All-In-One PC Choice

TCA

Looking at picking up an all-in-one pc and like the look of a couple from HP but could do with a steer.

Both specs will more than cover my basic requirements (internet surfing, email, video streaming, spreadsheets, word processing, music/photos storage), but wondering if anyone can give a steer on which they'd go for.

Below is what I think are the main differences, everything else appearing identical:

1) HP 24-df0064na £549

Intel® Core™ i5-10400T Processor - Hexa-core - 2 GHz / 3.6 GHz - 12MB cache

Memory: 8GB DDR4 (2666 MHz) / 16GB Intel® Optane™

Storage: 256GB Intel® PCIe® NVMe™ SSD

Graphics card: Integrated Intel® UHD Graphics 630

Power Supply: 90W Smart AC power adapter

https://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/computing/desktop-pcs/desktop-pcs/hp-24-df0064na-23-8-all-in-one-pc-intel-core-i5-256-gb-ssd-white-10213265-pdt.html

2) HP 24-dp0002na £599

AMD Ryzen 5 4500U Processor

- Hexa-core - 2.3 GHz / 4 GHz - 8MB cache

Memory: 8GB DDR4 (3200 MHz)

Storage: 256GB PCIe® NVMe™ M.2 SSD

Graphics card: Integrated AMD Radeon™ Graphics

Power Supply: 65W Smart AC power adapter

https://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/computing/desktop-pcs/desktop-pcs/hp-24-dp0002na-23-8-all-in-one-pc-amd-ryzen-5-256-gb-ssd-silver-10207965-pdt.html

I've looked at straight comparisons of the CPUs https://nanoreview.net/en/cpu-compare/intel-core-i5-10400t-vs-amd-ryzen-5-4500u but not sure if the Optane element (of the first one) makes any difference or whether the different types of SSD matter, or if the different RAM or graphics cards will make any difference?

I've managed to find both for about £530, so price wise no real difference.

Any pointers much appreciated.

Merry Christmas to all!

CoastingHatbox

Six of one and half a dozen of the other. The AMD version looks to have the edge on overall CPU performance (synthetic benchmarks) and delivers better energy efficiency. The Intel version does support Hyper Threading, which depending on workload may offer some benefit. Generally, I don't think you would notice much difference between the two in a blind test.

J_B

All in One's are part of today's disposable age, which isn't very MSE

Desktops are much more easily 'upgradeable'

Do you have a reason for wanting an AOI?

TCA

Space saving and easier to move around would be my main reasons for an AOI. I'd hope with either of the above specs I wouldn't need to upgrade at any time, although I do have a separate hard drive at the ready. I'm not a fan of laptops.

As for MSE-ing I'm currently using an old desktop my dad discarded, which was originally running Windows Millennium Edition! I ran Lubuntu on it for years, recently switched to Linux Mint but overall just fed up making do with the downsides.

debitcardmayhem

AOI for me is the bottom of my choices, as for space saving something like a MSI CUbi, Intel NUCs etc the world is your lobster Rodney , or a SFF dell etc, AOI is like buying a MFP the heads go west why throw away a good scanner and vice-versa.

Just an observation.

CoastingHatbox

FWIW, I don't think those AOIs look like bad value, once you have added the cost of an SSD, RAM, monitor, keyboard and mouse. They are pretty much like a laptop to repair - lots of patience needed and careful note of where the screws were removed from. A second hand NUC or other small form factor PC with a VESA monitor mount however, is a different value proposition.

fred246

I made a small form factor with a VESA monitor mount last year and paid a similar figure. You only save in the long term and then only if you know what you are doing. The contents of the case are well packed in and working on it is much trickier than a desktop PC. However I would much rather work on that than an all in one.

TCA

I don't have the knowledge to build anything and certainly wouldn't have the knowledge to repair anything. I'd hope by buying a new machine, that it would last a reasonable amount of time. Messing around with Linux distros was my limit but I'm tired trying to get life out of a 20 year old machine, so treating myself to something better.

debitcardmayhem

TCA said:

I don't have the knowledge to build anything and certainly wouldn't have the knowledge to repair anything. I'd hope by buying a new machine, that it would last a reasonable amount of time. Messing around with Linux distros was my limit but I'm tired trying to get life out of a 20 year old machine, so treating myself to something better.

 Since you say " I'm not a fan of laptops." but there is something to say for replacing your desktop with a a laptop and using your monitor and keyboard and mouse with it , then when the needs arise just move the lappy temporarily where you need it (of course that and the mouse I hate touchpads) 

A_Lert

Ah, all-in-one PCs. The value-for-money and ease of repair of a laptop and the portability of a desktop. (By which I mean they're bad on both fronts). But they do look stylish, and if it's what you want it's what you want.

Same RAM capacity (but it's faster in the AMD one) and it isn't all that much, 8 GB is fine now but in 2025 I reckon it'll feel small.

Quite possibly exact same storage, virtually identical CPU performance. The AMD one probably has the stronger GPU if you ever play any games, but it's still nowhere near what a dedicated graphics chip can do.

Optane is a super-fast cache for your drive. To be honest NVMe SSDs are so fast anyway I'm not sure if the Optane will give any noticeable boost.

Try and find out whether the RAM and other components are upgradeable.

fred246

The last PC I built for myself is just for internet and Office but I play a lot of music. It's silent and cold. Just doesn't produce heat. I had a relative who bought an all in one. It was like a fan heater. Noisy with loads of hot air blasting out. It didn't last long. I was there a year later and it was beside the bin. Someone on the forum posted a link to an all in one they were trying to fix and it had heat pipes leading to a fan. Those all in one pictures don't seem to have any vents. Maybe it's underneath? The power supplies are quite low. Maybe it doesn't produce much heat. Just checked reviews. Noisy fan some of them mention.