HP Elite 805 G9 2024, Ryzen 7 8700G, 16GB, 256GB SSD

A fantastic CPU and best-in-class port selection trapped in a system with a criminally small SSD and single-channel RAM. Buy it only if you plan to upgrade the storage and memory yourself.

The Ryzen 7 8700G is the real star here. With 8 cores, 16 threads, and a 5.1 GHz boost clock, it chews through spreadsheets, browser tabs, and even light content creation without breaking a sweat. The integrated Radeon 780M is one of the best iGPUs we've seen, landing in the 58th percentile for graphics, which means it can handle some light gaming or GPU-accelerated tasks in a pinch. But that single-channel 16GB DDR5 stick is a buzzkill. You're leaving real performance on the table by not running dual-channel memory, and the 256GB SSD is just embarrassing at this price. It's in the 22nd percentile for storage, which is a polite way of saying you'll be uninstalling apps to make room for a Windows update.

The Dell Tower ECT1250 is the most direct competitor here, offering similar business-focused specs but usually with better storage options and a more sensible RAM configuration. If you're even thinking about gaming or creative work, the Lenovo Legion 90Y6003JUS will run circles around this HP with a dedicated GPU for similar money. And if you're just looking for raw CPU power in a tiny box, the Apple Mac Studio M4 Max is in a completely different league, though you'll pay for the privilege. The HP's only real edge is that ridiculous port count, which is a niche but real advantage for specific office setups.

This is a tough sell. For $2,658, you're getting a CPU that punches above its weight and a port selection that's genuinely top-tier, but the storage and memory configuration feels like a bad joke. You can build or buy a system with a dedicated GPU and a proper 1TB SSD for this kind of money. Unless your company is writing the check and you absolutely need that HP Wolf Security suite and 11 USB ports, this is a pass.

The HP Elite 805 G9 is a weird beast. It's a compact business desktop that packs a surprisingly punchy AMD Ryzen 7 8700G with integrated Radeon 780M graphics, but then HP hobbled it with a tiny 256GB SSD and a single stick of RAM. The port selection is absolutely glorious, with 11 native USB ports that make it a connectivity monster. But at the end of the day, this is a $2,658 office PC that feels like it was built by committee. The processor is ready to party, but the storage and memory configuration is stuck in 2018.

If you're looking for a gaming rig or a workstation for video editing, this isn't it. Go get a Lenovo Legion Tower or a Dell XPS desktop with a real GPU instead. Even for general office use, the base storage is a headache you don't need. Unless you're an IT manager who needs HP's security suite and a million USB ports for a very specific desk setup, skip this configuration.

The HP Elite 805 G9 is a classic case of a great processor trapped in a poorly configured system. The Ryzen 7 8700G and Radeon 780M are a killer combo for a business desktop, but the 256GB SSD and single-channel RAM are dealbreakers at this price. If you can find this machine on a deep corporate discount or you're willing to immediately upgrade the storage and add a second RAM stick, it becomes a solid little workhorse. But out of the box, it's a frustrating mix of high potential and penny-pinching compromises.