HP Pavilion Mini Desktop Review/Adventures - the "mini" mini

The HP Pavilion Mini Desktop 300-030 was aimed at the consumer market and was intended to be a competitor to the Mac Mini back in 2015. We'll tear it open and see what options there are for upgrading and use.

[@todderbert]

Nice, at first I thought it was a Smoke Alarm, then one of those fancy mesh wifi units :) Looks like they were trying to steal some of that Apple thunder. People are giving different items you can look into. Have you thought about the intel nucs? those are something that I find interesting.

[@handmedowntech]

The nucs were my early inspiration to get into the mini PCs. I'm just surprised at the different directions HP has tried with their minis.

[@todderbert]

@@handmedowntech cool, I just noticed they were inexpensive on the used market.

[@handmedowntech]

Any particular model?

[@nickconnor8667]

It has boll of cereal vibes , over all neat little HP , im guessing a 3.5 hhd drive wont fit in there correct ?

[@handmedowntech]

Correct, just 2.5 sata

[@OXYGlacier66]

try Lenovo IdeaCentre Mini

[@handmedowntech]

Which units have you played with? Seeing the Q190 at the lower cost end.

[@OXYGlacier66]

@@handmedowntech i just watch things ;-;. Q190 is pretty good at lower cost

[@nicestbuIIy]

Have you seen the HP Elite Slice?

[@handmedowntech]

Is that the one for conferencing or is that the one that is the newer retail HP? I see it now on eBay - might be one to consider getting.

[@randallseepersad6727]

Hi,
Can you please recommend a wifi/bluetooth card upgrade?
Thanks in advance

[@handmedowntech]

For this type of unit?

[@randallseepersad6727]

Yes

[@handmedowntech]

@@randallseepersad6727 I'll look through my wifi card collection this weekend to make sure it works with it and report back.

[@handmedowntech]

You can try the 9560ngw - it will fit but I wasn't able to test it because my antennae wire tips didn't survive being removed from the old card. I caution doing the upgrade since the antenae ends don't seem as robust as the elitedesk's. Plus mine had tape over the contacts - further giving the idea of "don't mess". So proceed at your own risk and let me know if you do get it working.

[@wonkmisteriuz]

what total power consumption with watt meter?

[@handmedowntech]

Toward the end of the video I have the power consumption.

[@wonkmisteriuz]

​@@handmedowntechi have bought a watt meter, i tested my mini pc overall power consumption is different from processor power consumption

[@handmedowntech]

Greater or less?

[@wonkmisteriuz]

@@handmedowntech greater, because i use too much ram and ssd at heavy load

[@handmedowntech]

Do you intend to use it for hard core stuff or casual surfing?