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.
