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5 Best HP Desktops to Give as Gifts

5 Best HP Desktops to Give as Gifts

Dwight Pavlovic
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Reading time: 8 minutes
Looking for unique gifts for your desktop-PC-using loved ones? With the holidays approaching, many of us will be on the hunt for the perfect gift for someone on our list, and the HP Store is a great place to start. A desktop PC is a fantastic idea for a big family present, or it could be the perfect way to send someone off to college, get an entrepreneur off to a great start for the new year, or upgrade your loved one’s existing setup.
Finding the best desktop gifts can still be daunting. There are numerous features and uses to consider, and that goes for whether you’re shopping with a student, a young professional, or your entire family in mind.
In this article, we’ll look at 5 popular standouts from some of the best-rated series available from HP®:
  1. HP Slimline desktop PC - 290-a0045m
  2. HP Pavilion desktop PC - TP01-0145m
  3. HP ENVY desktop PC - TE01-0175xt
  4. HP ENVY All-in-One PC - 27-b255qd
  5. HP OMEN Obelisk desktop PC - 875-0030qd
Our picks for desktop gift ideas demonstrate top-tier performance, superb versatility, and affordability so that you can make someone’s holidays truly special while you stay within your gift-giving budget.

1. HP Slimline desktop PC

A great gift for a loved one who’s in college or needs an upgrade
Our list starts out with a surprisingly compact offering, the trim and lightweight HP Slimline desktop - 290-a0045m. It measures only 3.74 x 11.64 x 10.63 inches and weighs just 6.55 lbs, making it perfect for someone who may want to move their computer from one room to another. That’s great for shifting or crowded workspaces, particularly for those you know are busy outside of the house but still need an easy hub to manage and organize your activities.
Plus, this computer comes with an HP USB black keyboard with volume control and an HP wired black mouse, so all you need is the right display and it’s ready to go. It’s also super affordable; it’s actually the lowest-priced option on our list. Whether you’re buying for a teenager or an older relative, the advantages of a compact and affordable device are substantial.

Good hardware and peripheral features

This computer is built around an AMD dual-core A9-9425 APU with integrated AMD Radeon R5 Graphics, so you know that the decrease in physical dimensions doesn’t mean you’re sacrificing computing power. It also starts with 8GB of RAM that you can upgrade to 16GB or 32GB, and a 1TB SATA drive. This HP Slimline desktop has other nice-to-have features as well, including an optical drive with built-in DVD writer and plenty of external ports and connections.

Strong ratings for energy efficiency

This PC boasts notable energy efficiency, too. It’s ENERGY STAR® certified and has an EPEAT® Silver rating as well. That means you can reduce your special someone’s environmental footprint while lowering their monthly power bill, too.

2. HP Pavilion desktop PC

A great gift for the entire family or a loved one’s home office
With decades of popularity and great design, the HP Pavilion desktop - TP01-0145m represents an affordable mid-range option. It takes up less room than older, bulkier towers and sets a strong foundation for hardware with an AMD Ryzen™ 3 3200G processor with integrated Radeon Vega 8 graphics. There’s also room for up to 32GB of RAM to guarantee a responsive experience. It can house more than enough local storage with a 1TB SATA drive and a high-efficiency 128GB SSD as well.

Sleek and accessible design

Part of what sets this HP Pavilion apart is its versatile exterior design. Thanks to the polished silver and brushed metal finish, anyone can easily situate this PC in just about any workspace or decor.
It’s also highly accessible. It has loads of front-facing features, including an optical drive with built-in DVD-writer. There are many external connections within easy reach of the user as well, so you don’t have to fumble around in more cramped environments.

Another win for energy efficiency

Helping minimize environmental impact is a priority with our PC designs. Many of the models we’ll talk about feature superb energy efficiency, and this HP Pavilion is no different. It ships with ENERGY STAR certification and a respectable EPEAT Bronze rating.

3. HP ENVY desktop PC

A great gift for anyone who wants a durable, powerful PC
Thanks to an impressive slate of hardware options, the HP ENVY desktop - TE01-0175xt has the potential to top our list for performance. Powered by the latest 9th Generation Intel® Core™ i7 processor and drawn from the highly regarded HP ENVY line, it’s designed to deliver.
It comes with numerous ports and a convenient optical drive with built-in DVD writer to keep you connected to your favorite devices. Plus, the brushed thermal louvers improve airflow and reduce operating noise so you can focus on the task at hand or listen to music without distraction.

High-powered hardware options

To back up your powerful processor, the HP ENVY desktop loads on great hardware starting with integrated Intel UHD Graphics 630 and a discrete NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1660 graphics card. That’s excellent for gamers or anyone who needs strong visual performance.
You’ll also find a 16GB base for RAM, with room for up to 32GB. For storage, there’s an expanded 2TB SATA drive and a high-efficiency 256GB SSD for speedy back-up.

Certified by ENERGY STAR and rated EPEAT Bronze

Even with this HP ENVY’s beefed-up graphics, the uptick in performance doesn’t mean you’ll sacrifice energy efficiency. It ships certified by ENERGY STAR and with EPEAT’s Bronze rating. You can add performance to someone’s day-to-day routine, without fear of adding too much extra to their power bill.

4. HP ENVY All-in-One PC

A great gift for parents, grandparents, kids, or anyone who prefers a streamlined device
Not familiar with an all-in-one (AiO) desktop configuration? These efficient designs reduce the physical footprint of a PC by combining the traditional tower and display into a single unit. That means less clutter and fewer devices to manage and maintain over the long term. It also looks great thanks to a sleek finish in ash silver.
The HP ENVY All-in-One - 27-b255qd ships with all necessary peripherals, including an HP premium lifestyle wireless keyboard with volume control and an optical mouse. It’s all available so your special someone can start using this AiO right out of the box.

Versatile hub for personal computing

With a desktop like this HP ENVY AiO, you’ll find a good balance of performance and functionality. It may not be as easy to upgrade compared to a standard tower-style PC, but it makes up for it with strong specs and a streamlined setup.
For hardware, it starts with an Intel Core i7-8700T processor with Turbo Boost Technology and a discrete NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 graphics card. Alongside 16GB of RAM and more than 2TB of mixed SSD/SATA storage, this AiO is built for a variety of uses.

Energy efficiency and up to 3 years of HP Care Pack protection

This HP ENVY AiO also offers peace of mind when it comes to energy expenses and aftercare, starting off with ENERGY STAR certification. It’s also EPEAT Bronze rated and certified low halogen, while the display features mercury-free backlights and an arsenic-free screen panel. For even more energy efficiency and a bigger display, there’s the immersive HP ENVY Curved All-in-One - 34-b135se to consider.
For additional reassurance after checkout, this model also offers up to 3 years of protection with HP Care Pack. Just add it to your purchase to triple the length of the base warranty coverage.

5. HP OMEN Obelisk desktop PC

A great gift for gamers, graphic designers, and power users
Do you know someone who could use a serious gaming machine? The HP OMEN Obelisk desktop PC - 875-0030qd is it. This PC starts with an affordable baseline and has tons of options for customization. Those are two serious advantages if that someone needs to upgrade an aging rig or if you want to provide them with a strong entry into the world of PC gaming.
It features the HP OMEN line’s signature design and fun personalization options with the built-in RGB lighting. You’ll also find great multimedia features, with audio tuned by Bang & Olufsen and support for 4K video. Pair it with a powerful HP OMEN display for a complete system with the highest-quality visuals.

Robust hardware specs

This HP OMEN PC offers a high ceiling for hardware with up to a 9th Generation Intel Core i9-9900 processor and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 graphics card, the ideal foundation for tackling the latest games and applications.
You can also count on deep storage and superior responsiveness. There’s up to 32GB of HyperX® DDR4-2666 SDRAM with many storage configurations to consider, including high-efficiency SSD and SATA for a hybrid setup. You can even add on 16GB of NVMe™ Intel Optane™ Memory to help with storage acceleration.

Shop our full gaming desktop selection for more options

This particular HP OMEN computer is a popular and affordable standout for gamers, but it’s just one of the many dedicated gaming devices available in the HP Store. If you’re looking for even more powerful hardware or perhaps a more accessible price point, just take a look at our full selection of HP gaming desktops.
There are behemoth options like the HP OMEN X Desktop PC - 900-260XE, which has the best performance and optional liquid cooling. And then there are more affordable alternatives like the HP Pavilion gaming desktop - TG01-0170m. While the HP OMEN line may be a little more recognizable to gamers, the HP Pavilion family also has reliable and accessible devices as well.

Choosing the perfect device for the special someone

Finding the right gift for everyone on your list can be challenging. Whether it’s helping a new student explore their vocation or giving a gamer the edge they need against the competition, a well-equipped desktop PC can make a big difference for just about anyone.
Sometimes that can make it all the more daunting to make a final decision. Who will get the most out of what? If you need to check out even more options, the HP desktop selection boasts a wide range of preloaded and customizable options designed with students, gamers, professionals, and families in mind.

About the Author

Dwight Pavlovic is a contributing writer for HP® Tech Takes. Dwight is a music and technology writer based out of West Virginia.

Disclosure: Our site may get a share of revenue from the sale of the products featured on this page.