HP TouchSmart 520

Overview

The HP TouchSmart 520 is powered by a 2nd generation Intel Core i7-2600S processor clocked at 2.8GHz, 8GB of DDR3 system memory, a 2TB Western Digital Caviar Green hard drive, Radeon HD 6450A graphics and Beats Audio. Additional perks include a built-in TV tuner and HDMI-in, essentially transforming the 520 into a venerable entertainment / gaming station.

TechSpot Metascore

Based on 21 expert reviews

Excellent:

1
Good:

12
Average:

4
Bad:

4

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Last revision on September 25, 2013

Reviewers Liked

Robust build quality
Excellent 1080p display
Well-designed touch software
Quad-core Intel Core i7-2600s processor is fast
Huge 2TB hard drive
Beats Audio
HDMI-in offers long term use
Blu-ray
TV-tuner and remote
Bundled with wireless keyboard and mouse
Very accurate touchscreen

Reviewers Didn't Like

Expensive
Poor discrete graphics performance
No HDMI out
Windows 8 would make this machine more appealing
Large power brick
Short 60-day subscription to Norton Internet Security
Touchscreen is a bit dim
No Blu-ray

Expert reviews and ratings

The HP TouchSmart 520 is a really nice all-in-one and probably one of the best I’ve spent time with thus far, with a classy design and a powerful processor that ensures it will remain relevant for several years.

By TechSpot on March 19, 2012

If you’re looking for a PC fit for work and the family, the HP Touchsmart 520-1130ea is ideal, but fans of high-end gaming, and processor intensive tasks should opt for something a little more powerful. HP TouchSmart 520-1130ea is tagged with HP,...

By 5FWD on July 24, 2012

HP once built its TouchSmart line using notebook components because they required much less active cooling. Limiting the number of fans inside the machine made it quieter. This TouchSmart not only uses a desktop CPU—Intel’s low-power Core...

By Maximum PC on May 27, 2012

Not the most exciting all-in-one, but it’s a well-made and reasonably priced living room PC...

By Expert Reviews on May 16, 2012

It’s the base model of this all-in-one that swoops in from the night sky to save our luxury-priced 520 from...

By Digital Trends on March 13, 2012

A great design with top touch integration, but it’s let down by weak graphics and screen...

By Stuff on February 01, 2012

Uninspiring design and a lack of power, but it’s a reasonable all-rounder for the priceRating: 4Average: 4 (1 vote) HP was an early champion of the touchscreen all-in-one, with its first TouchSmart model appearing in PC Pro back in 2007. These...

By Channel Pro on January 25, 2012

Uninspiring design and a lack of power, but it's a reasonable all-rounder for the...

By PC Pro on January 20, 2012

No matter how you configure the TouchSmart 520, you’ll get a well-designed entertainment PC with a crisp 23-inch display, booming audio, and the best touch software going....

By Computer Shopper on December 22, 2011

The HP TouchSmart 520-1070 all-in-one desktop PC isn't for the budget set, but a quad-core Intel processor, 2TB hard drive, and a slew of entertainment features make it a worthwhile purchase....

By PC Mag on December 12, 2011

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