If you're a gamer on the move (and we think that you are), you're probably eyeing some monster laptops. If you're looking to bro-down with one in the near future, take a moment to familiarize yourself with Gateway's latest 17-incher, the P-172X FX. The updated rig (a new riff on the similarly-themed P-171) features a Core 2 Duo CPU (the 2.4GHz T8300), 1920 x 1200 resolution, 4GB of RAM, a 320GB hard drive, NVIDIA's GeForce 8800M GTS GPU (with 512MB of GDDR3 RAM), a DVD-R/RW/RAM optical drive, and a nasty mess of ports and card slots. We got to take the dude out for a spin, and performance was definitely up to par (translation: it plays Crysis), though the design left a little something to be desired, like... style. A cheaper, 2.0GHz version with half the drive space, lower screen resolution, and a gig less RAM is available, though it maintains the GPU and graphics memory. The P-172X FX is available right now for $1,999, and kid brother P-172S FX will run you $1,399. Check the gallery below for a full and proper look.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
kyle allen @ Apr 10th 2008 12:06AM
yes, it plays everything
Carl Vitullo @ Apr 10th 2008 12:11AM
touché
Aguiluz @ Apr 10th 2008 12:14AM
*forsees someone asking will it play D....*
kyle allen @ Apr 10th 2008 12:15AM
*forsees punch in someones face*
Mark @ Apr 10th 2008 12:21AM
ugly ugly ugly.
nice specs though.
vdogg89 @ Apr 10th 2008 12:06AM
hey i think the design isnt that bad.
Chebwa @ Apr 10th 2008 12:18AM
Well, you're reading this, so you must not be blind...
...okay I give up.
Mark @ Apr 10th 2008 12:23AM
not bad? are you 15 years old?
Aguiluz @ Apr 10th 2008 12:07AM
It reminds me of this:
http://www.sagernotebook.com/product_customed.php?pid=51114
JohnTitor @ Apr 10th 2008 12:13AM
well for once, Engadget did not re-review yet another Clevo laptop
anyway the new one isn't as amazing a deal as the old one, and if the old one uses the same chipset and is as easy as a Dell to open up, it shouldn't be hard to hit NewEgg and upgrade the CPU
me @ Apr 10th 2008 1:10AM
well if u really really wanna get picky they actually did do a review of clevo laptop most likely considering there r only four or five company who actually make laptops clevo being the biggest all oem buy from either clevo asus msi
and i forget the other ones but dell and even apple don't actually make there
so yes this could be a clevo
JohnTitor @ Apr 10th 2008 1:31AM
I'm not being picky, I know they do reviews of mostly the D900C and it's usually the commenters that have to remind them they already previewed the same laptop from another brand
anyway this I'm pretty sure is not a Clevo, they have their models on their site and most manufactures are gaming companies like Sager, Voodoo, and formerly-Alienware. This one is most likely built by Quanta, they are biggest in the world and they've done plenty Gateway notebooks. I'm not picky about that since most Quanta and Compal laptops stay with a brand (Dell, HP etc) but when the person above mentioned Clevo, it reminds me of how often we see the same laptop (D900C, the fastest laptop running 3+ years) over and over.
GreezyG @ Apr 10th 2008 12:08AM
How many of you really NEED to have a mobile gaming rig and why? I'm curious. Id rather sink this $$$ in a nice desktop...comments?
vdogg89 @ Apr 10th 2008 12:09AM
LAN partays?
Aguiluz @ Apr 10th 2008 12:10AM
PS3 -> PSP
Wii -> DS
Desktop -> Laptop
Aguiluz @ Apr 10th 2008 12:12AM
And if I want to play somewhere else, I just pick up the lappy and go.
If it was a desktop, I would take the tower, controls, monitor then reassemble.
Carl Vitullo @ Apr 10th 2008 12:19AM
i'd love one. I'm in high school, and for trips and such i'd LOVE to have a laptop that could actually play games at a good frame rate. That laptop is about the same price as a desktop of the same specs.
GreezyG @ Apr 10th 2008 12:26AM
ugh... I'm getting old lol I didnt even think of lan partys. The last one I went to was the day we invaded Iraq in '03.
Chebwa @ Apr 10th 2008 1:09AM
PS3 -> PSP ... $169
Wii -> DS ... $129
Desktop -> Laptop ... $1,999?
Not really the same.
Abuzar @ Apr 10th 2008 1:22AM
Carl, that laptop is NOT about the same price as a similar desktop. I have a quad core computer with almost the same specs except I have a 1GB 8800GT card and that laptop uses 8800GTS. Even if I had gotten a 8800GTS my desktop would have cost me LESS than a 1000. Add a decent LCD monitor for about 300 and a comparable desktop will be 1300 vs the 2000 for this laptop.
Nick @ Apr 10th 2008 7:35PM
Of course a gaming laptop costs more than an equivalent desktop. You pay for the size difference. Most people can figure that one out on their own.
For some people, computers like this are very useful. I have a 17" Dell XPS M170, and I can't see myself ever replacing it with a desktop. I need to bring it to robotics meetings three times a week for 3D modeling work, and then I always bring it to friend's houses for LAN gaming or even for some hotseat games. If you travel a lot and need power, a gaming laptop is the only way to go. Desktops are just too big to be portable.
Carl Vitullo @ Apr 10th 2008 2:38AM
oh, whoops, for some reason thought it was $1,500.
well, $500 dollars for a smaller size and mobility isn't TOO bad...
and for 3gb ram, 160gb hdd and 2 ghz processor, $1,400 isn't bad.
The Dude @ Apr 10th 2008 12:09AM
Why do they have to rice-out gaming laptops to look like absolute ass? This one has all the cliches...it's got an X somewhere in the name, a metal-link overlay, futuristic font, and orange detailing (I was expecting red, actually. So they got it wrong but close enough.) Seriously, just make them look normal.
kyle allen @ Apr 10th 2008 12:14AM
get an industrial design degree wierdo!
Chebwa @ Apr 10th 2008 12:20AM
LOL "WEIRDO"
Kyle Allen, ladies and gentlemen.
kyle allen @ Apr 10th 2008 12:32AM
shut up jerk face
eggothewaffle @ Apr 10th 2008 2:24AM
Err...Well technically it has 2 X's in the name :I
bbiessel @ Apr 10th 2008 12:19AM
Is the off center trackpad common-place nowadays? It seems like it is really in a bad spot. If anything, I'd prefer it on the right side..
maxharlan @ Apr 10th 2008 12:37AM
+1 for the touchpad. last time i checked, a majority of human beings were right-handed...that would just be logical to put it right of center, rather than left...
Abuzar @ Apr 10th 2008 1:17AM
It's in the center of the keyboard. It's to the left because of the number pad.
DefPo3t @ Apr 10th 2008 12:19AM
this totally owns a macbook pro.
but i'd still rather have a falcon nw laptop ....even if i could buy a used car for the price of it : )
Mark @ Apr 10th 2008 12:25AM
designed by homer simpson.
it just needs wings and racing stripes.
Les @ Apr 10th 2008 12:25AM
I know it is cliche, but I like the design.
Also the off center trackpad is common my 17" has it too. seems they center on the keyboard not including the number pad.
The price on this isn't that bad my MSI whitebook totalled me at $1500 with 2.4ghz cpu, 4gb ram, 512MB nvidia 8600, and 1600x1050 res
and teh reason for a gaming laptop is for LAN parties and traveling.
*ignore all spelling and grammar mistakes.
Wolfbane65 @ Apr 10th 2008 12:29AM
It seems as though the trackpad placement was not designed for right handed use. =/
GreezyG @ Apr 10th 2008 12:33AM
and like 18 horn buttons so you can always find atleast one when your mad!
Abuzar @ Apr 10th 2008 1:19AM
I personally think it looks very nice. I wouldn't mind carrying that thing around. I also personally use a Thermaltake Armor case(the full tower version) for my gaming rig so maybe I do like flashy things(the case has two blue led fans).
ralphchristopher @ Apr 10th 2008 1:35AM
The even cheaper version, which I am typing on right now, is $1250 at best buy right now
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8651167&type=product&id=1195599780039
The only difference is the RAM (you don't need 4 gigs anyways), CPU (which can be easily upgraded and is fine for a little while), and the screen resolution (which 1440x900 I am fine with). It is really great, and runs Crysis at mid-high settings, high settings with tweaking. That one is a much better deal.
STNC @ Apr 10th 2008 2:33AM
Not really a Gateway fan, but I do think its funny that Crysis is now the benchmark for everything, of course, it is a magical game!
erhan @ Apr 10th 2008 3:21AM
NOT A GAMING UNIT AT ALL.
The 'FN' and 'CTRL' Keys are all wrong.
damn it, when will companies figure out that no one can game like that.
Asus got smart and now almost every model has a CTRL on the end.
Looks ok.
jollyllama @ Apr 10th 2008 3:30AM
What is it with PCs that even on something the manufacturer tries to make look good (not that this does, but it seems like an attempt was made) they still slap stupid Windows/Intel stickers on it? I mean seriously, do people just not notice how rediculous and ugly those are anymore? I'm at a loss.
R @ Apr 10th 2008 6:45AM
Does any serious gamer even use a touch-pad for gaming? I mean come on now...get real. Not that I am saying toss it, for regular app. usage that is fine. But I would be slamming a trackball or some other mouse on that MOFRO.
TareX @ Apr 10th 2008 8:26AM
Until a laptop that could play FSX and Crysis on ultra-high is out, I don't see many ready to dish out THAT AMOUNT OF CASH for a machine that won't play these games to perfection.
Esp. that u can play them perfectly on a cheaper quad-core desktop.
mattworldwide @ Apr 10th 2008 8:53AM
Greezy, the same could be said about gaming on a desktop at home:
How many of you really NEED to have a home gaming rig and why?
None of use NEED any of these gadgets. Just because it's of no interest to you doesn't mean others aren't interested.
I for one may end up buying one. I travel quite a bit and would love me some front lines fuel of war, Grid, and crysis 2 on the go.
mattworldwide @ Apr 10th 2008 8:54AM
*Meant to say Far cry 2, not crysis 2.
Chris @ Apr 10th 2008 4:47PM
You forgot to mention the terrible TN film panel screen and cheap feel of the laptop.
Mark Johny Ryn @ Apr 11th 2008 12:08AM
Anyone know how to acquire this in Canada? I really want this but i can't find it :\
turban @ Apr 18th 2008 3:26PM
am i alone here? battery life with a gts=...bad? even if the cpu is 45 nm.
c9os battery life for me is 20 minutes when gaming