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Review on πŸ’» (Renewed) HP 8300 Elite SFF Desktop PC, Intel Core i5-3470 3.2GHz Quad-Core, 8GB RAM, 500GB SATA, Win 10 Pro 64-Bit, USB 3.0, DisplayPort by Brannan Mclemore

Revainrating 5 out of 5

The Perfect Ultra Cheap Gaming PC

There are many comments and responses about this PC not being used for gaming, but that's just not true. This HP Elite 8300 arrived in near mint condition with a brand new hard drive, new RAM, an unused Windows 10 key and I was able to install a low profile GeForce 1050 graphics card that has been able to run all the games so far. I ran it at 1080p with maximum settings including Skyrim, GTA V, The Witness, Counter-Strike Global Offensive and more. It's a very fast computer in its own right, but having a decent graphics card (1050 Ti seems like the best this system can handle, especially with its own 240 watt power supply) gave me a system that far exceeds my expectations and Video games runs better than any other device I've had, including my previous computers and computers. home consoles. I had a small issue with the system when it arrived: the fan on the PSU was making an odd grinding noise that sounded like it was going out of balance. To fix this, I stuck a screwdriver into the back of the PSU to keep the fan from spinning, then turned on the computer. After a few moments, I pulled out a screwdriver and the fan accelerated to its maximum speed, likely to cool the system quickly. After spinning at this high speed, the fan stopped making noise at lower speeds, and since then I haven't heard a rattle or hear the fan spinning to maximum speed. It's been over five months since then and I haven't had a single issue to report otherwise. It's also worth noting that the computer came in a box, indicating that it was a Microsoft-certified refurbished system. It's not (or wasn't) in the product description, but for some users, this certification gives reassurance. Edit: It's been ten months since I first used this computer and pretty much everything still works great. . I say "almost" because after months of ignoring the headset port on the front of the system, I finally plugged it in, only to find that the port was not carrying the microphone audio as advertised. I don't mind. Otherwise the system was a treat. I installed a LG branded PCI wireless LAN adapter and Blu-ray burner and they both worked fine. My 1050 works fine too. To be honest I've had fewer problems with this system than any other PC I've had; Of course, most of my others were built from scratch. My experience has been so successful that a few months ago I even convinced my buddy to buy an 8300 and I hear his system works great too. Second Edit: Three years later and I haven't had any other issues with this system. It's been a workhorse for a long time, but I've since switched to a new PC. However, I ended up buying a third of them and ended up with one hard drive dying - although I can't rule out accidents as the user is quite clumsy. Otherwise all three were fantastic. The other two I bought are still in heavy use today, and mine is used as a Plex and NAS server a few times a week.

Pros
  • Windows 10 Pro is so familiar and easy to use that you'll feel like a pro. It launches and proceeds quickly, has more built-in security tools to keep you safe, and comes with great built-in apps like Maps, Photos, Mail & Calendar, Music, and Videos.
Cons
  • I vaguely remember