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Compaq Evo D510 Convertible Minitower

Compaq has upgraded its desktop PCs with the Evo range. Ian Waugh sees if they're worth sticking with...
 

Buying a new PC is always difficult. There are so many factors to consider, and trying to weigh up the pros and cons and balance them all against the price is a juggling act that even Arthur Andersen would struggle with.

If you already have a computer you might want to keep your existing monitor so buying a PC bundled with a monitor may not be what you want. What's likely to be of more interest is a base unit.

Se we're looking at Compaq's Evo D510 base unit. We've been running a Compaq Prosignia for a few years and it's given sterling service so what can we expect from the new range? 

The D510 is billed as a Convertible Minitower which means you can use it standing up or rejig the drives inside and lie it down like a desktop. It's worth noting that there is also a Microtower range called the D310 which is a little cheaper.

Top PC

We're looking at the top-of-the range D510 with a 2.26GHz Intel Pentium 4 processor, a 40Gb HD and 256Mb RAM. The other models have slightly slower processors, the smallest has a 20Gb HD and some have just 128Mb RAM.

Given the low cost of both RAM and hard disks these days, that might seem a bit penny-pinching although if you don't create much data or download large programs from the Web, a 20Gb HD may do you fine. However, as these machines run Win 2000 or XP, 128Mb is a nonsense and 256Mb really ought to be a minimum.

One disappointment is the CD ROM drive which is exactly that - no recording ability. CD-R is almost de rigeur on any PC and, again, given the cost of these drives the saving can only be a few pounds.

Conversely, the PC comes with a built-in modem. You'd expect most potential buyers to have one already, if not be on broadband, although the addition to the overall cost will be small.

It also has built-in networking, which is, again, something not everyone may need but as an increasing number of households have two (or more) computers, networking is certainly something worth considering. We hooking it up to a network and it was as easy as Plug 'n' Play.

The built-in video will be fine for most folks although dedicated gamers may want to spend another £300+ on the latest, greatest video card. Having said that, this is probably not a machine a hardened gamer would buy but mere mortals are unlikely to complain if they play "normal" games.

Windows choice

When you first start up the computer, you are given the choice of installing either Windows 2000 or Windows XP Professional. It's a once-only choice so make the right decision. We suspect most users will plump for XP. There are the usual questions to run through but installation and setting up is easy.

One of the first things you notice about the range is that they're black with a touch of silver, and that even extends to the keyboard and mouse. Very hi tech and a welcome change from the various shades of beige you typically see on PCs.

Access to the inside is by removing a side panel, simply done by unscrewing a couple of thumb screws. The internal drives are held in place by a Quick Release system which means no screws are required. We installed a CD-RW and another hard disk. There are two additional power leads for such upgrading and the whole process was completed in minutes.

Because of the position of the motherboard, installing additional RAM is a tad more fiddly. The mobo only has two RAM slots so if you want a full 1Gb, you have to remove (and possibly attempt to sell in order to recoup some cost) the existing 256Mb and install two 512Mb chips. But simply adding another 512Mb will give you a very healthy dose of RAM.

Finally, we mustn't forget the 3 year on-site warranty. This not only indicates how reliable the manufacturer thinks its equipment is, but also gives you peace of mind.

Summary

The odd cost-cutting exercise on the D510 is disappointing and a slightly lower price point would push the price from fair to good VFM, but the machine is solid, it looks great, it's easy to upgrade and it performs well. As a good all-round PC for the home or office it's well worth serious consideration.

Ian Waugh

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