This off-the-shelf HTPC offers a nice blend of performance, features in a package that even your gramps could figure out.
We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again – HP knows how to ship a PC that even a Luddite wouldn’t be threatened by. It’s basically impossible to stuff up the setup of a HP computer. The m9270a is a shining example of this simplicity; it even arrives with the batteries pre-installed in the mouse and keyboard, with a cute little plastic flap that is removed before use, stopping the batteries from going flat. As an easy to use PC, it’s hard to fault, but how does it fare in its primary mission as a Home Theatre PC for the masses?
For the tidy sum of $1,500, don’t expect the n9270a to be a supercomputing number cruncher – it sits firmly in the middle of the PC price range. Yet it’s got a number of features that we didn’t expect on such a budget-friendly machine.
For starters, there’s the combination Blu-ray/HD DVD/DVD±RW drive. Obviously the fact that it’s HD DVD compatible is a moot point now that this format has gone the way of the Atari 2600, but we’re not complaining about the inclusion of Blu-ray. Windows Vista Home Premium has the wonderful Media Centre interface, and a very easy to use remote control unlocks all of its potential from the comfort of your couch. The NVIDIA GeForce 8400 video card provides plenty of grunt for movie viewing, and the HDMI output makes it the perfect partner for your shiny new 40in LCD display. Obviously it’s not going to cut the mustard for today’s generation of games, but the odd-bout of Counterstrike Source won’t be out of the question.
The Core2 Duo e4700 (running at 2.6GHz), while not being the silicon equivalent of the Hulk, is similarly capable. It’s perfect for the HTPC market that this machine is aimed at, offering decent multitasking abilities without needing an industrial refrigerator to keep cool. Because it’s not running at the temperature of a wood-fired pizza oven, the heatsink fan is perfectly quiet during those spooky scenes in
The Sixth Sense. Strangely the video card uses active cooling; a surprising oversight considering the 8400 is available in a passively cooled model. Having said that, the fan is whisper quiet, so it’s not much of concern.
At 320GB, there’s plenty of hard drive space, but for a Vista machine we’d have appreciated more memory than the 2GB that it scrapes by on. Unfortunately it’s only got two DIMM slots, both taken up by a 1GB stick of memory. If you want to upgrade the memory post-purchase, the existing memory is headed for the trash can. Take our advice and bump it up to 4GB before you purchase – at today’s pathetically cheap RAM prices it won’t break the bank (and yes, we realise only 3.7GB or so will be used). As long-time fans of Hauppauge, we were rather pleased to see the HVR-1200 TV tuner within, which does a capable job with even sub-standard signal strength.
So far so good, but towards the end of our time with this PC we noticed one major oversight. The integrated Realtek audio chipset doesn’t have an optical output. Considering a vast majority of home theatres utilise this connection, you’ll have to purchase an additional soundcard for this PC to play nicely with your expensive surround sound system.
Given a little tweaking, this machine makes for a great entry level HTPC. All it needs is a little more RAM, get rid of the HD DVD drive to save on costs, and an additional sound card that works with your existing speakers. Include all of these and you’ve got a HTPC that even your parents will know how to use.