Hewlett-Packard's Slimline s3400t series desktop computers are approximately one-third the size of traditional system towers, but the company still manages to pack decent performance into these tiny boxes.

The baseline s3400t starts at a very reasonable price and features a dual-core Intel Pentium E2200 running at 2.2GHz. If you need better performance, you can upgrade to a Core 2 Duo CPU of your choosing for a sensible price.

These desktop computers start out with a fair amount of RAM. You get 2GB of fast 800MHz DDR2 memory at baseline; this is a respectable amount that will handle multitasking and light multimedia editing well. If you feel you need more RAM than this, optional upgrades -- up to 4GB, if you feel so inclined -- are reasonably priced. Even at baseline, though, the core power of these desktop computers is more than able to handle office applications, multimedia viewing and all but the most hardcore gaming.

What will slow you down on the gaming front is the integrated graphics. True, they're Nvidia GeForce 7100 integrated graphics, but they still share video memory with the main system RAM. There is, however, room inside the case for a dedicated video card if you feel you'll be playing lots of games on this desktop computer. In fact, you can add the basic GeForce 8400 with 128MB of video memory or the more respectable 256MB 8500GT as optional upgrades.

The storage components on these desktop computers are decidedly higher-end. HP provides a 500GB 7,200rpm hard drive inside the s3400t, and if you need more room, you can upgrade to a 750GB drive.

The s3400t's optical drive is an excellent SuperMulti DVD writer with LightScribe technology. This drive lets you burn to nearly every available standard DVD format and imprint your own monochromatic labels on the flip side of LightScribe-compatible media. If you'll be using this tiny computer in your living room or den, you can also add the ability to play high-definition Blu-ray DVDs to the drive.

Perhaps what is most impressive about the s3400t desktop computers is their truly small form factor design. This sleek black tower is around 11 inches tall and just over 4 inches wide so you can tuck it into any nook or cranny in your home. It's a nice fit for kitchens, bedrooms or other unique locations.

Thankfully, there are a lot of connectivity options on the front of the tower, such as a 15-in-1 media card reader and two USB ports.

You can also add a TV tuner to this desktop computer for a reasonable price. This dual tuner lets you watch one show while you record another, and the decent core power and excellent storage on the s3400t makes it suitable as a personal video recorder.

HP doesn't provide a monitor at the baseline price, so you'll need to consider your options in this regard. If you don't already have a monitor that you want to use with this system, HP offers several monitors that you can bundle with your computer for reasonable prices.

The mouse and keyboard that are included at baseline are rather basic. While you get an optical mouse, the keyboard doesn't offer anything in terms of multimedia keys. You can upgrade to a multimedia keyboard, and you can also go all-out with a wireless input device set, if you're planning to have this computer in a non-traditional location where cords may prove a nuisance.

You can easily get out of hand with the appealing upgrades that HP offers for the s3400t, though these compact systems still perform respectably at baseline. If you're looking for a second system for a different room of the house or a great dorm room PC, the HP Slimline s3400t desktop computers definitely fit the bill and then some.


Pros: Compact design, solid components
Cons: Monitor not included, integrated graphics

Warranty
1 year, limited