Compare Prices : HP Compaq Workstation XW6400

Review summary: HP's latest personal workstation series, the xw6400, is aimed at mid-range business users and, housed in a new mini-tower case, it's ideal where desk space is at a premium yet a system with plenty of grunt ...

Verdict: This is an ideal system if you are looking to upgrade from an entry level workstation, while its small format makes it ideal for the smaller office, although on the flip side it does mean that your options are limited if you want to expand the hardware.

Review summary: Our review unit of HP's first workstation to offer quad-core chips is modestly specced and priced - and it's a lot smaller that other systems we've seen.

Pros: Small, quiet case. Good set of entry-level accessories.

Cons: Slow processor. Few drive bays.

Verdict: Our review unit has just a single processor, which you could upgrade with another chip in the future. It's the Intel Xeon E5310, which is the slowest of the quad-core range and runs at 1.6GHz. The specs are completed by 4GB of RAM, an nVidia 1500 ...

Review summary: Intel's latest screaming processor announcements included not only the Core2 Duo and Core2 Extreme, but also the new Dual-core Xeon processor, two of which are the brains behind one of HP's newest workstations, the xw8400

Pros: Super fast processing Room to expand Quiet, effective fans

Cons: Pricey

Verdict: If you need a computer with superior processing power, this is definitely a great solution.

Review summary: HP's new workstation is pitched as a MacPro beater. So how does it compare?

Pros: Cool and quiet, Fast and powerful, Relatively low cost

Cons: Basic spec lacks professional features, Visually undistinguished, Minimal software included

Verdict: The xw6400 is a fairly generic, fast PC range that can be reworked for professional content creation with extra cost and effort. If you're starting out and need something quick and powerful, it's worth considering, but it won't suit those looking for ...