HP Pavilion a340n Desktop PC (2.60-GHz Pentium 4, 512 MB RAM, 120 GB Hard Drive, DVD/CD-RW Drive)

by HP

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 16.5 x 15.2 x 7.5 inches ; 37.9 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 38 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0000E2GOD
• Item model number: a340n
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #13,067 in Computers & Accessories (See Top 100 in Computers & Accessories)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: November 9, 2003

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Offering a good amount of horsepower and storage, the HP Pavilion a340n desktop PC is suitable for a range of uses--from a home digital media hub to a small business/home office work station. The a340n features a CD burner, DVD player, multi-format memory card reader, hyper-threaded 2.6 GHz Pentium 4 processor, an extra-large 120 GB hard drive, 512 MB of installed RAM.

The Basics

• Hard Drive: The 120 GB Ultra DMA hard drive offers more than enough storage for all your documents, digital photos, and MP3 collection.
• Processor: The 2.6 GHz Intel Pentium 4 processor with Hyper-Threading technology (which allows a single CPU system to behave in some aspects like a dual-CPU system--see more in Tech Talk section below) offers more than enough power for everyday computing tasks as well as database and multimedia applications (from gaming to digital audio and video). It also has a 512K L2 cache and 800 MHz front-side buss (FSB).
• Memory: The a340n comes with a 512 MB built-in memory (2 x 256 MB DDR SDRAM, 333 MHz)--a good start for power users--with a maximum memory expansion up to 2 GB (4 x 512 MB).
• CD/DVD Drive: This desktop PC comes with two optical drives: a CD-RW and a DVD-ROM (for playback of movies and data discs). The speedy CD-RW drive has 48x write, 24x re-write, 48x read speeds, while the DVD-ROM has a 16x maximum playback speed (DVD movie discs require 8x).
• Keyboard & Mouse: It comes with an HP multimedia keyboard and optical mouse (both with PS/2 connections).

Sound and Graphics
The a340n features audio and video cards that are integrated into the computer's main board. The sound card uses the AC'97 (Audio Codec '97) standard. The video/graphics card--Intel Extreme Graphics 2--has up to 64 MB of shared video memory. It is suitable for basic needs, but it will need a better video/graphics card for professional design and graphics usage.

Connectivity and Expansion Slots
For expansion, the a340n has two 5.25-inch external bays (both occupied), four 3.5-inch bays (one internal bay available), three PCI slots (two available), and one AGP 8x slot (available). It comes with a built-in floppy drive and the following external connectors:

• 6 USB 2.0 ports (2 in front, 4 in rear) for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
• 2 FireWire (also known as IEEE 1394 or i.Link) ports for connecting digital video camcorders and other peripherals (1 in front, 1 in rear)
• 1 parallel port for connecting older printers and scanners
• 2 PS/2 ports for connecting keyboards and mice
• 1 RGB monitor port
• 1 serial port for older peripherals such as early PDAs
• 1 microphone and 1 headphone jack in the front
• Multi-format memory card reader that's compatible with CompactFlash (Type I/II), MicroDrive, Memory Stick and Memory Stick Pro, Smaredia, Secure Digital (SD), and MultiMedia (MMC) memory cards.

It also has an integrated 56K modem (V.92) and an RJ-45 LAN network port (for a 10/100 Ethernet connection to networks and DSL/cable modems).

Preloaded System and Software
The a340n comes with the Windows XP Home Edition operating system, and it also features Microsoft Works (for working with word processing and spreadsheet documents). Other preloaded software includes Microsoft Money 2004, Quicken New User Edition 2004, Norton Antivirus 2003 (with 60 days of complimentary updates), Adobe Acrobat Reader, Encarta Encyclopedia 2004 Standard Edition, Adobe Photoshop album (starter edition), RecordNow 6.5 (for burning CDs), WinDVD SE 4.0 (for DVD playback), ArcSoft ShowBiz (for editing digital video), and MusicMatch Jukebox.

Dimensions and Weight
It measures 7.5 in x 15.2 in x 16.5 in (W x D x H) and weighs 37.9 pounds.

What's in the Box
This package contains the HP Pavilion a340n 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.

Tech Talk
Hyper-Threading: A Hyper-Threading processor helps a PC to run multiple demanding applications at the same time. This technology enables the processor to execute two threads (a part of a program) in parallel, boosting performance during key high-drain procedures. This results in more efficient software performance (such as faster reaction times in gaming applications) and enhanced multitasking.

From the Manufacturer

Just one step down from the top rung of HP's Pavilion a300n series of desktop computers, the Pavilion a340n is a capable and affordable PC that can't be counted upon for upscale applications such as high-end 3-D games but is certainly ready for standard home, home office, leisure and business applications. If you like what this unit offers but need a little more oomph and upscale features such as DVD burning, check out the slightly pricier Pavilion a350n. Otherwise, this unit is a solid midlevel alternative.

Driven by a snappy 2.6 GHz Pentium 4 processor with Hyper-Threading technology (Hyper-Threading allows a single CPU system to behave in some aspects like a dual-CPU system -- thereby boosting performance during key high-drain procedures such as multitasking) and 512 MB of PC2700 DDR SDRAM memory, the Pavilion a340n sports enough top-end speed for virtually any task. However, its 3-D video accelerator, an Intel Extreme Graphics 2 with 64 MB of shared (not dedicated) video memory, is recommended only for general 3-D applications and will not effectively run high-end 3-D games or demanding 3-D animation packages. Compaq has equipped the system with a large 120 GB hard disk to give you plenty of room for programs, files, and a full multimedia library. Other key amenities include a blazing 48-speed CD-RW drive for playing and burning audio discs and backing up files, a DVD-ROM drive for playing DVDs, and a 7-in-1 digital card reader for accessing memory cards from PDAs, digital cameras, and the like. In this stock configuration, DVD burning is not supported. HP has clearly built the Pavilion a340n to meet current and future expansion and connectivity needs. The unit features a half dozen high-speed USB 2.0 ports (one of the front) for exchanging information with external devices such as digital cameras and scanners, two FireWire ports (one on the front) for fast interaction with digital camcorders, a front-mounted microphone and headphone port, two available PCI slots, and a six-speaker surround sound audio controller.

Communication facilities include a 56K modem for low-speed dial-up surfing and a 10/100Base-T Ethernet interface for high-speed e-communications. An HP multimedia keyboard with hotkeys and a hassle-free optical mouse complete the hardware picture.

Bundled software includes Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, Microsoft Works 7.0, Microsoft Money 2003, and a variety of multimedia and security utilities. A monitor and speakers are not enclosed, thus allowing you to select from the wide variety of choices available today.