new desktop slim latest technoligies

The slim tower PC trend makes perfect sense to us. For those who only need a basic desktop, why bother with a clunky midtower design?

Each of these trimmed-down PCs will provide all you need to get online, create documents, and play around with your digital media. And all but two of these units (bad show, Slimline and Inspiron) invite you to bring them into your living room and connect directly to your television via an HDMI output.

None of these sub-$1,000 desktops is a multimedia powerhouse, so forget about watching HD video, 3D gaming, or intensive editing. But for the basics, in a small, easy-to-like package, these slim tower desktops have a lot of appeal.

More Resources
Off-the-shelf desktop round-up,
New Mac Mini in January?,
eMachines slims down too,
The best desktops around

Product name
Asus Essentio
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Asus Essentio

Acer Aspire AX3200-U3600A
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Acer Aspire AX3200-U3600A

HP Pavilion Slimline s3500f - Athlon 64 X2 5400+ 2.8 GHz
HP Pavilion Slimline s3500f - Athlon 64 X2 5400+ 2.8 GHz

Dell Studio Hybrid
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Dell Studio Hybrid

Dell Inspiron I530S-114B
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Dell Inspiron I530S-114B
Price $649.99 $479.99 Check Prices $774.00 Check Prices
CNET editors' rating

*
3.5 stars
Overall score: 7.2 (3.5 stars)



*
3.5 stars
Overall score: 7.0 (3.5 stars)



*
3.5 stars
Overall score: 7.0 (3.5 stars)



*
3.0 stars
Overall score: 6.6 (3.0 stars)



*
3.0 stars
Overall score: 6.3 (3.0 stars)

Average user rating
0 stars

0 stars

0 stars

3.0 stars

0 stars
Review date October 28, 2008 October 20, 2008 September 22, 2008 July 28, 2008 October 16, 2008
The Bottom Line The Asus Essentio is perhaps the best conceived of the recent round of living-room-friendly slim tower desktops. It's just powerful enough, and it comes with the right mix of features to allow it to do what living room PCs do best, without overreaching. As much as Acer's Aspire X3200 surpasses other pricier PCs with its wide array of useful inputs and outputs, you'll have a hard time choosing between it and its otherwise identical dual-core Acer linemate of the same price. If you're a multitasker on a budget, you'll likely prefer this model's triple-core CPU. As opposed to previous Slimline models, the HP Pavilion Slimline s3500f tosses aside home theater aspirations and targets budget buyers looking for a compact, cheap PC. If you're considering all of the computers in the $700 to $1,000 price range, the Dell Studio Hybrid is not very compelling. However, if you limit yourself to the very specific niche of small PCs, you'll appreciate this system's clever design and its relatively powerful hardware. On certain tests, Dell's off-the-shelf Inspiron 530s comes out ahead of its slim-tower competition, but its situational performance edge isn't dramatic enough to overcome its underwhelming features. You can find cheaper systems that might be a tick slower on certain tasks, but on balance they'll let you do more.
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Features
Graphics Controller Info unavailable NVIDIA GeForce 8400
NVIDIA GeForce 6150 SE
Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100
Intel GMA 3100 - 128 MB
Storage Removable Info unavailable None
None
None
None
TV Tuner Type Info unavailable None
None
None
None
Optical Storage (2nd) Info unavailable Info unavailable None
None
None
Floppy Drive Info unavailable None
None
None
None
Storage Controller Info unavailable Serial ATA ( Serial ATA-300 )
Serial ATA ; None
Serial ATA ( Serial ATA-300 ) ; None
Serial ATA ( Serial ATA-300 )
Type Info unavailable Personal computer
Personal computer
Personal computer
Personal computer
Hard Drive (2nd) Info unavailable - None
- None
- None
- None
Memory Allocation Technology Info unavailable Info unavailable Shared video memory (UMA)
Dynamic Video Memory Technology 4.0
Dynamic Video Memory Technology 4.0
Printer Info unavailable None
None
None
None
Optical Storage Info unavailable DVD?RW (?R DL) / DVD-RAM
DVD?RW (?R DL) / DVD-RAM / BD-ROM with LightScribe Technology
DVD+/-RW
DVD?R (?R DL)
Manufacturer Warranty Info unavailable 1 year warranty
Info unavailable 1 year warranty
1 year warranty
RAM Info unavailable 4 GB (installed) / 4 GB (max) - DDR2 SDRAM - PC2-5300
4 GB (installed) / 4 GB (max) - DDR2 SDRAM - 800 MHz - PC2-6400
2 GB (installed) / 4 GB (max) - DDR2 SDRAM - 667 MHz
4 GB (installed) / 4 GB (max) - DDR2 SDRAM
Hard Drive (3rd) Info unavailable None
Info unavailable None
None
Cache Memory Info unavailable L3 cache
1 MB L2 cache
3 MB L2 cache
1 MB L2 cache
Dimensions (WxDxH) Info unavailable 10.4 in x 12.4 in x 3.9 in
Info unavailable 8.3 in x 7.8 in x 2.8 in
3.9 in x 17.1 in x 14.3 in
Weight Info unavailable Info unavailable Info unavailable 4.9 lbs
19.4 lbs
OS Provided Info unavailable Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Edition
Microsoft Windows Vista
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Edition
Microsoft Windows Vista
Vista Home Premium
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Edition
Microsoft Windows Vista
Processor Info unavailable 1 x AMD Phenom X3 8400 / 2.1 GHz ( Triple-Core )
1 x AMD Athlon 64 X2 5400+ / 2.8 GHz ( Dual-Core )
1 x Intel Core 2 Duo T8100 / 2.1 GHz ( Dual-Core )
1 x Intel Pentium Dual Core E2200 / 2.2 GHz ( Dual-Core )
Hard Drive Info unavailable 1 x 320 GB - Standard - Serial ATA-300
1 x 500 GB - Standard - Serial ATA-300
1 x 250 GB - Standard - S-ATA
1 x 320 GB - Standard - Serial ATA-300
Product Description Info unavailable Acer Aspire X3200-U3600A - Phenom X3 8400 2.1 GHz
HP Pavilion Slimline s3500f - Athlon 64 X2 5400+ 2.8 GHz
Dell Studio Hybrid Studio Hybrid - Core 2 Duo T8100 2.1 GHz
Dell Inspiron 530s - Pentium Dual Core E2200 2.2 GHz
Voltage Required Info unavailable Info unavailable Info unavailable AC 120/230 V
Info unavailable
Card Reader Info unavailable Card reader
15 in 1 card reader
Info unavailable Info unavailable
Product Form Factor Info unavailable Small form factor
Tower
Desktop slimline
Slim tower
Communications Info unavailable Fax / modem - 56 Kbps
Fax / modem - 56 Kbps
None
Fax / modem - PCI - Plug-in card - 56 Kbps
Cache Per Processor Info unavailable Info unavailable 1 MB ( 2 x 512 KB )
3 MB
1 MB
Audio Output Info unavailable Sound card - 5.1 channel surround
Sound card - 5.1 channel surround
Sound card - 5.1 channel surround
Sound card - 7.1 channel surround
Environmental Standards Info unavailable Info unavailable Info unavailable Yes , EPEAT Gold
Info unavailable
Monitor Info unavailable None.
None.
None.
None.
Localization Info unavailable United States
English / United States
Info unavailable Info unavailable
Full specifications Full specifications Full specifications Full specifications Full specifications Full specifications
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