HP TouchSmart 7320 review

The HP TouchSmart 7320 is a bog-standard budget all-in-one PC. It's inexpensive, and performance is fine, but it ultimately fails to stand out in a crowded market. The model we tested, priced at $879, packs an Intel Core i5-2400S processor, 4GB ofRAM, and a 500GB hard drive. It also offers built-in Wi-Fi connectivity, and a 21.5-inch touchscreen.

On PCWorld's WorldBench 6 benchmark tests, the TouchSmart 7320 scored a decent 126. This score doesn't put the system at the top of the list, but it's well above average for our budget all-in-one PC category.

The TouchSmart 7320 relies on integrated graphics, which leaves gaming out of the question. On our Unreal Tournament 3 gaming test - the least strenuous test we offer -- the 7320 managed a frame rate of just 14.3 frames per second (1680 by 1050 pixel resolution, highest quality settings). By contrast, budget all-in-one PCs with discrete graphics cards generally score over 40 frames per second on the same test.

The TouchSmart 7320 features an easel-like design: the screen is supported on the sides, rather than off of a single arm, and the entire thing tilts easily back and forth. I'm not a huge fan of easel designs, but HP's are sturdy and comfortable to use.

The 22-inch touchscreen is glossy; a bit too glossy. It's also too dim, withno quick way to adjust brightness via the keyboard or buttons on the monitor. The display has an overall bluish cast, and off-axis viewing angles are dismal. The touch-aspect of the screen also feels off. It's not very responsive, and I felt like I had to push harder than anticipated to get around. All told, I wasn't impressed - and the screen is the most important aspect of an all-in-one PC.

Most of the 7320's ports are located on the back of the machine, in the lower left corner. These include fourUSB2.0 ports, Gigabit Ethernet, a lock slot, and an audio out jack. On the left side of the screen are twoUSB3.0 ports, headphone and microphone jacks, and a multi-format memory card reader. The right side offers a slot-loading DVD burner.

The 7320 comes with basic wireless peripherals: a flat keyboard and a shiny two-button mouse. Both are comfortable and easy to use, and the keyboard offers volume control buttons.

Video and audio playback isn't bad. High Definition content was relatively stutter free, though there is some artifacting in darker and more action-packed scenes. Audio is bolstered by HP's Beats Audio technology. The speakers are loud, though dialogue and voices are sometimes a little muffled. The TouchSmart 7320 is outfitted with the standard HP fare, including their HP TouchSmart suite and some webcam tools.