The new range of HP Pavilion PCs doesn't vary greatly from the previous, but they maintain good performance with some handy features.

Overall, this is a well-equipped family PC that's perfect for storing photos, home videos and music. We wish its hard drive was a little bigger, and we also wish it had 2GB of RAM, but it's still more than capable of handling everyday multimedia tasks with its current components.

While we like the compact size of this unit, we believe a CD burner, or at least a free USB key, should be included to provide removable storage. This depends on the data storage practices of your workplace though, and if a machine without the ability to transport data externally is required, then this one should be considered.

This is a well-built and affordable gaming system with a difference: you get a Xeon CPU and the 64-bit version of Windows Vista. It's well-worth picking it up if you're after a very fast system for under $2000.

The 7700G boasts excellent features for its $1799 price tag, which include a 19in LCD monitor and a three-year on-site warranty with next business day service. We found its performance to be very stable and like the fact that the large mid-tower case can be worked on easily, should you require maintenance or an upgrade.

This machine is very well suited for gaming as well as other multimedia activities. It lacks a few key features, such as FireWire and a memory card reader, and its case isn't very solid, but it is relatively affordable.

The HP Pavilion a5060a is a great all-round PC for anyone who's after a no fuss out-of-the-box solution. The removable hard drive bay allows for some added utility and there are options for some essential upgrades down the track.