Question 1

Is the hard drive new or is it on it's last leg?

Accepted Answer

My hard drive is noisy but I ran software(can not remember it's name)on the drive and no errors were found.Also ran windows chk disk and everything was ok.Hope that answers your question.I am very happy with it.Mine has the core 2 duo E8400 3 ghz. processor but all other specs are the same.

Question 2

what type of video card does this pc take?

Accepted Answer

It has onboard graphics and does not require a video card. It'll actually output an analog svga signal as well as a display port signal to provide dual monitor function. To do this, you will need a DP capable monitor or a dvi monitor with an adapter cable. However, if you want to put one in anyway, it takes a pci-e card for small form factor. There are a lot of graphics cards available on the market for different purposes, so the exact model of card is dependent on your intended use.

Question 3

Is DVD drive recordable?

Accepted Answer

It has 2 video connectors, One is DB15 (VGA) analog, and the other is a digital "Display" type with the letter "D" Logo over it  (less popular than HDMI, but similar to, yet not directly compatible with HDMI) - I have a Display to DVI adapter that works (I have no idea where it came from) , but I don't know if they make a "Display" to HDMI.  Surely they must, but I am not sure.
This sucker has a BUNCH of USB 2.0s - TEN!  4 in front 6 in back. Sadly no 3.0 though, but an inexpensive card fixes that.

Question 4

It's not clear if it has any expansion ports available (such as PCIe) and what the MAX RAM capacity is - any one knows?

Accepted Answer

sixth picture in the gallery shows you have a pair of Express PCI 2.0 slots that are 1x length (a printer port and a Comm2 port are in the place where an addIn card would have external ports, but who would keep those vintage parrelllel and serial ports anyway, the ribbon cable pops off easy...). The longer white slot is old classic PCI (not express). The long black slot is Express PCI 16x long, just right for a DirectX11 card to show Windows Areo effects swiftly. The GMA4500  graphics soldered on is only DX9, for WinxP
Seventh picture shows you need AddIn cards with a "LP" short metal mounting bracket.

Question 5

What is the memory type? DDR2, DDR3,other? What graphics card is included?

Accepted Answer

DDR3 memory. no graphics card included, you have onboard graphics. tho there's an empty PCI express slot for low profile graphics card.

Question 6

Is the RAM DDR2 or DDR3?

Accepted Answer

I bought one of these and upgraded the RAM with DDR3 type & it worked like a charm.

Question 7

What is the Ethernet speed 100 or 1000?

Accepted Answer

The Elite 8000 we got had a gigabit Network card and 10 USB 2.0 jacks (4 in front and 6 in back). We also added a USB 3.0 card which worked quite nicely. Snappy little machine, too! We're happy with it.

Question 8

Does it come with a DVD burner ?

Accepted Answer

No DVD ROM only. But we swapped on with a new one we had that was 15 or 16 bucks (on sale from time to time from the Egg (SATA intrface, as usual).

Question 9

Is there room to add an HDMI card and a TV tuner card?  I want to buid a DVR.

Accepted Answer

Get any newish Radeon or gForce card, so little heat output now that the cooling fins don't extend to the full 5 inches..for this reason most modern cards have a short metal mounting bracket, to match the "LP" slots in this case.
To position the TV antenna for good reception, use a "thumbdrive" TV tuner hooked to the USB port.

Question 10

Is this usb 2 or 3?

Accepted Answer

Intel Q45 express "northBridge" chip is under the silver cooling fins..it's USB ports are 2.0
Ten Buck USB3.0 multiPort card fits in either of the two black PCIe2.0 slots, they are 1x lane in length.

Questions & Answers