A Product Review of the Compaq Presario SR5410F Desktop PC

The SR5410F PC from Compaq is part of the wildly popular multimedia desktop market. These PC's do it all from playing games - to crunching numbers in excel. Their prices are falling and becoming more the desktop standard than the exception. As a result we're seeing lots of competition which is a good thing as a consumer. This falls into the mid level price range meaning it isn't the top of the line but it isn't watered down by any means. I'm going to take this desktop for a spin and let you know what I think and who will get the most out of this type of machine. First let me start with some of the basics.

Hardware:

Processor: 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Quad

Storage Space: 750GB

RAM: 4GB of RAM (expandable to a maximum of 8)

Optical Drive: CD R / RW burner with integrated DVD +/- R RW

Graphics Accelerator: NVidia GeForce 8500 GT graphics

Integrated TV Tuner (NTSC/ATSC)

Operating System: Windows Vista Home Premium

Includes: remote, mouse and keyboard

This is a fairly loaded desktop. The only dowfall I see is the relatively underpowered processor compared to some of the more expensive options on the market. I would still say it is quite capable with today's software however it may not necessarily have the shelf life as some of the more expensive offerings by today's major manufacturers. The RAM is adequate in my opinion, even with Vista's memory hog reputation 4GB does just fine, if you have the need to though it will take up to 8 GB.

The graphics card is decent and will be fine for those of you that are interested in games, I was able to play call of duty 4 with everything cranked to the max and it did exceptional. As far as multimedia goes I love the fact that it comes complete with a television tuner, it really allows for Vista's multimedia options to be cut loose. You can record straight from television (including HD broadcasts) utilizing this PC essentially as a digital video recorder.

The 750 GB hard drive is fairly robust. I'm glad that this was included because once you start marketing to the entertainment center folks you're talking about the need for some serious space, and they come through.

Connectivity:

Integrated WiFi

1 Ethernet port

6 2.0 USB (use these to connect your mouse, keyboard, printer digital camera, iPod, whatever...)

2 FireWire (for fast data transfer from something like a digital camcorder for example)

1 VGA (to connect to a standard PC monitor)

1 HDMI (to connect to a high definition television)

1 DVI (to connect to some monitors and some televisions)

1 S-Video (typically a projector connection)

1 composite A/V (a television connection)

Digital audio out

1 typical audio out / mic in

15 in 1 memory card reader (to download things from your digital camera etc without having to connect it via usb)

The connectivity is great, I love the 15 in 1 card reader, everyone is happy with that. The best is the HDMI output it really allows for this PC to be the best it can be in my opinion. I would certainly integrate this desktop into my entertainment center. To just use this to do work on, while it is totally capable, would be a waste. It literally has everything in my opinion. Its few downsides are heavily outweighed by its strong suits, and the fact that the price is right around $1100. I think everyone would be happy to have this desktop.