HP Compaq's dc-range of desktops are a familiar sight in PC Pro's labs, but now its small-form-factor model has received an internal makeover courtesy of Intel's latest Q45 Express chipset. Don't be misled by the SFF moniker however, the dc7900 isn't nearly as compact as the likes of HP's own dc Ultra-slim models, nor the likes of Transtec's Senyo 610. Its 378 x 337mm footprint is hardly giant-sized, but if desk space is at a real premium, it's worth bearing in mind.
However, if you can make the room, the dc7900 has plenty to recommend it. Where more compact models have to resort to cramming laptop components inside their more diminutive chassis, the dc7900 makes room for fully-fledged desktop parts, which makes both upgrading and replacing broken parts significantly cheaper and easier.
And, although the core specification may not look like much, it punches far above its mid-range price. The Core 2 Duo E8500 processor is one of Intel's recent 45nm parts, and its efficiency helps keep cooling, noise and power consumption to an absolute minimum. The whole PC is amply cooled by a quiet 92mm fan which draws air in through the front vent, over the passive CPU heatsink and out the back of the case. At idle, the dc7900 consumes just 35W.