HP Media Center m7160n Photosmart Desktop PC (Intel Pentium D Processor 820, 1.0 GB RAM, 250 GB Hard Drive, LightScribe Dbl Layer Drive)

by HP

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 40 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0009W5MVQ
• Item model number: m7160n
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: July 8, 2005

Product Description

Amazon Product Description

The Basics With its Media Center lineup of PCs, HP seeks to bring the personal computer out from under the home office umbrella and into the mainstream. Sporting handy multimedia-related amenities such as remote controls, memory card readers, front-mounted docks for digital cameras and removable hard drives, top-notch music and video editing software, and facilities for etching permanent CD labels, Media Center PCs are ready for prime time. This system, the Media Center m7160n Photosmart Desktop PC, is a midlevel Media Center model featuring slick user amenities all around, a new Intel processor that won’t win any data-processing races when operating single applications but delivers great performance advantages when multitasking, and a graphics accelerator card that’s just fine for most activities but is less than ideal for high-end 3D games. Serious gamers and power users may want to shop around, but all others—particularly anyone who plans to use their PC as the central hub of a multi-room home entertainment center—should find plenty to like.

Processor
At the heart of any computer lies the CPU (or processor), a massive collection of miniature transistors that governs the speed and power of the entire unit. For the Media Center m7160n, HP has turned to Intel and its new Pentium D 820 CPU. At 2.8 GHz, this processor’s clock speed would have been considered top-of-the-line just a couple years back, but is now definitely middle-of-the-road. However, the chip features Intel’s new dual-core technology, which in essence allows it to operate much more efficiently than a regular 2.8 GHz processor when running a "dual-core optimized" application or when faced with more than a single task. Unfortunately, there simply aren’t a lot of applications currently optimized for dual-core processors. However, there are lots of people who’d like to watch a DVD movie in one room while they’re burning a CD and perhaps fiddling with a spreadsheet in another.

Infused with a whopping two MB of Level 2 cache and a generous data "pipeline", the Pentium D 820 also delivers fast access to a larger amount of the data you use most often. Ultimately, this is not the perfect CPU for ultra-demanding single applications such as the latest 3D games or complex 3D animation (though it’s no slouch either). But if you regularly run several programs at the same time, you’ll definitely like what it can do for your computing environment.

Memory
Computers typically store information on their hard drive, but they also keep frequently and recently accessed data in Random Access Memory (RAM) for faster retrieval. More RAM means added efficiency, superior multitasking and less strain on your hard drive. The Media Center m7160n brandishes one full GB of fast PC3200 DDR SDRAM main memory, a huge allotment that'll add even more muscle to the most challenging multitasking situations. Moreover, the system will accept later RAM upgrades to a stunning total of 4 GB.

Video
CPU’s are usually so busy doing basic calculations that they need help translating visual output to the viewing screen. This is the duty of the graphics card (or graphics controller). The Media Center m7160n features a relatively new style of video controller, the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950. It's a hybrid of sorts between high-end standalone cards that incorporate their own built-in memory and less capable integrated controllers that share a portion the system's main memory. Structured much like the latter, the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 indeed shares main memory, yet it utilizes more refined components and commandeers more of the system's memory—up to 244 MB in this case—than older, traditional integrated controllers.

Ultimately, this controller is sufficient for all 2D and most 3D tasks and is far superior to its direct ancestors. However, it simply doesn't deliver enough oomph for those who want to run the most visually complex games or 3D animation packages at their full potential. Serious gamers and those who deal primarily with 3D graphics or animation will likely need to add a dedicated 256 MB or 512 MB video card.

Display:
A display screen is not included, thus allowing you to continue using your current monitor or select from today’s many alternatives.

Sound
The Media Center m7160n produces sound via an Intel High Definition Audio chipset with support for seven distinct audio channels and one subwoofer. This integrated audio chip doesn’t pack the wallop of pricey, high-end aftermarket audio cards, but it’s much more affordable and quite satisfactory when paired with a powered speaker set.

Hard Drive
At 250 GB, the system's monstrous hard drive is spacious enough for the vast majority of home users, and will certainly have no problem storing a massive allotment of files and applications and ample music, video/photo and multimedia libraries too. Indeed, HP says it will handle 115,000 2 MB digital photographs, though that wouldn’t leave room for anything else. Further storage possibilities are offered in the form of a convenient docking slot located on the front of the computer tower that accepts portable hard drives such as the HP Personal Media Drive.

Optical Drive
An optical drive is essential in today’s computing environment. A "CD-ROM" drive allows you to install CD-based applications and play music CDs. A "CD-RW" drive adds CD "burning", so you can also backup your important files to long-lasting discs and create personalized music CDs. With a DVD-ROM drive you can enjoy all of the above plus watch the same big budget DVD movies you watch on your home entertainment system. And with a DVD-RW drive, you can also "write" home movies to durable discs and archive files to DVD (DVDs boast more than seven times the storage capacity of a CD).

This system features two drives—a simple DVD-ROM drive for playing audio CDs and DVD movies, and a state-of-the-art Double Layer DVD+R/RW drive through which you can burn music and data CDs, play DVD movies, and write home videos or critical data to long-lasting DVD media. The "Double Layer" designation refers to the unit's ability to handle double layer DVDs, each of which offers nearly twice the capacity of traditional DVDs (8.5 GB vs. 4.4 GB). Moreover, the drive also includes HP's new "LightScribe" technology, which allows you to etch permanent labels on your CDs and DVDs, complete with your own text, photos and designs. As an added advantage, the two-drive format allows you to copy CDs or DVDs much more quickly than you could with a single drive.

Connectivity and Expansion
With no less than six high-speed USB 2.0 ports—two of which are conveniently located on the front of the unit—you’ll have plenty of room for plug and play gadgets such as joysticks and printers. HP has also included two IEEE 1394 "FireWire" ports (commonly used for fast data transfer from digital camcorders), composite video and S-Video ports for sending high-quality digital images to your favorite display screen or TV, and a versatile 9-in-1 card reader for reading memory cards from devices such as digital cameras, PDAs and more. Communication options include an integrated 10/100Base-T networking interface for fast Internet and network communication and a V.92 data/fax modem for low-speed dial-up connections. Possibly the most unique feature of the system are the built-in TV and FM radio tuners, the latter of which is paired with an integrated antenna!

Operating System and Software
The Media Center m7160n features an extremely comprehensive software package headed by Microsoft’s beefy Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 operating system. For those times when you need to put the playing aside and get some work done, HP also includes Quicken 2005 New User Edition, Microsoft Money Standard 2005 and Microsoft Works 8. Of course, no self-respecting multimedia-geared PC would be complete without a bevy of photo, music and imaging utilities.

Control
You'll control your PC with an HP multimedia keyboard and wireless mouse. The system also features a handy wireless infrared remote control.

Product Description

Includes: HP optical mouse, HP multimedia keyboard, Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005, Norton Internet Security 2005, Works 8, Office Student & Teacher Edition 2003 (60-day trial version), Money Standard 2005, & more. HP Media Center m7160n Photosmart PC - This desktop computer features Microsoft's Media Center 2005 operating system. A unique operating system that has a special graphical user interface for your television. It's designed to be easy to use from the comfort of your couch, and offers you a host of home theater technologies. The 250GB SATA hard drive and TV tuner allow you to watch, pause, and record live TV. And a DVD writer serves as a terrific DVD movie player, while giving you amazing media writing capabilities. Backup important files, make your own DVD movies, audio CDs, and more. LightScribe technology is also a part of this DVD writer, allowing you to label your discs with a professional look, by etching text and graphics with the DVD writer's laser! 4 DIMM Slots (2 available) 250GB 7200RPM SATA HDD 16x DVD-ROM Drive LightScribe Double Layer DVD Writer (write speeds) - up to 2.4x Double Layer DVD+R, 16x DVD+R, 8x DVD-R, 4x DVD-RW, 4x DVD+RW, 40x CD-R, & 24x CD-RW LightScribe Double Layer DVD Writer (read speeds) - up to 16x DVD-ROM & 40x CD-ROM Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 with up to 244MB of shared video memory (memory is taken from the main system's RAM) Intel High Definition Audio with up to 7.1 surround sound capabilities TV tuner (NTSC) with personal video recorder and FM tuner (antenna included) 56k Fax Modem Front Panel 9-in-1 Memory Card Reader - supports Smart Media, xD, MultiMedia Card, Secure Digital (SD), Compact Flash I/II, Micro Drive, Memory Stick, & Memory Stick Pro media Ports - 10/100 Ethernet, 6 USB 2.0 (2 front), 2 FireWire (1 front), Microphone In, Headphone Out, Composite Video, S-Video, & Audio Inputs Bays - 2 external 5.25

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Computer, October 26, 2005

By 

N. Shah (California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: HP Media Center m7160n Photosmart Desktop PC (Intel Pentium D Processor 820, 1.0 GB RAM, 250 GB Hard Drive, LightScribe Dbl Layer Drive) (Personal Computers)

this computer is absolutely amazing for the price. media center is like a dream come true and the gig of ram and dual core processing makes this computer blazing fast. i havent tried the lightscribe yet (u need special cd-r's or dvd-r's to use it). GOOD computer! get it!