HP Pavilion Slimline s5660f and the Gateway FX 6840-15e

In the market for a new desktop tower computer? Today we'll look at two machines in this niche, the HP Pavilion Slimline s5660f and the Gateway FX 6840-15e. Size isn't everything, as you'll see when we check out how well these two computers perform.
Slim desktop towers have some space-saving advantages, and the HP Pavilion Slimline s5660f is one such machine. Besides space-friendly design, the s5660f also offers plenty of performance and features for the casual user. The Slimline s5660f sells for approximately $800, and comes with a one-year warranty on parts and labor.

The Slimline s5660f comes with a 2.9 GHz AMD Phenom II X4 840T processor with 6 MB of L3 cache. The processor has four cores that allow it to properly handle multiple applications at the same time. The s5660f has performance that compares favorably to other desktops in its class, and can handle common computing tasks in addition to media editing and some gaming. The desktop has 6 GB of DDR3 SDRAM to provide additional multitasking power as well.
The Slimline s5660f comes with plenty of storage capacity via a 1 TB hard drive. An ATI Radeon HD 5450 Series graphics card aids the desktop in its aforementioned gaming capabilities. For the operating system, HP pairs the s5660f with Windows 7 Home Premium Edition 64-bit.
As far as the extra features go, there is integrated 802.11n Wi-Fi that allows you to connect to the fastest wireless networks available. A DVD drive is included too, and supports LightScribe technology that allows you to burn custom labels to new discs.  Even better, the Slimline s5660f is also Blu-ray compatible, giving you the option to enjoy the latest in movie technology. Another entertaining feature of the desktop is its inclusion of a TV tuner for watching and recording live television. It also comes with a remote control similar to the ones used for televisions. Additionally, you get a mouse and keyboard, but no monitor. If you need to transfer photos or other data quickly from another device, you can do so via the 6-in-1 digital media reader. The reader supports SD cards, Memory Sticks, and other formats.
Although the desktop comes in a fixed configuration, it does offer some room for after-market upgrades, albeit very little room. The 6 GB of RAM can be upgraded to 16 GB for more multitasking power. There is no room for an extra optical drive or hard drive, and all of the Express Card slots are occupied as well.  Luckily, the configuration that the s5660f ships in is pretty good as is.

As its name would suggest, the Slimline has a streamlined design that helps save precious space in a home or office setting. It weighs just 9.3 pounds and measures 12.2 inches tall by 15.9 inches deep by 4.4 inches wide. Like most towers, it has a black color scheme that is glossy on the front panel. There are a few chrome accents thrown in as well, for extra aesthetic appeal.
The front panel features the DVD drive. In addition, it has the media reader, two USB 2.0 ports, and a headphone jack. The back panel features plenty of audio jacks, four more USB ports, an Ethernet port, a DVI port, a cable jack for the TV tuner, and a HDMI port. Unfortunately, eSATA and FireWire connections are absent.
As a desktop for your living room, the HP Pavilion Slimline s5660f gets the job done. It does lack a couple of connectivity options, but its combination of a TV tuner, Blu-ray, HDMI, excellent performance, and more make it a great option for all of your computing needs.

HP Pavilion Slimline s5660f and the Gateway FX 6840-15e - Gateway FX 6840-15e

(Page 2 of 2 )

If appearances were everything, the Gateway FX 6840-15e would be an easy buy as far as desktop towers are concerned. Unfortunately, appearance is not the only deciding factor when computer shopping, and that makes the Gateway FX 6840-15e questionable, mostly due to competing towers that offer better performance at a similar price. The Gateway FX 6840-15e is available for $1,099.99, and  comes with a one-year warranty.


The FX 6840-15e is powered by a 2.93 GHz Intel Core i7-870 processor with 8 MB of L3 cache. It's a quad-core processor that gives the desktop solid performance, although it may lag behind some of its competitors. Regardless, it is a suitable desktop for all of your usual computing tasks, modern gaming included. The FX 6840-15e also has a hefty amount of memory; its 8 GB of DDR3 SDRAM is useful when running various applications simultaneously.
The FX 6840-15e's hard drive offers 1 TB of storage, which should be plenty of space for most users' important data. Graphics support comes in the form of an ATI Radeon HD5750 card that is good enough for gaming, as mentioned earlier. Like most computers currently on the market, the FX 6840-15e comes pre-installed with Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium Edition 64-bit.
Beyond the basic hardware essentials, the Gateway FX 6840-15e also comes with a DVD drive for entertainment via DVDs or CDs. Should you need to transfer data from other devices, there is a multi-in-1 digital media card reader on board that supports various formats. Extra accessories that come with the tower include a mouse and keyboard. Unfortunately, there is no integrated Wi-Fi.
One of the advantages of the FX 6840-15e's large frame is that it offers plenty of expansion options.  All of the RAM slots are occupied, but you do get room for four additional hard drives, should you need that much extra storage. Other vacancies that can be used include a standard PCI slot and two 1X PCI Express slots.
As stated, the Gateway FX 6840-15e is large. It weighs 31 pounds and measures 17.7 inches tall by 19 inches deep by 7.5 inches wide. It has a glossy black color scheme with some red accents and lighting effects that give it an intimidating appearance that should appeal to gamers and a younger demographic.
The top of the front panel is slanted and holds two USB ports, the media card reader, and microphone and headphone jacks. The very top of the tower has a recessed bay with two USB ports that is ideal for charging and syncing devices. The rest of the connection options reside on the back. They include six more USB ports, various audio ports, keyboard and mouse connections, a HDMI port, a DVI port, and an Ethernet port. Disappointing omissions in the connectivity department include those of eSATA and FireWire.
The Gateway FX 6840-15e is worthy of consideration for those looking for a high performance desktop that is not overly expensive. It does offer good performance, an attractive, edgy design, and decent features. It is not an outstanding desktop, however, so some comparison shopping should be done  before deciding to purchase the FX 6840-15e.