HP Pavilion Elite m9515y
Manufacturer: HP Part number: NC695AA#ABA
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- The HP Pavilion Elite m9515y is not an elegant PC, but it has enough features where it counts to set it apart. If performance or seamless living room integration are your goals, look elsewhere, but anyone after digital media functionality will find this HP more capable than its competition.
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Where to buy
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|---|---|---|---|---|
 |  | In stock Order Now-Ships Today | Enter zip code to get total price: Price +Tax +Shipping =Total price | as of 12/08/2009 Refurbished |
 | | In stock Order Now-Ships Today | as of 12/08/2009 Refurbished |
CNET editors' review
HP Pavilion Elite m9515y price range: $669.99
- Reviewed by: Rich Brown
- Reviewed on: 03/04/2009
- Released on: 01/01/2009
The good: Blu-ray drive, Wi-Fi, and TV tuner make it a strong PC for digital media consumption.
The bad: Underpowered system performance; cluttered interior.
The bottom line: The HP Pavilion Elite m9515y is not an elegant PC, but it has enough features where it counts to set it apart. If performance or seamless living room integration are your goals, look elsewhere, but anyone after digital media functionality will find this HP more capable than its competition.
HP's Pavilion Elite m9515y is the kind of PC for which we're surprised there's still a market. We say that because we've officially soured on the idea of a standard mid-tower in the living room, and if you want a computer to serve as a dedicated small-scale home entertainment system in a dorm room or a den, we find all-in-ones do the job more elegantly. That said, for $1,080, this HP actually offers quite a bit of functionality, from a Blu-ray drive, to wireless networking, to a passable 3D graphics card. It is not the fastest computer in this price range, but the Pavilion Elite m9515y is probably one of the most well-rounded. If you're after a higher-end jack-of-all trades PC, you could certainly do worse.
The Pavilion Elite series is perhaps our least favorite case from a mainstream vendor right now. It looks fine from the outside with a rubberized top for placing portable gadgets and a glossy black plastic front, but the inside is a tangled, crowded mess. We attribute the bulk of this rat's nest design to the slot for HP's proprietary, and oversized, Personal Media Drive removable hard drive. This slot crowds the inside of the case with wires and its specialized drive cage. A second slot for HP's smaller Pocket Media Drives fits more gracefully under the optical drive stack in a 3.5-inch bay. That one we don't mind if we have to have one slot, but we strongly dislike the idea of giving up so much space for two optional components.
We'll concede that the cluttered interior will only frustrate those who open the case, which might not describe the primary audience for this mainstream, retail system. If you confine yourself to the exterior of the Pavilion Elite m9515y, you may be able to overlook the wasted space. HP put an array of analog A/V inputs on the front of the system, which is useful for connecting older video cameras and other devices. You also get the usual USB 2.0 inputs, analog audio jacks, and a media card reader.
| HP Pavilion Elite m9515y | Dell Studio XPS-122B | |
| Price | $1,079 | $999 |
| CPU | 2.5GHz AMD Phenom X4 9850 | 2.67GHz Intel Core i7 920 |
| Motherboard chipset | AMD 780G | Intel X58 |
| Memory | 8GB 800MHz DDR2 SDRAM | 4GB 1,066MHz DDR3 SDRAM |
| Graphics | 768MB Nvidia GeForce 9600 GS | 512MB ATI Radeon HD 4850 |
| Hard drives | 750GB, 7,200rpm | 640GB, 7,200rpm |
| Optical drive | Blu-ray drive/dual-layer DVD burner | dual-layer DVD burner |
| Networking | Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11 a/b/g/n | Gigabit Ethernet |
| Operating system | Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 (64-bit) | Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 (64-bit) |
Comparing the HP's specs to other PCs in its price range also gives it a favorable outlook, at least on paper. The 2.5GHz clock speed of its AMD Phenom X4 9850 looks competitive, and the 8GB of RAM, 768MB GeForce 3D card, and 750GB hard drive all look about right for the price, even without the Blu-ray drive, the TV tuner, and the wireless networking. Those extras help set this system apart and define it.
As we said earlier, we don't love the idea of a clunky tower desktop crammed awkwardly in the living room. You can build or buy a smaller desktop for that purpose, or better yet stream the content over your home network via an Xbox 360 or another connected media device (perhaps in the TV itself). An all-in-one PC like the Sony Vaio JS190J is also a more elegant and self-contained solution for entertainment purposes than a wire-strewn desktop and monitor combination. That said, the Pavilion Elite m9515y is one of the few traditional desktops we've seen at retail with such a broad range of digital entertainment features.
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This system might be unique for its ability to serve up digital media, but it's also significantly slower than competing PCs in its price range. It can't even keep up with the $900 Dell XPS 430 121B. This HP is certainly fast enough to provide a quality HD video experience. It can also play some games, although we're surprised that it wasn't able to turn in a better score on our forgiving Unreal Tournament 3 test. Overall we'd look elsewhere if your primary concern is system performance and/or gaming capability.
We mentioned that upgraders will find the interior of this system a mess, and it's almost not even worth cracking open as the only spare slot is a single 1X PCI Express input. You also get a single free traditional hard-drive input, but you have to remove the drive cage entirely to access it, an unfortunate hassle. If the inside is sloppy, the variety of ports on the rear panel is only adequate. The video card provides a built-in HDMI output, and you also get a dedicated coaxial digital audio output. Each of those will get the job done as far as living room connections, but we wish HP went further and added an eSATA port and optical digital audio.
Hewlett-Packard, like most mainstream vendors, offers one year of parts and labor coverage for this system. You also get 24-7 toll-free phone coverage and onsite service at HP's discretion. The HP Web site also has a useful selection of help tools, including driver downloads, FAQs, and customer support chat.
Find out more about how we test desktop systems.
System configurations:
HP Pavilion Elite m9515y
Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 (64-bit); 2.5GHz AMD Phenom X4 9850; 8GB 800MHz DDR2 SDRAM; 768MB Nvidia GeForce 9600 GS graphics card; 750GB 7,200 rpm Hitachi hard drive
Dell Studio XPS-122B
Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 (64-bit); 2.67GHz Intel Core i7 920; 4GB 1,066MHz DDR3 SDRAM; 512MB ATI Radeon HD 4850 graphics card; 640GB 7,200 rpm Samsung hard drive
Dell XPS 430-121B
64-bit Windows Vista Home Premium; 2.5GHz Intel Core 2 Quad CPU Q8300 ; 6GB DDR3 1066MHz; 1GB NVIDIA GeForce GT 120 Graphics card; 750GB, 7,200 rpm hard drive
Gateway FX6800-01e
Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 (64-bit); 2.67GHz Intel Core i7 920; 3GB 1,600MHz DDR3 SDRAM; 512MB ATI Radeon HD 4850 graphics card; 750GB 7,200 rpm Seagate hard drive
User reviews
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This machine is booby trapped and I'm the Booby
by fkampa on March 4, 2009
Pros: It does have reasonable specs for the price and seemed like a good deal up front.
Cons: Very hard to add anything internally.
The blue LED on the front could be used as a flashlight.
The HP setup documentation is misleading and dangerous to the system.Summary: Adding a second internal DVD drive is next to impossible. The length of the wiring harness will only allow a sata connection, and there is only enough wire for the ...
Summary: Adding a second internal DVD drive is next to impossible. The length of the wiring harness will only allow a sata connection, and there is only enough wire for the connection to be on the right side of the drive The older style drive connectors on the cable won't reach the left side of the open bay.
There are tiny wires, probably antenna leads for the wireless strung through the top panel both front and back and no warnings they are easily torn loose if you slide the top panel trying to gain access to the internal bays. I finally gave up and settled for buying an external USB writer to get my second disk drive.
The thought of trying to add a second internal hard drive was fleeting once I saw what was necessary. The solution, once again is an external drive.
The instruction sheets with the computer and monitor are abysmal. I purchased an HP2408 monitor to go with the computer. The monitor comes with a software disk. The instruction sheet for the computer has several pictures that I guess are supposed to be worth several thousand words as there is only one brief paragraph with 10 words that says "see the instructions in the monitor box". The instruction sheet for the monitor says check the enclosed DVD for instructions and software. The disk offers to install the "HP My Display" program for additional functionality. When the software is installed, it reports it is not for this monitor. From this point on, whenever the computer is started it says the monitor driver is missing, and when you try to install the driver, it says you don't have permission to remove the existing driver (even when using the driver recovery program that comes with the computer). I've spent a week or so ignoring the dialog and installing my software programs I need to get back in operation for my current projects. When I contacted HP support yesterday, after 3 hours on the phone and numerous attempts to fix the problem, the message was that I would probably have to use the recovery disks to wipe the machine back to it's original state and start all over, omitting the step to install HP's monitor software that apparently has corrupted the system.
This is not my very first computer. I've been working with computers since the early 80's. It is however, the very worst experience I've had with a new computer, and I don't think it has been all my fault. Caveat Emptor folks.2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Buyer Beware: failed product and failed support
by kenriley02 on October 23, 2009
Pros: I like the idea, unfortunatly if fails to deliver.
Lots of memory, Fast Quad Core machine, big harddrive.
Comprehensive Multimedia FeaturesCons: Slow system.
Failures out of the box.
Recorded TV programs corrupted
Consistent Video Errors 50% of the time.
Burn failures 50% of the time.
Support lacking skills to support
Third party software also unstable.Summary: This product was sold as a multimedia center and a type of DVR replacement. It has completely failed to function in that role.
From day one core functions like, recording ...Summary: This product was sold as a multimedia center and a type of DVR replacement. It has completely failed to function in that role.
From day one core functions like, recording tv programs, playback of previously viewed programs, and burning Video DVD's from the recorded TV programs fails as much as 50% of the time.
After 60 personal hours of troubleshooting with vendor intervention (30 hours of
direct vendor support), numerous reconfigures and reinstalls, a complete factory restoration (done by me), a replacement of TV Tuner (by me, and a trip back to vendor for repair (optical drive replaced by them), they've failed to address the problem. In fact they don't even try to duplicate the problem, but rely only on basic low level diagnostics to tell them the hardware is OK. They didn't even attempts, based on the repair report to burn a DVD of any kind (only are read test).
Vendor has now completey walked away from the product indicating that the problem is not thier problem since they only deal with hardware. Additionally, they've indicated that if it works 50% of the time (being there's a 50% failure rate) then I must be the problem and there's nothing wrong with the system. Of course I'm only using the TV remote to pressing record from the program guide, and pressing play at from the recorded program list, and selecting the burn to DVD to burn programs to the DVD (and of course I'm putting in fresh DVD; two diffent types from three different vendors).
Apparently 50% failure is an acceptable failure rate for them.
On top of all of this, the vendor expired the 90 warranty on my maching at 71 days from the date the order was placed (66 days after I received the product).
Vendor factory repair falsely reported procedures that were absolutely not done.
After all this, I do have some improvement. TV programs now record properly. Video Error's on playback are down from 50% to 20%. DVD burn failures still failing 50% of the time(my collections of 40 DVD coasters due to burn failures continues to grow).
Having limited third party installs on this system from the beginning in order to avoided conflicts, only now have attempted to use third party solutions. These to work around the failures delivered with the original product. The too are failing. Even the onese recommened by vendor. So far the system has been highly unstable and as a factory install.
Repeated Email's to the Vendor Ethics does no good because they simply refers it back to the same support group that now refuses to acknowledge the problem. This is what I call grading your own homework.
It appears that this vendor has dumped an unstable product on unsuspecting customers leaving them on the hook. And that, refurbished is simply a factory refreshing of software and a sending it back out the door and terminating warrantly as soon as possible to get it off the books.
As much as I hate to say it, owning now many product from this vendor (5 computers, two scanners and 5 printers), they no longer are concerned about quality or reputation.
So I suggest the buyer beware of this product and dependence on vendor support.1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Will never buy another HP again
by bruce1973 on November 8, 2009
Pros: Thought i was buying a top of the line computer to do it all. Joke. So many software problems IT person worn out. incompatable with lots of software ONLY IT people could patch it. Do not buy this over priced piece of junk.
Cons: Cost over $1100 at office Depot and does not even have Blue Tooth!
Summary: Will NEVER BUY HP AGAIN.
Summary: Will NEVER BUY HP AGAIN.
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Good MultiMedia Entry
by timcesq on April 5, 2009
Pros: Massive Memory on Video Card with HDMI output
Large Hard Drive
On Board Wireless N
TV Card and Remote for Watching Cable
Blue Ray DVD Player
Card Reader can handle older Compact Flash and Latest FormatsCons: Keyboard and Mouse are Bare Bones
Included MS Works and 60 Day Office Trial aren't worth the time
Lacks good video editing and photo-editing software
Proprietary HP Expansion Bay takes up A LOT of space on front of PCSummary: I bought this to replace a 5 year old aging multimedia PC. Looks and living room compatibility aren't an issue in our home. Our requirements were a TV Card ...
Summary: I bought this to replace a 5 year old aging multimedia PC. Looks and living room compatibility aren't an issue in our home. Our requirements were a TV Card and enough memory, speed, and hard drive space that this PC would still be serving it's purpose five years from now. This HP fit the bill. 8 gig of memory means Vista 64 will run fine for years without expansion, and 768 megs on the graphics card means video editing won't be an issue. The included software packages are a bit skimpy - photediting, movie editing, etc. The MS Works version doesn't include Word (although some versions of Works do) and the MS Office is only a 60 day trial version. Opensource Openoffice solved that problem. Given the $1079 price, HP could have at least included Word. The need for HP's expansion bay is diminishing given that external USB harddrives are easy to use and no big deal to plug in. At present, a 1T HP Expansion drive is a bit more expensive than an external 1T hd. Overall, the machine fit the bill for the main PC in our home office (I don't want a PC in or family room!). MediaCenter allows recording of LiveTV either manually or through a 14 day guide - It's a DVR!. The TVand remote works and looks great while on the treadmill and the it's more than able to play the latest stress reliever. Overall a great machine for the price. You will need to install some video, photo-editing software to get the full use. In the end, you certainly get a lot more machine than a comparably priced HP or Sony All-In-One.
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All HP Pavilion Media Center Have Issue on Firewire
by Marky30mark on March 20, 2009
Pros: Product is ok, until i found some issue on Firewire slot...
Cons: When you Plug your Firerwire cable, the system shutdown by itself. And you cannot turn it on, until you unplug the power cord on the back, for at least 2 minutes. CNET Editor Review miss that one...
Summary: This product is ok at first, but when i use the Firewire Slot on the Front & Back of this PC, the Whole system shutdown by itself. I just return ...
Summary: This product is ok at first, but when i use the Firewire Slot on the Front & Back of this PC, the Whole system shutdown by itself. I just return this PC at Bestbuy, then i try the other HP Media Center on there store, if the Firewire slot will shut down. When i plug the Firewire Cable on other HP Desktop it shutdown too. The Geek Squad saw it, and say that's the first time he encounter it. I told him, this the second one now, because i just return the M9515Y. That's why i wanna know, if that problem have only occur on the PC that i got.
ATTENTION HP:
You have issue on your Mother Board on your HP Pavilion...
Check the FIREWIRE on the Front and Back...
Specifications
- Manufacturer: HP
- Part number: NC695AA#ABA
- Bottom Line: The HP Pavilion Elite m9515y is not an elegant PC, but it has enough features where it counts to set it apart. If performance or seamless living room integration are your goals, look elsewhere, but anyone after digital media functionality will find this HP more capable than its competition.
General
- Built-in Devices LED panel
- Width 7.0 in
- Depth 16.6 in
- Height 15.5 in
- Weight 24.3 lbs
Processor
- Type AMD Phenom X4 9850 / 2.5 GHz
Cache Memory
- Type L2 cache, L3 cache
- Installed Size 2 MB
RAM
- Installed Size 8 GB
- Technology DDR II SDRAM
Storage
- Hard Drive 750 GB - Standard - Serial ATA
Optical Storage
- Type DVD+/-RW / BD-ROM
- CD / DVD read speed 40x (CD) / 16x (DVD) / 6x (BD-ROM)
- CD / DVD write speed 40x (CD) / 16x (DVD) / 5x (DVD-RAM) / 4x (DVD Double layer)
Storage Removable
- Type None
Graphics Controller
- Graphics Processor / Vendor NVidia GeForce 9600GS
- Video Memory 768 MB / 2559 MB (max)
Audio Output
- Type Sound card - Integrated
- Sound card name Integrated Audio
Networking
- Networking Network adapter
Expansion / Connectivity
- Expansion Bays Total (Free) 1 ( 1 ) x External - 5.25 in, Internal - 3.5 in, 3.5 in
- Expansion Slots Total (Free) Memory, Memory card reader, PCI Express x1, PCI Express x16
- Interfaces 6 x USB 2.0, Ethernet, IEEE 1394 (FireWire), HDMI, Digital audio output, Rear speaker output, Side speaker output, Center subwoofer output
Miscellaneous
- Cables Included Power cable ( 1 pcs.)
- Features TV tuner, Wireless LAN
Operating System / Software
- OS Provided Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP 1
- Software Drivers & Utilities, CyberLink DVD Suite Deluxe, muvee Reveal Premium, Microsoft Works 9, HP MediaSmart
Sustainability
- Greenpeace policy rating (Sept 2009) 4.5
Manufacturer info
- HP
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse HP products on Shopper.com
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- Website: http://www.hp.com
- Address:
3000 Hanover Street, Palo Alto, CA 94304-1185
