Travel straight back to 2005 and the definitive golden era of home media battlestations with an authentic, time-capsule classic: an original HP Pavilion a1330n Desktop PC running its factory-original Windows XP Media Center Edition installation!

Having the original factory operating system installation makes this system exceptionally desirable for collectors and enthusiasts: all proprietary Hewlett-Packard chipset drivers, ATI graphics drivers, Realtek audio codecs, LightScribe utilities, front multimedia card reader profiles, and HP Media Center software are completely native and fully configured out of the box—with zero missing driver yellow exclamation marks!

Finished in HP’s celebrated mid-2000s two-tone Arctic silver and warm-gray styling with its curved lower chassis chin, glowing blue power button ring, and concealed drop-down front I/O door, the Pavilion a1300 series represents the pinnacle of Socket 939 multimedia capability. Powered by an authentic Socket 939 AMD Athlon 64 3800+ processor screaming at 2.39GHz / 2.40GHz, 1.00 GB of DDR RAM (960 MB recognized after shared video allocation), and an internal 250GB SATA hard drive (224 GB formatted NTFS C: partition with over 199 GB of free space), this system boots cleanly and swiftly into an authentic installation of Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 (Version 2002, Service Pack 3)!

For retro PC gamers, vintage tech collectors, and archivists, an authentic bare-metal Windows XP Socket 939 machine is the holy grail for turn-of-the-millennium PC gaming. It completely bypasses modern OS DRM blocks (SafeDisc/SecuROM), 16-bit installer errors, DirectDraw resolution issues, and audio driver incompatibilities that ruin classic games on Windows 10/11. It natively runs era-defining blockbusters like Diablo II: Lord of Destruction, The Sims & The Sims 2, Half-Life 2, RollerCoaster Tycoon 1 & 2, Warcraft III, StarCraft: Brood War, Age of Empires II, Unreal Tournament 2004, Far Cry, Doom 3, Portal, and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.

Unlike cramped compact PCs, this expandable mid-tower chassis comes loaded with enthusiast-grade features:

• An upper LightScribe DVD±RW / CD-RW optical burner (direct disc laser label etching)

• A secondary dedicated 5.25" DVD-ROM optical drive (ideal for dual-disc installs or disc-to-disc copying)

• Integrated 9-in-1 digital media card reader with front-facing USB 2.0 port

• Drop-down front convenience panel with dual USB 2.0 ports, 6-pin IEEE 1394 FireWire, and 3.5mm audio jacks

• Integrated ATI Radeon Xpress 200 graphics with native analog VGA video output (ideal for connecting directly to external CRT gaming monitors or vintage 4:3 LCDs)

• Full open PCIe x16 graphics slot ready for dedicated high-end GPU upgrades

Key Specifications & Retro Hardware Details

• Brand: Hewlett-Packard Company (HP)

• Model: Pavilion a1330n Desktop PC (Chassis: Pavilion a1300 Series / EL466AA)

• Form Factor: Full Expandable Mid-Tower ATX PC

• Processor (CPU): AMD Athlon 64 Processor 3800+ @ 2.40 GHz (2.39 GHz reported, Socket 939, Venice/Manchester Core, 512KB L2 Cache, Physical Address Extension)

• Installed Memory (RAM): 1.00 GB DDR SDRAM (960 MB usable after shared onboard video allocation)

• Storage (HDD): 250 GB Class SATA Hard Drive (224 GB formatted NTFS C: capacity with ~199 GB free space)

• Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 (Version 2002, Service Pack 3, Original Factory Installation with all period drivers present)

• Graphics: Integrated ATI Radeon Xpress 200 Graphics Controller with 15-Pin Analog VGA Output

• Optical Drives Installed:

  • Upper Drive: 16X LightScribe DVD±RW / CD-RW Multi-Burner Drive

  • Lower Drive: 16X Tray-Loading DVD-ROM Optical Drive

• Front Access Panel & Media:

  • Integrated 9-in-1 Digital Media Card Reader (CompactFlash I/II, SmartMedia/xD, MMC/SD, Memory Stick/PRO)

  • Front-Facing High-Speed USB 2.0 Port (on card reader bezel)

  • Lower Drop-Down Bay: 2 x Additional USB 2.0 Ports, 1 x 6-Pin IEEE 1394 FireWire Port, 3.5mm Headphone Out, Mic In, and Audio In Jacks

  • Central Power Switch with Vivid Blue LED Halo Ring Illumination & Amber HDD Activity Indicator

• Rear I/O Connectivity:

  • 1 x 15-Pin Analog VGA Video Monitor Output

  • 4 x High-Speed USB 2.0 Ports

  • 1 x 6-Pin IEEE 1394 FireWire Port

  • 1 x RJ-45 Ethernet 10/100 Network LAN Jack

  • 2 x PS/2 Legacy Ports (Color-coded for Keyboard & Mouse)

  • 1 x DB-25 Parallel Printer Port (ideal for vintage printers and programming dongles)

  • Digital Coaxial S/PDIF Audio Output

  • 3 x 3.5mm Color-Coded Audio Jacks (Line-In, Line-Out, Microphone)

  • PCI Internal 56K Data/Fax Modem Card (RJ-11 Port)

  • Expansion Slots: 1 x Open Full-Height PCI Express x16 Slot (ready for dedicated GPU upgrades) + 3 x PCI Slots

  • Standard 3-Prong AC Power Inlet with 115V/230V Voltage Selector Switch

• Case Badges: Original factory Graphics by ATI, AMD Athlon 64, and Designed for Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition badges intact

Condition Notes

• Functional Condition: 100% bench-tested and fully operational. Boots cleanly and swiftly into its original factory installation of Windows XP Media Center Edition SP3 with the iconic HP wallpaper and desktop icons loaded. The Socket 939 AMD Athlon 64 3800+ CPU runs smooth and quiet, memory tests healthy, and the 250GB SATA hard drive reads and writes cleanly with a healthy partition. Front and rear USB ports respond promptly, the drop-down media door glides smoothly, both optical drives actuate properly, and the onboard VGA port outputs a crisp, clear video signal.

• Cosmetic Condition: Great vintage condition overall. The two-tone silver front bezel, lower intake scoop, and chassis panels are structurally solid with no broken doors, missing covers, or cracked plastic. Shows light, normal cosmetic surface marks, faint shelf wear, and minor handling scuffs consistent with careful handling and vintage age (factory LightScribe feature sticker intact on upper drive door). Original case badges, embossed HP logo, and rear regulatory model stickers remain intact and legible. Please review the high-resolution photos for an exact look at physical condition.

What's Included

• HP Pavilion a1330n Mid-Tower Desktop PC

• Standard Heavy-Duty AC Power Cable

• Note: The external NEC monitor and video cables shown in testing photos are for demonstration purposes only and are NOT included.

Professional Packaging & Shipping Notice

Mid-tower desktop PCs house dual optical drives, internal power supplies, and heavy steel chassis frames that require robust transit protection. This PC will be wrapped securely in anti-static ESD shielding, cushioned generously with thick layers of heavy-duty bubble padding, and boxed inside a rigid, double-walled container to guarantee safe delivery directly to your retro workbench.