It also features Sony's revolutionary liquid-cooling system and advanced noise-reduction technology, ensuring premier performance without the heat or noise of traditional PC designs and cooling fans. A unique liquid-flow heat pipe draws heat away from the processor, while air-intake from the desktop tower's mid-section maximizes air flow and optimizes Acoustics. The result: cool, quiet and reliable performance.

The Basics

• Hard Drive: The extra-large 250 GB Serial ATA hard drive (7200 RPM) offers a wealth of storage space, perfect for storing a vast multimedia collection or for editing digital video.
• Processor: The 2.8 GHz Intel Pentium D 820 dual-core processor is one of the strongest processors currently available (as of May 2005). The next generation in PC computing performance and power, dual-core processors can easily handle demanding multitasking multimedia needs, from high-end video editing to the most processor-intensive immersive 3D game. Each core has 1MB of L2 cache onboard (for a 2 MB total), and the two cores share an 800MHz front-side bus.
• Memory: The 1 GB of installed RAM is quite speedy (PC2-4200, 533MHz), but you'll want to maximize the 2 GB available total (which is a bit small considering the horsepower of this PC).
• CD/DVD Drive: Offering the latest in DVD writing technology, the VGC-RA840G multiformat DVD/CD drive is compatible with both DVD+ and DVD- disc formats as well as dual-layer (DL) DVD+R discs, which can store up to 8.5 GB of data. It features 16x DVD+R/-R, 8x DVD+RW, 6x DVD-RW, 6x DVD+R DL, 16x DVD-ROM, 40x CDR, 24x CD-RW, and 40x CD-ROM ROM speeds. This desktop also has an additional 16x DVD-ROM drive.
• Keyboard & Mouse: This desktop comes with an infrared wireless keyboard and wireless optical mouse.

Connectivity and Expansion Slots
The VGC-RA840G has three PCI expansion slots (all occupied), two external 5.25 drive bays (occupied), 1 external 3.5 drive bay (occupied), 3 internal 3.5 drive bay (2 occupied), one HP Personal Media Drive bay (available), two standard PCI slots (one available), one PCI x16 Express slot (occupied), and the following external ports:

• 7 USB 2.0 ports (4 in rear, 3 in rear) for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players
• 2 FireWire (also known as IEEE 1394 or i.Link; 1 front and 1 back) ports for connecting digital video camcorders and other peripherals
• 2 PS/2 ports for connecting keyboards and mice
• 1 VGA monitor port
• Composite video, S-Video, and audio inputs
• Multiformat memory card reader on the front, compatible with CompactFlash (Type I and II), MicroDrive, SmartMedia, Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro/Duo, MultiMedia Card, Secure Digital, and XD Picture Card

Preloaded System and Software
The pre-installed Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 is essentially Windows XP Professional Edition with a variety of tools to help you to create, organize, and enjoy digital media ranging from music to home movies to photo slide shows. Record and watch your TV programs with the Personal Video Recorder (PVR) powered by Giga Pocket Engine, which makes it easy and convenient to record upcoming programs and entire series via on-screen program listings and navigation. Create a digital library for personal viewing whenever you want to watch.

It also comes loaded with a bevy of Sony multimedia software: Click to DVD (DVD creation), PictureGear Studio (digital photo), SonicStage (digital music), SonicStage Mastering Studio (audio mastering/remastering), Vaio Media (network file sharing), and DVgate Plus (digital video). Other preloaded software includes Adobe Premiere, Adobe Photoshop Album, Adobe Photoshop Elements, Microsoft Works 8.0, Quicken 2005 New User Edition, Intervideo WinDVD, Sonic RecordNow, Norton Internet Security (with 90-day subscription), and Intermute SpySubtract (with 30-day subscription).

Dimensions and Weight
This desktop measures 7.4 x 15.6 x 15.3 inches (WxHxD).