The Pavilion p6610f is based on the AMD Athlon II X4 635, a quad-core processor clocked at 2.9GHz, which HP pairs with 4GB of DDR3 memory. In addition to 10/100 Ethernet, the system features 802.11n Wi-Fi. Other mainstream models, however, feature an HDMI port, which goes missing on the Pavilion p6610f. It's a fairly standard collection of ports, though some budget desktops, such as the Pavilion p6627c-b ($749.99 list, 3 stars), try to skate by on VGA alone for their video hook-up. On the back panel, you'll find both VGA and DVI ports, a digital audio port, 5.1 analog audio ports, an Ethernet jack, and 4 USB 2.0 ports.

Inside, the chassis offers some room for expansion, with two free 3.5-inch drive bays for additional hard drives, two of the four DIMMs slots are free for more memory, three empty x1 PCI Express slots, and one empty x16 PCI Express slot should you want to upgrade the PC's integrated graphics. At the top edge of the front panel sits a small, 15-in-1 media card reader. Below the optical drives is a slide-down panel that hides a pair of USB 2.0 ports and two audio jacks. There are two optical drive bays, one of which is filled by a dual-layer DVD burner. It features a piano-black finish, rounded corners, and front-panel covers that hide the optical drive and front-mounted ports. The full-tower chassis is not a cheap, thrown-together unit, but one with an attractive, unified design. In fact, it uses the same chassis found on pricier Pavilion p6600 series models and a similar design as Elite PCs, such as the HPE-447c-b ($1,349.99, 3 stars). The HP Pavilion p6610f doesn't look like a budget PC. None of its drawbacks are deal breakers we recommend the Pavilion p6610f for its attractive design, strong performance for the price, and integrated 802.11n Wi-Fi connectivity. In this case, the system comes littered with bloatware, lacks an HDMI port, and relies on integrated graphics.

As with any budget PC, however, some sacrifices were made to achieve its low price. It also boasts a case that belies its budget status and serves up Wi-Fi out of the box. The highlights of the HP Pavilion p6610f ($529.98 list) desktop, available at Staples, are its a quad-core processor and a roomy 750GB (7,200rpm) hard drive. Best Hosted Endpoint Protection and Security Software.

Ik 6610 wireless numeric keypad