HP EliteDesk 800 G2 Mini PC i5-6500T 16GB/240GB SSD Renewed Review: Pros, Cons & Rumors Debunked

HP EliteDesk 800 G2 Desktop Mini Business PC, Intel Quad-Core i5-6500T up to 3.1G,16G DDR4,240G SSD,VGA,DP,Win 10 Pro 64 bit-Multi-Language Support English/Spanish (Renewed)

Certified Refurbished HP EliteDesk 800 G2 Mini Desktop delivers business-grade performance with Intel i5-6500T up to 3.1GHz, 16GB DDR4, 240GB SSD and 4K support for smooth multitasking.
Includes USB keyboard, mouse and 30-day Microsoft Office trial. Windows 10 Pro 64-bit supports English, Spanish and French. Compact design and 90-day warranty ensure reliable productivity.

Overall reliable performance for office, media streaming, and light homelab tasks.
Refurbished unit quality can vary—expect minor cosmetic or hardware inconsistencies.
Most users enjoy quiet operation and upgrade paths, including Windows 11 hacks.
Serious complaints focus on seller responsiveness and warranty mismatches rather than design flaws.
Recommended for budget-conscious buyers comfortable with modest setup and testing.

Business-class specs in a compact footprint, factory-renewed with a 90-day warranty.
Intel i5-6500T CPU, 16 GB DDR4, and 240 GB SSD deliver balanced day-to-day performance.

Table of contents

Product Overview
HP EliteDesk 800 G2 Desktop Mini Review: Honest Findings
Positive Feedback & Highlights
Negative Reviews & Rumor Analysis
Who Should Consider HP EliteDesk 800 G2 Desktop Mini PC?
Conclusion: Final Verdict

Product Overview

The HP EliteDesk 800 G2 Desktop Mini is a space-saving powerhouse originally designed for enterprise deployments, and this Amazon listing offers it as a Certified Refurbished model that has been tested, cleaned, and repackaged with a minimum 90-day warranty. Under the sleek, book-sized chassis you’ll find an Intel Quad-Core i5-6500T up to 3.1 GHz CPU, 16 GB of DDR4 memory, a 240 GB SSD, and a suite of connectivity options including VGA, dual DisplayPort, seven USB 3.0 ports, and support for 4K displays via DP-to-HDMI adapters. Windows 10 Pro 64-bit arrives pre-installed with multi-language support (English, Spanish, French), making it a versatile choice for global offices. The refurbishing process claims functionality testing, basic cleaning, and component inspection, though units may ship in generic boxes and accessory sets can vary slightly by seller. Buyers report minor cosmetic variations—such as light scuffs or missing external antenna cables—as well as the convenience of bundled USB keyboard and mouse and a 30-day Microsoft Office trial. Power consumption remains impressively low compared to full-size desktops, making the EliteDesk 800 G2 ideal for always-on roles like surveillance feed viewers, network controllers, or digital signage engines. Although the integrated Intel HD Graphics 530 is not suitable for modern gaming or heavy GPU workloads, it handles multiple monitors, video streaming, and casual photo editing without issue. Hobbyists and homelab enthusiasts further appreciate the ease of upgrading the M.2 slot and adding Linux distros for self-hosted services. In sum, this mini PC offers near-new business hardware at a fraction of the cost, provided you are comfortable with the typical trade-offs of pre-owned components and occasional setup quirks.

Users praise strong core performance for everyday workflows.
Some note seller response issues when troubleshooting post-sale.

HP EliteDesk 800 G2 Desktop Mini Review: Honest Findings

In practice, the HP EliteDesk 800 G2 Desktop Mini shines in office and home environments where general productivity and stability take priority over hardcore graphics. Thanks to HP’s business-class firmware optimizations, many owners report performance that exceeds expectation for a 6th-gen CPU, with benchmarks in Windows 11 scoring well above the passing threshold. Out of the box, the pre-installed Windows 10 Pro image may include trial software and setup prompts—ranging from “bloatware” to an unexpected Cision email registration page—that require manual cleanup. However, the extensive USB, DisplayPort, and VGA options, combined with near-silent fan noise, make it ideal for multi-monitor setups, home security camera displays, or remote desktop kiosks. Tech-savvy buyers have successfully upgraded to Windows 11 by using HP’s official TPM 2.0 tool and Microsoft’s registry override, nullifying compatibility warnings and unlocking future OS updates. The small form factor also lends itself to homelab deployments: swapping the SSD, adding RAM, and installing Linux distros for self-hosted services is straightforward. On the flip side, the variable nature of Amazon’s Certified Refurbished program means some units arrive with missing cables, damaged antenna wires, or off-brand components that can trigger intermittent boot loops. While HP’s warranty technically covers defects, many customers report seller response issues when seeking replacements beyond Amazon’s 90-day window. In summary, if you value a compact, energy-efficient machine for office productivity or light-duty server roles—and you’re comfortable with modest DIY troubleshooting—the EliteDesk 800 G2 delivers excellent day-to-day performance at a compelling price.

Reviewers love the stone cold quiet fan profile under load.
Many highlight the unit as blazing fast for common office and media tasks.

Positive Feedback & Highlights

Across dozens of customer testimonials, the HP EliteDesk 800 G2 earns high marks for its blazing fast responsiveness when launching office suites, loading multiple browser tabs, and encoding light media files. Professionals upgrading from older desktops note that HP’s firmware tuning often yields smoother performance than nominally more powerful consumer PCs. The near-silent operation—frequently described as stone cold quiet—makes it a fixture behind TVs in home security setups or in noise-sensitive environments like conference rooms and libraries. Users mounting the mini PC for digital signage appreciate the stable 24/7 operation and low heat output, while homelab enthusiasts praise the ease of adding LinuxMint, Ubuntu, or even Windows Server instances for network controllers and Plex servers. The machine’s seven USB ports, two DisplayPorts, and optional Wi-Fi adapters accommodate a wide range of peripherals without external hubs. Many buyers also unlock Windows 11 by upgrading TPM modules and following HP’s official registry guides, extending the unit’s usable lifespan by several years. Even when the factory SSD capacity falls short, cheap USB flash drives or budget NVMe expansions fill the gap with minimal effort. The result is a consensus that the EliteDesk 800 G2, when sourced from reputable refurbishers, delivers enterprise-grade reliability, quiet operation, and customization headroom at a consumer-friendly price point.

Several users report intermittent power issues and BIOS reset loops.
Many cite warranty confusion between Amazon’s and HP’s coverage periods.

Negative Reviews & Rumor Analysis

Despite its many strengths, the EliteDesk 800 G2’s refurbished status has led to noteworthy complaints around inconsistent hardware quality. A recurring theme is intermittent shutdowns and “RESET SYSTEM” loops at boot—issues often traced to damaged SSD cables, pinched Wi-Fi antenna coax wires causing shorts, or flawed BIOS configurations that require manual boot-delay adjustments. Some buyers received units with off-brand SSDs and mismatched RAM sticks, limiting performance or failing to meet the advertised 16 GB capacity. A particularly frustrating pattern involves missing internal Wi-Fi cards or malfunctioning Bluetooth adapters that force users to purchase external dongles. These hardware inconsistencies stem more from seller sourcing practices than from any mass manufacturing defect, as there is no credible evidence of a widespread recall or design flaw. Compounding the challenge, many customers run into warranty confusion: Amazon’s marketplace warranty often expires at 90 days, while HP’s original refurb warranty may have lapsed years ago, leaving buyers caught between two unsupported parties. Negative experiences correlate strongly with lower-rated refurbishers, who tend to offer the cheapest listings but the poorest quality control and slower response times. Less common but still reported issues include louder-than-expected fans, garbled Bluetooth audio on substandard adapters, and Windows setup screens demanding unrelated third-party account registrations. These drawbacks highlight the importance of selecting a trusted seller, inspecting the unit thoroughly upon arrival, and retaining packaging for swift returns or replacements if any core functionality is impaired.

Perfect for basic productivity tasks like office apps and browsing.
Well-suited as a home media server or low-power homelab node.

Who Should Consider HP EliteDesk 800 G2 Desktop Mini PC?

The HP EliteDesk 800 G2 Desktop Mini stands out as an excellent choice for budget-savvy users who require a reliable, compact system for basic productivity tasks—including Microsoft Office, email, web browsing, and light spreadsheet work. Its Windows 10 Pro edition simplifies deployment in corporate, educational, or home settings, offering built-in remote desktop, group policy support, and multi-language interfaces. For media enthusiasts, the low power draw, silent operation, and dual DisplayPort outputs make it an ideal home media server running Plex, Kodi, or Unifi surveillance controllers. Tech hobbyists building small-scale lab environments or network appliances can repurpose the M.2 NVMe slot for Linux installations, host Docker containers, or run Unifi controllers with minimal fuss. The unit’s legacy VGA port and plentiful USB connections accommodate older monitors and specialized peripherals often used in industrial automation, digital signage, and point-of-sale terminals. Buyers seeking high-frame-rate gaming or professional-grade video editing should look elsewhere, as the integrated Intel HD Graphics 530 and quad-core CPU are not optimized for such workloads. Likewise, users demanding full factory support for Windows 11 without registry tweaks may prefer newer models with guaranteed OEM eligibility. In essence, the EliteDesk 800 G2 Desktop Mini is tailored to anyone prioritizing space, energy efficiency, and cost-effectiveness over bleeding-edge graphics or hassle-free new-hardware warranties.

Solid budget-friendly performer with enterprise design roots.
Expect some refurbished unit variability—seller vetting is key.

Conclusion: Final Verdict

When all factors are weighed, the HP EliteDesk 800 G2 Desktop Mini emerges as a compelling budget-friendly performer offering the robust uptime and efficiency of business-class hardware in a space-saving form factor. It consistently delivers snappy office productivity, quiet fan operation, and extensive connectivity—outperforming many nettop and consumer mini PCs at similar price points. However, the refurbished nature of this listing introduces an element of unit variability: cosmetic blemishes, missing cables, and component mismatches can occur depending on the seller’s sourcing practices. Warranty coverage also requires careful navigation between Amazon’s 90-day policy and HP’s original factory refurb terms, which may have already expired. To maximize satisfaction, buyers should select high-reputation refurbishers, test the device thoroughly upon receipt—verifying ports, network adapters, BIOS stability, and Windows activation—and retain all packaging for potential returns. For organizations or individuals comfortable with light troubleshooting, BIOS tweaks, and occasional part swaps, the EliteDesk 800 G2 can serve reliably for years as an office workstation, homelab node, or media server. Those needing rock-solid, out-of-the-box support for Windows 11, intensive graphics workloads, or zero-defect assurances should explore newer, warranty-backed mini PCs. In sum, the EliteDesk 800 G2 Desktop Mini offers a sweet spot in price and performance—provided you enter with clear expectations and a dash of DIY readiness.