HP Compaq dc7700.(desktop computers)(Product/service evaluation)

Byline: Alan Stevens

HP Compaq dc7700

A family of desktops that ticks all the right boxes

It doesn't have to offer the ultimate in performance, but a business PC does need to be reasonably quick. It also needs to able to run a variety of applications, and must be easy to manage and maintain. Business buyers will also want a name they can trust and hardware that won't need replacing every few months. The latest HP Compaq dc7700 family of business desktops fulfils all this criteria with ease, offering models to suit all budgets.

For our review, HP sent us an ultra-slim desktop, equipped with a top-range Intel Core 2 Duo processor. However, it's worth noting that the dc7700 family includes desk-side mini-towers, and more conventional desktops with a choice of Celeron and Pentium 4 processors, as well as the Core 2 Duo. Moreover, because they're all based on the same motherboard technology, with the same Intel Q965 Express chipset and serial ATA (Sata) storage, it's possible to employ a common disk image across the whole range for faster deployment and simpler support.

The dc7700 is also an Intel vPro platform, which means it has built-in virtualisation extensions and hardware support for out-of-band remote management as standard. Compatible management software is required to get the full benefit, but with suitable vPro tools it's possible to find all the desktops on the network, apply software updates remotely, change the system setup and quarantine infected computers, even when users have switched off. You can even change local Bios settings in Windows using the desktop utilities provided.

HP products are well known for their build quality and the dc7700 is no exception. If anything, the latest models are even quieter and more solidly made than before, with no tools required to open the case or service any of the components. Despite its small size, everything is neatly arranged inside our ultra-slim model, with room for up to 3GB of synchronous DDR2 memory and a couple of PCI adapters -- not that many buyers will want to add anything.