Shop for Desktop Computers
TouchSmart IQ504 Desktop TouchSmart IQ504 Desktop

Compare the top 5 lowest prices by hovering your mouse over the product names on the left

$1299.99
iMac Intel Core 2 Duo 24' Desktop iMac Intel Core 2 Duo 24" Desktop $1778.99
Aspire M5100 AM5100-EF9500A Desktop Aspire M5100 AM5100-EF9500A Desktop $571.77
iMac 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo 20\' Desktop iMac 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo 20\"... $1288.99
Pavilion a6400f Desktop Pavilion a6400f Desktop $509.99

See More Products...

Topics:

Gateway Gamer Gets 8800GTX : Introduction

6:48 AM - July 25, 2007 by Thomas Soderstrom
Source: Tom's Hardware US – Keywords: gateway, gtx
Topics: NVIDIA

Syndication: Add to your Google homepage Add to My Yahoo!

Introduction

It seems like everyone is dancing to the tune of nVidia these days, with ATI's performance dominance a distant memory. The GeForce 8800 series has become the performance champion, in spite of a few issues with SLI mode in Windows Vista. SLI mode requires an nVidia SLI chipset, though, so what is a builder like Gateway to do with its Intel 975X chipset high-end machine?

The only option Gateway had for its non-SLI motherboard was to offer a single 8800GTX as an upgrade to its lower-cost X1950 Crossfire configuration. With so many competitors offering 8800GTX SLI sets in high-end machines, Gateway also had to moderate its prices.

The following is the closest currently-available match to the system Gateway delivered to our lab.

Gateway FX530XT "Delivered" Configuration
Hardware
Processor Intel Core 2 Extreme Quad-Core Processor QX6700 (3.20 GHz, 1066 MHz FSB, 2 x 4 MB cache, Factory Overclocked)
Chipset Intel 975X chipset with DDR2 and Intel Core Duo support
Memory 4096 MB 667 MHz Dual-Channel DDR2 SDRAM (4 x 1024 MB modules)
Hard Drive 1000 GB 7200 RPM Serial ATA II/300 hard drive w/ 16 MB cache (2x 500 GB hard drives)
Media Card Reader 9-in-1 Memory Card Reader
Optical Drives HD DVD-ROM Drive (Toshiba SD-H802A)
16x Double-Layer Multi-Format DVD Writer DVD±/R±RW/CD-R/RW (LG GSA-H11N)
Case Gateway 7-bay BTX tower case
Controller 7-bay BTX tower case
Expansion Slots (3) PCI Expansion Slots, (1) PCIe x4 Expansion Slot, (1) PCIe x16 Expansion Slot.
External Ports (7) USB 2.0 (2 in front, 1 in media card reader and 4 in back), (3) IEEE-1394 FireWire (2 in front and 1 in back), (2) PS/2, (1) Microphone, front audio ports
Video nVidia GeForce 8800GTX w/ 768 MB, Dual DVI-I Dual link TV Out (Factory Overclocked) w/ VGA adapter
Network Integrated Intel 10/100/1000 (Gigabit) Ethernet
Sound Card Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer PCI
Modem 56K PCI data/fax modem
Power Supply 700 W Power Supply
Software
Operating System Backup Media Windows Vista Home Premium Backup Media (32-bit)
Application Software Microsoft Works 8.5
Backup Media Cyberlink PowerDVD v7.1 for HD-DVD drives
Security Software McAfee 90-day Internet Security Suite Complimentary Subscription with VirusScan, Personal Firewall Plus, SpamKiller & Privacy Service v. 1.2 (for Windows Vista)
Peripherals
Monitor Gateway 24" Widescreen High Definition Performance LCD Display
Keyboard Gateway Elite Keyboard (for Windows Vista)
Mouse Soft-touch USB Optical Wheel Mouse
Speakers No Speakers Selected
Services
Warranty 1 Year Value Plan (Tech Support - Parts - Factory Labor)
Internet Service Provider 90-day America Online Internet access

The starting price of $3,995 tops out here at $4,499, the added $500 comprised of a memory upgrade from 2 GB to 4 GB ($220), the HD-DVD add-in ($299), and the Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer audio upgrade ($79).

We received one upgrade that's no longer listed on Gateway's site: the system above includes two ordinary 500 GB 7,200 RPM hard drives, while ours contained two 150 GB 10,000 RPM Western Digital Raptors.


Talkback
Be the first to comment on this review!

Note You are going to post a comment as anonymous.