Desktop Computer Review: Aspire M3800 Minitower Desktop Review

I believe the M3800 is a very good value for an entry level OEM desktop: it looks fine, has room for upgrades and uses the newer DDR3 memory. It is also quite well built for the price.

While other similar systems (there are plenty) will only let you upgrade CPU and graphics, this one will also let you swap motherboard and CPU (newer i5/i7) while keeping the memory... that is an interesting extra upgrade option should you decide to invest a little more in the future. This is pointless if you have cash to burn, but if you are in a budget (like me) or if you plan to learn more and do your first upgrade, then this is the computer for you.

Back to the systems itself, it is quite capable of office/internet tasks and it does perform quite well at playing media content (audio/video). The HDMI output is great to plug it into a TV and the system runs *VERY* quiet - I was impressed by how quiet it really is.

It is also eligible for Windows 7 Home Premium and Acer will ship it to you for free (absolutely free, no S&H charges - yay!). As all the new budget systems are already being shipped with Win-7, you may find this one with a big discount out there... The upgrade was very straightforward and quite quick. The option to do 'custom upgrade' (delete everything) was great, it gave me a clean Win-7 install with no bloatware!

Some quick reference pros/cons:
Pro: It is very quiet and runs cool
Pro: DDR3 memory for extended upgrades
Pro: You can fit up to 3 HDDs in it
Pro: PSU was 300W instead of the 250W in the spec
Pro: Windows 7 came quickly after and Acer paid for S&H
Pro: Windows 7 upgrade was no-brainer (do that while your system is still new/empty)
Pro: Better than expected build quality
Pro: Handles 1080p and will play Blu-Ray if you install one
Pro: Top USB ports and media tray are quite handy
Con: CPU and GPU are weak, make sure they will fit your needs
Con: A bit tricky to install the Blu-Ray drive
Con: Some bloatware installed (but the custom Win-7 upgrade got rid of them all)
Con: Acer support was not very helpful (with Wake-On-LAN feature)

Some common questions:
Q: Will it play MKV@1080p? DivX, Avi, etc?
A: Yes, it has played everything I threw at it with no glitches

Q: Will it play Blu-Rays if I install a drive?
A: Yes, no problems with that

Q: Does it plays Media Center fine?
A: Windows 7 Media Center plays nice, no glitches. But the menus may be slow at times

Q: Can I install a TV Tuner in it?
A: It works fine with HDHomeRun network tuner

Q: Will the PSU allow for upgrades?
A: I have 3 HDDs and a BD drive in it and it works fine. A more powerful GPU will probably require a new PSU

Q: Does 'Wake-on-LAN' works?
A: I had problems setting it up in Vista and Acer support didn't help me at all. It does work fine with Windows 7

All in all I think this is a very competitive entry level system. It has become a very good value with the recent discounts so if you are looking for an entry level system with room for upgrades, go for it.

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Product Description:
The Aspire M3800 sports a striking glossy exterior that will add a touch of class to any room in your home. What's more, this desktop packs a powerful Intel processor and a host of cool, practical features to fulfill your entertainment and everyday computing needs.