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If the primary use is bedroom TV then the graphics cards you're looking at will barely make a difference. Viewing in the manner you're describing should not be affected in any visible way by the graphics cards. If you do decide to go for a Blu-Ray player, then I would give a slight leaning to the better cards, but would not let a lower end card bother me.
I'll also cast my vote for this use, it's exactly what my IQ506t is used for, TV and streaming in the bedroom.
Diane
Hi Everyone,
I am looking to pick up a Touchsmart this weekend. After exhaustive and I mean exhaustive research online and at my local Microcenter, Frys, Staples, Office Depot and online here and at Amazon. I have just bewildered myself with choices. LOL. It seems that HP was kind enough to make so many variations on the same machine that I dont know what to buy. I am in the market for a 500 series, would love an 800 series but I think it would be too large for me. I am looking for a bedroom computer/tv and the 22 inchers look perfect. So I narrowed down my searches to only include the ones with built in tuners. My question is this. I see ones with 9300M graphics cards, X3100 graphics cards and even some with 4500 HD cards. If my main reason for getting this machine is for Media Center and streaming Netflix, Hulu and other flash/silver light sites which should I lean more towards. Seems like the 500 series comes in both memory upgradeable flavors and non upgradeable flavors. I would love to be able to upgrade to 8gb, but 4 is enough for now, plus with the way computers are something will come out in the fall or spring with 8gbs already. Plus 2 X 4GB sticks are too pricey nowadays. So my main concern is with the graphics card and wanted the best I can get for right now. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I want to pull the trigger on one by Friday afternoon.
Thanks in Advance,
Tom
August 27, 2009 5:57 AM
August 27, 2009 1:23 PM
Thank you Diane. The IQ506t is the model that I keep coming back to. A Blu-Ray upgrade may be in the future for me but not for awhile. And maybe by then we will be on the Touchsmart 900 series with 30" screens so my gadget lust will not be able to withstand that. Again, thanks for your kind help.
Tom
August 27, 2009 7:46 PM
If the blueray is not much more in the overall price, you should just go with it now. Adding a BD drive in the future will more than likely cost a bunch more since the touchsmart is an all in one unit and difficult to open up and upgrade (withthe exception of the hard drive and RAM). Adding on a USB BD would be a somewhat clunky solution.
I have the BD on mine and use it more than I thought I would.
Good choice on the size too becaue the 25" 800 series I have swallows my desk up whole.
BTW, Diane, I've been meaning to thank you for all your input. :-)
David
http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l299/xz550rj/HPMagicGiveaway.jpg
Woohoo! I won my Touchsmart!
August 27, 2009 8:39 PM
DaveTN,
I thought about getting the 800 series just because it had a BD drive and larger hard drive but I dont think the size would work in my case. 25" may be a bit much, I will have to measure again. Plus I have read on other threads here that the 800 series was not upgradeable past 4 GB ram, but the 500 series is. I cant confirm that though because I have seen write ups on the web saying it can and it cant.
August 27, 2009 9:30 PM
However in most cases, the use you're outlining will be just fine with 4GB, don't get caught up in "future upgrade fever" for a lot of systems they wind up never being upgraded at all in their lives, and never noticing that they might be a bit average.
Diane
August 27, 2009 9:35 PM
Oh, I didn't know the 500 series dint come with blueray.
You are correct though, the 500 series is upgradeable to 8 gigs of ram.
At the moment though, two 4 gig SODIMMS are prohibitively expensive. Eventually though the price will come down.
A few years ago I thought 256MB was more than enough. I have a large box of old laptop and desktop RAM modules...probably 30 or more. May list it on ebay. ;-)
David
http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l299/xz550rj/HPMagicGiveaway.jpg
Woohoo! I won my Touchsmart!
August 27, 2009 9:48 PM
Diane:
You are correct, I know I have many computers that can be upgraded with ram, but never really did except in a few rare cases. I just like having the option in the future if needed. I just wish HP would put a blu-ray option on the 500 series, but maybe because the resolution is not supported they opted not to. I agree with you about the "future upgrade fever", most likely by the time I think I need to add more ram it will be easier and less of a hassle just buying the latest and greatest. At least that is the way it goes with me.
August 27, 2009 10:03 PM
updated: August 27, 2009 10:04 PM
tyorkca said: I just wish HP would put a blu-ray option on the 500 series, but maybe because the resolution is not supported they opted not to.
I don't know why you think there's no blu-ray option on the IQ5xx, it's indeed an option for the custom build units via HP.com.
Diane
August 27, 2009 10:10 PM
Diane,
You are correct. I did not see that option when I looked previously.
August 27, 2009 11:49 PM
If I may make a gentle remark, try to get the highest number of digit after the 5 or 8 in IQ5xx or IQ8xx. That will ensure you get the model(s) with the latest hardware and software. That's especially important if you are after networked access to Multimedia on your home network (shared drive/DLNA) via HP TouchSmart Music/Photo/Video. If you don't particularly care about the HP TouchSmart software it's less important, but still applies to the hardware.
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