HP Elite 805 G9 2024, Ryzen 5 8500G, 16GB, 256GB SSD + 256GB HDD, Black

The HP Elite 805 G9 is a quiet, compact business desktop with an absurd number of USB ports and solid office performance from the Ryzen 5 8500G. Storage is the weak link, with a small SSD paired to a slow HDD, and the integrated graphics rule out gaming entirely. At the low end of its $948 to $1,419 price range, it's a reasonable buy for office work. Just don't expect it to do anything fun.

The Ryzen 5 8500G is a capable 6-core chip that handles office workloads, browser tab hoarding, and light multitasking without breaking a sweat. 16GB of DDR5 running at 5600 MHz keeps things snappy, and the NVMe boot drive means Windows 11 Pro loads fast. But the storage situation is odd. A 256GB SSD paired with a 256GB HDD feels like someone found leftover parts in a warehouse. The HDD is slow, and 256GB of SSD fills up fast once you start installing real software. The integrated Radeon 740M graphics are fine for spreadsheets and video calls, but that's about it. Our database puts the CPU and GPU right around the middle of the pack, which is exactly what this machine is: a competent office worker, not a performance monster.

Stacked against the competition, the Elite 805 G9 occupies a specific niche. The Lenovo Legion 90YA003GUS and ASUS ROG GM700 will absolutely destroy it in gaming and graphics performance, but they're bigger, louder, and aimed at a different buyer. The Apple Mac Studio M5 Max is in another universe entirely for creative work, though it costs significantly more and locks you into macOS. The Dell Tower Plus EBT2250 is probably the closest rival, offering similar business-focused specs in a traditional tower form factor. Where the HP wins is port selection and compact size. Where it loses is storage flexibility and any pretense of graphics capability. The MSI Aegis Z2 is another gaming-oriented option that makes the HP look pedestrian by comparison, but again, different tool for a different job.

Pricing is all over the place. US listings range from $948 to $1,419, which is a $471 spread for what appears to be the same machine. At the low end, this is a reasonable deal for a business desktop with Windows 11 Pro and HP's security suite baked in. At the high end, you're getting fleeced. Shop around before you commit. The Canadian listing at CAD 1,284 also exists, but cross-currency comparisons are pointless here. Bottom line: if you can snag this near the $948 mark, it's a fair price. Anything above $1,100 and you should look at alternatives.

The HP Elite 805 G9 is a small form factor desktop aimed squarely at office work and business tasks. It packs a Ryzen 5 8500G, 16GB of DDR5, and a 256GB NVMe SSD into a compact chassis that won't eat your desk. The port situation is genuinely impressive, with 11 native USB ports and both HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4a. That's more connectivity than most full-size towers we see.

But let's be real about what this is. The integrated Radeon 740M graphics put gaming firmly in the "don't bother" category, and the storage setup is a weird mix of a small NVMe drive plus a 256GB spinning disk. For a business machine, it's a solid package. For anything else, you'll feel the compromises fast.

Skip this if you need any meaningful graphics performance. The integrated Radeon 740M is fine for office apps but useless for gaming, video editing, or 3D work. Also skip it if you need lots of local storage, since 256GB of SSD plus a 256GB HDD is a frustrating combo that will have you juggling files within months. And if you're hoping to upgrade later, the 260W power supply and SFF form factor severely limit your options. Gamers, content creators, and tinkerers should all look elsewhere.

This is a business desktop, full stop. If you need a reliable, quiet, compact machine for office work, spreadsheets, web apps, and the occasional video call, the Elite 805 G9 does the job well. The port selection is genuinely best-in-class, and the Ryzen 5 8500G keeps things responsive. But if you're hoping to do any gaming, video editing, or anything that touches the GPU, walk away. And if you need serious local storage, the 256GB SSD plus 256GB HDD combo will frustrate you within months. Buy it for the office, not the living room.