HP EliteBook 840 G1 review
HP EliteBook 840 G1 — from 2014, 1.7 kg, performance 33.
Technical specifications
| Type | Business |
| Release year | 2014 |
| Screen | 14" · 1366x768 |
| Processor | Intel Core i5 4300U , Intel Core i7 4600U , Intel Core i5 4210U |
| Max. RAM | 16 GB |
| Weight | 1.7 kg |
Performance scores
A cheap 2014 EliteBook whose graphics placing flatters it — honest about the vintage iGPU
The HP EliteBook 840 G1 (2014) pairs a 4th-gen Intel Core i5 4300U with 16 GB of RAM and lands at $120, well below the business-class median of about $297. The graphics score of 45.85 places it in mainstream territory, but this reflects how graphics-light the typical business laptop is, not modern gaming capability — the underlying GPU is a vintage Intel HD 4400 integrated part. The honest strength is the rock-bottom price; the honest weak spot is memory, capped at 16 GB.
At $120, the price is the real virtue
For a buyer whose budget is firmly capped around $120, the EliteBook 840 G1 offers a usable 4th-gen Intel platform with enough capability for everyday office and media duties. Capability data confirms minimum-level fit for older titles like Overwatch, GTA V, and Rainbow Six Siege — fine for casual eSports at low settings, but no more than that.
The graphics placing is honest about its limits
The high graphics score needs context: the HD 4400 is integrated graphics from 2013, so its mainstream-tier placing reflects how undemanding the typical business laptop is on graphics, not any real dGPU-class power. The 16 GB of RAM is the genuine ceiling for modern multitasking — comfortable for light use, but tight for heavy workloads.
Slow depreciation, near the floor
From a base near $1300, the laptop has settled to $120 at roughly 6.5% per year, with a projected value around $105 in two years. The curve has flattened — most of the value has already been lost.
Pricier and cheaper vintage peers
Slightly pricier options include the HP EliteBook 820 G1 ($137) and HP EliteBook Folio 9480m ($135); cheaper alternatives include the Lenovo ThinkPad T530 ($113) and HP ProBook 650 G1 ($109), which offer similar 4th-gen business hardware for slightly less.
Bottom line
The EliteBook 840 G1 is worth the asking price for a buyer who specifically needs a very cheap laptop for light office duties and casual older games, and who understands the vintage graphics and 16 GB RAM ceiling. For anything more demanding, slightly pricier peers with newer processors and dGPU options are the better spend.
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⭐ What stands out
-
graphics performance is higher than typical business class (+200%) (mainstream tier).
top 25% of its category -
memory capacity is lower than typical business class (+60%) (comfort).
budget segment of category -
price is lower than typical business class (+59.7%) (ultra-budget).
budget segment of category
🔁 Alternatives
Compromise axis: reliability ↔ price
🎮 What it can run
⚙️ Configuration analysis
Top configuration suits everyday productivity, light photo editing, and esports titles.
🤔 How to choose
Universal advice for any use case.
- Reliability vs price: reliability (median 42.5) ↔ price (median 297.4).
- Weight vs CPU: mobility (median 60) ↔ overall performance (median 41.5).
- Upgradeability vs battery: upgradability (median 62.5) ↔ battery life (median 3.3).
EliteBook 840 G1: verdict
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