Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

There are a lot of reviews and answered questions saying this PC can't be used for gaming, but that's simply not true. This HP Elite 8300 arrived in like-new condition with a brand new hard drive, new RAM, and an unused Windows 10 key, and I was able to slot in a low profile GeForce 1050 video card that's so far been able to run every game I've thrown at it in 1080p with max settings, including Skyrim, GTAV, The Witness, Counter-Strike Global Offensive, and others. It's a perfectly zippy computer on its own, but dropping in a decent graphics card (it appears the 1050 Ti is the most this system can handle, particularly with regard to its proprietary 240-watt power supply) has given me a system that well exceeds my expectations and runs video games better than any other device I've owned, including my past computers and home consoles. I did have one minor issue with the system when it arrived: the fan on the power supply made a curious grinding noise that sounded like it was going out. To fix it, I slid a screwdriver into the back of the power supply to stop the fan from spinning, then started the computer. After a few moments, I pulled the screwdriver out, and the fan sped up to its max speed, likely in an attempt to rapidly cool the system. After spinning at such high speed, the fan stopped making the noise at lower speeds, and I haven't heard the grinding noise nor heard the fan spin up to its highest speed since. It's been over five months since then, and I haven't had a single issue to report otherwise. It's also worth noting that the computer shipped in a box indicating that it was a Microsoft Certified Refurbished system. This isn't (or wasn't) listed in the product description, but for some users, this certification is added peace of mind. Edit: ten months have passed since I first started using this PC, and nearly everything is still working perfectly. I say "nearly" because after months of ignoring the system's front-facing headset port, I finally plugged one in only to find that the port doesn't carry microphone audio as indicated. For me, this is no big deal. Otherwise, the system has been a treat. I installed a PCI wireless network adapter and an LG-branded Blu-ray burner, both of which have been working flawlessly. My 1050 has been also running smoothly with absolutely no problems. To be honest, I've had fewer problems with this system than any other PC I've ever owned; granted, most of my others were built from the ground up. My experience has been such a success that I even convinced a buddy of mine to buy his own 8300 several months back, and from what I've heard, his system has been functioning perfectly as well. Second edit: Three years in and I've yet to have any other problems with this system. It was a workhorse for a long time, but I've since upgrade to a new PC. However, I did eventually buy a third one of these, and that one eventually had its hard drive die — though I can't rule out accidents since its user is pretty clumsy. Otherwise, all three have been fantastic. The other two I purchased are still in active use today, and mine sees use several times a week as a Plex server and NAS.