- High Speed 64-Bit Processor
- Dedicated Graphics Card
- Excellent Storage Features
- Users Slower PC2700 DDR Memory
- DVD Burner Only Supports +R/RW Media
- AMD Athlon 64 3400+ 64-Bit Processor
- 512MB PC2700 DDR Memory
- 160GB 7,200rpm Hard Drive
- 8x DVD+R/RW Burner and 48x CD-ROM Optical Drives
- Integrated AC'97 Audio
- NVIDIA GeForceFX 5200XT AGP Graphics Card with 128MB Dedicated Memory
- v.92 56Kbps Modem and 10/100 Ethernet
- Five USB 2.0 Ports, Two FireWire Ports and 9-in-1 Media Card Reader
- Windows XP Home OS, MS Works 7 Suite, MS Money 2004, Quicken 2004, WinDVD Creator
(8/18/04) - HP is one of the few large companies to produce computer systems based around the AMD processors. This is fairly surprising given the recent track record of success that AMD has had with its Athlon series of processors.
The HP Pavilion a640n desktop is powered by the new AMD Athlon 64 3400+ processor. While there is still a lack of 64-bit software available for the new processor, the benefits of the new architecture have been proven beneficial for a wide range of applications. HP decided to only use PC2700 DDR memory with this CPU which is a bit disappointing. The cost difference is low between PC3200 and PC2700 memory but the performance drop is noticable.
Storage for the Pavilion a640n is very good for a mainstream desktop. Hard drive storage is provided through a very sizable 160GB hard drive. It also comes with an 8x DVD+R/RW burner for those looking to do possible desktop video. It would be nice of HP to include a multiformat DVD burner, but HP is solidly behind the +R standards. Rounding out the storage options is a 9-in-1 media reader.
Graphics are above average for the a640n. HP has opted to use a dedicated AGP graphics card instead of the integrated graphics. It features an NVIDIA 5200XT with 128MB of graphics memory. This is a DirectX 9 capable card, but it does lack the power for high resolution 3D with lots of graphics features.
Overall the Pavilion a640n makes for an very good desktop computer. Now if only HP would ship the system with PC3200 DDR.
