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HP MediaSmart Server EX490 review

Verdict

A well-designed, premium appliance that stretches the limits of what a home server can do

Review Date: 29 Oct 2009

Reviewed By: Darien Graham-Smith

Price when reviewed: £402 (£462 inc VAT)

Overall Rating

Features & Design
6 stars out of 6

Value for Money
4 stars out of 6

Performance
5 stars out of 6

PCPRO Recommended

Details
Part Code	EX490
Review Date	29 Oct 2009
Price ex VAT	£402
Price inc VAT	£462
Overall rating
Performance
Features & Design
Value for Money

Warranty
Warranty	1 yr return to base

Basic specifications
Total hard disk capacity	1,000
RAM capacity	2.00GB
Screen size	N/A

Processor
CPU family	Intel Celeron
CPU nominal frequency	2.20GHz
CPU overclocked frequency	N/A
Processor socket	LGA 775
HSF (heatsink-fan)	Intel stock cooler

Motherboard
Conventional PCI slots free	0
Conventional PCI slots total	0
PCI-E x16 slots free	0
PCI-E x16 slots total	0
PCI-E x8 slots free	0
PCI-E x8 slots total	0
PCI-E x4 slots free	0
PCI-E x4 slots total	0
PCI-E x1 slots free	0
PCI-E x1 slots total	0
Internal SATA connectors	4
Internal SAS connectors	0
Internal PATA connectors	0
Internal floppy connectors	0
Wired adapter speed	1,000Mbits/sec

Memory
Memory type	DDR2
Memory sockets free	0
Memory sockets total	1

Hard disk
Hard disk	Seagate Barracuda 7200.12
Capacity	1.00TB
Hard disk usable capacity	931GB
Internal disk interface	SATA/300
Spindle speed	7,200RPM
Cache size	32MB
Hard disk 2 make and model	N/A
Hard disk 2 nominal capacity	N/A
Hard disk 2 formatted capacity	N/A
Hard disk 2 spindle speed	N/A
Hard disk 2 cache size	N/A
Hard disk 3 make and model	N/A
Hard disk 3 nominal capacity	N/A
Hard disk 4 make and model	N/A
Hard disk 4 nominal capacity	N/A

Drives
Optical drive	N/A
Optical disc technology	N/A
Optical disk 2 make and model	N/A
Optical disk 3 make and model	N/A

Rear ports
USB ports (downstream)	3
eSATA ports	1
PS/2 mouse port
Electrical S/PDIF audio ports	0
Optical S/PDIF audio output ports	0
Modem
3.5mm audio jacks	0

Graphics card
Graphics card	N/A
3D performance setting	N/A
Graphics chipset	N/A
Graphics card RAM	N/A
DVI-I outputs	0
HDMI outputs	0
VGA (D-SUB) outputs	0
DisplayPort outputs	0
Number of graphics cards	N/A

Monitor
Monitor make and model	N/A
Resolution screen horizontal	N/A
Resolution screen vertical	N/A
Resolution	N/A x N/A
Pixel response time	N/A
Contrast ratio	N/A
Screen brightness	N/A
DVI inputs	N/A
HDMI inputs	N/A
VGA inputs	N/A
DisplayPort inputs	N/A

Additional Peripherals
Speakers	N/A
Speaker type	N/A
Sound card	N/A
Peripherals	N/A

Case
Chassis	N/A
Case format	N/A
Dimensions	139 x 253 x 240mm (WDH)

Free drive bays
Free front panel 5.25in bays	0

Front ports
Front panel memory card reader

Mouse & Keyboard
Mouse and keyboard	N/A

Operating system and software
OS family	Windows Home Server
Recovery method	N/A
Software supplied	HP MediaSmartServer

Performance tests
Overall application benchmark score	N/A
Office application benchmark score	N/A
2D graphics application benchmark score	N/A
Encoding application benchmark score	N/A
Multitasking application benchmark score	N/A
3D performance (crysis) low settings	N/A
3D performance setting	N/A

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From around the web

Just ordered one - through a combination of work's Employee Purchase Program and a 10% off code, got this for £305.10! Should be with me in the next couple of days.

I can see the point regarding the relative inexpensiveness of 1TB nas boxes, but for my needs (serving media to upwards of four PCs, an O2 Joggler and more), especially the streaming of ripped DVDs, I estimate I need 3-6TB of space.

Trying to connect multiple nas devices would be messy, not least in terms of power and data connections and any nas boxes that support similar capacities are approaching Windows Home Server prices anyway - and are a lot less capable!

By bioreit on 2 Dec 2009