Joined on 11/21/09
Update
Pros: Same as before.
Cons: Same.
Overall Review: Update to my review on 1/15/15. Got it fully figured out now. In 45w mode the 4 cpu cores top out at 44w, all 12 cores use 65w in 45w mode. In 65w mode, you guessed it, just the 4 cpu cores use 65w. Under %90 load (converting video) 45w gets you to 3.1Ghz. It does run consistent at 3.5 Ghz when gaming in 45w mode. I think the gaming performance is more than acceptable (no aa/af), for the price and power usage the performance is great.
Do Not Buy
Pros: Booted initially
Cons: Failed after less than 6 months. I spent 1.5 Hrs on the phone with HP and they will not honor the warranty on this drive, seemingly for no one. If you call them, the consumer division will tell you they can not find a part or serial number for it and refer you to HPE. The enterprise division will tell you the exact same thing and refer you to the HP. There is seemingly no way to claim a warranty on this drive.
Overall Review: Total horse manure, I'd never buy another HP product for personal use. To bad I'm stuck servicing there stuff 45 Hrs a week.
Amazing deal
Pros: At $65 I'm not sure there's anything else currently available that is a better performance per dollar ratio. I'm using a CoolerMaster Geminii II cooler and my cores idle at 11c (25f below room temp) and max at 56c. CPU package gets up to 64c Overclocked stable to 210 FSB and 21.5 multiplier for a speed of 4.515 GHz without any voltage changes. In that configuration it scores 10786.5 Passmark CPU score.
Cons: While the cooler it comes with will work OK, it is not suitable for my uses.
Overall Review: The cooler is the same one that same one that shipped with Phenom II x4's. It cools this better that it did the Phenom, those were hot CPU's.
First review after 2 minutes of use...will be doing a follow up
Pros: I bought 2 of these, here are my first observations The Price obviously. The CPU is very decent given the cost. Both came with DVD drives Both have windows 10 (kind of) Business class, that makes Absolutely no difference if you don't plan on using a dock. You can get docks for these seal in box for $23 shipped on the Bay, I grabbed a few from work as we have dozens in the server room waiting to e-waste.
Cons: For the price I can't complain so far. Got more or less what I expected.
Overall Review: So here we go, mind you I have not used them other than looking at the system info and running a key finder. Both were installed with a disk where you can select any version of Win 10. System info reports Win Pro, key finder reports enterprise. I'm rusty on my licensing but I have a disk for this type of license. Most will probably not be able to acquire this type of disk, I don't think the media creation tool ISO will work for the key it comes with (I will test all this and follow up). That said, I would not be surprised if the media creation tool ISO activated off the BIOS key. One has had the rubberized coating removed from the lid and has stickers on the keyboard. If these were left the way they were it would be a "C" grade, I still consider it a c grade. this one has an OEM battery. The other is missing the power wires for the M2.5 SSD slot, good thing I picked up 2.5in SSD's. this one has an aftermarket battery that claims to be slightly better than OEM but weighs half as much. Visually this one looks really good, nice lid and keyboard.
My Favorite Case
Pros: This is hands down my favorite case. Just ordered my fourth, the other 3 power supplies are still going good. Very compact case. On one, my "cable box" as thats what it replaced, I have 3 drives, stuck the ssd on the mesh part with double sided tape and used the molex connector with an adapter, and put a 40mm fan on the mesh part with twist ties. the one I just got I'm using for a light gaming rig with a A10-7800 apu, probably going to gimp it to 45w. should make for great power to performance ratio. the first one I made for my mom, the psu has really been put to the test, has been hit with surges many times, it won't turn on at first, then I just unplug and replug it and it fires right up.
Cons: none
Overall Review: as others have stated it is extremely crapped, I still get nervous assembling them.
It works
Pros: Works as it should, cable is a good length, the documentation that came with mine says it works for up to 1 TB, not 750 GB.
Cons: none