HP Compaq 8200 Elite Ultra-Slim: The Littlest Desktop
by Dustin Sklavos on September 29, 2011 10:40 AM EST- Posted in
- Systems
- IT Computing
- HP
- SFF
- Enterprise
Conclusion: Day to Day Workhorse
Not every build we get in house has to be glamorous, but there's a certain charm to a machine as small and inobtrusive as the HP Compaq 8200 Elite Ultra-Slim. Even on the enterprise side, not everyone is going to be doing CAD work and video editing or trying to power through Maya. There needs to be a client that fills the needs of any business, big or small--for people who just need a terminal to sit and work at.
If you're not space limited you can certainly save some dosh by going with one of the bigger, less specialized towers that HP (or Dell) offers, but it's hard not to like the 8200. This little computer is very good at what it does and well-designed for its intended purpose. It's something you can actually discreetly stash behind the monitor, where it will make virtually no noise, generate virtually no heat, and basically do its job without calling any attention to itself. For something like a library or school computer lab that just wants to get rows of computers in place, this is an excellent choice.
With that said, I do have a couple of quibbles. I would rather have seen DVI on the back instead of DisplayPort; HP sells DisplayPort adaptors to the major screen input standards, but DisplayPort itself is still rarefied, often showing up only on more expensive monitors while DVI is far more ubiquitous at every step of the ladder. And while enterprise machines tend to be about a step behind consumer machines in terms of connectivity, I still would've liked to have seen at least USB 3.0 connectivity on the 8200. Ten USB 2.0 ports are cute, but there's no high speed connectivity anywhere outside of the Gigabit ethernet.
Ultimately the HP Compaq 8200 Elite Ultra-Slim is a well-designed, even cute little machine that's well-suited to being a reasonably inexpensive client machine. If you don't need the quad-core processor you can always downgrade to an i3 and save a hundred bucks or so. You also get the standard 3-year onsite service, which can be helpful even for non-business users should anything go amiss. If something small and reasonably powerful is what you're looking for (ideally for a small business or a large number of terminals), the HP Compaq 8200 Elite Ultra-Slim should fit the bill nicely.
Facebook
Twitter
RSS
41 Comments
View All Comments
kritschg - Thursday, September 29, 2011 - link
My company looked at both the 8200 and the 6005 and went with the 6005 with an ATHLON II X4 610E and a 64GB SSD. We have 1200+ call center PCs that are on 24x7x365.Average power draw was around 51W full load, 21 Idle. We also looked at Dell and they were 65/53 load/idle for their smallest enterprise desktop.
Another huge benefit is the dual fan design. The system will run under full load with only one fan, temp goes up 5 degrees. External power supply is also helpful, 3 minute replacement.
When a thin client won’t work add an SSD and a low power CPU and this is the ultimate call center PC.
Don't forget the cable lock, these little guys will grow legs if they're not locked down.
albiglan - Thursday, September 29, 2011 - link
So.. the power supply is external. Not that I don't know what that looks like :-) But a pict showing relative dimensions would be a lovely addition. Nice review of an interesting piece of HW.Shaocaholica - Thursday, September 29, 2011 - link
I like the slim Optiplex better. About the same size but has 4 dimm slots and full size PCIe graphics.Blaze-Senpai - Thursday, September 29, 2011 - link
If they make these available to consumers directly I wouldn't mind too much. That onsite warranty would make a lot of people I know happy. Unless people actually want super flashy looking mess still :Petamin - Thursday, September 29, 2011 - link
Just a suggestion. In the future, do you mind putting up a photo of the box next to some kind of reference object like a coke can? When I read "Get a load of that" I was a bit lost until I saw the optical drive as a reference (but it is still hard to estimate the depth of the box). Would also like to see a photo of the AC adapter too in this case. Other than that, nicely done.Pessimism - Friday, September 30, 2011 - link
Seconded. A pop can for reference would be great for future photos as well as a shot of all associated bricks and dongles.ally003 - Friday, September 30, 2011 - link
We have hundreds of the previous 8000 USD machines, and they are ideal. Real world pricing is different from RRP, we are being offered the 8200 with 4GB and i5 for £345 with a 3 year warranty direct from HP on our contract. I can't see that being topped, and no way can I see an Apple coming close for specification, quality or support for £345. A company like Apple won't give a shit about what your needs or requirements are, it's the Apple way or the highway and that is why they have utterly failed in enterprise and will continue to do so.Lack of USB 3.0 is a non-issue for their intended market. The USB is only ever likely to be used for mice, keyboards, the odd memory stick or scanner/printer. They have lots of options including the quick release bracket that makes them mountable on any surface or even on the back of a screen.
When you are deploying thousands of machines for basic office tasks, this is exactly what you want, end of story.
ultrabay - Tuesday, October 4, 2011 - link
the first time I read that, I read "$8000 machines were ideal"whelp.
DanaG - Wednesday, October 5, 2011 - link
Yeah, that should be "USDT". Makes it clearer, (though it essentially says "DeskTop" with a capital 'T').pervisanathema - Tuesday, October 4, 2011 - link
This used to be a site for the PC geeks. Now it has been reduced to reviewing OEM PCs that their old target audience would sneer at. :(