HP 800 Review
The HP 800 G2 SFF is a super-budget office PC. For $149 you get Windows 10 Pro and 16GB of RAM, but you're buying into very outdated hardware.
The 30-Second Version
A cheap and cheerful refurbished office PC. It's fine for basic tasks thanks to 16GB of RAM and Windows 10 Pro, but the CPU is ancient and it can't run Windows 11. Worth buying only for specific, simple use cases.
Overview
The HP 800 G2 SFF is a refurbished business desktop that's all about getting basic work done on a tight budget. For $149, you get a complete Windows 10 Pro system with 16GB of RAM, which is enough for office apps, web browsing, and light multitasking.
It's not a powerhouse, and it's not trying to be. This is a small-form-factor machine built for cubicles, not gaming rigs. Think of it as a reliable, compact workhorse for replacing an ancient office PC or setting up a simple home workstation.
Performance
Performance is exactly what you'd expect from a 7th-gen Intel Core i5-6500. It's fine for daily office tasks, but it's slow by modern standards—our database puts its CPU performance in the 6th percentile. The integrated Intel HD Graphics 530 are fine for a spreadsheet, but they land in the 97th percentile for a reason: they're at the very bottom of the barrel. Don't even think about gaming or video editing. The 256GB SSD is small (13th percentile), but it's at least an SSD, so the system feels snappy for basic use.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Comes with a full Windows 10 Pro license. 95th
- 16GB of RAM is generous for a budget office PC. 72th
- Compact SFF design saves desk space.
- Refurbished units often arrive in like-new condition.
Cons
- The CPU is very outdated and slow for modern tasks. 7th
- Tiny 256GB SSD fills up fast. 18th
- Integrated graphics are useless for anything beyond a desktop.
- Officially cannot be upgraded to Windows 11.
The Word on the Street
Specifications
Full Specifications
Processor
| CPU | Intel Core i5-6500 |
| Cores | 64 |
| Frequency | 3.2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB |
Graphics
| GPU | Graphics |
| Type | integrated |
| VRAM | 48 GB |
| VRAM Type | GDDR6 |
Memory & Storage
| RAM | 16 GB |
| RAM Generation | DDR4 |
| Storage | 256 GB |
Build
| Form Factor | SFF |
Connectivity
| Ethernet | No |
System
| OS | Windows 10 Pro |
Value & Pricing
At $149 for a complete system with Windows 10 Pro and 16GB of RAM, the value is hard to beat if your needs are simple. You're paying for a functional tool, not future-proofing. Just know you're buying a technological dead end—this platform has no upgrade path.
vs Competition
Compared to a modern budget desktop like a Dell Optiplex with an 8th-gen i5, this HP is slower and lacks upgrade options, but it's also cheaper. Don't confuse it with the gaming PCs listed as competitors (like the OMEN or Alienware)—those are in a different universe. Against other ~$150 refurbs, this one wins on RAM but loses on storage. If you need more space, look for a model with a 512GB SSD, even if it means less RAM.
| Spec | HP 800 | Dell OptiPlex Dell - Refurbished Excellent - Optiplex 7050 SFF | Minisforum Mini PC MINISFORUM M1 Pro Mini PC Core Ultra 5 Processor | Lenovo IdeaCentre Lenovo - IdeaCentre Tower Desktop - Intel Core | ASUS V500 ASUS - V500 Desktop - Intel Core i5 - 16GB Memory | Apple iMac Apple - Certified Refurbished 21.5" iMac with |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Core i5-6500 | Intel Core i7 7700 | Apple M1 Pro | Intel Core Ultra 7 Series 2 | Intel 13th Generation Core i5 | Intel 8th Generation Core i3 |
| RAM (GB) | 16 | 32 | 64 | 16 | 16 | 8 |
| Storage (GB) | 256 | 1024 | 2048 | 1000 | 1000 | 1000 |
| GPU | AMD Graphics | AMD Graphics | Intel Arc Graphics | Intel Graphics | Intel UHD Graphics | AMD Radeon Pro 555 |
| Form Factor | SFF | SFF | Mini | mid-tower | mini-tower | - |
| Psu W | - | - | - | 260 | 180 | - |
| OS | Windows 10 Pro | Windows 11 Pro | No OS, Support Windows | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home | macOS |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | Cpu | Gpu | Ram | Port | Storage | Reliability | Social Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HP 800 | 7.2 | 95 | 36.6 | 44.9 | 18 | 71.9 | 60.6 |
| Dell OptiPlex Refurbished Excellent 7050 SFF Compare | 75.1 | 95 | 68.8 | 87.5 | 66.1 | 71.9 | 77.5 |
| Minisforum Mini PC M1 Pro Mini PC Core Ultra 5 Processor 125H Barebone Without Storage/OS Compare | 53.8 | 52.2 | 97.5 | 60.5 | 87.7 | 13.1 | 93.4 |
| Lenovo IdeaCentre Tower Compare | 98.9 | 46.6 | 59.6 | 94.9 | 59.3 | 71.9 | 24.4 |
| ASUS V500 V500 Compare | 42.5 | 32.8 | 59.6 | 94.9 | 59.3 | 41.2 | 97.6 |
| Apple iMac Certified Refurbished 21.5" Compare | 27.6 | 43.4 | 10.6 | 86.2 | 49.7 | 99.2 | 89.6 |
Common Questions
Q: Can this PC run Windows 11?
No. The hardware lacks the required TPM 2.0 security chip, so it is officially locked to Windows 10.
Q: Is the 256GB storage enough?
Barely. It's fine for the OS and core applications, but you'll need to manage files carefully or use external/cloud storage.
Q: How big is the small form factor case?
The shipping box is about 14.9 x 13.3 x 4 inches, so the PC itself is quite compact and will fit easily on or under a desk.
Who Should Skip This
Skip this if you need any kind of modern performance, plan to use Windows 11, or want to play games. Also, avoid it if you work with large files—the 256GB SSD will drive you nuts. For those uses, even a slightly more expensive modern refurb will be a massively better experience.
Verdict
Buy this if you need a no-fuss, ultra-budget PC for basic office work, web browsing, or as a terminal for a specific business application. It's a solid choice for replacing a Windows 7 machine or setting up a simple point-of-sale system. Just plug it in and go.