GENERAL

• Type
  Personal computer
• Recommended Use
  corporate business, small business
• Product Form Factor
  Ultra-slim desktop
• Packaged Quantity
  1
• Platform Technology
  Intel vPro Technology
• Built-in Devices
  speaker
• Embedded Security
  Trusted Platform Module (TPM 1.2) Security Chip
• Manufacturer
  HP

PROCESSOR / CHIPSET

• CPU
  Intel Core i5 (3rd Gen) 3570S / 3.1 GHz
• Max Turbo Speed
  3.8 GHz
• Number of Cores
  Quad-Core
• Chipset Type
  Intel Q77 Express
• Processor Main Features
  Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2

CACHE MEMORY

• Installed Size
  6 MB
• Cache Per Processor
  6 MB
• Per Processor Size
  6 MB
• Installed Size
  6 MB

RAM

• Installed Size
  4 GB / 16 GB (max)
• Technology
  DDR3 SDRAM - non-ECC
• Memory Speed
  1600 MHz
• Memory Specification Compliance
  PC3-12800
• Features
  unbuffered
• Configuration Features
  1 x 4 GB
• Technology
  DDR3 SDRAM
• Installed Size
  4 GB
• Data Integrity Check
  non-ECC
• Rated Memory Speed
  1600 MHz

STORAGE

• Interface Type
  Serial ATA-300
• Type
  none

MEMORY

• Max Supported Size
  16 GB
• Form Factor
  SO-DIMM 204-pin
• Slots Qty
  2
• Empty Slots
  1

ENVIRONMENTAL PARAMETERS

• Humidity Range Operating
  10 - 90% (non-condensing)

DISPLAY

• Type
  none.

AUDIO & VIDEO

• Memory Allocation Technology
  Dynamic Video Memory Technology

HARD DRIVE

• Capacity
  1 x 500 GB
• Interface Type
  SATA 3Gb/s
• Spindle Speed
  7200 rpm
• Type
  HDD
• Interface Class
  Serial ATA
• Installed Qty
  1
• Capacity
  500 GB

STORAGE CONTROLLER

• Interface Type
  Serial ATA-600
• Channel Qty
  2
• Type
  Serial ATA
• Installed Qty
  1

HARD DRIVE (2ND)

• Type
  none

INPUT

• Type
  keyboard, mouse

HARD DRIVE (3RD)

• Type
  none

PROCESSOR

• Installed Qty
  1
• Max Supported Qty
  1
• Upgradability
  upgradable
• Type
  Core i5
• Processor Number
  i5-3570S
• Generation
  3
• Manufacturer
  Intel
• Clock Speed
  3.1 GHz

OPTICAL STORAGE

• Drive Type
  DVD
• Type
  DVD-ROM
• Interface Type
  Serial ATA

STORAGE REMOVABLE

• Type
  none

HEADER

• Brand
  HP
• Product Line
  HP Compaq
• Model
  Elite 8300
• Localization
  English
• Country Kits
  United States
• Packaged Quantity
  1
• Compatibility
  PC

SOFTWARE

• Microsoft Office Preloaded
  Includes a pre-loaded image of select Microsoft Office 2010 suites. Purchase an Office 2010 Product Key Card or disc to activate preloaded software on this PC.

MISCELLANEOUS

• Features
  DriveLock, Intel Identity Protection Technology (Intel IPT), USB port control, power-on password, serial port I/O control, system password
• Compliant Standards
  ACPI, RoHS, WEEE

NETWORKING

• Data Link Protocol
  Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet
• Remote Management Protocol
  ASF 2.0
• Form Factor
  integrated
• Compliant Standards
  IEEE 802.1Q, IEEE 802.1p, IEEE 802.3, IEEE 802.3ab, IEEE 802.3az, IEEE 802.3u
• Ethernet Controller(s)
  Intel 82579LM
• Features
  Wake on LAN (WoL), PXE support, auto-uplink (auto MDI/MDI-X)

MONITOR

• Monitor Type
  None.

SYSTEM

• Type
  personal computer
• Platform Technology
  Intel vPro Technology
• Hard Drive Capacity
  500 GB
• Embedded Security
  Trusted Platform Module (TPM 1.2) Security Chip
• OS Certified
  Red Hat Enterprise Linux, SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 11

GRAPHICS CONTROLLER

• Form Factor
  integrated
• Graphics Processor
  Intel HD Graphics 2500 Dynamic Video Memory Technology
• Video Interfaces
  DisplayPort, VGA
• HDCP compatible
  yes
• Max Monitors Supported
  2

DIMENSIONS & WEIGHT

• Width
  9.9 in
• Depth
  10 in
• Height
  2.6 in

CHASSIS

• Form Factor
  desktop slimline
• Manufacturer Form Factor
  ultra-slim desktop
• Built-in Devices
  speaker

MAINBOARD

• Chipset Type
  Intel Q77 Express

1 year labour WARRANTY

• Type
  1 year labour free warranty 

AUDIO OUTPUT

• Form Factor
  integrated
• Sound Output Mode
  stereo
• Max Sampling Rate
  192 Hz
• Compliant Standards
  High Definition Audio, SRS Premium Sound

PRINTER

• Type
  none

ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS

• EPEAT Level
  EPEAT Gold
• ENERGY STAR Certified
  Yes

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

• Form Factor
  desktop slimline
• Weight
  6.83 lbs

POWER

• Type
  power supply
• Min Operating Temperature
  50 °F
• Max Operating Temperature
  95 °F

OPERATING SYSTEM / SOFTWARE

• OS Provided: Type
  Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 64-bit Edition
• OS Certified
  Red Hat Enterprise Linux, SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 11
• OS Provided
  Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 64-bit Edition
• Type
  Adobe Flash Player, Drive Encryption for HP ProtectTools, HP Setup 9.0, HP Support Assistant, HP Wallpaper, Microsoft Advantage Program, Microsoft Office 2010 Starter, Microsoft Security Essentials, PDF Complete Corporate Edition, WinZip Basic, File Sanitizer for HP ProtectTools, HP Client Security, HP EUDI Support Environment, HP Help and Support, HP Marketplace, HP Power Assistant, HP ProtectTools Security Software Suite, HP Recovery Manager

VIDEO OUTPUT

• Graphics Processor
  Intel HD Graphics 2500
• Graphics Processor Series
  Intel HD Graphics
• Max Monitors Supported
  2
• Video Interfaces
  DisplayPort, VGA
• HDCP compatible
  yes

VIDEO MEMORY

• Memory Allocation Technology
  Dynamic Video Memory Technology

GENERAL

• Manufacturer
  HP

  ERDICT / The HP Compaq Elite 8300 business computer can be fast and efficient if you upgrade the processor and add memory. Unfortunately, the base model processor doesn't compare to the quad-core processors used by the best business computers. However, the expandable features are excellent and allow you to customize the computer to meet the needs of your business.

   

  Editor’s Note: This product has been removed from our side-by-side comparison because it has been discontinued. You can still read our original review below, but Top Ten Reviews is no longer updating this product’s information.

  Most business desktops start out with a quad-core processor, but the Intel i3-3240 dual-core 3.4GHz processor included in the HP Compaq Elite 8300 base model simply doesn't compare to the processors used by the best business computers. A dual-core processor has half the power and ability of the quad-core processor. While this may be enough to multitask with a few basic programs, you will experience dips in productivity with a dual-core processor that you won't with a quad-core processor.

  Fortunately, you can upgrade the processor to the Intel i7-3770. This processor will significantly improve performance because it comes with four cores. In addition, each core has eight threads. The base model processor only has four threads per CPU core; the upgraded processor has 32 threads. Because data is processed and executed on a single thread, this gives you 4 times the multitasking ability. The speed also increases from 3.4GHz to 3.9 GHz, so data can process faster on each thread.

  Your computer's memory is one of the most important features of your computer because every program you run requires it in order to function properly. The more complicated the program, the more memory it needs to function. Unfortunately, the base model comes with only 2GB of memory. This is half the average memory for a business desktop. However, you can upgrade the memory up to 32GB.

  Hard drive storage capacity starts at 500GB. Since most business files are on average less than 1MB of data, this is enough to store years of business documents, excel spreadsheets, receipts, invoices and more. If you run out of hard drive space, you can upgrade to a 2TB hard drive, which would be necessary if your business deals with video or audio files, as these can quickly fill a hard drive.

  When it comes to expansion features, the HP Compaq Elite is one of the best business computers because it comes with six expansion slots, three internal drive bays, three external drive bays and ten USB ports. So while the base model might be lean on features, you have the ability to upgrade and expand the computer's abilities.

  The expansion slots and drive bays allow you to add additional components like extra hard drives or additional DVD burners. This means you can keep your office PC up to date with current technology. For example, solid-state hard drives, or SSD's, are much faster and more reliable than a standard hard drive, but SSD's aren't the standard yet because they are expensive and don't contain as much storage. When SSD's become more commonly used, you can simply add the drive to your computer instead of buying a new computer.

  If your computer breaks down, so does your business. To make sure that you're not down for long, HP offers a 3-year warranty that covers parts, labor and onsite servicing. This warranty is standard among most of the business computers but if three years isn't enough, you can upgrade your warranty and services to five years.

  However, one big flaw with HP support is the lack of asset recovery, online data backup and data protection services. These services are designed to protect the vital data of your business in the event that your hard drive malfunctions. Unfortunately, HP does not provide these services, instead, requiring you to hire a third-party business to recover your lost data. Asset recovery and data protection services help recover data on a malfunctioned hard drive and online data backup keeps a copy of your important files online so that even if your computer is destroyed, all your important files will still be safe.