Customer Reviews

HP Pavilion Slimline S3720F Desktop PC (2.5 GHz Intel Pentium Dual-Core Desktop E5200 Processor, 4 GB RAM, 500 GB Hard Drive, DVD Drive,Vista Premium)

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(11)

 

 

NOTE: Amazon had recently consolidated the reviews for both the S3720 and the S3700's into one page. This review refers to the HP Pavilion Slimline S3720F Desktop PC (2.5 GHz Intel Pentium Dual-Core Desktop E5200 Processor, 4 GB RAM, 500 GB Hard Drive, DVD Drive,Vista Premium).

The HP Slimline S3720F is an excellent slim form-factor pc with a few limitations. I needed another small sized PC at my engineering lab, so I purchased the S3720F. Typically I build my own machines, so I was quite impressed when I purchased this model, assuming one understands its limitations.

The HP Slimline S3720F runs Intel's Dual Core E5200 processor (mid-range processor line). Note that this is not Intel's "Core 2 Duo" line (the high-range which has a faster front-side bus). Regardless in conjunction with a healthy 4 gb of RAM, there is enough horsepower to run most of my engineering applications, which can be quite intensive. The 500 GB harddrive is adequate, though I see myself needing more storage space in the future (easily remedied with an external HDD).

The S3720F runs Windows Vista Home Premium with Service Pack1. Contrary to the negative sentiment against Windows Vista, I have to clarify that Windows Vista SP1 is very functional. I use numerous operating systems including, various Linux packages, OS X (Mac), Windows XP, even Windows 7 Beta. So after uninstalling some "bloat-ware" and removing some unneeded startup programs (msconfig), the S3720F runs Vista like a dream. Some slowdown occurs when one uses some Aero features (graphic-intensive features). But aside from that, it is surprisingly smooth. I can load firefox pages in seconds, run Matlab, Itunes, and an array of other programs simultaneously with no noticeable slowdown.

A very important exception to note is that this computer comes with a 64-bit Windows OS. This may cause some incompatibility issues with some 32-bit software. This is arguably of no fault of the OS in its own, but rather that the software was not designed to run on a 64-bit OS. Aside from these issues, once you optimize the system, the performance is much better than one would expect.

The physical design of the system borrows from the concept of minimalism. In the front, there are two USB ports, a covered CD/DVD tray, a HP pocket media drive bay, and the many different memory cards ports. The backside houses the standard ports, with no exceptional features. Note that the video-out to the monitor is VGA and NOT DVI or HDMI. Overall there is some great aesthetic appeal, and one would not be embarrassed to stash this PC in an entertainment center. Be sure to place it in an area that is well ventilated (as with most to all PCs).

Overall, I am very pleased with the overall package for the price. Whether you use it for common office tasks, light engineering work, or a living-room media center (though only one VGA-out is limiting), the HP Slimline performs its tasks admirably.

Product Positives:
+Compact form-factor
+Less bloat-ware than comparable computers
+Windows Vista SP 1 64bit (needed to take advantage of the 4gb+ of ram)
+Great performance after some tweaking
+Wireless B/G Network Card built-in
+Quiet operation

Product Negatives:
-Limited room for upgrades
-VGA out only (no DVI, HDMI)
-Some 32-bit software may not work on a 64-bit OS
-Built-in video card is a bit on the weak side, poor performance in graphic-intensive programs (Solid-graphic modeling, games)
-Midrange CPU E5200 slower than Intel's Highline of Core 2 Duo's
-I don't like the "tactile feel" of the included keyboard

Updates and Other Thoughts:
-I thought I'd post the "Experience Rating" from Windows Vista, which is built-in Vista tool that rates your hardware against some performance metrics. The scale ranges from 1.0 (poor performance) to 5.9 (excellent performance). This tool can be found by right-clicking on "My computer" and scroll to properties. For the HP Slimline S3720F here are the results:

Processor: --------- 5.4
Memory (ram): ------ 4.6
Graphics: ---------- 3.7
Gaming Graphics: --- 3.0
Primary Hard Disk: - 5.9

Overall Score of: -- 3.0

The overall score is 3/6 which would suggest an average score. However, the "Overall Score" is based on the lowest subscore, which is the Gaming Graphics. Otherwise, this machine scored exceptionally well in the processor, memory, and harddisk subtests. So in conclusion, unless you plan on using this machine for heavy gaming, or artwork/graphic applications, the S3720F is an exceptional value computer.

I received the HP Slimline 3750f and tried to start it up. I received a message "Missing Operating System". I tried to look in the start up F10 (CMOS) and noticed that Hard Drive was 320GB instead of advertised 640GB. Furthermore, it stated that the system had 2GB of RAM instead advertised 4GB of RAM. Not only that, this was a return product from a previous person who purchased and shipped back to Amazon. This computer was actually NEVER checked or opened, the reason I know is because the original packing slip was in it. I am usually happy with Amazon.com, but this is just not right customer service. I would expect them to review previous returns, not send them and state that it is a "new" product when someone else already used it, and of course I would expect for the computer you buy to work. Knowing Amazon I imagine my full shipping costs refund and full refund for this product, I just hope some will actually open up the box and fix this DEFECTIVE HP Slimline 3750f computer.

I bought this computer with some trepidation since there were no reviews, but to my great delight the computer set up with no problems whatsoever. The longest part was downloading and installing 26 Windows updates, which took a while because I have a slow DSL line. I coupled it with the HP w1907 monitor which is performing as well as the computer. I am a Vista novice, but the things we are used to are there and accessible if you give it a chance. I added an ergonomic keyboard which installed well and a different mouse, ditto. The CPU arrived 8 days before the monitor and my desire to get things hooked up was at fever pitch. I was up late clicking around and finding where things are. I saw a review for a similar computer that complained it was very slow. Not the case here. If you are not a gamer, this is a great computer. Time will tell, of course, but first impressions are that this is magnificent.

This is a really nice small size computer for home browsing / kitchen use. The case is amazingly small, speed is fast. This is not made to run high requirement games or applications, if you just use this for browsing and some MS Office applications, it does the job perfectly.

It has all the components you want, even comes with wi-fi installed. Setup was a breeze. Now, it's not perfection, here's some of the minor issues I encountered:

1. no DVI outlet - my fault for not reading the description clearly, but by now I thought that would be standard. If you have one of those HP Flat screen monitors, with or without DVI, it looks fantastic, so no big deal.

2. bloatware - this is a pain, this is my 1st time using vista, still not able to uninstall all the prebuilt softwares. takes up screen space and does nothing. One reason I normally just build my own computers.

3. keyboard & mouse - these are as good as trash. besure to get your own. Usually the mouse always sucks with prebuilt systems, so that was expected. The keyboard looked nice, felt nice, but there's something wrong with the design, it's extra small or something, anyone use to typing on a normal keyboard will not be able to type right. My wife said I was too picky & have fat fingers until she tried it herself, ah.... the man is right... get a replacement keyboard, you won't regret it.

This computer was defective right out of the box. Purchased in June 2009, it repeatedly had errors, setting it back to factory default did not help, neither did customer service. After months of phone calls about the DEFECTIVE SEAGATE HARD DRIVE that was included, which HP KNEW ABOUT and alerted us to, it took them 3 months to replace it, and they sent a BLANK HD, no OS or recovery partition. Months later I finally got a clean reformat and the system is JUST up and running as best as HP and Vista ever will I guess, and I am NOT eligible for the Windows 7 upgrade even though I purchased it in June from Circuit City who CLOSED before the computer was delivered. HP only provies the upgrade if purchased after June 26th, but considering they took MONTHS to send me a WORKING hard drive and I was never able to use the computer I am DISGUSTED and give them a 10 thumbs down, do we report things like this anywhere? The better business bureau?
I had purchased HP products for many years and the company where my husband works, but they've had similar problems and NO MORE HP's for us.
Too bad it took the only money I had for a new system. It was a GIFT.
I hope this helps anyone considering this product.

No support, October 9, 2009
By Stan Tomberg (Hendersonville, NC) - See all my reviews




On 1/01/09 I called customer service (that is what they call it). I told the tech my internal lightscribe drive would not burn label's. I am not a not a novice and I went through all the steps - uninstalling the drive and reinstalling the drive, etc. I told the the tech that my external lightscribe drive was working fine so it had to be the drive. He had me duplicate all the steps I Had already done and after 1:05 he said he would send me a new drive it was under warranty got my credit card info and he put me on hold. After 10 minutes (1:15 total time) I hung up.

I called back after I cooled down and got a tech who saw what was done, bur insisted to let him take over my PC. He assured me it take only 20 minutes and I agreed. An hour and 35 minutes later I told him just take of ordering the drive (it seems the first tech did not it. Hr agreed and then after being on hold for 5 minutes he told me the system was down and I would have to call back on 11/2/09.

Both techs had bad attitudes and treated me like a dummy. I wasted two hours and 40 minutes of being insulted and talked down to!

Price can not overcome lack of service

This machine should to taken off the market. The PC now crashes and does not even boot. I have run the diagnostics on the bios bootup and the memory was causing the problem. So I thought great I will go and replace the memory. $50 dollars later it looked like everything was fixed. So back to normal? Nope. Started crashing again the next day. So sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. I even had my IT friend look at this. 3 hours later running everything we could think of it is still touch and go. I need to figure out if HP can take this back and replace it as it looks like its a hardware problem!! Otherwise I am out the $500+ I spend on this lousy PC. Look for another vendor. I thought HP was suppose to build great PCs. I guess not.

I needed a quick replacement for my HP Pavilion desktop that died on me. Didn't want to reinvent the wheel with a big cost computer - $429 was just right. Added my 24" monitor from old computer - up and running in no time. Only drawback - DO NOT buy if you need to expand. There is no room for any expansion whatsoever. Didn't matter to me since I only needed a good, powerful machine to keep me in business. Fast!

got this computer 4 months ago and it looks great - perfect for shelf under large tv.

this issue is it runs EXTREMELY hot so i had to always leave the doors open on my tv stand.

also, due to problems with vista and poor driver support for this unpopular tv tuner card, the tv tuner will not work for some setups (search forums for avermedia m792 to see what i mean). i will try windows 7 to see if i can get it to work

Absolutely terrible! I couldn't get it to run for more than a couple hours before freezing up. Since it is supposed to also function as a DVR this feature was pretty much useless. I'm thinking I may go with Apple. A lower price is no good if it doesn't work.