2.7GHz Intel Pentium E54004GB DDR3
500GB hard drive
DVD±RW
Integrated 21.5-inch LCD (1,920x1,080 native resolution)
Integrated Intel GMA X4500
Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)
After reviewing the HP Pavilion MS214 and HP Pavilion MS225, a pair of similar-looking entry-level all-in-one (AIO) PCs, we assumed the Pavilion 200-5020 would be just a larger-screened variant. But after examining the spec sheet, we knew we were in for something a bit different. Rather than the underpowered (by typical desktop-PC standards) low-voltage AMD processors found in those earlier Pavilion AIOs, the Pavilion 200-5020 comes better-equipped for HD video playback and other serious computing tasks, thanks to its much speedier dual-core 2.7GHz Pentium CPU and larger 1080p, 21.5-inch screen. Still, despite these additions, the Pavilion 200-5020 faces stiff competition in its price class (around $800) from the likes of Lenovo and Averatec. This model is well equipped for serious for productivity work, but several competing machines outmatch in terms of entertainment-friendly features for the price.
Aesthetically, HP borrowed heavily from its earlier designs with the Pavilion 200-5020, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. This machine looks nearly identical to the HP Pavilion MS225 and MS214, the only differences being the larger display (the previous models have an integrated 18.5-inch LCD) and a black stand in place of the silver one found on the less-costlier models. The display’s bezel is made of glossy black plastic, with a silver accent that runs along the bottom, separating the screen from the speakers. The system’s duo of integrated Webcam and microphone live at the apex of the bezel, while the power button resides on the bottom right corner, accompanied by a teal activity light directly to its left. You can tilt the screen roughly 45 degrees forward or back, and while the stand doesn't swivel from side to side, it's easy enough to rotate the whole machine to meet your viewing needs. The speakers are passable, though not powerful by any stretch, so high-quality headphones are recommended for the best space-saving listening experience.
From a style perspective, HP scored a couple of hits, but committed a couple of errors as well. First the bad news: An external power brick subtracts from the minimalist quality that's supposed to be the flagship feature of AIO desktops, especially if you can't find a place to hide the brick behind your desk. The optical drive is a standard tray-loader, rather than the slot-loading drives we strongly prefer with AIOs. On the bright side, the mouse and keyboard are wireless, which wasn't the case with the Pavilion MS225. So while there's definitely room for improvement on the design front, especially for those hoping to place this machine on a countertop, where the power brick will be hard to hide, this PC is an overall improvement over earlier Pavilion AIOs we've seen.
While the peripherals aren't exactly exciting, they do at least match the decorative theme of the system itself. The mouse is a standard three-button rodent with a glossy black body. The keyboard is adorned with silver volume and mute buttons, but devoid of any other media- or browser-centric keys.
Back on the system itself, the port selection is pretty standard. The display’s left side houses two USB 2.0 ports, along with a headphone jack, a microphone jack, and a six-format flash-card reader. The right side serves as a base for the optical drive, as well as buttons to adjust screen brightness. (Why most AIO designers continue give brightness controls priority over dedicated volume buttons is still a mystery to us.) The rear of the chassis houses five additional USB 2.0 ports (for a total of seven), along with a Gigabit Ethernet jack (wireless 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi is also included), and an audio-out jack for adding more powerful speakers.
nside the Pavilion 200-5020, an Intel Pentium E5400 dual-core CPU clocked at 2.7GHz handles everyday computing tasks quite well, aided by 4GB of DDR3 RAM, Intel GMA X4500 integrated graphics, a 500GB hard drive, and a DVD±RW optical drive. The CPU and the RAM earn the Pavilion 200-5020 scout badges, but the integrated graphics hold this system back from being a real gaming-capable AIO ace. Nevertheless, the steady uptick in AIO components is much appreciated; we've slogged through testing countless machines packing anemic, low-voltage CPUs, bite-size hard drives, and aging DDR2 RAM.
But does this roster of parts make the Paviliion 200-5020 a champion of the sub-$1,000 AIO world? Not exactly. Lenovo sells an $849 version of its IdeaCentre A600 that holds a fairly significant edge over the Pavilion 200-5020 in several areas. The IdeaCentre A600 packs a 2.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T6600 CPU, which is clocked lower than the 2.7GHz CPU here. However, the Core 2 Duo T6600 is a newer CPU than the Pentium E5400, and both CPUs are plenty fast enough to handle productivity and HD video tasks. The IdeaCentre A600 at this price has slightly less DDR3 RAM (3GB, as opposed to 4GB), though 1GB less RAM won't make a noticeable performance difference in the tasks most users will perform with these PCs.
