HP Pro Tower 290 G9 2022, Core i5-12500, 16GB, 512GB SSD, Black

The HP Pro Tower 290 G9 is a dependable office desktop with a 4.5/5 rating and solid everyday performance. Its integrated graphics are weak, so gaming is off the table. At $800, it's a fair buy for business users who prioritize reliability over raw power.

The Core i5-12500 with 6 cores and 16GB of DDR4 RAM handles everyday office work without breaking a sweat. Our CPU score lands at the 46th percentile, which is about average for this category. The 512GB NVMe SSD keeps boot times snappy and apps loading fast, though storage capacity sits at the 43rd percentile, so you might want an external drive if you hoard files. The weak link is the integrated Intel UHD 770 graphics, which ranks in the 14th percentile. Fine for spreadsheets and web browsing, but don't even think about gaming or video editing. The 180W power supply tells you everything you need to know about this machine's ambitions.

Stacked against the Lenovo Legion Tower 5a and Acer Nitro N60, the HP gets absolutely smoked on graphics and gaming. Those machines have dedicated GPUs and are built for play. The Dell Tower Plus EBT2250 is a closer match, another business-focused desktop with similar specs. The Apple Mac mini M4 Pro is in a different league entirely for performance, though it's a different form factor and ecosystem. The ASUS ROG G700TF is a gaming monster that makes the HP look like a calculator. For pure office work, the HP holds its own. For anything else, look elsewhere.

At $800 USD, this is a fair price for a business desktop with Windows 11 Pro and a 4.5-star track record. You're paying for reliability and low drama, not raw performance. If you need a fleet of office machines that just work, this is a sensible buy. But if you're a home user looking for the most bang for your buck, you can find faster machines with dedicated graphics for similar money.

The HP Pro Tower 290 G9 is a no-nonsense office machine. It's built for spreadsheets, email, video calls, and the occasional dual-monitor setup. Nothing flashy, just a dependable box that gets out of your way.

Our database puts this at 53.8 out of 100 overall. That's a solid middle-of-the-pack score for a business desktop. It's not going to win any speed contests, but it's not trying to. It's trying to be a quiet, reliable workhorse for a cubicle or home office.

Skip this if you need any kind of graphics horsepower. Gamers, video editors, and 3D modelers should look at machines with dedicated GPUs like the Lenovo Legion Tower 5a or ASUS ROG G700TF. Also skip it if you need lots of local storage, since 512GB fills up fast and the 180W PSU limits your expansion options.

This is a machine for offices, schools, and remote workers who need a dependable Windows box for daily tasks. If your day is email, documents, web apps, and video meetings, the Pro Tower 290 G9 will serve you well. It's quiet, compact, and has the ports you need. Just don't expect it to do anything fun.