HP ProDesk 290 G9 2026, Core i3-13100, 16GB, 1TB SSD + 500GB HDD, Jet Black

The HP ProDesk 290 G9 is a reliable office tower with a 1TB SSD, 500GB HDD, and Wi-Fi 6. Business score of 77.9 makes it a solid pick for productivity. Gaming is a hard pass at 12.3, so know what you're buying.

The i5-12500T is a 6-core, 12-thread chip that boosts up to 4.4GHz. Paired with 16GB of DDR4, it chews through spreadsheets, video calls, and a dozen browser tabs without breaking a sweat. The 1TB NVMe SSD means boot times are quick and apps snap open. The integrated Intel UHD 770 handles 4K output fine for productivity, but it's a weak spot for anything GPU-heavy. Storage is a standout at the 81st percentile, while RAM sits at a mediocre 32nd percentile. CPU is middle of the pack at 52nd percentile.

Against the Dell Desktop ECT1250, the HP holds its own on storage and connectivity but gives up ground on raw CPU performance. The Lenovo Legion 90YA003GUS and MSI Aegis Z2 are gaming towers with dedicated GPUs, so they crush the HP on graphics but cost more and are overkill for office work. The iBUYPOWER Element EBI7N5701 is a similar story. The Apple Mac Studio M3 Ultra is in a completely different league on performance and price. For pure business and home office use, the HP is the sensible budget pick.

Pricing is all over the place right now. US listings range from $700 to $840, a $140 spread for what appears to be the same core machine. At $700, this is a fair deal for a reliable office tower with a 1TB SSD and Wi-Fi 6. At $840, you're paying a premium for convenience. Shop around before you click buy. The cheapest US listing is your best bet if the specs match.

The HP ProDesk 290 G9 is a no-nonsense office tower that does exactly what it says on the box. You get a 13th Gen Intel i5, 16GB of DDR4, a 1TB NVMe SSD, and a bonus 500GB HDD for local backups or media. It's not flashy, but it's built for getting work done without drama.

Our database puts this at 68.9 out of 100 overall. Business use scores 77.9 and home office lands at 75.3. Gaming? 12.3. This is not a gaming machine, and it doesn't pretend to be.

Gamers, video editors, and anyone who needs a dedicated GPU should look elsewhere. The integrated UHD 770 and 180W PSU make this a dead end for graphics upgrades. If you need real rendering power, the MSI Aegis Z2 or Lenovo Legion are better starting points, though they cost more.

Buy this if you need a dependable desktop for office work, school, or a family shared computer. The i5-12500T and 16GB of RAM handle everyday multitasking fine, and the dual storage setup is genuinely useful. Skip it if you want to game or do any serious content creation. The integrated graphics and 180W power supply make upgrades a pain.