Original Link: https://www.anandtech.com/show/4867/hp-compaq-8200-elite-ultraslim-the-littlest-desktop
HP Compaq 8200 Elite Ultra-Slim: The Littlest Desktop
by Dustin Sklavos on September 29, 2011 10:40 AM EST- Posted in
- Systems
- IT Computing
- HP
- SFF
- Enterprise
Introducing the HP Compaq 8200 Elite Ultra-Slim
If you've been following along for a while, it should be pretty clear that around here, we're fans of doing a little computing. Awkward turns of phrase notwithstanding, we thought we'd seen the smallest HP had to offer when we tackled the Z210 SFF desktop not too long ago. But we were wrong, and today we present you with the smallest desktop computer in HP's enterprise lineup. Wearing its power supply on the outside, meet the HP Compaq 8200 Elite Ultra-Slim.
Get a load of that. Admittedly consumer desktops (and nettops) can get just a bit smaller, but the HP Compaq 8200 Elite Ultra-Slim is still pretty impressively diminutive. Once you get this small it's very hard to include any kind of real graphics hardware, so even the entry level Quadro found in the Z210 is absent here, but other than that you'll see it's a surprisingly fully-featured little computer.
HP offers several pre-configured variants of the 8200 Elite Ultra-Slim, and they shipped us the top XZ788UT model. They also have custom-build options available, with a much larger selection of parts on tap. Here's what we received in our review sample.
HP Compaq 8200 Elite Ultra-Slim Specifications | |
Chassis | HP Custom |
Processor |
Intel Core i5-2500S (4x2.7GHz, 32nm, 6MB L3, turbo to 3.7GHz, 65W) |
Motherboard | HP Proprietary Motherboard with Q67 chipset |
Memory | 1x4GB Samsung DDR3-1333 SO-DIMM (expandable to 16GB) |
Graphics |
Intel HD Graphics 2000 (6 EUs, 850-1100MHz) |
Hard Drive(s) | Western Digital Scorpio Black 250GB 7200-RPM 2.5" SATA 3Gbps HDD |
Optical Drive(s) | HP DVD+/-RW Combo Drive |
Networking |
Intel 82579LM Gigabit Ethernet Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6205 802.11a/b/g/n |
Audio |
Realtek ALC662 HD Audio Speaker, mic/line-in jacks for stereo sound |
Front Side |
4x USB 2.0 Headphone and mic jacks Optical drive Card reader |
Top | - |
Back Side |
Speaker, mic/line-in 2x PS/2 6x USB 2.0 1x Ethernet 1x DisplayPort VGA AC adaptor |
Operating System | Windows 7 Professional 64-bit SP1 |
Dimensions |
9.9" x 10" x 2.6" (WxDxH), 6.8 lbs. 251 x 254 x 66 mm, 3.1 kg |
Extras |
SD Card Reader 87% Efficient PSU with active PFC |
Warranty | 3-year parts, labor, and onsite service |
Pricing |
MSRP starts at $679; review configuration at $914 Available online starting at $770 |
You can immediately tell from the specs that the 8200 Elite Ultra-Slim is the kind of system designed more for mass deployment than any kind of serious, high performance computing. HP includes an MXM slot and Mini-PCIe slot inside the chassis for expansion, and for those that really want some for of discrete graphics a $61 upgrade to an AMD Radeon HD 5450 is available. With 80 Stream Processors, that's not a major upgrade from Intels HD 2000; it's a little dated but it's there if you need it. There's also no USB 3.0 support, but at least HP includes DisplayPort connectivity.
Moving to the CPU, the Intel Core i5-2500S is no slouch. Rated for a TDP of 65 watts instead of 95, it still manages to boast the same impressive top turbo core speed as its non-S-series counterpart. Other options range from basic Pentium CPUs all the way up to the i7-2600S. HP backs the CPU up with two SO-DIMM slots (and no ECC support), one of which is occupied in our review unit by a 4GB DDR3-1333 DIMM.
Keeping up with the "notebook in a desktop shell" motif is the 2.5" Western Digital Scorpio Black 7200-RPM mechanical hard drive and a slimline DVD+/-RW drive. (Note that SSDs are available in the custom configurator if desired.) HP also includes integrated wireless in the form of the Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6205 wireless chipset, which supports 802.11a/b/g/n connectivity. The 87% efficient PSU is an external power brick rated for 135 watts, more than enough to support this configuration.
None of the specs are going to set the world on fire, but being a business class system there are a few other extras we need to discuss. The major selling point for systems such as this is the warranty and support. The HP Compaq Elite 8200 comes standard with a 3-year onsite warranty, and in our experience business class systems are built and supported better than consumer offerings. Remember also that while HP is talking about selling off their consumer PC division, they want to keep the (more lucrative) business and enterprise lines.
Application and Futuremark Performance
Of the enterprise systems we've tested so far, out of the gate the HP Compaq 8200 Elite Ultra-Slim (whew, that's a mouthful) is equipped with the "slowest" processor. The Intel Core i5-2500S is a quad-core with a nominal clock speed of 2.7GHz, andit doesn't support Hyper-Threading. However, under single-threaded loads it should be as fast as a Core i5-2500/2500K, and honestly it ought to be more than enough for any user this desktop is geared towards.
In the PCMarks, the Z210 benefits substantially from being equipped with an SSD. The i5-2500S does take a hit from its weaker GPU core than the i5-2500K (6 EUs instead of 12), but for general use they're both sufficient. For basic office work, performance is still excellent on all of these systems.
Cinebench R10 at least shows off the i5-2500S's (and by extension, Sandy Bridge's) acumen at single-threaded tasks. The instant extra cores are taken into account, though, it loses a bit of traction due to its reduced clock speed compared to a full 95-watt i5-2500. The more expensive i7-2600S build would certainly help close the gap if you need more multi-threaded processing power.
Since the 8200 uses just the integrated graphics core on the i5-2500S, graphics performance is comparatively quite slow. This isn't a major issue: the 8200 isn't meant to be playing Crysis, it's meant for managing spreadsheets and writing memos. It can handle most video as and photo work as well, but it will do most of its number crunching on the CPU.
Overall, performance may be a touch behind the other configurations we've tested, but the HP Compaq 8200 Elite Ultra-Slim is also the least expensive desktop we've tested out of the entire lot. It's also about a third the size of even the diminutive Z210 and weighs less than half as much, and as you'll see on the next page, it also has another ace up its sleeve.
Build, Noise, Heat, and Power Consumption
Once again I have to state that I'm a big fan of how enterprise-class computers are built, specifically in regards to internal layout. Because these machines are designed to be easily serviced should the need arise, there are really quite a lot of intelligent ideas that go into how they're built that make me wonder why we don't see them more often on the consumer side. Take a look inside the wonderfully small HP Compaq 8200 Elite Ultra-Slim.
Everything is in its right place and extremely easy to service. Due to the smaller form factor, HP opts for mainly notebook parts inside the 8200 outside of the 65-watt processor. There's a substantial heatsink complete with copper heatpipes covering the processor, and a fan from the front channels air straight through it and out of the back of the case, cooling the memory in the process.
When I opened the 8200 the first time I was surprised to see the relatively large empty space in the top left corner; that MXM slot is actually there in case the system is custom ordered with a graphics upgrade, which can be cooled by the second small fan. The catch as noted earlier is that the only graphics upgrade available is an AMD Radeon HD 5450. Given the nature of this desktop, we can't say that upgrade is really worth it.
Considering the low power components of the 8200, it should come as no surprise that the system runs quietly and stays reasonably cool. The CPU temperatures aren't stellar (though they're still better than most notebooks we test), but this is also a very small enclosure, and HP has largely erred on the side of silence rather than performance. Since Sandy Bridge is already a cool-running architecture to begin with, this winds up being the right trade. Air circulation within the chassis also seems to be good enough to keep the 2.5" Western Digital Scorpio Black running cool.
Other than pure size, power consumption winds up being the 8200's trump card. With load power of just 66 watts, it's not hard to see why a business might want to deploy several of these for users who don't need extremely high-powered hardware. Idling at the desktop, it consumes a miserly 20 watts.
Conclusion: Day to Day Workhorse
Not every build we get in house has to be glamorous, but there's a certain charm to a machine as small and inobtrusive as the HP Compaq 8200 Elite Ultra-Slim. Even on the enterprise side, not everyone is going to be doing CAD work and video editing or trying to power through Maya. There needs to be a client that fills the needs of any business, big or small--for people who just need a terminal to sit and work at.
If you're not space limited you can certainly save some dosh by going with one of the bigger, less specialized towers that HP (or Dell) offers, but it's hard not to like the 8200. This little computer is very good at what it does and well-designed for its intended purpose. It's something you can actually discreetly stash behind the monitor, where it will make virtually no noise, generate virtually no heat, and basically do its job without calling any attention to itself. For something like a library or school computer lab that just wants to get rows of computers in place, this is an excellent choice.
With that said, I do have a couple of quibbles. I would rather have seen DVI on the back instead of DisplayPort; HP sells DisplayPort adaptors to the major screen input standards, but DisplayPort itself is still rarefied, often showing up only on more expensive monitors while DVI is far more ubiquitous at every step of the ladder. And while enterprise machines tend to be about a step behind consumer machines in terms of connectivity, I still would've liked to have seen at least USB 3.0 connectivity on the 8200. Ten USB 2.0 ports are cute, but there's no high speed connectivity anywhere outside of the Gigabit ethernet.
Ultimately the HP Compaq 8200 Elite Ultra-Slim is a well-designed, even cute little machine that's well-suited to being a reasonably inexpensive client machine. If you don't need the quad-core processor you can always downgrade to an i3 and save a hundred bucks or so. You also get the standard 3-year onsite service, which can be helpful even for non-business users should anything go amiss. If something small and reasonably powerful is what you're looking for (ideally for a small business or a large number of terminals), the HP Compaq 8200 Elite Ultra-Slim should fit the bill nicely.