HP intros green, affordable desktop business PCs

HP on Monday added two new desktop PCs for business users to its range, with the Compaq dc5850 and Compaq dx2450. The two are some of the first HP PCs to use AMD's triple- and quad-core Phenom X3 processors. The latter is the value-oriented offering, and can be configured with a choice of AMD processors, ranging from the 2.1GHz Sempron, through the 2.8GHz Athlon and to the 2.5GHz Phenom. Four memory slots allow for expansion up to 4GB while NVIDIA and ATI graphics cards are offered as options. Operating systems are Windows offerings that include a range of Vista and XP Professional interfaces, as well as FreeDOS.

The dc5850, meantime, offers more features and higher performance for more intensive business needs, the first of which is an integrated graphics card with dual-monitor support. HP has not revealed the range of chips offered in the dc5850, but did mention AMD's next-generation, business-class Phenom processor will be part of the all-AMD line-up. Each core of the processors will be user-adjustable in terms of frequency thanks to AMD's Cool 'n' Quiet 2.0 technology.

Regarding efficiency, all dc5850s will be Energy Star 4.0 rated and EPEAT Gold registered. Optional HP Power Manager and Verdiem Surveyor software allow energy-conscious buyers to further streamline consumption.

Otherwise, all configurations of the dc5850 will support RAID with data mirroring back-up. An ATI Radeon 3100 graphics card with support for DirectX 10 technology will likewise be included in the most basic dc5850.

The Compaq dx2450 is available in North America now starting at $369, while the dc5850 is expected to launch worldwide on May 5 and carry a $599 price tag.

HP dx2450