By 

Ben the Lucky - See all my reviews

This review is from: HP Pavilion A1720N Desktop PC (Intel Core 2 Duo Processor E6300, 1 GB RAM, 320 GB Hard Drive, SuperMulti DVD Drive, Vista Premium) (Personal Computers)

I am a musician and a computer programmer. I bought this PC when my old motherboard died.

The computer itself is pretty nice. It needs a lot more RAM though, because Vista is a system resource hog of doom.

Which brings me to my big gripe about this computer.

I like to record my original music using some multitracking hardware. This machine should theoretically be more than sufficient to record music on (I remember using the same software and hardware with a 433MHz Celeron II running Windows 98 back in 1999), but somehow it doesn't even like to record a single track, let alone multiple simultaneous tracks. To make matters worse, my very expensive 10-track rack-mount sound card will not be supported on Vista (that's Echo's fault, not HP or Microsoft's fault). And to top it all off, Vista has this thing called Digital Rights Management which appears to be muting my record device when I try to hook up my mixer to the microphone or the line-in. I fiddled around in the control panel for a couple of hours before giving up.

Also, I can't write a new device driver for the unsupported hardware because Vista requires certificates for drivers to work.

If you make music, avoid Vista. If yo uare a gamer, only buy Vista if you require the latest DirectX. Windows XP is way better.