HP Pavilion Slimline s5710f

HP Pavilion Slimline s5710f

The HP Pavilion Slimline s5710f ($419.99 list, at Staples) is one small form factor (SFF) desktop that is priced and equipped as an entry-level PC. For a little over $400, you can get a small, quiet desktop that can perform much faster than a similarly-priced nettop. But there are so many features missing on the Slimline, it might as well have been put in a mini PC chassis like a nettop: The system is larger, yet doesn't take advantage of the extra space. The system is okay out of the box, but it is essentially non-upgradable. It feels as though HP took too much out to hit a price point, and that's not how you want to feel about a purchase that's supposed to last you five to seven years. The s5710f comes in the same Slimline chassis that HP has used since the s5120f in Mid-2009. It has a minimalist design, with a faceplate made of glossy black plastic and black painted metal sides. There are perforations on the side and top, with a warning sticker telling you to avoid placing the s5710f's side panel up against a wall so you won't block the cooling vents. The small chassis also means internal expansion room is at a bare minimum. The only accessible expansion space is a single half-height PCIe x1 card slot, in which you can add, say, a Wi-Fi card.