HP launches Core i7 tower, four 16:9 LCDs
updated 08:35 am EDT, Wed March 25, 2009
HP Pavilion Elite m9600t
HP this morning stepped up the performance of its higher-end, mainstream towers with the launch of the Pavilion Elite m9600t. The system is built on Core i7 processors and takes advantage of the triple-channel memory bus; it also has unusually fast video for the class with a 768MB GeForce 9600 GS. A base model at $950 comes with a 2.66GHz Core i7, 3GB of RAM, and 500GB of disk space while further options add Blu-ray drives, 12GB of memory, Blu-ray burning and Radeon HD 4850 graphics.
Accompanying the launch are four computer LCDs that all have a 16:9 aspect ratio suited to movies and side-by-side pages. The 18.5-inch w1858 is a basic, 18.5-inch display with a 1366x768 resolution and both DVI and VGA input; the 2009m shares the same connections but on a 20-inch, 1600x900 screen with a new look that fits in more closely with newer HP desktops. The 21.5-inch 2159m and 23-inch w2338h both carry full 1080p (1920x1080) resolutions as well as a third input, HDMI, for Blu-ray or newer consoles and PCs. The 2159m shares the same visual style as the 2009m while the w2338h has HP's familiar appearance.
HP gives the displays low prices and sells the w1858 for $170, the 2009m at $200, the 2159m at $240 and the w2338h at $300.
Pavilion Elite m9600t and 2009m display




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Joined: Sep 2008
Price differential
The new Mac Pros seem to be way overpriced. I specced an HP for about $1500, whereas the equivalent Mac Pro was around the $2800 mark. Must be a lot of fat there.