Lenovo Essential desktops
| Company type | Product line |
|---|---|
| Industry | Computer hardware |
| Founded | 2008 |
| Founder | Lenovo |
| Products | Desktop computers (C Series, H Series) |
| Owner | Lenovo |
Lenovo's Essential desktop computers series is designed for cost-conscious buyers, promoted as "budget-friendly, compact, and energy-saving". This lineup is distinct from Lenovo's ThinkCentre business-oriented desktops and IdeaCentre entertainment-focused desktops, targeting general everyday usage instead.
There is frequent confusion between Essential desktops and IdeaCentre models; for instance, the C300 has often been wrongly categorized as an IdeaCentre. Yet, Lenovo's official U.S. website lists the C300 within the Essential budget segment. The designation 'Essential' refers to a product category rather than a separate brand, with all units branded simply as 'Lenovo'.
Product lines
Lenovo offers two primary Essential desktop categories:
- C Series
- H Series
C Series
The C Series encompasses models such as the C100, C200, C300, and C315.
2010
In 2010, Lenovo introduced the C200 and C315 models.
C200
The C200 All-in-One (AIO) desktop debuted in April 2010, featuring entry-level hardware aimed at affordability relative to the B500 model. Its standout feature was an 18.5-inch touchscreen display.
Available configurations included an Intel Atom D510 CPU, 2 GB of RAM, and storage capacities up to 500 GB. Graphics options ranged from integrated Intel GMA 3150 to discrete Nvidia Ion with 256 MB VRAM. Additional components included a DVD multiburner, built-in webcam, stereo speakers, LAN port, and WiFi support.
C315
Also released in 2010, the Lenovo C315 was recognized for its sleek all-in-one form factor. It was equipped with a low-voltage AMD Athlon II X2 250u processor running at 1.6 GHz, 4 GB DDR2 memory, and a 500 GB hard drive. The system featured discrete ATI Mobility Radeon HD4530 graphics and a slim dual-layer DVD writer.
Notable specifications:
- AMD 690M chipset
- Integrated ATSC tuner
- Networking: 10/100 Ethernet and 802.11g Wi-Fi
- Six-in-one card reader
- 0.3 MP webcam with 640x480 resolution
- Six USB 2.0 ports
- Operating System: Windows 7 Professional x64
- Dimensions: 19.05 x 14.12 x 2.56 inches; Weight: approximately 16.3 lbs
2009
Lenovo's Essential C Series debuted in 2009 with the introduction of the C100 and C300 models.
C100
Unveiled in September 2009, the C100 was an all-in-one desktop aimed at everyday users featuring an 18.5-inch widescreen display (16:9 aspect ratio) with a slim profile measuring only about 2 inches thick. Processor options included Intel Atom 230 single-core or Atom 330 dual-core units. The system offered four USB ports and a DVD reader/writer drive. Lenovo pre-installed utilities such as OneKey Antivirus and OneKey Recovery for system upkeep. Its dimensions were approximately 18.5 x 14.5 x 4 inches.
C300
Also launched in 2009 under the Essential lineup, the C300 came equipped with a 20-inch screen offering a resolution of 1600x900 pixels and optional discrete graphics capability. It was powered by a single-core Intel Atom 230 processor clocked at 1.6 GHz, paired with 3 GB DDR2 RAM and a 320 GB hard disk drive. The system included an 8X DVD+/-RW optical drive, integrated HD audio with built-in speakers, Intel GMA 950 graphics chipset, and wireless connectivity supporting 802.11b/g standards. Its physical dimensions measured roughly 19.05 x 14.12 x 3.28 inches.
Additional details:
- Operating System: Windows Vista Home Basic
- Integrated SDHC card reader
H Series
The Lenovo H Series desktops encompass models such as the H200, H210, H215, H230, H320, and H405.
2011
In 2011, the lineup consisted of the H215, H220, and H320 models.
H215
The H215 came equipped with AMD Athlon II X2 dual-core processors, 2 GB of DDR3 memory, and a 320 GB hard disk drive. Its main features included:
- Chipset: AMD 760G
- Graphics: Integrated ATI Radeon HD 3000
- Optical drive: Dual-layer DVD read/write capability
- Audio: Built-in HD audio support
- Media card reader: 16-in-1 format
- Operating system: Windows 7 Home Premium (32-bit)
- USB connectivity: Six USB 2.0 ports
H220
The H220 model offered:
- Operating system: DOS
- Processor: Intel E5500 running at 3 GHz
- Memory: 2 GB DDR3 RAM
- Storage: 320 GB HDD
- Optical drive: DVD read/write
H320
Known for its compact form factor and solid performance, the H320 featured:
- Processor: Intel Core i5-650 clocked at 3.20 GHz
- RAM: 6 GB DDR3
- Storage: 640 GB SATA2 HDD spinning at 7200 RPM
- Operating system: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit edition
- Optical drives: Blu-ray ROM plus DVD read/write drive
- Graphics card: Nvidia GeForce 310
Advantages included the inclusion of a Blu-ray drive, a Core i5 processor, and its small footprint; drawbacks involved limited graphics capabilities, a scarcity of USB ports, and absence of built-in wireless connectivity.
2010
The H230 was introduced alongside the Lenovo IdeaCentre K300 in 2010.
H230
This model incorporated an Intel Core 2 Duo processor paired with Intel GMA integrated graphics, supported by 4 GB of RAM and a 640 GB hard drive. It also included a DVD read/write optical drive.
2009
Lenovo's H Series desktops released in 2009 comprised the H200 and H210.
H200
Unveiled at CES 2009, the H200 was powered by an Intel Atom 230 CPU, featured 1 GB of RAM, and housed a 160 GB hard disk. Being Lenovo's inaugural desktop with the low-power Atom processor, it utilized a fanless design to reduce noise levels, positioning it among Lenovo's quietest desktop offerings. The system came with a 15.4-inch Thin-film Transistor (TFT) display.
H210
Also categorized under Lenovo's Essential desktop lineup, the H210 delivered performance exceeding expectations for its sub-$500 price point. It was equipped with a 2.5 GHz Intel Pentium Dual Core E5200 processor, 4 GB of DDR2 RAM, and a 500 GB hard drive running Windows Vista Home Premium (32-bit). Expansion options included one PCI Express x16 slot, two PCI Express x1 slots, and one standard PCI slot. The unit featured six USB ports and a DVD read/write drive. However, its integrated Intel GMA 3100 graphics chipset limited gaming capabilities; it could not run Unreal Tournament 3 and managed only about 24 frames per second on Far Cry at a resolution of 1280x1024 without antialiasing.
2008
The Lenovo H Series desktop from 2008 was represented by the H215 model.
H215
Launched in October 2008 as an entry-level Essential PC, the H215 stood out for its substantial 1 TB storage capacity. It ran on an AMD Athlon II X2 250 Dual Core processor combined with 4 GB of DDR3 RAM and utilized ATI Radeon HD 3000 integrated graphics. The system also included a 16x DVD+/-RW dual-layer burner, support for 7.1 channel audio, six USB 2.0 ports, HDMI and VGA outputs, plus a versatile 16-in-1 card reader. While performance was considered adequate for its class, upgrade potential was restricted due to its low-wattage power supply common in small form factor units. Additionally, the recessed placement of the optical drive was criticized for being inconvenient to access and visually unappealing.