HP Compaq 8200 Elite Pro Reviews

The HP Compaq 8200 Elite USDT is a compact desktop that isn't burdened by legacy hardware, which makes it a good choice for businesses dealing mainly with information on the LAN or on the Internet.

The HP Compaq 8200 Elite Ultra-slim Desktop (yes, the Compaq brand is still alive and pretty well) is a worthwhile machine. It offers businesses a high-quality, easy-to-maintain desktop that doesn’t take up much space or generate too much noise. Components such as a 2.5-inch hard drive and mobile Intel Core i5 CPU guarantee that the desktop remains power efficient; a property helped by the 87% efficient PSU that comes included. There are are a few areas that HP needs to work on; it would be nice to have the power supply completely internal so that users won’t need to drape a power brick artfully underneath their desks. It would also be nice to see the graphics options boosted, if only slightly; slapping in something besides an ATI 5450 card could really make this box scream. Additionally, and this is a problem endemic to HP’s website, but it still deserves pointing out, it’s a little ridiculous that the company charges such an obscene premium just to customize your machine; simply clicking on the button is guaranteed to add several hundred dollars to your order (even if you configure it to the exact same specifications). Still, if you’re looking for a small but capable new desktop for your business, be sure to check out the HP Compaq 8200 Elite.

So where does that leave HP's Compaq 8200 Elite Ultra Slim? For a business desktop, it's as basic as basic can get, offering plenty of raw processing power along with bare-bones connectivity and upgrade potential that will get you through the workday but not allow you to do much else with the system. You won't be able to play games, upgrade a lot, connect a FireWire device, or put a tremendous amount of data on your business desktop. But, gosh, will your huge Excel databases chug along.

Excellent speed for the money, plus handy management features and a long warranty, make the 8200 Elite a winning compact PC for business.

HP has strapped a speedy Sandy Bridge CPU into an antiquated system design, delivering strong performance for a business class desktop, but not much else.