HP Pavilion Media Center a1450n Desktop PC (AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core Processor 4200+, 2 GB RAM, 250 GB Hard Drive, LightScribe Double Layer DVD+/-R/RW Drive)

by HP

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 33 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000F3HVIG
• Item model number: ER902AA#ABA
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,630 in Computers & Accessories (See Top 100 in Computers & Accessories)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: March 15, 2006

Product Description

HP's Pavilion Media Center a1450n Desktop PC makes it easier to get more out of your digital media. It's got blazing speed -- the 2.2 GHz Duo-Core processor uses 2 processing channels, 800MHz front side bus and 2GB of internal memory help you handle any video, photos or audio faster than anything. You can also share it more easily with the 16x CD and DVD drive with LightScribe included. It's also got plenty of room for expansion, to match your computing needs as they grow. Pre-installed security software helps protect you from viruses, spam, spyware, and other online threats, right out of the box. Microsoft Windows Media Center 2005 offers a distinctive multimedia environment for audio, video, TV, photos, and MP3 as the office converges with home-theater entertainment. The a1450n sound can accept up to 8 optional speakers. Integrated NVidia GeForce 6150LE Graphics with up to 256MB shared video memory 10/100BaseT network interface High Definition Audio, 8 speaker configurable 56k modem Expansion Slots - 3 PCI slots (2 available), 1 PCI Express slot (available) Expansion Bays - 2 external 5.25(one available); 1 external 3.5 (one available); 1 internal 3.5 (occupied) External Ports - Front panel 9-in-1 memory card reader - supports Smart Media, xD, MultiMedia Card, Secure Digital (SD), Compact Flash I, Compact Flash II, Micro Drive, Memory Stick and Memory Stick Pro / 7 USB 2.0 port(s) (3 FRONT, 4 back) / 2 FireWire (IEEE 1394) (1 FRONT, 1 back) / 1 Floppy, 1 parallel and 2 PS/2 (back) / Microphone/line-in/line-out (FRONT and back) / Digital Audio (Out, only) Mouse and Keyboard - HP multimedia keyboard and HP scroller mouse Dimensions - Unpackaged (PC Only) - 15(H) x 7.17 (W) x 17(D) (approx.); Packaged - 23.5(H) x 19.75(W) x 10(D)(approx.) / Weight - Unpackaged (PC only) - 24lbs (approx.); Packaged - 33 lbs Monitor is not included

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

50 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great system!, July 10, 2006

By 

Ash G. (Coastal Bend, Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: HP Pavilion Media Center a1450n Desktop PC (AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core Processor 4200+, 2 GB RAM, 250 GB Hard Drive, LightScribe Double Layer DVD+/-R/RW Drive) (Personal Computers)

I'll begin by saying this is my first time I've bought a computer that I have not put together myself. Last year, I purchased an HP laptop, and have been very satisfied with it and decided to go ahead and give it a try with this one.

I purchased this particular product at the begging of June, so I've had some time to get to know what it can do and how well I like it.

The system so far has been great. The system is fast and that is saying quite a bit as my other computer is only slightly over a year old. I have been able to open tons of programs at the same time and the system kept on going as if I had only one program up.

The 2 GB of ram is fantastic. I had the choice to either get a free monitor or the 2 gigs of ram. I am glad I choose the ram, it has helped tremendously and made a world of difference. I will most likely add another gig anyway.

Great amount of storage. With a digital camera, video camera, games, music, ect., GBs get used fast, but 250 and the combination of being able to burn a DVD with whatever media I happen to need is great (I just need to get a storage cabinet however).

I have one major gripe about this computer however. There is no S-video connection! That may not mean much to some people, as this computer is loaded with tons of other connection, but I like connecting the computer to the main television in the living room.

However, I had intended to get a different video card anyway, as I don't like built in cards, so...I put in a video card of my choice and I now have an S-video connection (I have to have something to gripe about this machine).

The keyboard and mouse are throw always. Well, not throw away, as my 5 year old son now has a new keyboard and mouse, but you will want to pick up a keyboard and mouse of your choice, if you are picky like myself.

As a note, I have played Oblivion on this game, since the second day I had it, purposely to see how the system runs. I had not even installed a new video card in yet. Oblivion ran well with medium graphics. If you want it all, then you need to get another card ( I got a fairly inexpensive card and it looks....beautiful, for lack of a better word). The games load and runs flawlessly.

Also, one of the other games I love to play is the Sim 2. I'm embarrassed by the amount of gigs of downloaded items I have for the game, but with my older computer it would take forever to load and when there were more than about 12 sims at the same time, it made everything so slow it was painful.

With this system, I've managed to get about 20 sims onto one lot and it still didn't slow down that much. Plus, loading time has been cut to a fraction of time, not just in half (might have more to do with the ram than the processor, I don't know.)

So overall, it is a great system, the price made it even better. Very pleased, so far.

Pros:

Fast processor. Can and does handle multiple tasks.

Great amount of ram! Makes working with different programs and media so much faster and easier.

Just a great system in general.

Cons:

No S-video. Best to get another video card anyway.

Keyboard and mouse are cheap.

Overall: Smoking system for an inexpensive price. Just need to get a few small upgrades.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars not bad for an HP, November 8, 2006

By 

Johnny Oregon "bleh" (oregon) - See all my reviews

This review is from: HP Pavilion Media Center a1450n Desktop PC (AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core Processor 4200+, 2 GB RAM, 250 GB Hard Drive, LightScribe Double Layer DVD+/-R/RW Drive) (Personal Computers)

PLUS: For the price, this is a pretty good box. The x2 4200+ is fast, and the 2gigs RAM help applications fly along. The load times for files and movies is extremely good. Multitasking programs is amazing on this machine, you can do 5 things at once with minimal slowdown. The CD reading/writing is extremely fast and easy. Have not tried the lightscribe yet.

Minuses: this computer had was the integrated graphics card, and is a CPU socket 939 rather than an AM2. And you can't overclock the CPU. There is a lot of software that I had to delete, and that there is only 1 pci-express slot, so no SLI gaming on this rig. There appears to be room to upgrade the lowly 300W power supply it comes with as well.

Conclusion: Good computer for multimedia and most games out there now. I had to upgrade the power supply so I could put a 7900gs in it. This was an easy replacement. Have been very satisfied with the machine's performance for 1+ month. For six benjamins, this is a good deal, but if you want to pay seven, get a later model with the AM2 socket.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great PC for the Price, May 2, 2007

By 

Just Along for the Ride "JAFR" (Springfield, IL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: HP Pavilion Media Center a1450n Desktop PC (AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core Processor 4200+, 2 GB RAM, 250 GB Hard Drive, LightScribe Double Layer DVD+/-R/RW Drive) (Personal Computers)

I bought this PC thru HP's refurb site, paying $599 ($669 with s/h & tax). Have had it a couple months, with no problems and only one complaint. I bought it because all the new models shipped with Vista and I wanted to wait a while before jumping to Vista.

When I booted it the first time, I was presented with a screen that asked if I wanted to load the base system, restore the base system, or seal for the end customer. It looked like the final setup hadn't been completed; I selected 'seal' and it finished booting with no problems, nor have I encountered any since.

Very capable machine; I don't use the Media Center because I don't use the PC for multi-media or video. Otherwise, the dual core AMD processor ROCKS! And with 2Gb RAM you have plenty of headroom for whatever you need to run. And with this configuration, I can upgrade to Vista at any time.

Can't beat the value for the price.