HP z556: Why Build When You Can Buy?

Many "Media Center" PCs are little more than slightly beefier desktops with Windows MCE installed. But Mike Baggaley found that HP's z556 is a viable alternative to building your own HTPC.

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Who can remember the Gateway 901x??? Similar pre-built system, wanted to get one, then found out it was discontinued.

I wonder how long HP will carry this one.

I also wonder if the Sony Digital Living System is any good?

Hey Nukemaster,
Yes, the three cards PCI cards are in one riser card. As far as I understand it, the bandwidth in the PCI bus remains a constant regardless of where the cards are plugged. As long as the three cards in the riser don't exceed the available bandwidth you shouldn't see slowdown; even if they're all technically plugged into the same slot. I didn't notice any obvious or unexpected slowdown with the performance of the cards though (even when using all three at once)

Hope that helps!

I hope HP keeps their Digital Entertainment Center product line. The Z556 is a perfect system to recommend to my non computer savvy friends who want a decent HTPC but can't build one of their own. Heck, it's really well built and it's cheap enough to tempt even a die hard builder like myself!

That's too bad. The Z556 is a bargain! Well, as long as they are still available get 'em while they're hot I guess. 8) The Z558boasts a faster CPU and doubles the storage space in an HP personal media drive